Day Trips from Nice: Monaco, Eze, Antibes, and Beyond (2026 Guide)

Getting Around: TER Trains, Buses, and Driving from Nice

Nice-Ville, also called Gare Thiers, is the main train station for TER services along the coast. Two smaller stations serve specific neighborhoods, listed below. Buy tickets the same day at a station kiosk or through the SNCF app; there's rarely a discount for booking a return in advance. Trains run roughly every 30 minutes outside early morning and late evening, and seating isn't assigned, so any car works. The double-decker TER coaches are climate-controlled and have onboard restrooms, though there's no food service. Bus 81 leaves from Old Nice for Eze and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It runs on the Lignes d'Azur network, which costs less than a taxi to either stop. Skip the car for coastal towns. Parking in Monaco and Saint-Tropez runs expensive, and summer traffic on the coast road backs up for long stretches. Heading east toward Monaco and Menton, sit on the right side of the train for sea views. Heading west toward Cannes, switch to the left side. Build the rest of the stay around a one-day Nice itinerary so these trips don't crowd out time in the city itself.

• Nice-Ville (Gare Thiers): the main station, staffed with SNCF personnel for help
• Riquier: east side near the port, unmanned, so buy tickets via the SNCF app
• Saint-Augustin: west side near the airport, also unmanned

Day Trips from Nice: Transport Trade-Off at a Glance

Every destination below works best with one specific mode of transport, and mixing modes usually costs more time than it saves. Use this table to match the trip to the right ticket before leaving Nice, then check the sections below for what to actually do once you arrive.

Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: Coastal Stops Close to Nice

Villefranche-sur-Mer sits about 10 minutes from Nice by train and roughly 8 km away by road. Bus 81 also stops here. Pastel buildings line a curved harbor, and the beach has calm, shallow water suited to swimming. Walk the Old Town, which is small enough to cover in under an hour, then look across the bay toward Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat before continuing on. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild anchors most visits to the peninsula, with themed gardens overlooking the sea on both sides. Bus 81 continues here from Nice and drops passengers near Paloma Beach. The peninsula's coastal path adds extra walking time for travelers who want to see more than the villa gardens. Pairing both stops makes an easy half-day, leaving the rest of the day free for Nice itself.

Monaco and Menton: Casinos, Palaces, and the Italian Border

Monaco runs 20 to 30 minutes from Nice by train, the most direct route into the city-state. The Prince's Palace, the Monte Carlo Casino, and a marina lined with yachts anchor most visits. Gambling isn't required. The casino's public rooms and gardens are worth the stop on their own, and the changing of the guard at the palace is a popular moment to watch. Menton takes about 40 minutes by train and sits directly on the Italian border, the longest ride among the eastbound coastal stops. Pastel buildings and citrus trees give it a different feel from Nice, and the town's Lemon Festival runs every February. Visiting outside festival season keeps the Old Town easier to walk and the beaches less crowded.

Eze Village: The Hilltop Town Above the Sea

Eze splits into two distinct places that travelers often mix up. Eze-sur-Mer sits at sea level with the train station and a small beach. Eze-Village is the hilltop old town with medieval streets, art galleries, and the Jardin Exotique. The Nietzsche Path connects the two on a steep uphill hike. Carry water and expect real physical effort if walking between them; it is not a casual stroll. Bus 81 runs directly to Eze-Village from Old Nice for travelers skipping the climb entirely. Entry to the Jardin Exotique runs about €6 to €7; confirm the current price before visiting since admission fees shift year to year. Fragonard's perfume factory nearby offers tours of the production process; check current entry terms before visiting. Deciding which Eze you want before boarding a train or bus saves a wasted transfer and an unplanned climb.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Grasse: Galleries and Perfume Houses

Saint-Paul-de-Vence has no direct train from Nice, so reach it by bus connection, taxi, or organized tour. Narrow streets inside the walls hold art galleries and studios, and Fondation Maeght shows modern art in a purpose-built space just outside town. Grasse takes about an hour by train from Nice and is known as the perfume capital of France. Molinard and Galimard both run historic perfumeries open for visits. A dedicated museum in town covers the perfume industry's history in more depth for anyone who wants more than a factory stop. Pair either stop with a slower afternoon since both towns reward walking over a rushed loop.

