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Best Day Trips from Nice

December 4, 2020
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Taking a road trip through southern France comes with its challenges. The roads are narrow and windy. You have to pay for the rental car, which is astronomically more expensive if you’re under age 25. You have to figure out paying for parking or finding free options — way harder than it sounds. But as much stress as the rental car brought Mal and I on our French Riviera trip, we still say it was worth it. So many places on our itinerary cannot be reached by train. And having a car made it easier to go by our schedule, too. There are an abundance of beautiful day trips in southern France, and today I’m sharing the best day trips from Nice, France.

Villefranche-sur-Mer

This darling coastal town promises sea views and an escape from the hustle and bustle. And out of our entire trip through the Riviera from St. Tropez to Cannes and beyond, this village takes the cake for best meal. By far. Hands down. No ifs, ands or buts.

Mal and I stopped here for lunch on our way from Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild to Nice. We dined at Lou Bantry just two feet from the waterfront. I mean, we threw our leftover baguette to the ducks from our table. You cannot beat this location or views. And it wasn’t too ridiculously priced either.

I ordered the Niçoise Burger, which included basil, coppa, mozzarella and tapenade. Good lands! Rich flavor, exquisite taste. My mouth is still watering as I think about this meal. The restaurant also had the Nissarde Cuisine logo, which means it’s authentic Niçoise cuisine. (I explain what this means in more detail here.)

Distance: 4 miles, or 7 kilometers

It’s about a 20-minute drive. And there are 3-minute trains from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin

Mal and I really only had time to drive through Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin, but they were both stunning as ever. In Menton, we walked along the beach and watched the windsurfers in this quaint town.

This spot is known for its lemons as is commemorated every February by Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival. This event attracted more than 200,000 attendees and boasts 180 tons of citrus fruits.

We drove through Roquebrune Cap Martin and only stopped the car to take a photo along the road. But wow. It was absolutely stunning. Both Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin offer delightful views.

Distance: 12 miles, or 20 kilometers

Driving from Nice to Menton takes about 30 minutes. The train from Nice to Menton takes about 36 minutes. Taking the train from Nice directly to Roquebrune Cap Martin takes about 30 minutes. It takes about 7 minutes to take the train or drive from Menton to Roquebrune Cap Martin. However, because Roquebrune Cap Martin is a peninsula, I’d recommend driving over trains. But you certainly could walk along the coast, too.

Monte Carlo

If you’re in Nice, you simply cannot forego a trip to nearby Monaco, which is technically another country. Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun or roll the dice, Monte Carlo’s glitz and glam is unbelievably close. Here’s a post with everything to do in Monte Carlo.

Distance: 8 miles, or 13 kilometers

It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Nice to Monte Carlo. And the trains from Nice to Monte Carlo are about 20 minutes.

Èze

This medieval village enchanted me so much so I almost teared up as we left because I just didn’t want to go. If there are castles, sea views and charm, I’m so there. And Èze checks all these boxes. When we arrived at this darling village, we parked our Peugeot and started walking up toward the castle ruins.

This medieval village is a labyrinth of cobblestone and windy paths, but the steps are worth it. There are shops and restaurants along the way to the top where you get sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Once you make it to the top, you have to pay to enter the Jardin Exotique d’Èze. Be sure to ask about the deal that includes both the garden in Èze and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild nearby.

The castle ruins and exotic gardens transport you back to an idyllic, ancient France. Inhabitants first reached the area around 220 B.C., but the fortress wasn’t built until the 1100s. All that to say, this place is packed with history and views that will give you butterflies. I will 100% make it back to Èze for its charm and history. If you have to pick one of the best day trips from Nice, this one should be at the top of your list.

Distance: about 8 miles, or 12 kilometers

It’s about a 30-minute drive from Nice to Èze. The train from Nice to Èze take about 15 minutes.

Grasse

Ever wondered about the history of perfume? And what makes France such a holy grail for perfume makers? Mal and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at Musée International de la Parfumerie. This museum walks you through the history of scent from thousands of years ago with the Egyptians all the way to today. It’s filled with perfume bottles, old and new, along with advertisements and even gardens. After reading a book about Coco Chanel, I found this museum even more fascinating as I knew the story and major success behind Chanel No. 5.

While the International Parfumerie Museum has an entrance fee, Fragonard does not. (I still wholeheartedly recommend the former as it’s much more in depth.) But when in Grasse, definitely take a stroll through Fragonard’s store and small museum nearby.

Mal and I chuckled when we arrived. Because the moment we got out of our car in a parking garage blocks away, we could smell perfume. Even with masks on. If you’re headed to Grasse, get ready to experience the world’s perfume capital in the truest sense.

And having the sweet tooth that I do, naturally, gelato was in order. I ordered some flavorful raspberry gelato from a recently opened tea room called Camélia.

