DIY Nice vs Monaco

[cruise kitty]

Please help me decide. I have searched the boards and narrowed down my itinerary. DH and I will be tendered at Villafrance on Wed. Dec 2 from 7am to 6 pm. Should we do (all by bus, we are in good shape & very comfortable with public transport):

Option 1:

Monaco (no casino), then Eze, then Nice, finish in Villefranche.

Option 2:

Monaco (no casino), Then Eze, finish in Villefranche

Option 3:

Nice, then Eze, finish in Villefranche

 

Thank you for any tips, advice, opinions!

[BiggiB]

Bonjour!

To help you to finalize your itinerary, here are some thoughts about the places to visit. One day at the Côte d'Azur, does permit only a glimpse of each of the wonderful places you have on your wish list, but it can be done

just to get a "feeling" about the place.

 

First of all, when you arrive, ask at the entrance hall to the port, if there is any strike planned for that day. This should change your schedule immediately, because you would have to skip one or the other place ...

Most probably you will find maps and informations about Villefranche and Nice right there at the information counter.

 

Let's hope for the best and no strike is scheduled. Then I would advise to have a short walk in Villefranche UP to the Basse Corniche (Lower coastal road). Best you walk along the pier until the Mere Germaine restaurant and take the tiny little medieval gate into town. This gives you a glimpse of the eery Rue Obscure (the Covered Street), and up the staircases towards the church. Follow the road up to the main street. The bus stop to Nice is on the opposite site, next to a bar (they have bus stop signs out).

 

Take the # 100 bus to Nice and get off in the Old Port in front of the church. It is a pleasant walk along the right side of the port towards the famous Promenade des Anglais. You have an almost perfect view of the Bay of Nice just when you turn right from the port.

Take the Promenade until you reach the park in front of the Meridien Hotel. You may walk through this garden with its wonderful fountains and modern art until Place Massena.

Turn right from there to find your way to Vieux Nice, the old town. It is mainly a pedestrian area and features the famous Flower Market in the morning. Worth a visit, also the vegetable market.

Strolling through the cobble stone streets of Old Nice is fun; there are a lot of small crafts and food shops. Stop for a quick espresso in one of the coffee houses and taste some food from food stalls along the way, if you like. From the map, find your way to the main bus terminal next to the Old Town (Gare Routiere) and take the bus to Eze Village (not Eze-sur-Mer, since this is situated along the coastal route). The bus stops right in the middle of the village and it is a 20 minute walk up to the medieval fortifications. Best view of the coast: From the Exotic Garden right on top (small entrance fee). A treat: Have a coffee on the terrace of the Château Eza Hotel, if you don't want to go all the way up to the Exotic Garden. Beautiful view.

 

You can take the bus to Monaco from where you left the bus arriving from Nice. The trip takes about 15 minutes, but the buses don't go very frequently. Have a look at the schedule already when you get off the bus.

 

To start in Monaco, you best leave the bus in the vicinity of the Casino, since it is the heart of Monte-Carlo. Worthwhile a walk: The Casino gardens with their fountains, the Jardin Afrique with its collection of exotic trees (beautifully landscaped gardens). The Office du Tourism on top of the gardens provide a lot of very good printed information about the Principality.

Have a stroll on the sunny Casino terraces (behind the Casino/Opera building), facing south to the Port and towards Monaco Ville, the old town.

If you walk to the Hotel Hermitage (a little bit up the road behind the Hotel du Paris) there's a bus stop for busses #1 or #2, going all the way up to the Old Town. The sights there are described in http://www.visitmonaco.com (Cathedral, Palace, Oceanographic Museum, a.m.m.).

Nice little bars and restaurants are to be found in the Old Town.

Walk down through the fortifications right side of the Palace to go back into town and follow Rue Princess Caroline (pedestrian area) to get down to the Port with its many luxurious yachts.

Walk along the port (turn left when you come down the hill), towards the Saint Devote church and find your way to the train station.

You either can take the train back to Villefranche from here; tickets to be purchased in advance from a machine or from the counter at the train station. Trains run frequently like every 20 minutes during day time.

Or you take the RCA bus # 100 back to Villefranche. Busses run every 10 minutes.

Advantage train: You arrive close to the beach in Villefranche and just walk back to the port building along the coast (about 15 minutes if you walk slowly).

 

This tour should be manageable in the time available, provided there's no strike. Plan to leave Nice around noon for Eze, calculate 2 hours for Eze and you are fine with Monaco in the rest of time. Calculate the bus to be slow on the way back to Villefranche because of commuter traffic late afternoon. Trains might be the better choice, they will be crowded as well but don't take as long.

 

Wishing you a wonderful day at the Côte d'Azur and I keep my fingers crossed that it will be a sunny day, too, but don't forget your umbrellas though and a warmer jacket ;).

Brigitte

[cruise kitty]

Bonjour!

Wishing you a wonderful day at the Côte d'Azur and I keep my fingers crossed that it will be a sunny day, too, but don't forget your umbrellas though and a warmer jacket ;).

Brigitte

 

Brigitte:

 

Thank You so much for your very helpful reply! I printed out all your tips and look forward to using them.:)

[alexandra cruiser]

Think both cities would be too much, just see enough to say you ve been there, that s it. Stick with one, I d say Nice, and see it in more depth.I was there in June and spent 2 days, still could have enjoyed more.Do take the hop on hop off bus, goes to all the sites.Monaco is nice ,but too glitzy, casino ish for me.Good luck in your decision. Its a wonderful area for a visit.Let us know how you liked it and your decision.:)