The Riviera only feels chaotic if you visit the towns in the wrong order. I learned this the hard way.
My mistake looked like this: I left Nice for Monaco around 11:00 AM (exactly when cruise passengers are flooding the streets). It felt chaotic, so I headed back to Nice for lunch. Later I thought, “we should see Èze too,” took the bus east again, then returned to Nice once more for dinner.
By the end of the day, I’ve spent more time on trains and buses than actually seeing anything. I even tracked every euro spent during those chaotic visits to see if the stress was actually ‘worth it’—you can see that full Monaco day trip budget breakdown here.
This wasn’t bad luck. This is what happens when you get the French Riviera town order wrong, planning randomly without thinking about timing, logistics, or crowd patterns.
I’ve made these mistakes on my first visit. Then I started testing different routes obsessively — timing trains, watching crowd patterns, tracking how the light hits each town, and figuring out which order actually makes the days flow instead of feeling like a commute.
The result? This guide to visiting French Riviera towns in the correct order – whether you have 3 days or 7, whether you’re staying in Nice or moving between towns, this is the version that actually makes sense.
If you’re the type who needs your trip to make sense (hello, fellow Type-A planners), this is for you.
Why Most People Get the Order Wrong
The typical tourist approach:
- “Nice is central, let’s stay there and do day trips!”
- Goes to Monaco on a Tuesday at 11am (cruise ship hell)
- Realizes Menton exists, goes there the next day (another 30-min train each way)
- Squeezes in Èze whenever (usually midday when it’s 30°C and packed)
- Spends more time on trains than actually exploring
Why this fails:
- You hit every town at the wrong time (crowds + bad light)
- You backtrack constantly (Nice → Menton means passing Monaco twice)
- You miss the natural flow (Nice keeps light longer than you expect; Monaco and Villefranche lose direct sun earlier because of terrain)
- You exhaust yourself (train → walk → train → walk → collapse)
Here’s the truth: The French Riviera towns aren’t interchangeable day trips. They’re different experiences that work better in specific orders based on:
- Train line geography (you’re on one coastal rail line)
- Optimal timing for each town
- Crowd patterns
- Light direction (west-facing vs east-facing)
- Your energy levels throughout the day
Here’s the clean version.
Understanding the Geography (The Part Everyone Skips)
This is why people feel exhausted here without understanding why.
The French Riviera towns sit on one train line running east-west along the coast:
West to East:
Nice → Villefranche-sur-Mer (10 min) → Èze-sur-Mer (15 min) → Monaco (25 min) → Menton (35 min)
Key insight: You’re not visiting separate destinations. You’re moving along a single coastline.
This means:
- Going Nice → Menton passes through Monaco (so why not optimize that?)
- Morning light is softest and most flattering on Menton’s pastel old town
- Sunset in Nice hits the west-facing Promenade des Anglais last (perfect ending)
Most tourists ignore this geography and just pick towns randomly. Don’t plan it randomly.
To make it worth the trip, you need to time it for the best light. I’ve mapped out the exact Golden Hour windows for the Riviera so you don’t arrive when the sun is already behind the cliffs. This is especially vital for Menton—check my month-by-month guide to see how the light and crowds shift seasonally.
The Optimal Routes (By Trip Length)
3-Day Route: Stay in Nice, Optimize Day Trips
Best for: First-timers, those who hate moving hotels, people who want a home base
Day 1: Monaco Early + Nice Afternoon
Why this order: Hit Monaco before crowds, then enjoy Nice’s best parts in afternoon/evening light
Morning:
- 7:00am: Train from Nice to Monaco (22 min, ~€6)
- 7:30am: Fort Antoine sunrise (empty, dramatic)
- 8:30am: Old Monaco-Ville walk (before tour buses)
- 9:45am: Prince’s Palace square (peaceful)
- 11:00am: Head back to Nice
Afternoon/Evening:
- 12:30pm: Lunch in Nice Vieux Ville
- 2:00pm: Explore Old Nice, Cours Saleya market
- 5:00pm: Castle Hill for views
- 6:30pm: Promenade des Anglais sunset walk
Why this works: You see Monaco at its absolute best (empty morning), avoid the 10am-4pm cruise ship nightmare, then enjoy Nice when the light is perfect.
Stop guessing where the elevators are. My 2-Day Monaco Itinerary includes the exact GPS coordinates and timing windows to beat 100% of the crowds.
Day 2: Menton Full Day
Why this order: Menton deserves a full day, not a rushed visit
All Day:
- 8:30am: Train to Menton (35 min, €7.40)
- 9:00am: Old town walk (pastel buildings, morning light)
- 10:30am: Musée Jean Cocteau – Le Bastion (his former studio, intimate, often less crowded)
- 12:00pm: Lunch at local spot
- 2:00pm: Gardens (Val Rahmeh or Serre de la Madone)
- 4:30pm: Beach time or coastal walk
- 6:00pm: Sunset from old town viewpoint
- 7:30pm: Dinner, then train back to Nice
Why this works: Menton isn’t a “quick stop” – it’s a full experience. This gives you time to actually enjoy it without rushing.
