The 6 Best Boat Tours in Nice, France - She is Lost Around the World

I’ve spent time traveling around the French Riviera, and if you’re in Nice, getting out onto the water is one of the best ways to see just how good the coastline actually is.

The nice thing about boat tours in Nice is that they’re not all the same. You can do a quick sightseeing cruise to Villefranche-sur-Mer, spend an afternoon swimming and snorkeling around Cap Ferrat, watch the sunset with wine, or even take the boat all the way to Monaco.

I’ve narrowed this list down to the 6 boat tours in Nice that are actually worth looking at, depending on what kind of day you want.

Boat Tours in Nice: Quick Picks

Category	Boat Tour
Best Overall	Nice: 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise to Villefranche Bay
Best for Swimming & Snorkeling	Nice: Mala Caves, Villefranche & Snorkeling Boat Tour
Best Sunset Tour	Nice: Sunset Boat Tour with Wine and Local Snacks
Best Sunset Catamaran	Nice: The Sunset – Villefranche-sur-Mer
Best Relaxing Afternoon	Nice: A Relaxing Afternoon at Sea on a Maxi Catamaran
Best Longer Excursion	Nice to Monaco: French Riviera Coastal Boat Excursion

The 6 Best Boat Tours in Nice

Nice: 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise to Villefranche Bay

Best overall boat tour in Nice

This is the one I’d look at first if you just want to get on a boat and see the coastline without turning it into a whole-day activity.

It’s also the most popular boat tour in Nice, so there’s a reason this is the classic option.

The one-hour cruise takes you from Nice along the coast towards Villefranche-sur-Mer, giving you views of the Promenade des Anglais, the coastline around Cap de Nice, and the beautiful bay of Villefranche.

And honestly, for a first trip to Nice, I think an hour is a pretty perfect amount of time. You get the experience without sacrificing half your day.

Best for: First-time visitors, sightseeing, short trips, and seeing Villefranche Bay from the water

Book Here: Nice 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise to Villefranche Bay

Nice: Mala Caves, Villefranche & Snorkeling Boat Tour

Best for swimming and snorkeling

This is the one I’d choose if you don’t just want to sit on a boat looking at the coastline.

The tour takes you along the coast towards Villefranche and the Mala Caves, with time to get into the water and snorkel.

That makes it a much more active experience than the standard sightseeing cruise. You’re getting the coastline, but you’re also actually experiencing the Mediterranean rather than just looking at it.

If you’re visiting Nice in summer and have good weather, this would be high on my list.

Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, summer days, and travelers who want a more active boat trip

Book Here: Nice Mala Caves, Villefranche & Snorkeling Boat Tour

Nice: Sunset Boat Tour with Wine and Local Snacks

Best for a relaxed sunset

This is the option I’d pick if you’re less interested in sightseeing and more interested in having a really nice evening on the water.

The tour takes you out towards Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat around sunset, with wine and local snacks included.

And this is exactly the type of thing where I wouldn’t overcomplicate it. You’re on the French Riviera, the sun is going down, you’re on a boat, and there’s wine. That’s pretty much the activity.

Best for: Couples, sunset, wine, and a relaxed evening

Book Here: Nice Sunset Boat Tour with Wine and Local Snacks

Nice: The Sunset – Villefranche-sur-Mer

Best sunset catamaran experience

If you’d rather have more of a catamaran experience, this is another sunset option.

Instead of the smaller sightseeing-boat feel, you’re heading out on a maxi catamaran towards the Bay of Villefranche.

I’d choose this over the previous sunset tour if you want more space and the atmosphere of being on a larger boat.

It’s also a good option if you’re traveling with friends and want the boat ride itself to be part of the evening rather than simply a way of seeing the coastline.

Best for: Sunset, groups of friends, catamarans, and a more social atmosphere

Book Here: Nice Sunset Catamaran to Villefranche-sur-Mer

Nice: A Relaxing Afternoon at Sea on a Maxi Catamaran – Cap Ferrat

Best for a relaxing afternoon

If you’re looking at boat tours in Nice because you want an actual afternoon at sea rather than a sightseeing tour, this is the one.

The maxi catamaran heads towards Cap Ferrat, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the Mediterranean and the coastline without rushing through a one-hour sightseeing route.

This is the kind of tour I’d book when I have a free summer afternoon and don’t particularly care about ticking another attraction off my list.

Best for: Relaxing, swimming, summer afternoons, couples, and groups

Book Here: Nice Maxi Catamaran Afternoon at Sea

Nice to Monaco: French Riviera Coastal Boat Excursion

Best for combining Nice and Monaco

This is the most ambitious option on the list because you’re not just doing a short cruise around Nice.

The boat takes you along the French Riviera towards Monaco, so you’re getting a longer coastal experience and another destination in the same trip.

If you’ve already planned to visit Monaco, this could be a really fun way to get there rather than simply taking the train.

I wouldn’t choose this if your main goal is just relaxing on the water, though. It’s more of a coastal excursion than a simple boat tour in Nice.

Best for: Monaco, longer excursions, coastline views, and travelers who want to combine destinations

Book Here: Nice to Monaco Coastal Boat Excursion

How to Choose a Boat Tour in Nice

If this is your first time in Nice and you just want to see the coastline, I’d go for the 1-hour Villefranche cruise. It’s easy, popular, and doesn’t take over your day.

If you want to swim and snorkel, choose the Mala Caves tour.

For sunset, I’d pick between the wine and local snacks tour and the Villefranche catamaran, depending on whether you want something more intimate or a bigger boat atmosphere.

And if you want to make the boat trip into a bigger day out, the Monaco excursion is the obvious choice.

Boat Tours in Nice: Final Thoughts

There are plenty of boat tours in Nice, but you don’t need to book something complicated to enjoy the coastline.

For a first visit, I’d probably do the 1-hour Villefranche cruise simply because it’s easy to fit into a Nice itinerary. If you’re visiting in summer and want to actually get in the Mediterranean, I’d choose the Mala Caves and snorkeling tour instead.

And if you have an afternoon to spare, the Cap Ferrat catamaran is probably the option I’d be most tempted by. At some point, you have to stop sightseeing and just enjoy being on the French Riviera.