Saint Paul de Vence is one of the most beautiful medieval walled cities you can visit on a day trip from Nice. With views over the French Riviera and the mountains of Provence, this historical, artists paradise is a must on anyone’s Côte d’Azur itinerary. If you enjoy exploring medieval stone streets, taking in beautiful views, climbing city walls, and browsing local artists’ studios then a St Paul de Vence day trip is perfect for you.
Saint Paul de Vence was one of my favourite stops on our one-week trip to the French Riviera. From the moment we arrived and saw the fortified city through the window of the bus it had us in awe. Spending the day wandering the streets, walking along the city wall, and diving into the history of the town, it quickly became one of my all-time favourite day trips. What I liked most about this city is that it feels very much lived in and alive with locals – especially compared to the likes of Eze.
In this St Paul de Vence Itinerary, you will find information on how to get there from Nice and other cities on the Côte d’Azur, what to see in St Paul de Vence, and all other tips we learnt on our trip.
Spending more time in the area? Make sure to check out my other guides to travel in France!
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How To Get to Saint-Paul de Vence from Nice
Nice is the perfect base for a trip to the French Rivera with so many possible day trips around the Côte d’Azur within such a short distance. Saint Paul de Vence is just one of these very easy day trips from Nice. Located around 18km from central Nice, St Paul de Vence is very easy to reach using the public transport system.
The best route to Saint Paul de Vence from Nice is by taking the TER train from Nice Ville to Cagnes-sur-mer. This trip takes around 14 minutes and costs €3.30 per person. You can buy tickets at the station or online on this page. For this part of the trip, you will need to buy your train ticket in advance – either in person at the station or online. The train leaves every 30 minutes and if you miss a good connection with the bus, you can always spend the extra time exploring the hilltop village of Cagnes-sur-Mer instead.
When you arrive at the station you will want to walk to the Gare Cagnes-sur-Mer bus station where you can take the 655 to Vence Village. This trip takes around 30 minutes. You will need to purchase a bus ticket on the bus for €5 in cash so make sure to bring some spare change.
If you do not want to take the train, or plan on doing more of a road trip around Provence, you can instead rent a car from Nice and drive to St Paul de Vence. This trip takes around 40 minutes so is the faster option, however, with the ease of transport around the French Riviera, you don’t necessarily need a car.
How To Get to Saint-Paul de Vence
If you are not staying in Nice, it is the best way to get to St Paul de Vence from any of the other towns on the French Riviera is still to take the TER train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and the 655 bus to Vence Village. You can do this from Antibes, Nice, Monaco, Menton, Eze etc.
Where to stay in St Paul de Vence
If you want to spend more time in this beautiful medieval city, then there are a few beautiful places to stay in St Paul de Vence that will give you the perfect experience. For bigger groups and those who want a more self-sufficient stay, L’élégante is the perfect house with space for 2 to 8 people. If you want to stay in a hotel then look no further than Hotel Le Saint Paul, a very charming hotel with beautiful rooms and an amazing terrace looking out onto the hills of Provence.
You can find even more places to stay in St Paul on this page.
How Long to Spend in Saint-Paul de Vence
To see the whole of Sant-Paul de Vence, walk the city walls and spend some time in the galleries you will need around 4 – 5 hours. However, due to the travel time I recommend leaving a full day for this day trip – or combining it with a visit to Cagnes-sur-Mer on the way home.
Is it worth visiting St Paul de Vence?
Yes, St Paul de Vence is one of the best day trips you can take from the French Riviera. The medieval walled cities is flowing with history and creativity.
History of St Paul de Vence
The area of Saint Paul de Vence, otherwise just known as Saint Paul, has been populated since around 400BC but it was not until the 16th century that the walled city was built. However, this still does make it one of the oldest walled cities in France with the ramparts constructed in 1547. Today you can still see the signs of the important role that this city once played in the defence of Provence region.
In the 1920’s the city took on a different life, with artists flocking from all over the world to make St Paul their home. Paul Signac, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall just to name a few. This creativity is very much visible today in the numerous artists’ studios which line the streets of the old town.