Day 3: Èze Village Early + Villefranche Afternoon
Why this order: Èze is unbearable after 11am (heat + crowds), Villefranche is better in afternoon
Morning:
- 8:30am: Bus 82 from Nice to Èze Village (€2.10, 25 – 35 min, check current timetable—routes change seasonally)
- 9:00am: Explore Èze village (almost empty, cool temps)
- 10:30am: Jardin Exotique if you want views
- 11:30am: Bus back down to Èze-sur-Mer station
Afternoon:
- 12:00pm: Train to Villefranche-sur-Mer (10 min)
- 12:30pm: Lunch at waterfront
- 2:00pm: Beach time or citadel walk
- 4:00pm: Wander colorful streets
- 6:00pm: Train back to Nice
Why this works: Èze at 9am = magical hilltop village. Èze at 2pm = sweaty tourist trap. Villefranche doesn’t have the same crowd issues and works great in afternoon.
5-Day Route: Move Bases (Less Backtracking, More Depth)
Best for: People who want to properly experience each area, don’t mind moving hotels
Days 1-2: Nice Base
Day 1:
- Arrive, settle in
- Afternoon: Explore Vieux Nice, Castle Hill
- Evening: Promenade sunset
Day 2:
- Early morning: Monaco day trip (same as 3-day route above)
- Afternoon: Back to Nice, explore neighborhoods you missed
- OR: Villefranche afternoon
Days 3-4: Menton Base
Why move to Menton: Way cheaper hotels, more authentic, perfect for deep exploration + Italy day trip
Day 3:
- Morning: Check out Nice, train to Menton (35 min)
- Afternoon: Settle in, explore Menton old town
- Evening: Sunset walk, dinner
Day 4:
- OR: Day trip to Ventimiglia, Italy (15 min train, €5)
- Friday market is incredible
- Different vibe entirely
- Back to Menton for dinner
Day 5: Èze + Return to Nice
- Morning: Check out Menton
- Stop in Èze Village via bus (store luggage at Èze-sur-Mer station if needed)
- Early afternoon: Final Nice wander or airport
Why this order works:
- You’re moving EAST along the coast (logical flow)
- Menton as a base saves money vs Nice
- You experience each area properly instead of rushed day trips
- Less total train time (you’re not going back and forth)
7-Day Route: The Relaxed Perfectionist’s Dream
Best for: People who hate rushing, want to experience everything properly, Type-A planners who refuse to compromise
Days 1-3: Nice Base
Day 1: Arrive, explore Nice itself
- Vieux Nice, markets, Castle Hill
- Beach or Promenade
- Get the lay of the land
Day 2: Monaco early morning + Nice afternoon (as detailed above)
Day 3: Villefranche full day
- Morning: Citadel, old town
- Afternoon: Beach
- This deserves more than a half-day
Days 4-5: Menton Base
Day 4:
- Morning: Train to Menton, check in
- Afternoon: Old town exploration
- Evening: Sunset from viewpoint
Day 5: Full Menton immersion
- Morning: Gardens (pick 2 of the 3 major ones)
- Afternoon: Beach or coastal path
- Evening: Dinner at local spot
- Optional: Italy day trip if you want
Days 6-7: Back to Nice Base
Day 6: Èze Village morning + Monaco Return or Nice relaxation
- Early morning: Èze village
- Afternoon: Return to Monaco for anything you missed, or back to Nice for beach time before your final evening
- Optional: Stop in any town you want to revisit
Day 7: Nice final day
- Sleep in (you’ve earned it)
- Favorites from Day 1 you want to revisit
- Last-minute shopping, meals
- Sunset at Promenade
Why this works:
- No rushing ever
- Time to revisit favorites
- Built-in flexibility
- You actually relax on a vacation (novel concept)
Advanced Optimization: Timing Within Each Town
This is where obsessive planning pays off.
Monaco Timing Rules
❌ Don’t go: 10am-4pm on cruise ship days (check CruiseMapper for “Port Hercules, Monaco.”)
