2026 - August - Villefranche-sur-Mer

Cruisers definitely know this place, as the ocean giants like to anchor here in the bay. The reason is simple: Villefranche-sur-Mer is the perfect starting point for dream destinations like Nice, Cannes, or Monaco. However, I personally think that for such places, you need more time than just a few hours. 

That’s why we decided to just stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer anyway. This charming little town is well-suited for a day trip. 

Since the bay itself does not have a cruise ship port, tendering is necessary here. This means small boats pick up the passengers one by one from the cruise ship and take them to the small port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. But how do you organize the tendering for over 2,000 passengers? The solution: tickets. In fact, we had to get these at the theater and then wait. And to avoid boredom, they played the ABBA film “Mamma Mia.” Definitely not my taste, but the film is so harmless and has sing-along music, which was indeed done. 

From the tender port, we explored the sights at 33°C. First of all, the cityscape of the bay with its colorful facades and steep slopes is already enchanting. Several real estate agents in the city also offer properties here and, what can I say, it is very expensive here. 

I recommend just strolling through the town. Automatically, you will then encounter the sights of Villefranche-sur-Mer: 

- Rue Obscure: It is named this way because it is dark and somewhat obscure due to the development. We visited the town in full sunlight, so it was pleasantly shady but not really dark.

- Citadelle Saint-Elme: The large citadel is also impossible to overlook from a distance. Currently, it is interestingly decorated. An art exhibition showcases, for example, a large red