Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a small peninsula and village on the French Riviera in the Alpes-Maritimes, about 10 km east of Nice, known for its luxury villas, quiet harbour and coastal paths. Lignes d'Azur bus 81 runs from central Nice and takes about 30 minutes for EUR 1.70 (~$2); check lignesdazur.com for the current route and frequency. An alternative is the TER Zou to Beaulieu-sur-Mer followed by a walk of about 25 minutes. Driving takes around 25 minutes via the Basse Corniche, but summer parking is difficult. The main attraction is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink Belle Époque palace with nine themed gardens, a rose garden and a musical fountain show, and views over both sides of the peninsula. It charges an entry fee and is best visited in the morning when it opens. Next, the village and harbour of Saint-Jean offer a relaxed lunch on the quay, where seafood and Provençal dishes are available at harbourside restaurants. In the afternoon, the main activity is walking. The Sentier du Littoral circles the cape past rocky coves, villas and the Plage de Paloma, a small beach with a restaurant, and a path leads to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. Swimming is possible from the Plage de Passable and Paloma beach. Some visitors combine the trip with Villefranche-sur-Mer or Beaulieu-sur-Mer, where the Villa Kérylos, a reconstruction of an ancient Greek house, is open to the public. May, June and September offer warm water and fewer crowds, while July and August are busy and parking is scarce. A relaxed visit of five to six hours covers the villa, lunch and a section of the coastal path before returning to Nice by bus or train.