port excursion | Magical Travels with Barb

A medieval village in the hills, colorful streets along the sea, and a little French Riviera magic.

There are some cruise ports where the best plan is to slow down, take in the scenery, and let the day unfold. Our stop on the French Riviera was one of those days.

Villefranche-sur-Mer was a tender port on our Norwegian Epic Mediterranean cruise, which meant we took a smaller boat from the ship to shore rather than walking straight off the ship onto the pier. And honestly? Arriving by tender felt like a pretty lovely way to begin a day on the Riviera.

With the Mediterranean sparkling around us, we were ready to explore two very different places: the hilltop medieval village of Èze and the colorful seaside town of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

First Stop: Èze Village, Where Time Slows Down

Èze Village is one of those places that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Perched high above the Mediterranean, this medieval village is filled with narrow cobblestone lanes, stone buildings, charming little shops, and breathtaking views around nearly every corner.

Wandering through the village is part of the experience. There isn’t necessarily a checklist you need to rush through. Instead, you find yourself stopping to admire a doorway, peek into a shop, or turn a corner and discover another beautiful view.

The village’s elevated location offers those sweeping Côte d’Azur panoramas that make you understand why this stretch of coastline has inspired travelers for generations.

My advice? Wear comfortable walking shoes. Those beautiful old streets can be steep, uneven, and a little challenging in places. Take your time, pause for photos, and give yourself room to enjoy the village without feeling rushed.

Èze is also a wonderful reminder that some of the best travel moments aren’t about checking off the most attractions. Sometimes they’re simply about wandering somewhere beautiful and soaking it all in.

Next Up: Villefranche-sur-Mer

After our time in Èze, we headed back down to Villefranche-sur-Mer to explore the town itself.

If Èze feels like stepping into another century, Villefranche has a relaxed seaside charm that’s distinctly French Riviera. Think colorful buildings, narrow streets, waterfront views, and that lovely Mediterranean atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer.

We wandered through town, taking in the scenery and enjoying the chance to explore at a slower pace.

One of the things I love about Mediterranean cruising is how much variety you can fit into a single day. You can spend the morning exploring a medieval village in the hills and the afternoon strolling through a seaside town, with completely different scenery and experiences in between.

Villefranche is also a beautiful place to appreciate the harbor itself. The colorful waterfront buildings, curved bay, and deep-blue water make the setting feel almost impossibly picturesque.

And because this was a tender port, getting back to the ship meant another boat ride across the water. It was a lovely way to finish our time ashore, with the coastline providing one last reminder of just how beautiful this part of France really is.

A Few Tips for Visiting Èze and Villefranche

If you’re planning a Mediterranean cruise with a stop here, a little advance planning can help you make the most of your day.

Plan your transportation. Decide how you’ll get between the port and Èze before you arrive. Depending on your plans, you may choose a cruise excursion, private driver, taxi, or public transportation. I did not plan an excursion for this day. We planned on just hopping in a taxi to Eze from the port, but the taxi driver told us it would be €45. I knew that was too much. I pulled out my phone and ordered a Bolt (Uber) that came in less than a minute for €20.
Allow time for the tender. Tender ports can require additional time getting ashore and returning to the ship. Don’t plan your day so tightly that you’re worrying about missing the boat back.
Bring comfortable shoes. Èze is beautiful, but its cobblestones, slopes, and stairs are part of the experience.
Go early if you can, before the tour buses arrive. We made it up to the garden right when the opened and we’re about 20 minutes ahead of the first tour buses.
You can buy the tickets for the Jardin Exotic from a kiosk at the bottom so you don’t need to wait in line at the entrance.
Don’t underestimate Villefranche. It’s tempting to focus entirely on Èze, but leave some time to explore the port town, too.
Keep your schedule flexible. Transportation, crowds, and tender queues can affect how much time you have. Always work backward from your ship’s required return time.

Is This a Port Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Èze and Villefranche offer two different sides of the French Riviera, and that contrast is what makes this stop so appealing.

Èze brings the medieval charm, elevated views, and winding lanes. Villefranche brings the seaside atmosphere, colorful architecture, and relaxed coastal feel.

Together, they make for a wonderful day without needing to pack your itinerary with a dozen different stops.

And isn’t that one of the best parts of traveling? Finding that balance between seeing something new and actually enjoying where you are.

The French Riviera gave us a little bit of both.

Travel beautifully. Travel meaningfully. And always leave a little room for magic.

— Barb
Magical Travels with Barb

A private transfer, a local guide, a wine window, the Ponte Vecchio, and an affogato. Basically, a very good day in Florence.

Florence was one of those cruise ports where I knew I wanted to see the big sights—but I also knew I didn’t want to spend the entire day worrying about trains, taxis, schedules, or whether we’d make it back to the ship on time.

So we did Florence our way: a private transfer from Livorno, a private guide for three hours, and then plenty of time to wander on our own.

And honestly? It was the perfect combination.

