Free walking tours in Beaulieu-sur-Mer and what to see

Must-sees

Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a small town between Nice and Monaco, sheltered by the mountains, which became fashionable in the Belle Époque with European aristocrats who wintered here. From that era remain villas with gardens, former grand hotels and La Rotonde, an early 20th-century round building that now hosts cultural events. The promenade by the Baie des Fourmis, with palm trees and gardens, is the best place to see it all.

The big visit is the Villa Kérylos, which the scholar Théodore Reinach had built in the early 20th century as a recreation of an ancient Greek house, with mosaics, frescoes and made-to-measure furniture. It is now run by the Centre des monuments nationaux. From the town a coastal path follows the sea towards the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, home to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens. The small Petite Afrique beach, at the foot of the cliffs, is the most sheltered.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Civitatis lists tickets for the Villa Kérylos, which you can explore on your own, and a private boat trip along the Côte d’Azur, a good way to see the villas of Cap Ferrat and the coast as far as Monaco from the water. If you want guided walking tours, the usual option is to join those leaving from Nice, which often include the towns along this part of the coast.

How long to spend

The town can be seen in half a day: the Villa Kérylos, the bay promenade and some time on the beach. If you add the path to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, give it the whole day. As the coastal train stops at Beaulieu, it is easy to combine with Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze or Monaco over a couple of days.

Where to stay

Staying in Beaulieu is a quiet way to see this part of the Côte d’Azur without the bustle of Nice. Accommodation is concentrated between the station and the seafront, with classic hotels and apartments. From here you reach Nice and Monaco in a few minutes by train, so you don’t need a car. If you want more choice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Nice are very close.