Having lived in (and traveled to) multiple cities in faraway places, I find myself constantly refreshing my bucket list. When I was younger, my list was chock-full of tropical getaway spots. Now, it contains cities with rich history and notable architectural landmarks. 

As our interests change, so do the things that touch our hearts. Until I arrived in the French Riviera, I thought I could anticipate my perception of the coastal culture and lifestyle. My expectations paled in comparison to my experience! My only complaint about the time I spent in Nice is that it was simply too short.

Nice, along with the rest of the towns that punctuate the southern French coastline, is at once quaint and refined. Keep reading for a look at my Nice, France Day Trip Itinerary. 

Nice, France Day Trip Itinerary

[ Morning ]

It’s easy to think that spending a day on a coastal city in a foreign country can be spent moseying around the town’s side streets, popping into shops and snapping cute photos for your Instagram – and yes, there’s some truth to that! But in Nice’s case, there’s so much to do in the surrounding areas that you’ll want (and need) a dynamic start to your day if you want to explore the nearby towns of Eze and Monte Carlo. 

Have breakfast at La Femme du Boulanger

To get our day started, we walked from our Airbnb on Rue de la Buffa to La Femme du Boulanger, a cozy little breakfast spot that will always hold a special place in my heart. Breakfast here starts with an assortment of breads and an incredible variety of jams – think peach, raspberry, apple, nectarine, and fresh honey. 

The menu includes three different options for egg dishes as well as a variety of coffee drinks and homemade juices. The assortment of breads and jams was the highlight by far.

After finishing our breakfast, our party went in different directions for the day, and my boyfriend and I continued down to the local farmer’s market. 

Visit the Nice Farmer’s Market

The farmer’s market in Nice is a must, even if you only go once. Most European farmer’s markets occur daily, and Nice’s is no exception. Over the course of our trip we ventured down to the market not just to take pictures and sample fresh produce, but to pick up groceries that we would cook in our Airbnb. 

We couldn’t leave without trying a freshly baked chocolate croissant, and I splurged on three different loose-leaf teas – complete with a little tea infuser to put it in! 

After walking up and down the aisles of the farmer’s market, we realized we only had so much time to get to the marina and catch the bus to Eze. 

Now, there are plenty of ways to get on this bus. We ended up missing our first one, so we went into a little café to have a glass of wine while we waited for the next one.

[ Afternoon ]

Catch a bus to Eze

• From Nice: 30 Minutes by bus
• Getting there: Bus 82, runs about once an hour. Before you go, it’s a good idea to look at this map of the bus route and pick where you want to hop on. 
• Pro Tip: Hop on at Gare Routiere Vauban if you want a good seat in the front of the bus. There’s little to no AC on the bus, and the front seats get the best air flow since they’re close to the doors. 

While you’re here, be prepared to walk a ton. I opted for a light, comfortable dress from Zara with my signature Air Force 1’s. Eze is situated on a hillside and is very hilly itself, so make sure you’re as comfortable as you’d want to be for a full day of European sightseeing. 

The best part about Eze is that there’s no set way to go about exploring! We popped into the visitor’s center to grab a map and ask for directions. You can visit one of the many boutiques for souvenirs like lavender perfume or hang out at one of the many cafes that feature views of the Mediterranean. 

See the views at Le Jardin Exotique d’Eze

We made our way all the way up to the highest point in the city to explore Le Jardin Exotique d’Eze – the exotic garden. It’s a 6-euro entry fee and beyond worth it!

Photos don’t come close to capturing how breathtaking the views are. Where the blue hues of the Mediterranean meet the various greens of Eze’s verdant landscape there exists a truly beautiful summer scene. 

By this time we were pretty thirsty, so we stopped at the quaint little grocery market at the bottom of the city near the bus stop to pick up a bottle of water and my all time favorite candy: Kinder Bueno. If you’ve never had it but enjoy hazelnut and chocolate flavors, find a way to get it as soon as humanly possible. 

We spent the rest of our time here sitting outside and simply people watching while we waited for bus 112 to arrive and take us to Monaco. You can drop by the visitor’s center when you arrive in Eze to check the timetables and make sure you’re back at the bus stop in time. 

[ Evening ]

Hop on a bus from Eze to Monaco

After another beautiful bus drive from Eze to the minuscule country of Monaco, we arrived ready to have dinner and a drink. 

I’ll be totally transparent here: all things Monaco come with a hefty price tag and an attitude to boot. It’s a “see and be seen” locale with all the necessities to be thought of as the European Beverly Hills. We definitely stood out as tourists without any designer labels or elevated wardrobe choices, and for us that was totally fine. 

Wine and dine at Cafe de Paris – Monte Carlo

There are very limited options for dinner in the city center, which is where we stayed for the sake of time. We ended up on the indoor patio at Café de Paris – Monte Carlo. This patio is dedicated to patrons wanting a proper dinner. Customers only wanting drinks and an ice cream are ferried over to the outdoor patio near the street. 

Dinner consisted of pomme frites, a cheese plate, and an Aperol spritz for each of us. 

The people watching here was more upscale than in Eze, but just as interesting. We had a lot of fun trying to decipher who was from where, what people were doing in Monaco, and whether or not they were billionaires (jokes). 

The only drawback to the time we spent in Monaco is that it was frustratingly difficult to find a public restroom after 6 p.m. There are public restrooms, but they close for about an hour to be cleaned in the evenings. The hotel by the casino won’t let you in if you aren’t a guest, so that was a no-go. We finally found one in one of the cafes in the luxury shopping center – although I’m not certain that it was public! In any case, I was able to snap a cute picture of my outfit, which we all know is the real reason anyone goes to the bathroom these days.

From there it was a short walk back to the bus stop, where we took bus 112 all the way home, and walked back to our Airbnb. Like I mentioned, we did a copious amount of walking with this itinerary. We were shocked to discover how much we’d walked that day! 

Needless to say, if you want a good day’s adventure and a good night’s sleep, this itinerary is for you. Even if that isn’t what you’re looking for, you’ll still fall in love with the French Riviera and all that it has to offer.