Villefranche-sur-Mer is not a big town, but it will certainly enchant you with its magical atmosphere and picturesque views.

Located just a short distance from Nice, you can be there in less than 10 minutes by train. It is situated on the coast, where on one side you have a view of the beautiful azure sea and on the other side steep hills covered with luxury villas.

If you decide to come to town by train, you will only have to walk about 5 minutes to the Old Town from the Villefranche-sur-Mer train station.

You can walk down the main street, with the small fishing harbour on your left, until you come to stone terraces covered with various shrubs and trees. Eventually, you will see the Saint-Elme Citadel – the stone fortress from the 16th century. From here you can continue into the Old Town and wander through the narrow streets. You can stop at one of the many shops for souvenirs or an ice cream.

Along the way, be sure to notice the beautiful colourful façades of the houses and the flowers in the windows that give the whole town a romantic atmosphere. If you want to take a break or refresh yourself on your discovery, there are plenty of benches on the streets where you can sit and soak up the local atmosphere. You are sure to come across St Michel Church, an 18th century Baroque-style church in the centre of the Old Town. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon Amélie’s traditional craft market or the Provençal Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings year-round.

If you arrive in town at a time when the markets are closed, be sure to stop by one of the local shops or restaurants. Some of them offer truly spectacular views.