Villefranche sur Mer , a few kilometers east along th Cote D'azur from Nice indeed almost a suburb but a distinct town in its own right and masses of history

Villefranche clings to the steep coast and has the best deep water bay along this part of the coast. Entirely sheltered It is sandwiched between Cap St JEan Ferrat and Mount Boron which guards the eastern access to Nice

Only 20-25 minutes to/from Nice airport -traffic permitting.

Bring your Walking shoes

Villefranche old town is a French Portofino with underground streets, cobbled tiny lanes and passageways, steep steps and around every corner a glimpse of sunshine and bougainvillia. The road down to the seafront from the 'basse Corniche' (the lower main road  leading from Nice to Monaco) is a cul de sac so that together with the fact that many streets in the old town are only passable on foot makes this very much a pedestrian town.   At the far end of the crescent bay the seafront road ends in a car park but you can easily walk on to Beaulieu and St Jean de Cap Ferrat. Also at this end of the bay the familiar riviera railway line which hugs the coast, emerges out of a tunnel into Villefranche station. 10-15 minutes to Nice or Monaco. You can easily get to Turin if you are a bit more adventurous. Everything is within easy reach. From the front balcony of our flat you could probably lean out and shout to your partner on the beach that cocktails were served (almost) ! In the old town there is a small supermarket - adequate for most needs and just loads of restaurants - some swanky some honest good value.  Our favourites are Michels - easily equal to the more famous Mere Germaine, and Cosmos - a workaday bistro with excellent good value food and still right on the front.

It is and it isn't busy !? Well what I mean is that it seems to be able to absorb thousands of visitors but when you sit down at a roadside cafe table you don't feel as 'hemmed in' as you do in Cannes for example. This is because Villefranche is on a much smaller scale but its scenery is on a Grand scale. Also its mostly people walking around  and thirdly Villefranche seems like a great big sponge - people visit in their hundreds but you never seem to notice - the pace of Villefranche goes on the same