Distance: 28 miles, or 45 kilometers

Both the drive and the train from Nice to Grasse take about an hour.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

French history fascinates me, and one major name to know is the Rothschilds. This Jewish family established a successful bank, enduring hundreds of years. And Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild was created in the early 1900s and belonged to Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild. This woman loved gardens, and you could spend hours wandering through her many gardens with ocean views and flora from all over the world.

Béatrice collected a bounty of art including one of Marie Antionette’s tables and a rug of Louis XIV. After she received a large sum of inheritance following her father’s death, Béatrice began building her villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. She also casually beat out Léopold II, king of Belgium, for buying this land, according to the website.

And yes, she had a room for her pet monkeys, if you were wondering. And that room was nicer than any room of mine: past, present or future. The craziest part is that this was her winter home. She had other lavish abodes in Paris, Monaco and Deauville.

All that to say, you could easily spend a day here wandering the many rooms and gardens. Be sure to stop by the salon de thé, or the tea room, for a bite. Mal and I had a delightful spot of ice cream with even better views and the utmost class. As for best day trips from Nice, this was one of my favorites.

Distance: 6 miles, or 9 kilometers

It’s about a 30-minute drive from Nice to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Getting to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild by public transportation is a bit more complicated. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat’s tourism website recommends taking the Lignes d’Azur bus to Port de Saint-Jean. From Nice, it also recommends taking the TER train to Monaco-Menton and stopping at Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Then you’d need to take a bus to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This would take about 35 to 40 minutes.

Southeastern France, especially near Nice, is teeming with idyllic day trips. As fabulous as the big French cities, do not miss the quaint villages and medieval fortresses with these best day trips from Nice.

Discover the best spots in Nice, France, and Monte Carlo.

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Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
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Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
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Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small w Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small world” moments?🌏

☀️Back in 2017, I spent a summer in Toulouse. One weekend, my friends and I went on a road trip to a slew of villages in southwestern France. They were truly some of the best days of my life: we stayed in my friend’s castle🏰(casual), we swam in the river + sunbathed, we drank wine + played games, we explored idyllic villages.

One of my favorite spots with the sweetest of nostalgic memories was in a small village called Laguépie. Population: ~600. Whenever people asked me my favorite place in France, nobody ever knew where I was talking about. It wasn’t in the magazines or travel blogs. (Ahem, it’s on mine!)

➡️Fast forward to 2020. I’m preparing to leave for France and am keeping a close eye on my teaching program’s Facebook page. An American girl posted in the group about her time in Marseille, and we began messaging. She helped me with a million and one things during my move to France, and we’ve stayed in touch and become good friends.

Earlier this month, I visited Albi to see her along with her French boyfriend, who’s from a small village. He never told me the name, but as we were sipping wine and eating saucissons, he said something about Laguépie.

“WHAT?! Did you say Laguépie? I’ve been there and fell in L O V E!” He said, no, we can’t be talking about the same place, no one ever goes to my hometown😂 But after showing him my photos, including ones the village’s castle @chateau_louvielcastel reposted, it was one and the same.

Can someone queue “Invisible String” because what a small world this is that we’re all connected. Do you have any wild stories like that? Tell me in the comments⬇️

#laguepie #laguépie #viaur #franceprofonde #lafranceprofonde #microinfluencer #tarn #garonne #occitanie #frenchvillage #vivelafrance #stmartinlaguepie #bloggersunder5k #bloggersunder2k #bloggersunder1k #bloggersunder10k #itsasmallworld #smallworld #jaimelafrance #patrimoine @occitanietourisme
What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌 What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌

✈️I love finding travel destinations + itineraries, easy recipes and decorating ideas. My guess is that you've found some blogs and ideas you love through this site. 

😍I'm even more obsessed with how @pinterest serves to grow my blog and brand.

Currently kicking myself for not getting on the Pinterest for Business train sooner because this site is truly a game changer. I went from a personal account with a wedding board and gluten-free board with recipes I’d never tried to a bustling business board with more than 400,000 monthly visitors. And most of that is not from advertising.

📈I took a free @jennakutcher webinar on how to use Pinterest for Business and saw massive growth. And the best part? You can schedule out content for an entire week in just 30 minutes to an hour. 

⏩Pinterest is my top driver of traffic, and if you want to upgrade your blog like a pro, this is where you need to invest your time, hands down.

Want to learn how you can use Pinterest to grow your blog, brand or biz? Head over to link in bio for my best blogging tips💯

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Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰 This med Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰

This medieval village enchanted me so much so I almost teared up as we left because I just didn’t want to go. If there are castles, sea views and charm, I’m so there. And Èze checks all these boxes✅ 

😍This medieval village is a labyrinth of cobblestone and windy paths, but the steps are worth it. There are shops and restaurants along the way to the top where you get sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. 

🌵Once you make it to the top, you have to pay to enter the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, and I can't recommend it enough. (Be sure to ask about the combo deal that includes both the garden in Èze and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild nearby.)

