Located in the south of
France, Nice is one of the cities most preferred by the European jet set in summers.. But Nice isn’t just a place for the wealthy to vacation. There are places nearby where you can both be beautiful and enjoy the Cote d’Azur beaches without spending a lot of money.. When you say Places to see and see in Nice and Nice beaches, if you want to be economical, one of the first places that comes to my mind is Villefranche Sur Mer. With its free idyllic beaches and an oil painting old town, one will regret not visiting Villefranche Sur Mer.. Moreover, the entry to this wonderful beach is free.
Those who go on holiday to Nice know. The beaches of the city do not satisfy us Turks, who have Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.. Especially if it is stony, it will disappoint many of you.. However, you should know that when you go on vacation here, you should prefer places around the beach, not in Nice.. Among the nearest beautiful beaches to Nice, the easiest and closest to reach is Villefranche Sur Mer
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This is one of the must-see places in Nice with both its beach and the historical city that is legendary for its beauty.. Moreover, you can get here from Nice in 10 minutes.
What You Should Know About Villefranche Sur Mer
How Many Days Do You Need to Sightsee?: 1 day is enough.
How to get there?: Trains from Nice to Monaco pass here. Beware, some may not stop at this stop as it is an express.. After Nice Ville, there is the Nice Riquier stop, and the next stop is Villefranche Sur Mer.. Ligne’d’Azur buses also depart from Nice Riquier.. Trains cost 1.8 Euros to get here.
When to go? It makes sense to go in summer time. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy the beach very much.
Do you need a visa? Because it’s in France, you need a Schengen visa
Currency: Euro
Language : It is French, but English is spoken everywhere because there are many British tourists.
What’s the matter?: It’s very close to Nice, the beach is beautiful, the city is beautiful enough to enchant photographers.
What time is it there?: One hour behind from Turkey. While it is 12 o’clock in Istanbul, it is 11 o’clock here.
Villefranche Sur Mer Travel Notes
I reserved the penultimate day of my trip in Nice to Villefranche Sur Mer. My intention was to both have a nice swim and sunbathe.. Also, as someone who loved the train a lot during my trip, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money.. As such, the most ideal place that came to my mind was Villefranche Sur Mer.. This is also the stop for cruise tours.
10 minutes by train. I found myself here after a short trip like. Before going down to the beach, I started climbing up with the intention of taking in the view of the city from above.. Although it was a bit tiring in the heat, I finally reached the road on the hill where the buses from Nice to Monaco pass.. It’s impossible not to be mesmerized by the scenery while taking a photo of Villefranche sur Mer from here.
Villefranche Sur Mer Beach
I made my way to the beach after enjoying the view. This beach is generally not known to Turks.. Turkish tourists prefer more popular beaches such as Juan les Pins, Cannes, Antibes. However, this does not mean that the beach is empty.
First of all, here is the entrance fee to the beach none. Only a part of the beach is operated by a private business.. The prices there are astonishing, but there is nothing wrong with the sunbeds.. The sea is the same sea.
The public beach is not what we are used to. I can say that it is a much nicer environment than most paid beaches in Turkey.. The beach is like the united nations you know. French, Italian, Dutch, Scandinavian, Australian.. He who throws his towel on the ground begins to sunbathe. Many people bring their own parasols. They were selling a 1.40 cm single sun umbrella for 7 Euros in a shop near the beach. I didn’t buy it because it was my last day.. But I think it’s necessary for a nice vacation.
The difference of Villefranche sur mer’s beach from the others is that of the beach. neither sand nor large gravel. In Nice and its surroundings, the beaches are generally covered with large pebbles, there is no sand.. There is also sand in places like Juan les Pins and Antibes when you get a little farther.. Here, there are some small stones made of sand.. These don’t stick like sand. Like big pebbles, it doesn’t bother you while sunbathing.. In my opinion, this is the ideal
Unlike other beaches in Nice and its surroundings, the showers here are located opposite the paid beach.. It takes 2-3 minutes by walking.. of course free. The toilet is right next to it.
When you turn your face towards the beach while swimming in the sea, the view waiting for you is simply perfect. Swimming, especially while looking at the colorful houses of the old city, relaxes your soul.
Places to Visit and See in Villefranche Sur Mer
At half past noon, I took a break from swimming and sunbathing in the sea and started to explore the city.. I walked towards the old town, following the coastal road. Both the architecture and the colorfulness of the houses towards the beach make you feel as if you are walking in an oil painting.. I would like to live in one of these houses and sit on the balcony and write my blog posts.. This is truly a journey to peace.. After this, there are restaurants and cafes.
Old Town (Vieille Ville)
There is a pass through one of these buildings to the old city. There is a wonder at the entrance of this passage.. This and similar charities are frequently seen in Nice and its environs, and the running water from them is drinkable.
I suggest you get lost in the streets here. But especially 13. The Rue Obscure (Dark Street), Rue du Silence (Street of Silence) and Rue du Poilu from the 19th century are the things you should see first.
At the end of Rue de Poilu you reach a beautiful panoramic terrace. The continuation of this road takes you to the train station.. There is also a fountain with lions in Place du Conseil (Council Square) on this street.. I tasted the water here too.. Place du Conseil with the lion fountain is also a beauty in itself.
There is also a historic church. Honestly, it didn’t affect me that much, but check it out while you’re at it.. It doesn’t take much of your time.. I especially loved the flowers of one of the trees in its garden.
There is also the historical fortress of the city among the places to visit.. I skipped it because of the hustle and bustle and the heat 🙂
After visiting the city, I went back to the beach to swim and sunbathe a little more, then I took the train back to Nice.. By the way, I should also mention that I left my bag and many belongings alone on the beach while I was visiting the old city, and everything was in place on my return.
Villefranche Sur Mer Video
Villefranche Sur Mer Photos
The city is so beautiful that you can find many photos that I couldn’t include in the article here.. Even someone who doesn’t understand photography like me can capture such frames.. And think about the rest
