The Solo Scale:

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There’s no mistaking the amount of wealth that you see when visiting the French Riviera. If you’re flying in, it’s immediately evident. As you land, there’s a collection of private planes in numbers you’ve likely never seen before. Then, as you’re travelling around, the number of mansion-like estates and super-yachts make it clear. This is a playground for the wealthy. If you’re more middle of the road, maybe you’re not living this life. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a quick peek, though. There’s an amazing way to do that in Nice, and it lets you get great coastal views. Ready to do that? Then let’s chat about taking a 1-hour boat tour from the port in Nice.

If this is something that interests you, you do need to book ahead. The chance of being able to show up on the day of for tickets will be small. When I went, I booked with Trans Côte d’Azur which has a range of options for you. They leave from both Nice and Cannes, so if you’re in either of those locations, there are options available for you.

If you want to have a seat, you need to arrive early. There’s limited areas on the boat with good seating. If you want the front of the boat, you should know that when the boat is in high speed, you can’t stand up. The lip at the front of the boat is also extremely high, so if you’re hoping for unencumbered views, consider another area of the boat. There’s a back area, an inside, and a top deck.

If you go in the summer and it’s hot, you may want to bring a parasol since there’s limited amounts of shade. I strongly suggest you bring a big bottle of water with you to keep hydrated. Even sitting in half-shade, my body wouldn’t stop sweating.

When I went, it was August, extremely hot, and the boat was full to the brim with a lot of families and kids. The absolutely packed nature means that it’s not really a “private” tour by any means. If you want a quick exit after the cruise, you should stick to the bottom of the boat as well. People from the top deck were stuck on the stairs for a seemingly endless amount of time.

In terms of the route, you head out of the harbour and see some of the incredible houses that people have come to the French Riviera for. During the cruise, there is a narration from a guide in both English and French, but it can be hard to hear over the engines at some points. If you speak both languages like I do, it can also get a little repetitive, but helps to be able to catch something if you didn’t hear it the first time.

Then, it’s on to the Villefranche bay, passing by some of the biggest yachts you’ll ever see in your life. The cruise takes its time heading into the bay, so you get a good view of these massive superyachts.

The boat lingers in this area for a while before making its exit slowly. The ship that takes the cruise isn’t small by any means, but it was still dwarfed by some of these yachts.

On the way out, you get a nice view of some of the old fortress walls in Villefranche. Then, it’s back the same way you came, but the cruise isn’t done yet. It continues beyond towards Promenade des Anglaises to get good views of Nice from the ocean. Plus, you’re in the middle of all the aquatic activity.

That can include watching kids training on their sailboats, but also seeing some of the parasailing boats zooming around.

Once that loop is fully done, you head back to the port. As always with these cruises, tips are accepted by the staff on the way out. Otherwise, if you have somewhere to be, try and get lined up quickly (as mentioned above). Otherwise, settle in with some patience and wait for your turn to disembark. The location is perfect to continue exploring Old Nice, or if you want to head somewhere else, the tram is conveniently located right there and can take you anywhere within Nice that you’d like to go.

Want to set sail yourself? Check out the coastal cruise from Nice for a great break in the day!

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