Left and Right from Nice

Île-Saint-Honorat and Villefranche-Sur-Mer

(Left) Half a day's worth of exploring one of the Lérins Islands and Cannes Old Town, and (Right) ending the day with a delightful dinner in Villefranche-Sur-Mer

View of the coastline of Île-Saint-Honorat from the fortified fortress

A. Île-Saint-Honorat together with 3 other islands comprise the Lérins Islands. The largest two of these Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera are good swimming and picnic spots from Cannes --- perfect for day trips.

Getting there:

Gare de Nice-Ville

Regular trains between Nice-Ville and Cannes stations

- regional (slower) trains take about 40 minutes

- faster trains (Trenitalia) take about 24 minutes

Tip for tickets: check the price online, as sometimes, tickets bought online are cheaper than those purchased at the station.

From Cannes station, stroll along the high street until you get to the Le Vieux Port. Walk along the port towards the right to get to Port de Cannes where you'll find the boats for the Lérins Islands. It's roughly a 15 minute walk from the station.

Depending on where you'll go, ticket prices and boat timetables will vary.

Boat to the island

We chose to visit only one, which was Île-Saint-Honorat because it is less crowded there as compared to the other more famous island, Île-Saint-Marguerite (due to the Maritime Museum where the Man in the Iron Mask was said to be imprisoned). The other 2 islands are uninhabited. A standard adult return ticket was worth €16.50, and the boat ride was about 30 minutes from Cannes.

We bought lunch from McDonald's before going to the island. But there is a restaurant in the island where you can have a meal.

What's there to do?

Abbey de Lerins Monastery

Exclusively inhabited by monks since the 5th century AD, Île-Saint-Honorat now hosts the Cistercian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, and is known for producing wine, lavender oil, honey and Lérina, a herbal liquor which boosts appetite.

Abbey de Lerins monastery and church

Scattered in the island are small chapels and religious establishments. The largest structures of the island are the Abbey de Lerins monastery and the fortified fortress.

The fortified fortress/monastery

Inside and up the fortress

At the top of the fortress

There are also a lot of picnic spots and swimming points.

Island trail

Swimming spot in the island

You can just choose a spot and settle for a quiet day of relaxation, meditation, and swimming. There is no entrance fee to the island but it is expected that people observe silence and proper conduct.

Church of Our Lady Esperance

After getting out fill of swimming, we headed back to Cannes with the last boat departing the island and took a stroll to the Church of Our Lady of Esperance. Sitting atop the hill and overlooking the port, this Gothic-style stone church was completed in the 1600s, and is a good place for panoramic views of the port.

We then bought some souvenir magnets from one of the shops in the high street while making our way back to the train station.

Church of Our Lady of Esperance

B. Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer panorama

Villefranche-Sur-Mer is one of the most charming Niçoise fishing villages on the French Riviera. It is known for a lot of good restaurants and cafes where one can have a good meal while people-watching and enjoying the charming views of the Old Town.

Restaurants along the port of Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer port

Getting there:

We took the train from Gare de Cannes to Gare de Villefranche-Sur-Mer and then walked along the port to the Old Town.

We had a very satisfying dinner at a family-run restaurant deep in the Old Town, and then headed back to the hostel after by train.

Fish, ratatouille and salad

Steak, chips and salad

Creme brûlée

Expenses:

train ticket - €13

lunch - €15.50

ferry ticket - €16.50

candles - €2

magnet - €12

dinner - €32

Total: €91

Nice to Meet You

Nice Free Walking Tour

A day of walking around the old town, to taking a cold dip on the pebbled beach, and ending with a crazy pubcrawl.