From Livorno to Florence

We met our private driver in Livorno and headed toward Florence, letting someone else worry about the driving while we enjoyed the scenery.

When you’re visiting Florence on a cruise, the distance between the port and the city is something to consider. Having a private transfer meant we didn’t have to navigate public transportation or worry about getting back to the ship.

Our driver dropped us off in Florence and we met our private guide for the morning.

And this is where having a guide made such a difference. Armando looked like the quintessential guide you would picture. He reminded me of Indiana Jones! 😂

Three Hours With a Private Florence Guide

Florence is one of those cities where you can walk around and see beautiful things everywhere you look—but having someone explain what you’re actually looking at takes the experience to another level.

Our guide spent about three hours with us, taking us through some of Florence’s most famous sights.

The Baptistry

We started with the Baptistry, right in the heart of Florence.

Even before you step inside, the architecture and those famous doors immediately tell you that you’re somewhere special.

Our guide filled us in on the history and details that would have been very easy to miss if we’d simply wandered past on our own.

The Duomo

From there, we made our way to the Duomo, officially the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

There are certain places that photographs simply don’t prepare you for, and the Duomo is one of them.

The size, the details, the colors, the dome—it is a lot to take in.

And because our guide knew the area so well, we weren’t spending our precious Florence day figuring out where to go next.

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

Next was the Museum of the Duomo, which houses an incredible collection of original works of art and sculpture connected to the cathedral complex.

This was another place where having a guide was especially helpful. Rather than simply looking at beautiful pieces, we understood what we were seeing and why it mattered.

Accademia and Michelangelo’s David

We finished our guided portion of the day at the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David.

And yes…seeing David in person is one of those travel moments.

You’ve seen the pictures. You’ve seen him in books. You’ve probably seen miniature versions in every gift shop in Florence.

But standing in front of the actual sculpture is completely different.

Our guide wrapped up our three hours here, and from this point on, Florence was ours to explore.

And that’s exactly how I like to do a city day.

See the important stuff with someone who knows what they’re doing. Then go wander.

And Then We Wandered…

This might actually be my favorite part of Florence.

Once our tour was over, we didn’t have an agenda.

We walked.

We popped into little streets.

We looked in windows.

We stopped whenever something caught our attention.

And, naturally, we found a wine window.

Because if you’re wandering through Florence and happen upon a little wine window, you obviously have to investigate.

These tiny windows—known as buchette del vino—are one of those wonderfully quirky pieces of Florentine history that make wandering around the city so much fun.

Lunch Behind the Duomo

By lunchtime, we were ready to sit down and enjoy a proper Italian meal.

We found a restaurant tucked behind the Duomo and settled in for lunch.

No rushing.

No checking the time every five minutes.

Just good food, a beautiful setting, and that feeling that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

And honestly, isn’t that what a day in Italy is supposed to feel like?

Crossing the Ponte Vecchio

After lunch, we continued wandering toward the Ponte Vecchio.

Crossing this famous medieval bridge is one of those Florence experiences that feels almost surreal.

The shops lining the bridge, the Arno below, the buildings rising along the river…

It’s busy, but it’s also beautiful.

We crossed over and spent some time walking along the Oltrarno side of the river.

It felt a little different from the busier streets around the Duomo—more relaxed and perfect for simply strolling.

One More Stop: Affogato

Eventually, it was time to start making our way back toward our meeting point.

But we had one very important stop to make first.

Affogato.

Because apparently there is always room for gelato when you’re in Italy.

A scoop of gelato with espresso poured over it is basically the perfect afternoon pick-me-up—and a pretty great way to end a day of walking around Florence.

Then it was time to meet our driver and head back to Livorno and our ship.

Was a Private Florence Day Worth It?

For us, absolutely.

The combination of a private transfer + private guide + free time to wander gave us the best of both worlds.

We got the history and major sights without spending our entire day trying to figure out logistics. Our guide took us through the places we really wanted to see, and then we had several hours to simply enjoy Florence.

And perhaps most importantly, we didn’t have to worry about getting ourselves back to the ship.

For a cruise day in Florence, that peace of mind is worth something.

Our Florence Day at a Glance

Port: Livorno
Transportation: Private transfer to/from Florence
Guided tour: Approximately 3 hours
Visited: Baptistry • Duomo • Museo dell’Opera del Duomo • Accademia
Then: Wine window • Lunch behind the Duomo • Ponte Vecchio • Oltrarno • Affogato
Style: Private touring + plenty of free time

If you’re visiting Florence from a cruise ship, my biggest piece of advice is this:

Don’t try to do everything.

Pick the things you really want to see, have someone else handle the logistics, and leave yourself enough time to wander.

Because some of the best Florence memories happen when you’re not actually looking for anything at all.

Sometimes you’re just walking down a street, you find a little wine window, and suddenly you’re having one of those this is why I came to Italy moments.

Magical Travels with Barb

Tag Archives: port excursion

Villefranche-sur-Mer & Èze Village: A French Riviera Day Worth Savoring