See the French Riviera from an open-top double-decker bus.
Quick Guide
Nice Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
Explore Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer from a red open-top bus with 12 stops along the coast.
- Choose between 1-day or 2-day pass for unlimited rides.
- Get audio commentary in 9 languages and a map with local discounts.
- The full loop takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Buses run every hour from Promenade des Anglais.
- Hop off at any stop, explore as long as you want, then catch the next bus.
Book your tickets » Cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Highlights
Tickets & Prices
Nice Le Grand Tour offers two ticket durations. Both give you unlimited hop-on hop-off access to all 12 stops covering Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer.
- The 1-day pass lets you explore for one full service day.
- The 2-day pass must be used on two consecutive days (not a full 48 hours, but two calendar days of service).
Pricing Table
| 1-Day | 2-Day Best Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €24.00 | €28.00 (€14.00 per day) |
| Child (4-11) | €8.00 | €8.00 (€4.00 per day) |
Children under 4 ride free with valid ID.
Tips for Choosing Your Ticket
- Go for the 2-day pass if you want to explore at a relaxed pace. It’s only €4 more than the 1-day option, at only €14 per day instead of €24. You’ll have time to visit both Nice and Villefranche without rushing.
- The 1-day pass works well if you’re short on time. You can see the main highlights in one day by staying on for the full loop first, then hopping off at your favorite spots on the second round.
- Book online before you arrive. You’ll save time and can show your ticket directly from your phone when you board. Plus you get free cancellation until 24 hours before your visit.
- Remember these are service days, not 24-hour periods. If you buy a 1-day pass at 15:00, it’s valid until the last bus that same day (not until 15:00 the next day).
- Children’s tickets must be purchased with an adult ticket. You can’t buy a child-only pass.
FAQs about Ticketing & Pricing
How much does the hop-on hop-off bus in Nice cost?
Nice Le Grand Tour runs two passes, and the prices are close. The 1-day pass is about €24 and the 2-day pass about €28, which works out to roughly €14 a day. Children aged 4 to 11 pay €8 for either pass, and kids under 4 ride free.
Is it cheaper to book online or buy on the bus?
The price is the same either way, but booking online sends a QR-code ticket to your phone so you board at any stop without queuing for the driver. It also comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, so reserving early is risk-free.
Do children get a discount?
Yes. Kids aged 4 to 11 pay €8 on either the 1-day or 2-day pass, and under-4s ride free with valid ID. Child tickets have to be bought together with an adult ticket, so there’s no child-only pass.
Route Map & Stops
Nice Le Grand Tour operates a single route with 12 stops covering the best of Nice and the neighboring village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The full loop takes 1 hour and 15 minutes without hopping off.
- Download the latest Hop-on Hop-off route map here (PDF)
- Download the latest timetable here (PDF)
- Track buses in real time using the live bus tracker
Nice & Villefranche Route
| Info | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start Point | 99 Quai des Etats-Unis |
| Operating Hours | Wednesday: 10:00-17:00 Thursday-Tuesday: 11:00-16:00 |
| Full Loop | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Frequency | Every hour |
Complete Stop List:
- Promenade des Anglais / Max Gallo (starting point)
- Massenet / Promenade des Anglais (Nord)
- Congres / Promenade des Anglais (Nord)
- Eglise Russe / Gambetta (Russian Church)
- Gare SNCF / Poste Thiers (Train Station)
- Congres / Promenade des Anglais (Sud)
- Cathédrale / Vielle Ville (Cathedral and Old Town)
- Port Lympia / Carnot
- Villefranche Octroi (Sud)
- Villefranche Citadelle (Citadel)
- Villefranche Octroi (Nord)
- Ile de Beauté / Port (Nord)
Route Highlights:
- The Promenade des Anglais runs along Nice’s famous waterfront where you’ll see the Mediterranean stretching out in front of elegant Belle Époque buildings. The bus stops at three different points along this iconic promenade.
