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Villefranche-sur-Mer Cruise Port — Live Ships & Schedule
Villefranche-sur-Mer
France
Live port activity
No tracked cruise ships are in Villefranche-sur-Mer right now.
Actual as of
Port schedule
(today)
No ships due in port.
- Marella Explorer, Marella Cruises — times not published
No ships due in port.
Port details
- Country
- France
- Coordinates
- 43.703, 7.312
- LOCODE
- FRVFM
About Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer sits on the southeastern coast of France, just east of Nice and close to Monaco and the Italian border. Its bay is one of the Mediterranean's deepest natural harbors, reaching depths of around 320 feet close to shore and extending to an underwater canyon. The town itself is a small, self-contained seaside resort, with narrow old streets arranged around the waterfront. Since the 1980s it has been used by cruise ships and is now the most visited cruise ship port of call in France. It is a tender port, meaning ships anchor in the bay and passengers travel to shore by smaller boat.
The port's history runs deep. In 1295, Charles II, Duke of Anjou, established Villefranche as a "free port", granting tax privileges and port rights that lasted well into the 18th century. From 1948 to February 1966, it was the home port of the United States Navy's 6th Fleet. Today the town's setting and compact scale make it feel distinctly different from its more famous neighbor Nice. The old harbor of La Darse dates to the 17th century, originally built for the galleys of the Duke of Savoy and now home to a marina with yachting activities. The Citadel, built in 1557, now houses the town hall, a convention centre, museums and an open-air theater.
The Rue Obscure, or "Dark Street," is a passageway under the harbor front houses that dates back to 1260. The main beach is Plage des Marinières, stretching a kilometer along the railway, while Plage de la Darse is a pebble beach behind the harbor's jetty. The local economy is based on tourism and leisure, with sailing and deep-sea diving as popular activities.
Nice is just 5 kilometers away by bus or train. Regular trains connect to Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo. For those staying in port, the town's cafes, small restaurants and harbor-side walks offer a quieter tempo than the busier Riviera resorts nearby. Travelers on The Cruise Globe can trace the exact routes their ships followed through Villefranche's deep, sheltered anchorage.