Antibes and Cannes: Museums, Marinas, and the Lérins Islands

Antibes runs 20 to 30 minutes from Nice by train. Bus and tram options take 30 to 50 minutes for those without a convenient train connection. Ramparts dating to the 10th century wrap the harbor, and the Picasso Museum inside Château Grimaldi anchors the Old Town. Luxury yachts line the marina known locally as the Billionaire's Quay. Cannes takes 30 to 40 minutes by train. It centers on La Croisette, the palm-lined promenade, and the Palais des Festivals, the venue behind the film festival's reputation. From the Old Port, a ferry runs out to the Lérins Islands. Sainte-Marguerite has nature trails and a fort tied to the Man in the Iron Mask legend, while Saint-Honorat is home to a working monastery. Both islands stay quieter than the mainland circuit around Cannes, and either makes a good add-on to an Antibes or Cannes day rather than a full day on its own.

Full-Day Escapes: Verdon Gorge, Valensole Lavender, and Saint-Tropez

Verdon Gorge needs a car or an organized tour, with about a 2-hour drive from Nice. No realistic train or bus connection exists, so treat it as a full-day commitment rather than an add-on to another stop. Valensole's lavender fields bloom from late June through July; outside that window, the fields are cut back or bare and the trip loses its point. Time a visit to that window if lavender is the goal, and expect a car or tour either way since public transit doesn't reach the plateau. Saint-Tropez sits south of Saint-Raphaël, where the TER line turns inland and away from the coast. A seasonal ferry from Nice or Cannes beats driving. Parking in town runs limited and expensive in summer, and the coast road gets congested in high season. Confirm the ferry schedule before building a day around it, since service runs seasonally rather than year-round.

Timing Day Trips from Nice Around the Seasons

Season changes which of these trips makes the most sense. Menton's Lemon Festival takes over the town every February, and Valensole's lavender fields only bloom from late June through July. Summer brings the heaviest crowds and traffic to Monaco, Eze, and Saint-Tropez, so an early start matters more in July and August than in shoulder months. Spring and early fall keep the coastal towns easier to walk and the trains less crowded, without losing much in the way of weather. Saint-Tropez's ferry service runs on a seasonal schedule, so confirm current dates before planning a trip around it rather than assuming year-round service.

Choosing the Right Day Trip for a Nice-Based Stay

Not every day trip needs to be full-day or far-flung. Pair one or two of these stops with Nice's own 12 Hidden Gems in Nice: Local Secrets and Quiet Escapes for slower afternoons back in the city. Families get the most from Villefranche-sur-Mer or Antibes, given the short ride and swimmable beaches; check the Nice with Kids: A Family Guide to the French Riviera guide for more on which stops suit different ages. Couples looking for a slower pace tend to prefer Eze or Saint-Paul-de-Vence, where galleries and gardens set a different tone than the beach towns. Hikers should prioritize the Cap Ferrat coastal path or the Lérins Islands trails over the hilltop villages. Monaco and Cannes deliver the most polish for travelers chasing casinos, marinas, and film-festival history. Both cost more once meals and entry fees are added up. Budget-conscious travelers can offset a paid entry or ferry ticket by pairing the day trip with the Free Things to Do in Nice: A 2026 Budget Guide to the French Riviera guide on non-trip days.

Mistakes to Avoid on Day Trips from Nice

A few recurring mistakes cost travelers real time or money on these routes, and most are easy to avoid with a little planning.

• Relying on a car for coastal towns costs more in parking than a train ticket, and Monaco-area traffic backs up for miles in season.
• Confusing Eze-sur-Mer with Eze-Village sends travelers to the wrong stop before they realize the mistake.
• Skipping the return-schedule check on longer routes like Menton or Grasse risks missing the last train back to Nice.
• Visiting Valensole outside late June through July means missing the lavender fields entirely, since they're cut back or bare the rest of the year.