Nice is one of the best places in Europe to take day trips from! Whether you love hiking through mountains and beside lakes, jumping into crystal clear water, or walking the cobblestone streets of Medieval villages, here are 30 day trips from Nice, France you won’t want to miss.
30 Best Day Trips from Nice, France
All of the day trips below are worth a trip (in my opinion), but I’ve ordered them by how long it takes to get there from Nice. Some are much more difficult to get to than others, so make sure to read the “How to Get There” part before making your decision.
The best part about most of the destinations below is that you can take the local Nice buses and trams, which only cost 1.70 Euro per trip.
If you’re not looking to save money, you can rent a car and get to a lot of these places in one day instead of taking public transport. But public transport is super easy to use and cheap in Nice, so I highly recommend it!
1. Villefranche-Sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-mer is known for its beautiful beaches and its Mediterranean climate.
It’s incredibly colorful, like its neighboring cities Menton and Nice, but for some reason, a lot of tourists have never heard of it and tend to skip it on their South of France itineraries.
The beaches in Nice are rocky, but in just 10-15 minutes you can hop over to Villefranche-sur-mer for one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the Cote d’Azur.
Distance from Nice: 15 minutes by train & bus
How to Get There: TER train or Number 15 Bus or Hike from Cap de Nice
How to Use the Nice Public Transport Card
You’ll need to download two apps to use the public transport in Nice: Lignes d’Azur Mobile and Lignes d’Azur Tickets.
Once you arrive in Nice, you’ll need to buy a plastic card at one of the ticket machines that are located at most tram stops that will keep your bus and tram tickets on it.
There are ticket machines at both of the Airport terminals right next to the tram itself.
Although you can refill this card using the Lignes d’Azur Tickets app, you have to obtain the plastic card first before you can refill it using the app.
You only need to buy one card if you’re traveling in a group, and you can scan that card multiple times to count for everyone in your group.
For example, my husband and I share a card, and when I get on the tram or bus I will scan my card twice.
You can use the Ligne d’Azur Mobile app or Google Maps to find the best route from where you’re staying in Nice.
2. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a peninsula situated in the French Riviera, on the Côte d’Azur between Nice and Monaco.
With a surface of only 2.48 km², it’s known for having some incredibly expensive real estate.
It’s a great walk all the way around the peninsula along the Mediterranean Coast if you’re up for it, especially during the warm months when you can stop at beaches and swim along the way!
Distance from Nice: 24 Minutes by bus
How to Get There: Number 15 Bus to Pont Saint-Jean. This also depends on where on Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat you want to visit, this would just be the first bus stop that gets you to the beginning of the peninsula.
3. Èze Village
Èze is a small medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop in the south of France and only one of the many medieval hilltop villages easily accessible from Nice.
The village is famous for its stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea and its well-preserved Old Town. Èze is a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops in the village.
Distance from Nice: 21 Minutes by Bus
How to Get There: Take Bus 82 to Èze Village or Bus 15 to Bus 83. Don’t take the train since the train will take you to Èze Beach, which is an hour’s walk (very uphill) to Èze Village.
4. Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monaco is a tiny country known for its luxurious casinos, yacht-lined harbor, and the Grand Prix Formula 1 Race.
Monaco is also a tax haven, and many wealthy people have made it their home. The country has a population of about 38,000 and an area of just 2.02 square kilometers.
Distance from Nice: 19 minutes by train or 1 Hour by Bus
How to Get There: By TER Train or ZOU Bus. The ZOU bus is separate from the Ligne d’Azur buses, so you will need to buy a ZOU ticket to take this bus.
For the TER Train, you don’t need to buy tickets in advance, but if you’d like to, you can book through Omio.
5. La Turbie
La Turbie is known for its Roman ruins and for being mentioned in Dante’s Inferno.
It has one of the best viewpoints to be found on the Cote d’Azur, the Tete de Chien, which looks down onto Monaco.
Distance from Nice: 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes (Sundays only)
How to Get There: Sundays ONLY: From Place Garibaldi in Nice, take the L1 metro “Hôpital Pasteur” to Pont Michel and then take Bus 66 to La Turbie.
If you’re not looking to save money, you can rent a car and get to a lot of these places in one day instead of taking public transport. But public transport is super easy to use and cheap in Nice, so I highly recommend it!
6. Menton
Menton, France is home to one of the most famous Instagram viewpoints in France (Here’s how to get to it!) and the annual Lemon Festival known as the “Fete du Citron.”
This quaint town is an unforgettable day trip from Nice, with a glittering coastline lined with colorful Italian-style buildings and palm trees.
Distance from Nice: 45 minutes to 1 Hour by Train
How to Get There: TER Train
7. Antibes
Antibes is a charming town situated on the French Riviera, which has more of a French influence than other cities on this list, as we get further away from the Italian border.
