Sunset Private Boat Tour Nice: Villefranche & Cap Ferrat

The Promenade des Anglais and two bays lit by sunset, from the water instead of the shore.

A private sunset boat tour from Nice port takes you past the Promenade des Anglais, through the bay of Villefranche sur Mer, and along the coast of Saint Jean cap Ferrat over two hours. The boat carries only your group, a live guide speaks English, Italian, French or German, and a bottle of wine is included. Dolphins are sometimes visible; the route stays close to shore and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset boat tour around Nice bay

• Depart from Nice harbor
• View Promenade des Anglais at sunset
• Explore bay of Villefranche sur Mer
• See Saint Jean cap Ferrat landscape
• Admire luxurious vegetation and beaches

The Experience

The boat leaves Nice port and heads toward the Promenade des Anglais as the sun drops, catching the city lights reflecting off the water. You pass the legendary waterfront boulevard from a vantage point no land tour reaches, seeing the colors shift as daylight fades. The guide narrates in the language you choose, pointing out the landmarks and the shape of the coast as it unfolds.

From there the route moves into the bay of Villefranche sur Mer, ringed by hills and historic buildings that look like a painting when the light hits them. The water here is deep and sheltered, and the boat slows so you can take in the architecture and the way the hills rise straight from the shore. Saint Jean cap Ferrat comes next—the richest stretch of the French Riviera, with luxurious villas, manicured gardens, a lighthouse, and a landscape so specific to this coast that it appears in almost no other place on earth.

The two-hour tour ends as full darkness settles. A bottle of wine is included, and the boat stays small enough that you are never crowded in with strangers. Dolphins do appear sometimes, though not on every departure. Service animals are welcome aboard.

What’s included

• A two-hour private boat tour with a live guide in English, Italian, French or German.
• a bottle of wine.
• passage past the Promenade des Anglais, through Villefranche sur Mer bay, and along the coast of Saint Jean cap Ferrat.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Happy Drive Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the sunset and the coastline without other tourists on the boat—the private group means you set the pace and the guide's attention stays with you. It works best for couples or small groups who prefer not to share the experience with a larger crowd.

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Top questions

Can I book this tour if I don't speak French?

Yes. The live guide speaks English, Italian, French, and German, and you choose which language when you book.

What is the bay of Villefranche sur Mer like when you approach it by boat?

Villefranche sur Mer is a deep, sheltered bay surrounded by hills and historic monuments, with colorful buildings rising from the water's edge. From the boat, the landscape reads as a single composition—the architecture, the vegetation, and the hills form a frame around the water itself.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit or have mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You board at Nice port and spend two hours seated on the boat, so no hiking or strenuous activity is involved. Infants must sit on an adult's lap.

Do you stop anywhere, or is this a continuous boat ride?

This is a continuous boat tour. The boat does not dock at Villefranche or Cap Ferrat; you view both from the water as you pass through and along the coast.

What are the chances of seeing dolphins?

Dolphins do appear in these waters and are sometimes visible from the boat, though sightings are not guaranteed on every tour.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes all fees and taxes, a bottle of wine, and a live guide in your chosen language. Hotel pickup is not included, but you meet the boat at Nice port.