8 Night Disney Magic Mediterranean Cruise – Day 5 Nice, Monaco, and Monte Carlo

CLICK HERE to start at the beginning of the cruise.

Greeted by sunshine and an absolutely stunning vista, we awoke to Day 5 of our cruise at the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer!

This port was one we were really excited to visit! We booked the Value Package – Nice and Monaco – Adult Only Departure (V35) and here is the description from the Disney website:

• Take a 30-minute scenic tour along the Lower Corniche from Villefranche to Nice.
• Stop in charming Old Nice for a guided stroll lasting about an hour on the Cours Saleya toward the colorful flower and fruit market (substituted for an Antiques Market on Mondays).
• Those wishing to go on foot to Old Nice will have a guided walk along the Promenade des Anglais, or Guests may choose to make their own way during their free time.
• Enjoy 75 minutes of free time to have lunch (not included) or explore this jewel of the French Riviera.
• Reboard your motorcoach for a 45-minute drive to the Rock of Monaco. On your way, enjoy views of the medieval village of Eze, nested on a hilltop known as the Eagle’s Nest.
• Arrive in Monaco and ride an escalator and an elevator up the cliff. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the exteriors of 3 famous sites—the Oceanographic Museum, the Monaco Cathedral and the Prince’s Palace, which has served as the residence of the Royal Family since the 13th century.
• Reboard your motorcoach for a 15-minute drive, passing along a section of the Formula 1 Grand Prix Race circuit—world famous for its challenging race course through the twisting streets of Monaco.
• Walk 15 minutes from the parking area to Casino Square surrounded by immaculate gardens.
• Enjoy 75 minutes of free time to shop or browse the impressive range of top cars outside Casino Square, before walking back to your motorcoach.
• Take a 45-minute drive back to Villefranche.

I can’t speak to what they mean by “Value Package”, but we loved the itinerary and were so excited to see Nice and Monaco on this excursion!

This port was the only one of our cruise that required a tender boat. We hopped on one of the first tenders and motored off with all the other people headed out for morning excursions.

We disembarked the tender easily and walked through the dock area to check in with our guide. She gave each of us a listening device (bring your own headphones if you wish!) and then we got ready to board the bus and head to Nice!

Similar to the last excursion, the motorcoach was extremely comfortable and clean. We also learned that our driver was extremely competent. The streets were SO narrow and winding, but he was fearless and expertly navigated so that we reached our destination safely.

It’s hard to describe the beauty of the French Riviera in words, so I will try to do it justice in photos.

Before we knew it, we arrived in Nice! Our guide gave us a brief overview of the area and then we were free to explore on our own.

We started in Old Nice with a walk through the middle of an enchanting flower market and soaked in the relaxed, seaside vibes.

I bought a delicious dessert crepe from the market and then we walked and munched our way towards Castle Hill.

Castle Hill is a beautiful vantage point that was the site of a military citadel in Nice from the 11th century until the 18th century. The citadel is no longer there, but there are some gardens and a park there now which offer stunning views of the entire city. It can be accessed by climbing a lot of stairs, but also…an elevator! You can take the elevator for free but be prepared to wait in a small line if it is a busy time of day.

We spent a lot of time up here in the gorgeous weather!

We could’ve stayed up there all day but alas, it was time to descend. After climbing down the many stone steps, we found ourselves along the Promenade des Anglais! This is essentially a long sidewalk that hugs the coast.

It was time to get down to the water!

This is seriously my absolute happy place.

Justin and I sat by the water and talked about how amazing our trip was so far. We also started planning our return trip! What can I say, we fell in love with the French Riviera.

After we had our fill of the beach, we wandered around the western portion of Nice. This definitely felt much more city-like, but we enjoyed seeing the luxury hotels and small gardens decorating the side streets.

We happened to be traveling during the time that Nice was preparing to host the Women’s World Cup, so we got to see some of the festivities in the center of the city.

The Fontaine du Soleil (Fountain of the Sun!)

Around midday we met the rest of our group at a designated meeting spot and boarded the bus for another leg of travel. Onward to Monaco!

Another gorgeous drive along the coastline.

Now, to give a little background information. My husband LOVES Formula 1 racing. We both knew that our trip to the south of France would not be complete without seeing the famous racetrack. The major deciding factor for us choosing this excursion was that it included Monaco and Monte Carlo.

I did not have any expectations for Monaco, but when we arrived I was astonished.

It was more dreamy than I ever could have imagined. I said to Justin that it was like being in a playground for the rich and famous.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, where the royal family is buried.

We began in the Prince’s Palace. Our guide gave us information about the history of Monaco and the royal family (plus a little bit of the latest celebrity gossip), and then we were free to explore. The palace is surrounded by small streets which we meandered down to find some shade. It was getting hot!

We found ourselves staring at several gorgeous vistas throughout the day.

Our bus was parked underneath the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (which looked amazing), so we had to walk back there for the next part of our excursion.

We got to drive along the Grand Prix track! Justin was especially excited because the start line was still visible. Our guide and bus driver even narrated us crossing the line and speeding up like we were F1 racing. It was such a fun experience!

The rest of the drive took us along the track up to the Yacht Club of Monaco, then we were dropped off outside the Souvenirs Shop Louis II Monaco. After a short walk upstairs, we arrived at the Parc du Casino and the famous Monte Carlo Casino!

Our group was able to walk inside the casino and take pictures in the lobby, but we were warned that the casino is very strict about security. You are subject to a bag search before entering and no photography is allowed near the casino floor.

We aren’t into gambling, but I will hold giant chips on a giant table!

Leaving the casino with all our money intact, we made our way to the Fairmont Hairpin.

The tightest turn of the Grand Prix! It was surreal to see it in person. I can’t imagine taking that turn any faster than 10 mph.

We went back through the park and took a little time to walk around and take in the sights. The whole place kinda felt like a giant movie set.

This was especially true when we journeyed down to the docks. It was time to see another huge part of Monaco…yachts!

My favorite was the one with the unicorn.

At the end of our amazing afternoon in Monaco, we climbed back into the bus for the last time for our drive to Villefranche.

I was honestly sad the excursion was over. We had such a magical time and can’t wait to return here in the future!

My sadness was only temporary as we pulled into the port and saw the ship. We were ready to board the tender and get back on board the Magic.

Some of our dinner companions were also on the excursion and we made plans to meet up with them at none other than…

Palo!

A fun tip if you want to experience Palo but do not have a dining reservation is: go to the bar! There is limited seating at the bar in Palo, but you are welcome to order a drink there and enjoy the ambiance without a reservation any time Palo is open for brunch or dinner. Just remember that Palo dress code does still apply, so dress to impress!

We had a truly spectacular day in Villefranche, Nice, and Monaco – our first adventures in France. Stay tuned for our Day 6 report where we get a little confused but eventually make it to Marseille!