CruizenSusan

My sister and I will stop at Monaco on May 29 2012 on the Ruby Princess. Ship docks at 7am and leaves at 2pm.

Would we have time to visit Villa Ephrussi & perhaps Greek Villa Kerylos? Think we will have to look at doing a private tour but of course always having to watch the dollars. Has anyone caught the bus/train there - or can anyone recommend a private operator. We are def not interested in visiting the perfume and cosmetic factories at Eze.

This is my first time on Fedors - hope I have gone about it correctly!

CruizenSusan

greg

Suppose you can get from the ship to train or bus stop in ~30min.
Monaco to Beulieu-sur-Mer
http://www.lignesdazur.com/ftp/plans...29bdef2011.pdf

By train:
www.voyages-sncf.com
Monte Carlo – Beaulieu-sur-Mer
7 :32-7 :40, 7 :41-7 :53, 8 :02-8 :10 ...

By TAM bus #100:
http://www.cg06.fr/cms/cg06/upload/s.../files/100.pdf
7 :32-~8 :02, 7 :47-~8 :17, 8 :02-~8 :32

You might be at Beaulieu-sur-Mer 8:00-8:15am.

Beaulieu-sur-Mer to Villa Ephrussi (bus stop Passable on line 81). I try to remember there was something strange about the bus #81 routing at Beaulieu-sur-Mer station. I thought only the return bus actually stopped at the station under the railroad track. Someone who has done this recently may be able to clarify what to do if you get off a train at Beaulieu-sur-Mer station.

http://www.lignesdazur.com/horaires_...6&lign_id=1053

8 :07-8 :17, 8 :32-8 :42.

It’s about 10min walk up hill from the bus stop to Villa Eprussi entrance, which opens at 10am. So going there using public transit will not be a problem.

http://villa-ephrussi.com/en/prepare...mes-and-access

However, if you look at return timing, it takes 90 min with everything going right, or more like 2hrs to get back to your ship. Your time at Villa Ephrussi is probably about 1-2hrs depending on how closely you care to cut into your boat departure time

Villa Kerylos also opens at 10am, so you cannot even try to visit Villa Kerylos first thing after getting to Beaulieu-sur-Mer. http://www.villa-kerylos.fr/en/prepa...mes-and-access

I don’t know about you, but I have seen too many American cruise passengers going frenetic trying to go back to their boat in Europe.

KayF

We visited the Villa Ephrussi from Nice by bus, it was fairly simple but we didn't have any deadlines. We got off the bus on the main road and walked about 10-15 minutes to the house - flat walk but no signs that I recall so it would pay to perhaps print off a map at home. The grounds were worth walking around as well and there was a lovely cafe inside with seaviews.

You could catch the bus there, have a good look around at the villa then decide if you have time to wait for the bus back or get a taxi. Maybe they would ring for a taxi for you at the villa, you could ask when you arrive.

Welcome for Fodors - it's addictive!

Kay

CruizenSusan

Thanks Kay. Am having a bit of trouble understanding all the different areas. However surely will get the hang of it soon! And Greg much apprec your advice. The 90 mins back is exactly the info I needed. Great site! Will def try and arrange a private tour if anyone can suggest someone I could use?

greg

I would not take this kind of trip unless I have all the verified return schedules at hand for trains (which runs less often around noon) and buses with backup plan to be able to use at least one later transport in case they cancel a bus/train as well as enough cash to take a taxi when needed. You don't get 90min travel time unless you have linked your schedule correctly and that the bus/train delays do not foul up your connections -- a lot relying on probabilities as well as reading schedules correctly. When I got out of Villa Ephrussi, the bus was quite late in arriving at the Passable stop. But then, I was not at all in any time crunch.

Monaco bus stops are closer to the port, but they are harder to find than the train station located quite up hill. For bus, you pay the driver. For train, the last time I used ticket machine at Monte Carlo station, it only took coins. You have to line up at ticket window if you only have magnetic strip only CC. Someone mentioned there are ticket machines that take bills. I did not see one.

CruizenSusan

Thanks again Greg - you are a wealth of information . Have found two fairly well priced private tours and we will def take one of those. Am excited at the prospect!

suec1

I think your idea of a private tour is very wise - relying on the public transportation would cut it very close. That being said, I think you will really enjoy Villa Euphrisi - we went there in the fall and it was just a wonderful daytrip for us. The audio guide that is included gives lots of interesting details on the life of the woman who had the villa built and the gardens are delightful. There are "dancing fountains" accompanied by classical music - one aspect that we enjoyed the most was the fact that it was not at all crowded - we felt the fountains and the concert were almost a performance just for us. Enjoy!