The buildings are less colorful and have a more traditional French-style charm.
Antibes is also home to the Picasso Museum, which houses more than 200 of the artist’s works.
Distance from Nice: 15-30 minutes
How to Get There: Direct TER train
8. Cannes
Cannes is most widely known for hosting The Cannes Film Festival, which is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
Besides that, Cannes is also a city of lavish yachts, luxury cruises, and famous stars. It’s the true definition of luxury.
Also, if you’re looking for more sandy beaches, Cannes is the place to go! (After Villefranche-sur-Mer, of course)
Distance from Nice: 25 to 45 minutes
How to Get There: Direct TER Train
9. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Another town that was originally Ligurian, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin was founded in 971.
Throughout its history, it has been owned by Italy, Monaco, and France.
It is home to a famous castle, the Chateau Medieval de Roquebrune, which has stunning views of the Cote d’Azur below.
Distance from Nice: 55 Minutes
How to Get There: 30 Minute TER Train to Carnoles, 14-minute walk to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
10. Haut de Cagnes
Haut-de-Cagnes is a medieval town with a castle on top of the hill. It’s off-the-beaten path with some of the same charm as the more well-known villages in this area.
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
How to Get There: L2 to Parc Phoenix, Bus 9 to Square Bourdet, 12 minute walk to Haut de Cagnes
11. Grasse
Grasse is known as the “World’s Perfume Capital” and its 60+ year running Grasse Jasmine Festival, which is usually in the first week of August.
Distance from Nice: 1 hour 15 minutes
How to Get There: Direct TER Train
12. Aspremont
Aspremont is super easy to get to from Nice, which makes it a great stress-free day trip.
It’s a super adorable town included on the list of 16 “Perched Villages” near Nice.
Distance from Nice: 1 hour 20 minutes
How to Get There: Take Bus 76 or 62. The buses to Aspremont are pretty frequent which makes it very easy to get to.
13. Peille
Peille is one of the best-hidden gems near Nice, and once we found this village, we couldn’t help but go back over and over.
Not only is this village insanely picturesque and quaint, but it’s also near a ton of great hikes like Cime de Baudon, Peillon Village, Saint-Agnes, etc.
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
How to Get There: Sundays Only: L1 to Pont Michel, Bus 66 to Peille Village
14. Peillon
Peillon Village in France is a hilltop village near Nice known for its’ medieval stone houses and incredible mountain surroundings.
It’s the perfect off-the-beaten-path day trip on the Cote d’Azur and can be visited by public transport as long as you don’t mind a bit of a hike! Trust me, the views of Peillon make it totally worth it.
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 45 Minutes (with 40 Minutes of that being hiking)
How to Get There: L1 to Pont Michel, TER Train from Nice Pont Michel to Peille, Hike 40 Minutes to Peillon.
Although there are Ubers in Nice, I wouldn’t rely on getting one all the way out here, so ride-sharing isn’t an option. You can also take the 66 Bus to Peille and then hike from there to Peillon.
The trail is a bit less obvious since not a lot of people do that hike, but you get amazing views like the one below!
15. Saint-Paul de Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is almost always included on the list of most beautiful villages in France.
It’s known as an artist’s village with plenty of art galleries and boutiques to visit. The town has hosted many famous artists over the years, including Pablo Picasso.
Distance from Nice: 1 to 2 Hours
How to Get There: It’s a bit more difficult to get to Saint-Paul de Vence from Nice. You can take the TER train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and then from there, you’ll need to either walk 1 hour and 23 minutes to get there or you can try to get an Uber for around 30-40 Euros.
You can also choose to visit on a tour from Nice (which includes wine tasting!) or rent a car for the day.
16. Sainte-Agnes
Sainte-Agnes is a hilltop village on the Cote d’Azur known as the “highest coastal village in Europe” at 780m above sea level.
Once a Ligurian town, a lot of inhabitants can be heard speaking both Italian and French.
It is perched on top of a mountain with a crumbling castle at the very top which overlooks Menton and the coastline below.
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour
How to Get There: From Nice, there is no public transport to Sainte-Agnes. You will most likely have to travel to Menton by TER Train first (35 Minutes) and then take a Zest Bus (also known as Zou! bus) to Sainte-Agnes (25 minutes).
They are like Ligne d’Azur buses but they are run privately and it costs about $1.50 for a single ticket.
If you’re up for a hike, you can go to Peille (Sundays only) and hike to Sainte-Agnes in 2 hours.
17. Gorbio
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
How to Get There: 35 Minute TER Train to Menton, Zou! Bus Number 7 to Gorbio, 30 Minute Walk to Gorbio.
