Villefranche to Monte Carlo to Nice for a Group in Late Twenties

[IHeartTravel]

Hello!

 

I was reading on the forum that it is possible to go to Monte Carlo (casino) and Nice in the same day. We will be tendering in the Villefranche-sur-Mer port on Tuesday, October 1 from 7:00AM - 7:00PM on the Liberty of the Seas.

 

We would like to visit one of the casinos in Monte Carlo and sight-see in Nice. What is the best method of transportation? We would prefer to do it on our own via train or bus. If not possible, please let me know.

 

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

[marazul]

Train from Villefranche to Monte Carlo. Check the schedules in the trains run every 15-20 minutes. You buy tickets at the station. It's a 15 minute ride.

 

The closest train station to the port and the Flower Market in Nice is Nice-Riquier. You have a long walk or take a taxi.

[nzdisneymom]

We tendered in Villefranche in June and while our all ashore time was 8:30, even the ship-sponsored tours weren't ashore until 10:00 or later. Hopefully with an early arrival time, you'll have a better tendering experience than we had and can be ashore in time to catch the earlier trains.

 

We did B2B cruises so on our second stop in Villefranche, we didn't do a tour but it was still later in the morning before the non-excursion guests were going ashore. It's a short walk to the train station from where the tenders drop you off (allow 15 minutes) and there was quite a line for purchasing tickets for the train. As you exit the cruise area, there is a sign that points the way.

 

 

 

[IHeartTravel]

Thank you for the suggestions. The pictures are very helpful, now my friends and I now what to look for!

 

We are late risers so hopefully the train or bus won't be as crowded.

[cruz.n.carebear]

Our ship dropped anchors and were tendering people starting at 7:30am. We slept in a bit and didn't leave the ship until closer to 9-9:30. The trains were still insane. We were not able to make the first one because it was mass chaos as people tried to catapult themselves onto the train. A SCNF worker was yelling at people to get back and allow the doors to close and to wait for 20 min for the next train, which is what we did. The next train was still standing room only the whole trip to Monaco. I'd have hated to see what it was like earlier in the morning!

[weluvrpups]

Since you are going in October, I would think that is more off-season and you shouldn't have a problem with crowded trains no matter when you get there. We docked June 3rd and followed tomsportguide (highly recommend you check out tom's free villefranche port guide online, tomsportguides dot com) for a fantastic photo of how to spot the train station stairs from the coast line. Although we did notice the signs as well. From the tender, it's a nice walk along the waterfront to the train station stairs. It was not crowded at all. We arrived at maybe 820, bought tickets from the sweet attendant who also sold us a ticket from Monaco to Nice so we wouldn't have any wait in Monaco.There were maybe 12 people on the platform at the most and the train cars were all half empty.

 

The train station in Monaco is huge but once you find your way out the bus stop for bus 1 and 2 which make the full circuit around Monaco, is right there. We were where we needed to be by 9 am and back on a train to Nice by 1pm. I will say the train cars from Monaco to Nice were a little more full - maybe 80%.

 

After a full day in Monaco and Nice we were wiped out and just wanted to get back to VF as quick as possible so we hopped in a taxi and it cost us 40 euros to get back to the VF port from Nice's waterfront area.