On our transatlantic cruise in spring we'll have a stop in Nice. We'd like to get to the French Riviera, Monaco. Anybody done that? We're not gamblers, just want to see what it's like and get pictures, hoping there will be spring flowers, maybe an art or history museum. Any other ideas?

The popular Eze village between Monaco & Nice is usually a favorite land tour destination for cruise passengers. The village shops are counting on cruise passengers.

The special museums are closer to Nice:
Fondation Maeght art museum ( www.fondation-maeght.com ) by St Paul de Vence (a beautiful hilltop village)
http://www.saint-pauldevence.com/pic...uldevence.html
The Matisse Museum in Cimiez: http://www.frenchrivieratraveller.co...se-Museum.html
The Villa Ephrussi (www.villa-ephrussi.com/en/ephrussi) at the beautiful mediterranean town of St Jean Cap Ferrat.

How many days do you have between arrivial & departure??? If it's 3 or less - just wander in Nice.

Stu Dduely

Is this a cruise stop where Nice really means Villefranche-Sur-Mer and where the duration of the stop is less than 12hrs?

Good ideas for us here. We've been to Nice before and did tour the city. Yes, it's Villefranche on our itinerary, the stop is about 12 hours.

I thought the Rothschild Villa, especially the grounds were spectacular - mind boggling so that is definitely worth a tour,

Also the little town of Villefranche Sur Mer is very very charming (if hilly) and there were some nice restaurants a few steps from the port where you could watch the boats and people or walk along the docks.

Actually I stayed in Nice and after seeing Villefranche Sur Mer I was sorry I had not booked a hotel or apartment there.

It is a short train ride also to Monaco from there and if you have never been or have not been in recent years it's definitely worth the trip. The architecture of the old hotel is worth seeing,and there is an outdoor restaurant to the left of the hotel filled with people watchers who are also being watched , there are parks with modern bronze statues, everything is covered in flowers and its one of those places where the saying "you could eat off the sidewalk is true.

There was a miniature tourist train/trolley that passed in front of THE Hotel (is it the Grand ?) but I din't find out where the entrance/ticket purchase was so I couldn't get on it but I thought that would have been a great way to see the sites of Monaco, other than the gardens and hotel.

Hope the above helps.

The casino hotel is called Hotel de Paris:
http://www.monte-carlohotels.com/hoteldeparis.php
The terrace cafe to the left of the casino is called Cafe de Paris. It is a nice place to sit and watch all the cars & guests arriving at the Place du Casino, but I wouldn't have a meal there, just stop for coffee or wine/beer with snacks. Alternatively you can enjoy Monte Carlo at night after dinner as the place continues to be busy even past midnight so it's all well lit.

These replies are very helpful. Just what I was hoping for, thank you! I appreciate the names of places given.I'll print this for our file. The snack idea would be ours too.