Cruises and Transport
Cruise ship passengers
Villefranche-sur-Mer to Nice by taxi.
Important! If ordering a taxi in advance. Please find out what time your tender leaves the ship and how long it takes to get to the berthing area in the port. There is usually a rota of tenders with certain passengers taking the first tender and others taking the last one.
Taxis at the port
Local taxis are available near the port. They wait in a line near the parking lot and trees near the Customs area where you will most likely exit. Taxis are 2 mins walk from the customs area. Not always available as they quickly get snapped up.
Patrice Taxi driver
You can book a taxi in advance with Patrice, an English speaking driver.
Patrice's details: Cell +33 609120178, Email: [email protected]
Patrice will send you a confirmation of the date, time and place that he will meet you and will be holding a sign with your name. The usual meeting place is either at the Customs Hall exit or across from The Welcome Hotel. Keep in mind that Villefranche is a very small place so it's easy to locate people.
If you book a taxi in advance please have the following information to hand.
-Cruise ship name
-Number of participants and a contact number.
-What time you will be at the tender docking area
-Meeting point (which is usually at the small port, next to the parking lot at the Duane exit).
Patrice's details: Cell +33 609120178, Email: [email protected]
Patrice will send you a confirmation of the date, time and place that he will meet you and will be holding a sign with your name. The usual meeting place is either at the Customs Hall exit or across from The Welcome Hotel. Keep in mind that Villefranche is a very small place so it's easy to locate people.
If you book a taxi in advance please have the following information to hand.
-Cruise ship name
-Number of participants and a contact number.
-What time you will be at the tender docking area
-Meeting point (which is usually at the small port, next to the parking lot at the Duane exit).
Villefranche-sur-Mer to Nice by train.
Transport costs from Villefranche to Nice & back.
Train ticket : €4.50 p.p (return), Villefranche to Nice & back.
Tram ticket : €3 p.p (return) Nice train station to Place Massena & back.
Train ticket : €4.50 p.p (return), Villefranche to Nice & back.
Tram ticket : €3 p.p (return) Nice train station to Place Massena & back.
Train journey, duration: 8 minutes (total duration train + tram + walk to meeting point approx. 50 min)
The trains leave Villefranche for Nice approximately every 30 mins.
As Villefranche is a small village the train station is very easy to find.
Take the Nice train, Cannes La Bocca train or the Grasse train.
The trains leave Villefranche for Nice approximately every 30 mins.
As Villefranche is a small village the train station is very easy to find.
Take the Nice train, Cannes La Bocca train or the Grasse train.
- From the tender docking area next to/near the Chapel, it takes approx. 15-25 mins to walk to the train station (10-15 mins if walking fast).
- Turn right at the docking area and keep walking towards the beach.
- You'll pass the Welcome Hotel (visible from most places) on the left, the harbour/sea will be on your right and the beach will be ahead of you.
- The train station is high up above the beach, you'll see the railway bridge arches if you look up from the village or beach.
- To the left of the Beach Parking lot are steep stairs which lead to the train platform. Take stairs all the way to the top and you’ll be at the train platform for the Nice train. Don’t cross over to the platform on the other side, that’s the direction for Monaco.
- Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine on the platform using credit cards or coins, no bills/notes. Price approx €3.50 one way. (Aller = one way, Aller/retour = return)
- Trains depart for Nice about every 30 minutes. See digital screen on platform for train times.
- The whole journey from Ville Franche to Nice Ville Station takes 6-8 minutes
- Don't get off at Nice, Riquier Station (wait till next stop, Gare Thiers).
- Get off at Gare Thiers, Nice Ville, Station. The tannoy announcement says Nice Ville.
- Look for Sortie (Exit) sign. From getting off the train. Exiting takes about 8 mins.
- There are coffees, sweet and water dispensing machines in the main hall.
- The toilet is located near the Carrefour shop in the station and costs €1 by card or cash.
- From the Gare Thiers train station to the meeting point takes about 20-30 mins.
From Nice Gare Thiers train station to meeting point
From Nice Gare Thiers train station to meeting point takes about 20-30 mins.
- Walk out of the train station and turn left. That road is called Ave Thiers.
- Walk in the opposite direction of “Paul” a café outside the station.
- On your left (outside the station) is the “Office de Tourisme” that is the direction you take, left and downhill, keep on Ave Thiers.
- You’ll pass, Antares Hotel, French Cafe, Monop, Maxi Bazar (on the right).
- Walk downhill to the traffic light (about 5-8 minutes) which is in Ave Jean Medecin.
- You will see the TRAM STOP called Gare Thiers on the left. Don’t cross the road to the other tram stop.
- At Gare Thiers Tram stop, buy a ticket for €1.50 at the ticket dispensing machine (not a touch screen). Coins or cards only, no notes/bills. Trams run every 4 mins.
- Take the Hopital Pasteur tram, the name is on the front of the tram.
- There are only two trams. Stay on tram approx 6-8 minutes.
- You’ll pass one tram stop after getting on the tram, it’s called Jean Medecin.
- The next tram stop is called Place Massena
- Get off at Place Massena tram stop.
From Place Massena tram stop to the meeting point
- At Place Massena tram stop, you’ll see a large square/piazza tiled in black and white called Place Massena, with a Fountain of Apollo in white marble, surrounded by green sculptures.
- Beyond that you'll see the sea and the building height Rusty poles sculpture called "Neuf lignes Oblique". From here it’s about a five minute walk to the rusty poles.
- Walk towards the fountain and then behind the fountain where you’ll see 4 stairs, go down the stairs and cross the road.
- You’ll be in Rue de’ l’Opera, keep walking down this street and immediately in front of you will be a Palm tree lined path.
- You’ll walk on the Palm lined path called Esplanade Georges Pompidou and cross the road to the sea, Promenade des Anglais, and the tall rusty poles.
- We meet at 9.45am right at the Rusty poles.
Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer by bus.
Bus #607 Saint Roman to Monaco
Bus stop - Corner Rue Arson & Rue Fordere
Bus stop name - Arson /Fodere (2 blocks from port Lympia)
Get off at - Octroi bus stop
Duration - Average 17 minutes
(get off at Octroi stop for Villefranche-sur-Mer)
Pay on bus €1.50 or use pre-bought tram/bus ticket €1.50
Bus stop - Corner Rue Arson & Rue Fordere
Bus stop name - Arson /Fodere (2 blocks from port Lympia)
Get off at - Octroi bus stop
Duration - Average 17 minutes
(get off at Octroi stop for Villefranche-sur-Mer)
Pay on bus €1.50 or use pre-bought tram/bus ticket €1.50