- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Villefranche-sur-Mer has been a popular port of call in the French Riviera for cruise ships since the 1980s. This former Russian Navy Base is a fishing port in the Alpes-Maritimes department of Cote d’Azur, near the French border of Italy, approximately 6 kilometers from Nice. Rich in history, this picturesque tax-free town is filled with colorful villas on hillsides, truly reminiscent of Italian architecture. Great for strolling and hiking, this amazing destination will provide a true feel of the Mediterranean lifestyle, and many wealthy individuals have decided to retire here. The citadel that overlooks the seaside town, Citadella Saint-Elme, has three museums that are free to enter. The historic monument hosts movie nights, concerts, and a wide variety of other local events, and also serves as the town’s City Hall, which was inaugurated in March of 1981. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is also a nearby tourist attraction filled with antique furniture and art, with nine beautiful gardens surrounding the historical place. Dubbed as a part of the “Notable Gardens of France”, there is a rose, stone, Florentine, Spanish, French formal, exotic, Japanese, Provençal, and a garden de Sèvres. Every year, The Painters’ Day and Opera Azuriales events are held here as well. Many tourists enjoy snorkeling in the clear, sapphire sea. The beach is jellyfish-free, and cobblestone covers the area, so it is advised to keep this in mind when choosing footwear for the day. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a port SeaDream visit on some voyages that also travel to Monte Carlo, Nice, and Saint-Tropez, and is truly an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the Watersports Marina, inclusive in your voyage fare.