Things to do in St Paul de Vence
Walk Around the Medieval City
When you first arrive in St Paul Village, rather than heading into the walled city, follow the path to the right. This path takes you around the walled city, giving the opportunity to see the ramparts and old bastions from the outside. Along the path, there is a guided walk which gives insight not only into the military history of the city, but of the rich agricultural landscape that surrounds it – A mixture of vineyards and meadows used for growing flowers for the thriving local perfume industry. For additional tips, make sure to download an NFC reader to your phone so you can scan the different markers along the route. The path ends by Porte de Nice where you can enter the city.
You might like: Get the France Travel Map for all the best spots marked in the French Riviera and beyond.
Walk Around the Ramparts
Something you cannot miss in St Paul de Vence is walking around the Ramparts, following the high path. You can either begin the walk at Point du Vue near Porte de Nice (map), or from the staircase by Point de Vue, Bastion St-Rémy (map). From the ramparts, you get a unique view both over the old city, and the countryside of Provence. You can really imagine how it was to live here in the medieval times, with views from the sea to the mountains it was the perfect defence location.
It takes around 30 minutes to walk the entirety of the Ramparts. I would recommend starting at Porte de Nice and walking towards Bastion St-Rémy. This way you finish the walk in the perfect spot to find a good restaurant for lunch!
Eat at a Restaurant with a View
St Paul de Vence is home to some beautiful restaurants with views over the city and countryside. We ended up at Les Remparts, a beautiful restaurant with a terrace that looks out over the city walls. The décor here is amazing with stone walls inside and out, white curtains and iron furniture. The lunch here is a fair price (around 15 for share plates and 25 for a main course) and the food is all very fresh and locally inspired. We had a cold and warm version of the fish of the day – two unique dishes with flavours we had not ever come across before. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly, but you can find the current menu on this page.
If you are after something a little more luxurious, then definitely head to Hôtel Le Saint Paul (map) and eat at Côté Terasse Restaurant. The menu here is very much inspired by seasonal ingredients and local flavours so eating here is a real experience. While the food is slightly more expensive, but worth the price for the complex flavours, and the beautiful terrace dining area.
Visit the grave of Marc Chagall
While in St Paul de Vence, make sure to head to the cemetery, located just outside of Porte de Nice. Here, you will find the graves of several notable people, including the Belorussian/ French artist Marc Chagall who lived in the village from 1966 to 1985.
Wander the old town
The narrow cobblestone streets lined with colourful art studios and boutique shops is the highlight of a day trip to St Paul de Vence. The most lively of these is Rue Grande, the street which leads from Porte de Nice towards Porte de Vence. Here, the old stone walls are covered in clematis and artists sit by the edges of their studios painting the town in their unique styles. Don’t miss Fontaine de Saint-Paul-de-Vence (map), the old marketplace and fountain where locals traditionally head to collect water and do their washing.
While Rue Grade is the most alive, don’t shy away from the other narrow alleyways of the old town. While there is less going on, there is still a lot of beautiful in these areas. Here you can see where people live and get a feeling for the medieval city that is missing in Rue Grande. If you have seen St Paul de Vence on Instagram – you will probably be hoping to see the corner house covered in clematis flowers. Here is the exact location (map). However, if you are visiting the French Riviera in October like we did, know the flowers will not be in bloom.
Ice Cream from L’épicerie des artistes
If you are looking for the best ice cream in St Paul de Vence, look no further than L’épicerie de artistes. We tried the violet flavour – something I have been craving since spending a week in Annecy last year. It was so creamy, and I loved the unique flavour that you don’t often find.
Play Boules at Café de la Place
Outside the city walls you will find Café de la Place. In the past, this was a frequent meeting place of locals such as Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, and Braque. Today, you can head here for a coffee or a bite to eat, or for a game of boules in the picturesque park looking towards Porte de Vence.
Overview: A Day Trip to St Paul de Vence from Nice, France
St Paul de Vence is one of the most beautiful medieval hilltop cities close to the French Riviera, and the perfect day trip from Nice. In this day trip itinerary for St Paul de Vence, you should be able to find all the information you will need for a day trip, things to see and do, and a rough guide for how to spend the day.
Exploring more of the French Riviera? Here are some places to visit near St Paul de Vence:
