The best of the best sights of the exquisite French Riveria and Mediterranean awaits you on this full-day excursion! Experience the beauty of Monte Carlo, Nice, and Èze with your guide, and have about 1.5 hours of free time to explore each village!
Begin your experience when you meet your guide at your cruise port in Monaco. Your group will hop aboard the transportation and head out on your adventure. The medieval village of Èze is your initial stop. Overlooking a 1,400-ft cliff above the French Mediterranean, Èze is described as an eagle's nest, perched above everything else around it. Some refer to the village as village-musée (a "museum village") because there are very few residents of local origin living there. You will enjoy a guided visit of the perfume factory, Parfumerie Fragonard, which has flourished since 1926 under the guidance of four generations of the same family! During your free time in Èze, you will have free time to enjoy perusing the many charming shops, art galleries, hotels, and restaurants.
As you continue along, you will drive through La Turbie, where you will see the Tropaeum Alpium (Trophy of the Alps), which celebrates the victory of emperor Augustus over the native tribes. The village is actually partially built from old stones recovered from the ruins of the Trophy!
Arriving in the picturesque and luxurious Monte Carlo, you will enjoy visits to the Cathedral, the Monte Carlo Casino, the Grand Prix circuit, and the exterior of the Palace. With an area of only 0.78 square miles, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world following the Vatican! It is also the most densely populated sovereign state in the world with over 38,000 residents, many of whom are million and billionaires. The principality has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297, although they did not purchase Monaco until 1419. Screen star Grace Kelly helped bring Monaco to the limelight when she married Monaco's ruler Prince Rainer III in 1956.
Monte Carlo is perhaps most well known for its famed Grand Prix and an opulent casino. Opened in 1858 by the brothers François and Louis Blanc, the revenues from the Monte Carlo Casino were intended to save the House of Grimaldi from bankruptcy. The venture was so successful, that by 1869, the casino was making so much money that the principality was able to cease collecting taxes from the Monegasques. It was then that affluent Europeans began being attracted to Monaco as a place of residence.
After your free time in Monte Carlo, you will drive along the coast, passing Villefranche and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat before arriving in your final destination of the day – Nice. You will enjoy the original atmosphere of the capital of the French Riviera, its unique Sardinian architecture, quaint narrow streets, and delicious restaurants. Nice has several shopping centers for you to explore as well! The main seaside promenade is the Promenade des Anglais (Walkway of the English), named for the aristocratic English families that spent their winters there in the latter part of the 18th century. This 7-kilometer walkway is popular today with bicyclists, skateboarders, and families, particularly on Sundays
Your adventure in the French Riviera concludes with your return to your cruise port in Monaco. Enjoy the best that this unique locale has to offer!
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