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Traveling to the South of France in the off-season month of March gave me the freedom to roam without fighting the crowds. What started as a spontaneous game of “train roulette” turned into the perfect Beaulieu-sur-Mer day trip. If you are looking for a quiet French Riviera town just a half hour train ride from Nice, this guide covers the best things to do in Beaulieu-sur-Mer and why it is the ideal day trip from Nice for travelers seeking a slower pace from busy and bustling city.
Take the Train from Nice for a Beaulieu-sur-Mer Day Trip
Taking a day trip from Nice to Beaulieu-sur-Mer is the easiest adventure you can have…
My last day in the south of France was deliberately left unscheduled. I decided to play “train roulette”– totally safe! After checking out of my hotel and taking the train to Nice (where I was to stay that evening at a hotel near the airport), I was going to take a spontaneous day trip. Where? I didn’t know. But I was positive that I was going to have a wonderful adventure in the French Riviera.
Little did I know that I would stumble upon one of the most beautiful towns on the coast of France. Beaulieu-sur Mer, one of the sparkling gems in the crown of French Riviera.
The Easiest Day Trip from Nice
Nice is a large city in France, so taking day trips from Nice is super easy, and train connections are excellent. I had just one day left on my France rail pass so I hopped on a train towards Monaco and decided to ride it until I felt the urge to get off.
I rode past Nice Riquier, past Villefranche-sur-Mer… My internal monologue was heading towards “analysis paralysis” territory, threatening to overthink me into inaction. I put a stop to that by promising to hop off the train at the very next station, no matter what. The train slowed and the announcer called for Beaulieu-sur-Mer. It sounded enchanting! How could I say no to a town whose name means “Beautiful Place on the Sea”?
Exploring the Town: Things to Do in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Beautiful Place on the Sea, Indeed!
There I was, in a town that I’d never heard of, and had no idea what there was around me. I suppose the day could have gone horribly wrong, and I could have found myself in a town with absolutely nothing to do or see, but something told me it was going to be a great day. It was going to be an adventure. I could just feel it.
And if not, just initiate Plan B– hop back on the next train and get off at another town! It’s that easy in the south of France!
Next to the Beaulieu-sur-Mer train station was a wonderful Tourist Information Center (TI) Since Beaulieu-sur-Mer was only a short day trip for me, I knew I’d have little time to tour the whole town, but I cobbled together an itinerary that allowed me to take in a main site and see the town via a nice walk by the sea.
I chose to visit the absolutely gorgeous Villa Ephrussi de Rothshild, about a 1.3 mile walk from the train station, and just a tiny bit outside of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, more properly in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Google Maps will take you on an inland route to reach the Villa, but I chose to walk along the sea wall. It took me a bit longer than the 33 minutes given, but I made more than a few stops along the way to take pics (and stop in at the Casino).
Walking to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. I’d never heard of it, but the pictures in the TI looked lovely. I thought I should give it a go.
In the grand scheme of European architecture, the Villa is a newbie– Beatrice Rothschild bought the land in 1905. She was a bit of a collector– and it’s evident when strolling through the rooms of the villa– lots of porcelain. Seriously, a lot. And many of the furnishings that Beatrice Rothschild collected were original to the Palace of Versailles and belonged to Marie Antoinette! Take your time exploring inside the villa– off season, there’s no crowd at all.
But the standout of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is the gardens. Nine of them– each one themed differently and each one more beautiful than the last. They were definitely more enjoyable than the gardens at Versailles (in my humble opinion). But don’t take my word for it. If you love gardening or love gazing at beautiful gardens and landscaping, then see it for yourself! The garden was full of color in March!
Why Visit Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the Off-Season?
While many imagine the South of France is only for summer vacations, visiting the French Riviera in March was the secret to this trip’s success.
If you visit Beaulieu-sur-Mer in July or August, you will likely be fighting for space on the train and elbowing your way through crowds to find your square inch of sand on the beach. However, in the off-season, I had the town practically to myself. I could stroll through the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild without waiting in lines and enjoy the Casino de Beaulieu overlooking the sea without once waiting to play a game.
How was the weather? Don’t let the season fool you. The temperature was an ideal upper 60s to low 70s (approx. 20°C). I wore a short-sleeved shirt and was perfectly comfortable walking along the seawall. The beaches and town center were active but not overcrowded, the sun was shining, and the vibe was pure relaxation—one of the huge benefits of off-season travel and my favorite time of year to visit new places. I can take my time strolling through a destination and really get to know a new place.
Practical Tips for Day Tripping
Upon arriving at a destination, I store my large backpack, and only carry around my daypack. In Nice, I discovered a very useful luggage storage app that is user-friendly and very economical for day trippers everywhere.
Storing Your Luggage: How to Use the Bounce Luggage Storage App
Luggage storage has evolved– and it can be arranged online by downloading the Bounce app onto your phone. It is very intuitive, and no special instructions are needed. You’ll search for luggage storage near you (or your intended location) and choose a convenient place that has availability.
I paid about 6 Euro to store my backpack at a hotel near the train station. It was a safe, convenient, budget-friendly luggage storage option– and definitely worth not havingto carry my full backpack around all day. Since I always travel with my New Outlander collapsible day pack, I simply transferred the items I needed for the day and I was on my way.
A Day Trip Essential: The New Outlander Daypack
I go absolutely everywhere with my New Outlander daypack. It folds into a zippered pocket that fits right inside my main luggage. When I arrive, I just unzip it and I have a durable pack with several compartments, including spaces for a water bottle. It comes in ten different colors and I use it consistently on every trip.
Life can surprise you when you’re not expecting it. I got up that morning not expecting anything, and I had the most wonderful adventure– all because I chose to hop off a train at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the town with a cool sounding name.
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