Only 6km west of Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a stately parade of Belle-Epoque villas bordering a seaside promenade and gravel beaches. The abundant greenery flourishing along the promenade and throughout the town perfumes the air and creates a calm, flowery setting for a resort holiday.
Beaulieu was inhabited by the Ligurians, Greeks and Romans and survived peacefully throughout the Middle Ages by exporting its agricultural products. It became part of France in 1860 along with Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer and then flourished as a resort for 19th-century mostly British visitors. When Lord Salisbury built a villa here, he frequently entertained Queen Victoria who made the trip here from her residence in Nice. Most of Beaulieu's elegant buildings date from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a great place to enjoy a summer holiday away from the crowds swarming through Nice, Antibes and Cannes. Yet, it's on the coastal train line making day trips to other Riviera destinations easy. Nice and Monaco are only about 10 minutes away. Travelers on a budget may want to look elsewhere though as meals and accommodation are more expensive than Nice.
There are two delightful beaches of gravelly sand on either side of Beaulieu's small port: Baie des Fourmis and Petite Afrique. The shallow water is calm, perfect for kids. See more details about the beaches of Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Ready for more exertion? Take a stroll along the shady seaside promenade Maurice Rouvier which leads directly to Saint Jean-Cap Ferrat. It's one of the best walks on the Riviera.
The highlight of any visit to Beaulieu-sur-Mer is the Villa Kerylos, an exact replica of an ancient Greek villa with every detail scrupulously researched and reproduced. The project was the brainchild of French scholar Theodore Reinach who worked with architect Emmanuel Pontremoli to build a modern villa with all amenities but styled on ancient Greek forms. Don't miss the Thermae which recreates Greek baths
and the Peristyle with 12 Doric columns.
An audioguide is included as part of the visit. The Villa Kerylos is open daily. Note that there's a combination ticket available that includes a visit to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. It's possible but not necessary to reserve on line. More info here.
Beaulieu's handsome Casino was inaugurated in 1929. It's worth visiting for the elegant interior, reasonably-priced restaurant, bar/lounge and gaming rooms.
Four-star Hotels
La Reserve
Hotel Carlton
Three-star Hotels
Hotel Artemis
Inter-Hotel Frisia
Hotel Comté de Nice
Two-star Hotels
Hotel Select
Le Havre Bleu
Le Chaudron
By Car
Follow the Basse Corniche from Nice and you will quickly be in the centre of Beaulieu. You can also take the Moyenne Corniche and turn right where indicated shortly after Villefranche.
By Bus
Lignes d'Azur runs bus 15 which connects Nice with Beaulieu, stopping at Villa Kerylos, Cap Ferrat and the Beaulieu train station. For those in east Nice bus 84 is practical as it runs from Gare Riquier to Plage Fourmis and the train station of Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Another possibility is Zou bus 600 which runs from Nice to Menton, stopping at Beaulieu, Villefranche, Eze and Monaco.
By Train
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is on the TER line 4 that runs from Nice to Menton. Although the buses are more scenic they take much more time and can be standing room only in summer. See more on travelling the French Riviera by train.
The Beaulieu-sur-Mer tourist office (tel 04 93 01 02 21) is right next to the train station at place Georges Clemenceau.
Hi! I'm Jeanne Oliver--tour guide and author and I've been living on the Riviera for years. With my local insights your trip will be easy and fun. And, do check out my book Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City.
