Yes, Nice works on a normal port day. Small ships dock in the Port of Nice (Port Lympia), a short walk from our start at Place Garibaldi. Most larger ships anchor off Villefranche-sur-Mer and tender passengers ashore; from there the TER train to Nice-Ville takes about 10 minutes plus about 20-25 minutes on foot, or bus 15 takes about 25-30 minutes to Nice Port. The hunt takes about 2 hours, runs through Vieux Nice and ends at Jardin Albert 1er.
Scavenger huntNice Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided TourRiddles at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Outdoor escape gameNice Escape GameA puzzle at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Self-guided audio walking tourNice Self-Guided Walking Audio TourJust listen and walkAbout 3 hours · listen as you walk
4 € - 9 €From Port Lympia or Villefranche to Place Garibaldi
- First check onboard whether your ship docks in Nice or anchors at Villefranche: only small ships (roughly under 180-190 m) berth at Port Lympia, and the answer changes your whole plan.
- From Port Lympia, walk from the harbour towards the Old Town: Place Garibaldi lies between the port and Vieux Nice. Some cruise lines also run their own shuttle into the city centre.
- From Villefranche, the tender to the Port de la Santé landing takes about 10 minutes; the landing has tourist information and restrooms. Then walk about 10-12 minutes, uphill with stairs, to Villefranche-sur-Mer station.
- Take the TER regional train to Nice-Ville (about 10 minutes) and walk about 20-25 minutes through the centre to Place Garibaldi. Or take Lignes d'Azur bus 15 from the Octroi stop, about 7 minutes' walk from the landing, to Nice Port in about 25-30 minutes.
- A taxi from Villefranche to Nice takes about 15-20 minutes.
A Nice port day via Villefranche, hour by hour
- 0:00Tender ashore to Villefranche (about 10 minutes, longer when there are queues).
- 0:15Walk up to Villefranche-sur-Mer station and ride the TER to Nice-Ville, then walk to Place Garibaldi.
- 1:00Start the hunt at Place Garibaldi (from Port Lympia you are here within minutes).
- 1:30Tour Saint-François, the lanes of Vieux Nice, Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and Cours Saleya.
- 3:00Finish at Jardin Albert 1er after the Promenade du Paillon and the Fountain of the Sun.
- 3:15Train back to Villefranche and queue for the tender, aiming to be at the landing well over 1 hour before all-aboard time.
Tips for Nice when time is short
- From Villefranche the train is the quickest and most predictable way to Nice; buses are slower on busy cruise days, and the walk up to the station includes stairs.
- Allow extra time for the tender back to the ship, especially in the late afternoon when several ships are in the bay.
- Vieux Nice has narrow, shaded lanes, and the Promenade du Paillon and Jardin Albert 1er offer green space at the end of the route.
- If your ship docks at Port Lympia, Tram Line 2 or a 15-20 minute walk gets you back from Jardin Albert 1er.
- The hunt has only about 35 minutes of actual walking, so it fits comfortably even after the tender and the train.
Why a self-guided game works on a port day
- You start when you step off the ship, not at a fixed tour time, and nobody waits for a group.
- Everyone in your party can follow on their own phone with one booking reference.
- You can stop for lunch or a swim and carry on later, and end the game whenever you need to head back.
- Google Maps guides you from stop to stop, and the game needs no entry tickets.
Nice cruise stop: questions
Do cruise ships dock in Nice or Villefranche?
Only small ships (roughly under 180-190 m) dock in the Port of Nice (Port Lympia); most larger ships anchor at Villefranche-sur-Mer and tender passengers ashore.
How do I get from Villefranche to Nice?
The quickest way is the regional TER train from Villefranche-sur-Mer station, about 10 minutes on foot from the tender landing, to Nice-Ville in about 10 minutes. Bus 15 to Nice Port takes about 25-30 minutes.
How far is the Nice cruise port from the Old Town?
About 15-20 minutes on foot; Tram Line 2 also starts at Port Lympia.
Where does the hunt start and finish?
It starts at Place Garibaldi, between the port and the Old Town, and ends at Jardin Albert 1er near the seafront, passing the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, Cours Saleya and the Opera of Nice on the way.
Do I need to book a time slot?
No. You book online, receive your booking reference by email straight away and start whenever you are ashore. The ticket has no time limit, so it still works if your ship arrives late or your plans change.
What do we need on the day?
A charged smartphone with mobile data, the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play, and your booking reference. A power bank helps on a long port day.
Port and transport details checked in November 2026. Docking positions and timetables change, so always check your ship’s all-aboard time and your cruise line’s port information before you set off.