✅ Do go: 7:30-9:30am (sunrise magic) OR 4-7pm (golden hour, fewer crowds)
Optimal Monaco flow: Train → Japanese Garden → Port → Elevator up → Old Town → Palace → Fort Antoine
Menton Timing Rules
❌ Don’t go: Midday in summer (30°C+, harsh light, gardens suffering)
✅ Do go: Morning for old town, late afternoon for gardens (better light)
Optimal Menton flow: Old town (9-11am) → Lunch → Gardens (3-5pm) → Beach/coastal walk (5-7pm) → Sunset from viewpoint
Èze Village Timing Rules
❌ Don’t go: After 10:30am (tour buses arrive, heat intensifies, crowds make it miserable)
✅ Do go: 8:30-10am (cool, empty, actually magical)
Optimal Èze flow: Arrive 8:30am → Wander village → Jardin Exotique if desired → Leave by 11am before the crowds arrive
Nice Timing Rules
❌ Don’t go: Old town midday (too hot, packed streets, harsh light)
✅ Do go: Morning (markets, cool temps) OR evening (sunset on Promenade, golden light)
Optimal Nice flow: Castle Hill (sunrise or 9am) → Old town (10-11am) → Lunch → Afternoon break → Promenade (6-8pm)
Train Logistics (The Part That Stresses Type-A Planners)
Good news: French Riviera trains are stupidly easy.
How it works:
- One line: Ventimiglia (Italy) ↔ Nice ↔ Cannes
- Trains every 20-30 minutes
- Buy tickets at station machines (English option available)
- No reservations needed (just hop on)
Pro tips:
- Download the SNCF app (shows real-time trains)
- Validate ticket at yellow machines before boarding (or use contactless payment)
- Sit on the RIGHT side going east (Nice → Monaco → Menton) for sea views
- Sit on the LEFT side going west (Menton → Nice) for sea views
Stations you’ll use:
- Nice-Ville (main station, city center)
- Villefranche-sur-Mer (right in town)
- Èze-sur-Mer (station is at sea level, village is up the hill – take bus 82)
- Monaco-Monte-Carlo (main station)
- Menton (walkable to old town)
Common Route Mistakes I See Constantly
Mistake #1: “Let’s just go to Monaco whenever!”
Why this fails: Monaco is TINY and gets overwhelmed by cruise ships. Going at 11am on a Tuesday means you’re fighting 3,000 day-trippers for space at Casino Square.
Fix: Check cruise schedules (CruiseMapper), go early morning or late afternoon.
Mistake #2: “We’ll do Menton as a quick stop on the way to Monaco”
Why this fails: Menton is 35 minutes from Nice, Monaco is 25. You’re adding an extra 20 minutes of train time to “combine” them, and Menton deserves more than 90 minutes.
Fix: Give Menton its own day. It’s too good to rush.
Mistake #3: “Èze Village at 2pm sounds fine!”
Why this fails: It’s 32°C, you’re climbing steep medieval stairs, surrounded by 200 other sweaty tourists, all the shops smell like tourist-trap lavender soap, and you’ll leave thinking “why did everyone recommend this?”
Fix: Go at 9am or skip it entirely. Seriously. Èze at the wrong time is hell.
Mistake #4: “We’ll stay in Monaco to be central”
Why this fails: Monaco hotels are 3x the price of Nice for the same quality. You’re not saving time – trains are frequent and fast.
Fix: Stay in Nice (or Menton if you want cheaper + authentic). Day trip to Monaco.
Mistake #5: “Let’s wing it and see how we feel each day”
Why this fails: You’ll inevitably go to Monaco mid-morning (packed), miss Menton entirely (too far), and spend half your trip on trains going back and forth.
Fix: Plan the order. It doesn’t have to be rigid hour-by-hour, but knowing which DAYS you’ll hit which towns saves massive time and stress.
My Tested Verdict: The Actual Best Order
If I were planning your trip for you (and I literally do this for clients), here’s what I’d tell you:
For 3 Days:
Nice base → Day 1: Monaco early + Nice afternoon → Day 2: Menton full day → Day 3: Èze early + Villefranche afternoon
For 5 Days:
Nice 2 nights → Monaco day trip → Move to Menton 2 nights → Menton + Italy exploration → Èze on way back
For 7 Days:
Nice 3 nights → Monaco + Villefranche days → Menton 2-3 nights → Deep Menton + Italy → Back to Nice 1-2 nights → Èze + revisits
The pattern:
- Start west (Nice)
- Work east (Monaco, then Menton)
- This follows the sunrise → sunset natural light flow
- Minimizes backtracking
- Saves you 2-3 hours of wasted train time
The Bottom Line
The French Riviera isn’t hard to visit. But most people plan it randomly, hit every town at the worst possible time, spend hours backtracking, and leave exhausted wondering why everyone loves it so much.
The secret isn’t visiting more towns. It’s visiting the right towns in the right order at the right times.
After testing this obsessively (because I can’t help myself), the optimal order is:
Nice (base) → Monaco (early morning) → Menton (full day) → Èze (early morning) → back to Nice
Or if moving bases:
Nice → Menton → selective revisits
Not complicated. Just intentional.
Safe travels! 🚂
Last updated: January 2026. Train times and prices based on 2025 – 2026 SNCF schedules.