Apollo's Statue

Place Massena

Nice Free Walking Tour

Nice Free Walking Tour Group

The only walking tour I could find for Nice is hosted by the Riviera Bar Crawl and Tours. They do it on Saturdays for January, Febuary, October - December, and on Tuesdays to Saturdays for March to September. The tour is roughly around 2.5 hours, starts at Massena Square Fountain, walks about the Opera House, the Cours Saleya Market, Palais de la Prefecture, Palace of Justice Square, Rosetti Square, Cathedral St. Reparate, Promenade des Anglais, Belanda's Tower, Port Lympia, and ends in the Castle Hill.

Massena Square

Meeting time is at 1055 in front of the Apollo Statue in Massena Square Fountain. The guide will be wearing a red T-shirt and holding a big red umbrella. I recommend that you book your slots on their website in advance especially during peak season. Find out more here.

There is a gelato stop at Gelati Azzurro. Don't worry if you don't have spare change for gelato because they offer free taste. There is another more famous gelato shop, Fennochio, just within the vicinity and it's known for a whole variety of eccentrically flavoured gelato - perfect for those with an adventurous sweet tooth.

Gelato stop at Gelati Azzuro

Fenocchio

The walking tour is a good way to familiarise yourself with the layout of the old town, on top of  learning about important points of interest, and potentially meeting people/making friends. Having said that, we didn't go inside all of the landmarks, but the idea is that you get to know what to see and where they are.

Opéra de Nice Côte d'Azur - look for the Statue of Liberty

Maison Auer - the oldest chocolate/candy shop in Nice

There is an antique market that is open during the day in Palais du Justice Square. You can find antique/old and new books and other vintage pieces here.

Palais de Justice Square

Cathédral Sàinte-Réparate looks noble from the outside but its majestically adorned interiors make it worth a visit.

Cathédral Sàinte-Réparate

After walking around town, the group will pass by the Promenade des Anglais and then climb up to Castle Hill. There is a lift for those unable to do the stairs.

Steps up to Castle Hill

Half-way point up the steps to Castle Hill

View of the Promenade at Belanda's Tower

Belanda's Tower

View of the port from Castle Hill

Promenade des Anglais beach

Promenade des Anglais

Since we came for the beach, we opted to go swimming in 16 degree sea temperature along the Promenade des Anglais. There are plenty of open spaces along the beach where one can lay and lounge free of charge. But if you would like to have a bench, umbrella, etc, there are numerous restaurants that offer such for certain fees. A lounge chair and umbrella rental typically ranges from €14 to 20 per person for either half a day or the whole day.

Promenade des Anglais beach

Some restaurants would not charge but you would have to dine in so to access their amenities.

Walking around Old Town

Promenade Côtière

For a quick view of Promenade des Anglais with the NICE letters.

Promenade Côtière

 Walking to Chez Pipo for lunch

Walking to Chez Pipo

If you fancy trying out the famous socca, which is a pancake made from chickpea flour, Chez Pipo is one good place to go to. They also serve pissaladière, Pan Bagnat, Pistou soup, and sweet chard pie.

Pissaladière (left rear plate) and persillade pizza

The famous socca

Port Olympia

After having lunch at Chez Pipo, we walked towards Port Olympia to check out the yachts.

Port Olympia Yachts

Exploring Nice - Other points of interest

Jardin Albert I

Porte Favsse: A passage to enter the old town from Boulevard Jean Jaurès

Quick socca stop at Lou Pilha Leva

Socca

Plassa San-Frances

Candy shop

Old town streets in the early morning

Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption

A vast net-gothic church built in 1864, this basilica that resembles the Notre Dame lights up beautifully at night so be sure to check it out after dark.

Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption

 Place Massena

Massena Square also lights up at night and is a good place to people-watch.

Place Massena at night

Cap it off with a fun Pub Crawl

We joined the Riviera Bar Crawl for €15 per person. Just like every other bar crawl, it starts off in a bar with happy hour rates for drinks for about an hour. Then we headed to Massena Square where a game was played before we proceeded to bar hopping. It was a fun and good way to explore the nightlife of the city and meet other people. Check out their website to learn more.

4 bars and 1 club; free shot per bar