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 30-minute drive or 15 minute train ride

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Head over to link in bio ❤️

#nicefrance #nicefr #nice #southernfrance #eze #èze #ezefr #ezefrance #ezevillage #medievalvillage #seaside #seasidedining #seasidelunch #mediterraneansea #mediterranean #oceanviews #microinfluencer #tapif #tapifusa #assistantsdelangue #assistantdelangue #tefl #esl #eslteacher #teflteacher #teachabroad #teachabroadfrance #jardinexotique #microinfluencer
How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am th How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am the queen of getting lost — and not on purpose😂

When I lived in Toulouse in 2017, I took a day trip to a nearby town to visit a friend. Wanting to get the best deal, I booked the 6 a.m. train. Unfortunately, I didn't think it all the way through🙃

I left my apartment on time, but when I got to the metro, it hadn't started running yet. I was nervous about getting to the train station on time, but if I hurried, I could make it.

Alas, I made it to the metro stop where I was supposed to switch metro lines. I had one job, and I failed🙈

⚠️I went the wrong direction, and once I realized it, I quickly got off the next stop and ran up to the street. I was unbelievably lost, and the sun hadn't even come up. Eventually, I made it to the train station but had completely missed the train.

And defeated, I sat down in the bakery, cried and FaceTimed my mom. Some kind French girl saw my tears and approached me to help me book a new train.

Since then, I've gotten lost many more times😆 But it's taught me to not be so hard on myself because getting lost is part of the journey. (And if it's not a good time, it's a good story, eh?😜)

 #blogginglife #dametravel #dametraveler #blogger #girlswhotravel #travelquotes #quotes #inspirational #bloggerunder5k #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #bloggervibes #bloggersgetsocial #travelblogger #instablog #microinfluencer #microinfluencers #quotable #eze #ezefr #tapif #assistantdelangue #tapifusa
Have you ever dreamed about making money from your Have you ever dreamed about making money from your hobby?✨

I remember when I first decided I wanted to make money from my blog. I thought to myself, I’m not qualified and no one is going to buy this. I’m just a 19 year-old girl! 

❌Wrong, wrong, wrong! You have expertise, you have knowledge, you have know-how. Blogging isn’t often a get rich quick scheme; it takes a lot of time and effort. But the fact that you can make money from doing what you love on your own time online is the coolest!

📚When I started monetizing my blog, I started out selling my paperback books, and I made money from these self-published books at the ripe age of 19. I’ve found better luck selling digital products such as ebooks as the profit margins and logistics are much simpler.

Tell me about your dreams in the comments⬇️And if you're looking to monetize your blog, bop over to my link in bio on how to do exactly that🤑

#bloggergirl #blogginglife #blog #blogger #girlswhotravel #bloggingtips #bloggingadvice #getrich #sidehustle #sidegig #monetize #monetizeyourblog #bloggerunder5k #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #bloggervibes #bloggersgetsocial #travelblogger #instablog #monetizeyourbrand #monetizeyourpassion
Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and R Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin

🚦Mal and I really only had time to drive through Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin, but they were both stunning as ever. In Menton, we walked along the beach and watched the windsurfers in this quaint town.

🍋This spot is known for its lemons as is commemorated every February by Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival. This event attracts more than 200,000 attendees and boasts 180 tons of citrus fruits.

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 12 miles (20 kilometers) or about a 30-minute drive or train ride to Menton

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Bop over to link in bio!

#menton #RoquebruneCapMartin #mentonfr #mentonfrance #feteducitron #nicefrance #nicefr #nice #southernfrance #cotedazur #frenchriviera #mediterraneansea #mediterranean #oceanviews #microinfluencer #tapif #tapifusa #assistantsdelangue #assistantdelangue #tefl #esl #eslteacher #teflteacher #teachabroad #teachabroadfrance
It was one of the weekends that reminded me why I It was one of the weekends that reminded me why I fell in love with France in the first place❤️🇫🇷

I had the pleasure of visiting a friend in Albi, which is about an hour away from Toulouse. This darling village drips idyllic charm and photo-worthy nooks.

But even more than that, the French have a way of living in the moment that I just don’t see often in America. Everything is so slow here, which makes me grumpy often.

Yet it’s also what makes the culture so beautiful. My American friend and I grumbled that we didn’t have dinner until about 10 p.m. But the French approach to savoring meals and drawing them out to three hours long is so relaxing — if you let it be. Wine, card games, dancing, appetizers (except the foie gras, which tasted like a sweaty duck🦆) and deep belly laughter.

Oh and all in French. So many times, my American friend and I said to each other, “it’s just not like this in America.”

I haven’t laughed or smiled this much in a long time. Believe me, I could rattle off plenty of things about France that drive me crazy. But it’s weekends like these that send my heart up to French Cloud 9💕
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