Cruise port call · French Riviera · Tender port
Cruise ships anchor in the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer and you come ashore by tender, a few steps from the old town. OK VTC meets you on land for Èze, Monaco or Cap Ferrat, then brings you back to the landing with time to spare, or drops you at Nice airport at the end of your cruise.
Why a private driver
Villefranche-sur-Mer opens onto one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, between Nice and Cap Ferrat. Cruise ships drop anchor in the bay and passengers come ashore by tender, a short walk from the old town and the citadel. From the landing, Èze is about 8 km away, Monaco about 15 km and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild about 3 km: the whole eastern Riviera fits into a single port call.
With OK VTC, the day is planned backwards from the all-aboard time given by your cruise line. Your chauffeur meets you ashore, stays at your disposal between stops and brings you back to the landing with a safety margin. On the last day of a cruise, OK VTC can also combine disembarkation, a visit to Èze and a drop at Nice Côte d'Azur airport, with your luggage on board.
Highlights of the call
Road distances from the tender landing, as a guide; driving times depend on traffic.
01 · HILLTOP VILLAGE
About 8 km from the landing, roughly 15 minutes along the Moyenne Corniche, Èze crowns a rocky peak high above the sea. Pedestrian lanes, the exotic garden at the top and perfumeries at the foot of the village: allow about two hours.
02 · THE PRINCIPALITY
About 15 km away, around 30 minutes depending on traffic. The Rock holds the Prince's Palace, the cathedral and the lanes of Monaco-Ville; across Port Hercule lie Monte-Carlo and its casino. Your chauffeur drops you off and collects you at agreed points.
03 · ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Right next to the landing, no car needed. The Citadelle Saint-Elme, built in the 16th century by the Dukes of Savoy, now houses the town hall and museums; the vaulted Rue Obscure dates from the Middle Ages, and the Chapelle Saint-Pierre was decorated by Jean Cocteau.
04 · THE GARDENS
About 3 km away, under 10 minutes by road. Built in the early 20th century for Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, the pink villa overlooks the bays of Villefranche and Beaulieu and is surrounded by nine themed gardens. Admission is charged.
05 · THE CITY
About 6 km away, around 15 minutes depending on traffic. The lanes of Vieux-Nice, the Cours Saleya market, then Castle Hill for the view over the Baie des Anges and the port. Ideal for a short call or on the way to the airport.
A sample port-call day
Example for an all-aboard time of 17:30, adjusted to each request and your actual schedule. Last-day variant: after Èze, a drop at Nice Côte d'Azur airport with your luggage instead of the return to the ship.
08:30 · VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Your chauffeur waits at the meeting point confirmed before your call, near the tender landing. Send a WhatsApp message as you board the tender; sedan or van depending on your group, water on board.
09:00 – 11:00 · ÈZE
Drop-off at the closest permitted point to the pedestrian entrance, up to the exotic garden for the view, back down through the lanes, with an optional stop at a perfumery below the village.
11:30 – 14:00 · MONACO
The Prince's Palace and the old town on the Rock, then Port Hercule and Casino Square. Lunch at your leisure while your chauffeur remains available at the agreed point.
14:30 – 15:45 · SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT
The villa and its gardens on the peninsula next to Villefranche. If you prefer, this stop becomes Nice old town and Castle Hill instead.
16:15 · VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Drop-off as close as possible to the tender landing, more than an hour before all-aboard. Time for a last stroll along the quay before the tender takes you back to the ship.
The loop from the port
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Tender landing
Èze
Moyenne Corniche · about 8 km
Monaco
The Rock and Monte-Carlo
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Back to Villefranche
Tender landing, before all-aboard
Practical information
Villefranche is an anchorage port: the ship stays in the bay and tenders shuttle passengers to the quay. Your tender time depends on the ship; let us know as soon as you have it.
We plan the day from the all-aboard time, with a safety margin agreed with you. A private excursion is not a ship's tour: being back on time is your responsibility, which is exactly what the margin is for.
Ship name, date, expected arrival time and all-aboard time, number of guests, any mobility needs and, at the end of a cruise, your flight number and number of suitcases.
At the end of your cruise, your suitcases stay in the vehicle during the visit to Èze, with your chauffeur at your disposal. We choose a sedan or a van from the number of bags you give us.
Keep your cruise card and a photo ID with you during the call, including for Monaco. Your cruise line will tell you what it requires at the landing on the way back.
Your chauffeur's name and number are confirmed before the call. On the day, we stay reachable by WhatsApp and phone: if the tender is delayed or the sea is rough, we adjust the plan with you.
Our options
HALF DAY
About 4 hours from the landing: Èze and Monaco, or Èze and Cap Ferrat, with an OK VTC chauffeur at your disposal and a return to the ship with time to spare.
Price per vehicle, on quotation
MOST REQUESTED
Èze, Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or Nice, at the pace of your call, with an OK VTC chauffeur at your disposal until you are back at the landing before all-aboard.
Price per vehicle, on quotation
END OF CRUISE
Meeting at disembarkation with your luggage, a visit to Èze with an OK VTC chauffeur at your disposal, then a drop at Nice Côte d'Azur airport, about 30 km from Èze.
Price per vehicle, on quotation
Just need a transfer?
For a one-way or return trip without sightseeing, the route page covers pick-up, luggage and booking.
Related tours
A shore excursion timed around your call, linking Villefranche harbour, Nice and Cap-Ferrat.
See the tour
An essential route linking a hilltop village, the Principality and Monte Carlo elegance.
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A focused introduction to Nice, its panoramic viewpoints and historic heart, paced around your preferences.
See the tourFrequently asked questions
Another question? Message us on WhatsApp with your ship name and we will reply with a tailored plan.
Yes. Èze is about 8 km from the tender landing, around 15 minutes by road, and two hours on site is enough for the village and the garden. OK VTC plans the day from your all-aboard time and brings you back with a safety margin.
Yes, it is a trip our clients book with us. OK VTC meets you at disembarkation with your luggage, which stays in the vehicle while you visit Èze, then drops you at Nice Côte d'Azur airport, about 30 km from Èze; allow around 45 minutes by road, depending on traffic.
Near the tender landing, at a meeting point confirmed before your call together with the chauffeur's contact details. Send them a WhatsApp message as you board the tender.
About 30 minutes for roughly 15 km, depending on traffic. Monaco combines easily with Èze, which lies on the way.
We adjust the programme. Tender times depend on the ship and the sea; let us know as soon as you hear, and we shorten or reorder the stops to keep your margin for the return.
The price is per vehicle, on quotation. Send OK VTC your ship name, date, arrival and all-aboard times, number of guests and wishes: you receive a programme and a price before booking.
Guest experiences
Discover experiences displayed by Google Maps after a transfer, airport welcome or private day with OK VTC.
View all reviews on Google MapsReviews are suggested and ranked by relevance by Google. OK VTC does not choose their order.
Combine with
Your call in Villefranche
Send us your ship name, date, arrival and all-aboard times, number of guests and, at the end of your cruise, your flight. OK VTC replies with a programme and a price per vehicle, on quotation.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, published by their authors under free licences.
