Hotels near Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is the closest classic Riviera fishing village to Nice and the easiest day trip on this list - just 6 km east, 7 minutes by TER train, and visible from the lookout on Mont Boron. Its deep natural harbour is so large and sheltered that cruise liners moor offshore and tender passengers in by lifeboat.

The Old Town drops down to the water in a tumble of pink, ochre, and lemon-yellow houses, with the Rue Obscure - a 13th-century covered medieval street - and the Cocteau-painted Chapelle Saint-Pierre on the quay. Lunch at one of the harbour-front restaurants is one of the great Riviera experiences, and the Plage des Marières beside the train station is the easiest swimming beach east of Nice.

Pro Tip: Buy a return TER ticket from Nice-Ville for around €5 and aim to arrive by 11 a.m. Harbour terrace tables fill quickly for lunch, and the afternoon light on the painted facades is best between 4 and 6 p.m.