Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice, France Riviera)

Villefranche-sur-Mer (Port de la Sante) is the cruise port for Nice (France) which by passenger traffic is ranked the busiest on the French Riviera. The town is part of France's Alpes-Maritimes department and has total area approx 5 km2 (2 mi2) and population around 6,000.

Other French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) ports include Antibes, Bandol, Cannes, Cassis, Marseille, Sanary-sur-Mer, St Raphael, St Tropez, Toulon (La Seyne-sur-Mer), Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Cruise companies arrange shuttle bus services between Port Nice and Port Villefranche (distance ~4 km / 2,5 mi), with travel time ~10 min.

The town's limits extend to the bay's surrounding hills reaching up to 520 m (1750 ft) above sea level (at Mont-Leuze). The three main roads that link Nice City to Italy pass through Villefranche. The town's main (largest) beach is Plage des Marinieres (at bay's northern coast) stretching for 1 km along the railway linking Nice to Italy. Plage de la Darse (pebble beach) is behind La Darse harbor's main jetty.

The local economy is heavily based on tourism and leisure industries, with numerous hotels and restaurants that employ most of the inhabitants. The most popular tourist activities are sailing and deep-sea diving. The port is located on one of the Mediterranean's deepest natural harbors. It serves ferries and cruise liners. A large marina serves mega-yachts and pleasure boats). Big-sized vessels anchor in the bay and ferry their passengers to the piers via tenders.

Villefranche-Nice cruise port is popular mainly as a call port on Western Mediterranean itineraries. It is often included in the summer schedules of major passenger shipping companies like Marella UK, P&O UK, RCI-Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, DCL-Disney, also the all-inclusive luxury brands Silversea, Azamara, Crystal. Windstar, Ponant, SeaDream.

On January 21st, 2025, Nice's Mayor declared a ban on the docking of large-size cruise ships exceeding 900 passengers or longer than 190 m/623 ft. 

Villefranche-sur-Mer cruise terminal

Villefranche-sur-Mer tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Old Nice: sparkling area of narrow streets, lively facades in Sardinian architectural style. You can see the famous Palais de la Préfecture, Palais Lascaris (dating from the 17th century), Palais Communal Masséna and the Hall of Justice.
• Colourful markets: located in the Old Nice and one of the busiest areas of the city. You can visit the Cours Saleya Flower Market every day of the week except the Mondays. From June to September, there is crafts and arts market.
• Promenade des Anglais: beautiful boulevard at the seafront lined with palm trees. It is also known as the ”walkway of the English’.” It was named like that because the path was founded by an English guy in the early 1820s.
• Saint Nicolas’ Cathedral: the cathedral has the reputation of the ”most splendid Russian Orthodox church.”
• Monaco: you should not miss to visit the breathtaking Monte Carlo.
• Cannes: the iconic home of the most famous film festival in the world.

After July 14th terrorist attack in Nice France, cruise lines called either port calls or shore excursions to Nice (port Villefranche-sur-Mer arrivals). The list of lines included P&O, MSC, Royal Caribbean, NCL Norwegian, Regent and Oceania. Also cancelled were all shore tous from nearby French Riviera ports, such as Cannes and Monaco, scheduled in the next few days. On July 14, 2016, a truck driver accelerated into crowds of revelers celebrating the Bastille Day, killing 84 people.