Private French Riviera tour from Villefranche: Customize your day

You design the itinerary, not the tour operator.

A private shore excursion from Villefranche-sur-Mer cruise port with your own driver-guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French. You plan the route together at the start (choosing from Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Cannes, Nice, Eze, Saint-Paul de Vence and other Riviera towns), and the guide drives you there in an air-conditioned minivan for up to 7 hours, returning you to the port at your requested time. Baby seats and booster seats are available for families with young children.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Saint-Paul de Vence1h
2. Villefranche Cruise Portpassing by

Private French Riviera shore excursion

• Meet driver/guide at port exit
• Plan personalized tour program
• Admire bay of Villefranche
• Visit Monaco princely palace and cathedral
• Explore Monte-Carlo and Casino
• Stroll Monte-Carlo Casino square
• Visit Nice and Promenade des Anglais
• Explore medieval village of Eze
• Walk Boulevard La Croisette in Cannes
• Visit Saint-Paul de Vence art galleries
• Return to Villefranche port

The experience

The tour starts the moment you exit the ship at Villefranche. Your driver-guide meets you at the disembarkation point, and you spend a few minutes mapping out the day together, which towns matter most, where to stop for photos, how much time to spend in each place, and what time you need to be back at the port. This is not a fixed itinerary you're locked into. It's a route you build. The minivan is comfortable and air-conditioned, and the driver knows the back roads and the timing of crowds at each stop.

The Riviera towns on offer each have their own draw. Monaco and Monte-Carlo show you the princely palace, the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married, and the famous Casino square lined with luxury cars. Nice spreads across the Promenade des Anglais with its old town of colorful buildings. Cannes offers the Boulevard La Croisette, the red carpet of the Film Festival, and the boutiques that line it. Eze is a medieval village perched above the Mediterranean with an exotic garden at its summit. Saint-Paul de Vence, home to Chagall, Matisse and Picasso, fills narrow flower-lined streets with art galleries and shops. You decide which ones fit the hours you have.

The driver-guide returns you to Villefranche cruise port at the exact time you request, so there's no scramble back to the ship. If you're traveling with infants or small children, specialized seats are provided, and strollers are welcome for the walking portions.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at Villefranche cruise port.
• private air-conditioned minivan for the full duration.
• your own driver-guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• customized itinerary planned at the start of the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Riviera Star Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you speak one of the guide's languages comfortably and want to steer your own day rather than follow a set schedule. The private format means you're not waiting for a group to gather or moving at someone else's pace: your guide adapts to what you want to see and how long you want to linger.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can I really choose which towns to visit, or is there a set route?

You plan the route with your driver-guide at the start of the tour. The towns available include Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Cannes, Nice, Eze, Saint-Paul de Vence, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and Menton. You pick which ones fit your interests and the time you have.

What is there to do in Monte-Carlo besides the Casino?

Monte-Carlo's Casino square is the main draw, surrounded by the luxurious Hôtel de Paris and lined with expensive cars. You can stroll the square, admire the architecture and take photos. Entry to the Casino itself is not included in the tour.

How much time do I get to explore each town?

That depends on which towns you choose and how you want to spend your hours. You decide the pace with your driver-guide when the tour starts, so if you want an hour in Cannes and 30 minutes in Nice, that's your call: the guide adjusts the route to fit.

Will I have time to walk around Saint-Paul de Vence?

Saint-Paul de Vence is a medieval village with narrow streets, art galleries and shops, so it's built for walking. How long you spend there is up to you. Your guide will drive you there and wait while you explore.

What if my ship leaves at a different time than other passengers? Can the tour still work?

Yes. You tell your driver-guide what time you need to be back at the Villefranche cruise port, and the tour is timed to get you there on schedule, regardless of when other tours return.

Are children welcome on this tour?

The tour is family-friendly. Specialized infant seats and booster seats are provided for young children, and strollers are welcome for the walking portions of the day.