Menton, Roquebrune and Monaco shore excursion

A private French Riviera day trip designed for cruise passengers: art, history and coastal scenery in three very different places.

Stop 1: Menton, the lemon city

Menton has the warmest microclimate in France. The Alps drop straight into the sea here, and the town is a mix of terracotta, ochre and pastel pink that photographers love.

• The Old Town: climb the cobbled lanes and narrow stairs of Le Vieux Menton toward the Basilica of Saint-Michel, past hidden gardens.
• French and Italian at once: the border is a few steps away, and you feel it in the Baroque architecture and the food, where French pastries meet the lemons the town celebrates every year.
• Optional: the Jean Cocteau Museum, set in a 17th-century harbor bastion.

Stop 2: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, a medieval village

We leave the coast for this quiet village high above the Mediterranean.

• The 10th-century castle: the Château de Roquebrune is one of the oldest feudal castles in France. Its ramparts have watched over the coast for a thousand years.
• A 2,000-year-old olive tree: its twisted trunk measures more than 20 meters around, and it still bears fruit.
• The view: wide panoramas of the coastline from the village squares. On clear days you can see Corsica across the sea.

Stop 3: Monaco and Monte-Carlo

The day ends in the Principality, just 2 square kilometers where royal history meets luxury.

• The Rock (Monaco-Ville): colorful streets with small shops, the Prince’s Palace, and the Neo-Romanesque Cathedral where Princess Grace is buried.
• The Formula 1 circuit: drive the Monaco Grand Prix route, through the famous tunnel and past the « Swimming Pool » chicane.
• Place du Casino: the Belle Époque Grand Casino, the supercars and the gardens. Try your luck inside, or watch the scene from the Café de Paris.

Docking on the Riviera? Contact us with your cruise date and port to book this private day.

Guy Alfonsi. Born in Nice, 20+ years of guiding. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence since 2014.