18. Lantosque
Distance from Nice: 1 hour 30 Minutes
How to Get There: L2 to Grand Arenas, Bus 90 to Lantosque
19. Sanremo, Italy
Sanremo is one of the first towns along the coast once you’ve crossed the border from France into Italy. It has been called “Italy’s oldest summer resort” and is internationally known for its annual music festival.
Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train to San Remo.
20. Saint-Tropez
You may recognize the name Saint-Tropez from a Taylor Swift song, or maybe from celebrity news since this city is known to be a celebrity hot spot.
Distance from Nice: About 2 Hours
How to Get There: It’s not easy to get to, since there is no direct train or bus from Nice. Train to St. Raphael (1 Hour), then a local bus to Saint-Tropez, or ferry from Nice
You can also book a BlaBla car through Omio for pretty cheap (this is like ride-sharing but for commuters).
21. Carros
This hilltop town is a bit tougher to get to, so only choose this one if you’re up for a bit of a hike! It’s included in the list of 16 hilltop towns in Nice and during the right weather, you can see the snowy alps behind it!
Distance from Nice: 2 Hours
How to Get There: L2 to CADAM, Bus 22 to Le Beiluono, 43 minute walk to Carros. Or 35-40 minutes by car and you can hit up a few other hilltop villages in one day.
22. Saint Dalmas
If you’re looking to get a bit further away from the city, Saint Dalmas is a great day trip.
The 2 hours it takes to get there will take you from the Cote d’Azur up into the mountains. The little town is surrounded by mountains and greenery, and you can hike some of the GR52 here and camp by some incredible lakes nearby!
Distance from Nice: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
How to Get There: L2 to Grand Arenas, Bus 90 to Saint-Dalmas (not Saint-Dalmas de Tende)
23. Finale Ligure, Italy
Finale Ligure is a picturesque town located in the province of Savona, Italy. With its dramatic cliffs and sheltered coves, the Mediterranean Sea provides a stunning backdrop to this charming town.
There is much to see and do in Finale Ligure, from exploring its ancient villages and medieval castles to hiking or biking along its scenic trails.
And with its excellent restaurants and lively nightlife, there’s something for everyone in Finale Ligure.
Distance from Nice: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia to Finale Ligure
24. Isola 2000 & Mercantour National Park
Isola 2000 and Mercantour National Park are just under 3 hours away from Nice, which means that during the winter months you can reach the snow and a ski resort in just a few hours!
There’s no bad time to visit this area, whether you’re hiking or going skiiing. However, the drive up has a lot of twists and turns, so if you get car-sick easily you may want to skip this one.
Distance from Nice: 2 hours 45 minutes
How to Get There: Take the Metro to Grand Arenas Station, then Bus 92 to Isola 2000
25. Genoa, Italy
Genoa, Italy is a port city that is usually overlooked or seen as just a stop on your way to see other cities, but I highly recommend staying a while in Genoa. It has the largest old town of any city in Europe.
If you’re looking for a charming, off-the-beaten-path port town in Italy, Genoa’s Boccadasse is the place to go.
With its pastel houses and stunning ocean views, it’s easy to see why this little fishing village is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.
Distance from Nice: About 3 Hours 15 Minutes
How to Get There: TER train Nice to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia IC train Ventimiglia to Genoa
26. Saorge
This little village has a population of under 500 people and incredible views all around. There’s a monastery to visit as well as a natural bathing spot known as the “Semite bath” if you visit during the warmer months.
Distance from Nice: 3 Hours 15 Minutes
How to Get There: TER from Nice-Ville to Breil-sur-Roya, TER from Breil-sur-Roya to Fontan-Saorge, 53-minute walk to Saorge.
27. Camogli
Camogli is a beautiful town in the province of Genoa, Italy. It’s known for its colorful houses and stunning views, and you can even hike to Portofino from here if you’re up for a challenge!
Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours
How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, Train change to Camogli
28. San Fruttuoso
San Fruttuoso is a small area only accessible by hiking or boat, placed right between Camogli and Portofino. It’s known for its underwater statue of Jesus, which you can snorkel to from the shore.
Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours by train, walk or take the ferry to San Fruttuoso
How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, Train change to Camogli-S. Fruttoso Stop
29. Portofino
Portofino, Italy is a small fishing village on the Italian Riviera. It’s also one of Europe’s most expensive places to live and is home to celebrities like Dolce and Gabbana.
Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours by train each way
How to Get There: TER Train to Ventimiglia, TrenItalia from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, train switch to Santa Margherita, bus 82 from Santa Margherita to Portofino
30. Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is one of the most breathtaking places in Italy. It consists of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, each with unique colorful buildings huddled together right on the coast.
Distance from Nice: 5 Hours
How to Get There: TER Train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, train switch to Sestri Levante, another train change to Monterosso (the first stop of Cinque Terre, you’ll need to buy a Cinque Terre Pass from here to get around the 5 cities)
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Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.