Friends will arrive in Villefranche-sur-Mer on a cruise in mid-September and want to spend the day seeing the Maeght Foundation near St.-Paul-de-Vence and the Matisse and Chagall museums in Nice. They don't know whether to rent a car, or take the train to Cagnes and back to Nice, and depend on cabs in Nice. Are cabs readily available at the museums in Nice? Is driving in Nice between the 2 museums there a problem? Any advice on what they should do would be appreciated.

There are cabs and the train between Villefranche and Nice. There's a bus from Nice to St. Paul. But if their time is limited and they want to do this all in one day, I think their best bet is to hire a car and driver. Depending on public transport and trying to see 3 museums sounds like a challenge. To rent a car, they'd have to probably go into Nice anyway.

I suggest that your friends save St. Paul for another time and concentrate on Nice, since they only have one day. Also, St. Paul is easily over an hour's drive from Villefranche, depending on traffic and time of day. Hiring a driver is pretty much a non-option, unless your friends are incredibly wealthy, since it's very expensive.

Just so you know, when we visited the Chagall museum, taxis were NOT readily available on the way back. We wound up walking back to the center of town, which took some time. You might be able to arrange a pickup from a taxi company if you call ahead, but I'm not sure.

You could check with the major car-rental companies for cars with drivers. While it might be expensive, so too would be renting a car for just one day and then figuring out how to get around to make the best possible use of time. If your friends really, really want to see those museums, it can be done.

Another thought: I'll be there's a one-day art tour that would cover the museums.

You could suggest to your friends that they have lunch in St-Paul-de-Vence at La Colombe d'Or, which has an art collection to rival some museums'. Artists gave their work to the original restaurant owner in return for food and lodging, and the collection is amazing.

Another thought: I'll be there's a one-day art tour that would cover the museums.

You could suggest to your friends that they have lunch in St-Paul-de-Vence at La Colombe d'Or, which has an art collection to rival some museums'. Artists gave their work to the original restaurant owner in return for food and lodging, and the collection is amazing. It can be seen only when visiting the restaurant or staying at the hotel--not generally open to the public, alas.

Try this:

http://www.parisplus.com/Riviera_Excursions.htm

Thanks all. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll want to shell out $900 for a car/driver, versus $150 for a car alone. Since the Maeght Foundation is tops on their list, I think a leisurely morning there followed by lunch at La Colombe d'Or, which we thoroughly enjoyed, is a great suggestion.

$900 for one day??? Sacré bleu!

Are your friends interested in seeing the Matisse Chapel while in the area?

Before giving up on this idea, I'd phone La Colombe D'Or and ask if they could recommend a car and driver for the day and what it would cost. Gilbert (who may now be retired for all I know) was the local taxi in St. Paul. Curious to know what he or his successor would charge to pick up at the ship, bring your friends to St. Paul, then take them to Nice and then back to the ship.

Here's another way to see all three museums in one day. Take the train from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Cagnes-sur-Mer. Take bus #400 from there to St-Paul de Vence. Either walk or take a taxi from the bus station to the Fondation Maeght.

Reverse the route, getting off the train at the Nice Ville station. Pick up a city bus map at the Tourist Information office on the far right side of the station. Take a bus or a taxi to the Matisse Museum. Take a bus downhill to the Chagall Museum. Take a bus or walk the rest of the way downhill to the train station. Take the train back to Villefranche-sur-Mer.

If the day has gotten away from them (very easy to do), when they get to Nice they can choose to see only one museum before returning to the ship.

Friends have gotten off at Villefranche so many times, they've lost count... but they've always found a driver/vehicle at the pier. For the two of them and $300 for the entire day (plus buying lunch for the driver) they go everywhere.

Where did they ever get a price of $900?

Sure you can rent a car, but have to get into Nice and even if only $150 - will they know where they're going to get to St. Paul de-Vence?

If not for a full day, hire the driver to go to the Maeght, have lunch at Colombe d'or; then have driver drop them at the Matisse or Chagall. These museums are not too far from one another (if I recall correctly). When finished they can walk down the hill to the train and return to Villefranche - or take a taxi right to the ship.