Villefranche & to Monaco

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Today's adventure winds along the eastern shores of the Cote d'Azur where you will discover several small seaside towns and a tiny country with the world's richest inhabitants. The train can take you along most of today's route, but you will find it easier and more interesting to take the bus out and return back by train. Distances are short -- you could travel all the way from one end to the other, Nice to Menton, in 35 minutes by train, so the brief bus rides linking each place are easy to handle and will give you better access to some of the sights.

Begin at the main bus station of Nice, the Gare Routier, located a few blocks east of Place Massena along Boulevard Jean Jaures. Buses leave every 15 minutes, but you might take note of the bus schedules while here, or check on-line at www.rca.tm.fr. Plan on the 9:10am departure to get a good start on this action-packed day, which will deliver you in just 15 minutes to your first stop, Villefranche, providing a scenic ride along the way with views of the old port of Nice and passing coastal villas.

VILLEFRANCHE

The bus lets you off in the new part of Villefranche, which you don't need to see, so walk downhill towards the Café de la Paix (ask a local if in doubt), then take the steps leading down into the Old Town along Rue l'Eglise. The steps will lead you into a small pedestrian maze of alleys, with shops, galleries and cafes scattered everywhere. For general bearings just keep heading downhill, which leads you towards the waterfront in a few minutes. Along the way notice the arcaded street, Rue Obscure, a historic landmark one block inland from the marina, which is a picturesque boat harbor along the water's edge, lined with a row of outdoor restaurants.

This entire stroll can be done in 45 minutes if you just keep walking, or you could take 2 hours for a more thorough exploration of the side lanes and plazas. Villefranche is a popular cruise port as well, and it's only about 15 minutes away from Monaco, either by bus or by train, but there are a few other villages along the way worth visiting.

You now face the choice of either exploring the adjacent Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, with its nature walk and impressive mansions, or moving further along the coast.

Best source for train tickets and rail passes: https://www.acprail.com