- The Russian Cathedral (Eglise Russe) is one of Nice’s most photographed landmarks with its colorful onion domes. It’s the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe.
- Old Town (Vieille Ville) is where you’ll find narrow streets, local markets, and authentic Niçoise restaurants. The cathedral sits at the edge of this historic quarter.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer gives you three stops in this picturesque fishing village. Visit the 16th-century citadel, stroll the colorful harbor, and explore the steep streets that lead down to the sea.
- Port Lympia is Nice’s working port where you can watch boats coming and going while enjoying the lively waterfront atmosphere.
What to See & Do
Listen to Commentary in Your Language
Put on your earphones and choose from 9 languages for the audio guide: English, Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish. The commentary tells you about Nice’s history and shares local stories as you pass each landmark.
Some tours also have live guides speaking in 8 languages (all except Mandarin). They answer questions and point out details you might miss.
Cruise Along the Promenade des Anglais
Watch the Mediterranean sparkle below as you ride along Nice’s most famous street. You’ll pass grand hotels, the Negresco with its pink dome, and locals rollerblading along the seafront. The open-top bus sits over 4 meters high, giving you perfect views of the Bay of Angels.
Explore Nice’s Old Town
Hop off at the Cathedral stop and walk into the maze of narrow streets that make up Vieille Ville. You’ll find the Cours Saleya market (open most days), colorful buildings with green shutters, and small squares where locals gather. This is where to try socca (chickpea pancake) and see Nice as it’s been for centuries.
Visit the Russian Cathedral
Get off at the Gambetta stop to see this stunning cathedral with its six onion domes covered in glazed tiles. Built in the early 1900s when Russian aristocrats spent winters in Nice, it’s one of the finest examples of Russian religious architecture outside Russia.
Discover Villefranche-sur-Mer
The bus takes you beyond Nice to this charming fishing village. Hop off at the Citadel stop to explore the 16th-century fortress and walk down to the harbor. The waterfront is lined with pastel-colored houses and seafood restaurants. The steep streets are perfect for wandering.
See Port Lympia
Nice’s harbor is less touristy than the Promenade but just as interesting. You’ll see fishing boats, yachts, and the daily life of a working Mediterranean port. The area around the port has good restaurants where locals actually eat.
Stay On for the Full Loop
If you want to get your bearings first, just stay seated for the complete 1 hour 15 minute ride. You’ll see everything once, then you can decide where to hop off on your next round. The commentary continues throughout, so you’ll learn about Nice and Villefranche as you ride.
FAQs
Is the Nice hop-on hop-off bus worth it?
It pays off most if you want both Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer without parking or working out the local bus network. The single route links the Promenade des Anglais, the Old Town, the Russian Cathedral, and the Villefranche harbor, with audio commentary along the way. At around €14 a day the 2-day pass gives you time to explore both towns.
Does Nice have a hop-on hop-off bus?
Yes. Nice Le Grand Tour runs a red open-top double-decker along the coast, with 12 stops and audio commentary in 9 languages. It’s the one operator covering the city, and the same loop carries on to Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Does the bus go to Villefranche-sur-Mer?
Yes. The route continues past Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer with three stops in the village: Villefranche Octroi (Sud), Villefranche Citadelle, and Villefranche Octroi (Nord). That’s enough to hop off and see the 16th-century citadel, walk down to the harbor, and wander the steep streets before catching a later bus back.
How many stops are there, and where does the bus start?
There are 12 stops covering Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. The tour starts at 99 Quai des Etats-Unis on the Promenade des Anglais, the first stop, though you can board at any of the 12 along the loop. The full circuit takes 1 hour and 15 minutes if you stay on without hopping off, and buses run every hour.
Where can I find the route map?
The Route Map & Stops section on this page lays out the single Nice and Villefranche loop, with a downloadable route map and timetable as PDFs. You can also follow the buses in real time on the live tracker once you’ve booked, so you know when the next one reaches your stop.