Liguria Like a Local: Sestri Levante

To me, Liguria splits in two at Genoa. West of which, along the coastal stretch known as the Riviera Ligure di Ponente (the coast of the setting sun), is easily accessible by day trip from Nice and more than familiar. Head east of Genoa, however, along the Riviera di Levante.

Are you looking for ideas on the perfect French Riviera day trip? We turned to Céline O’Donnell, a private tour guide in Nice, for her recommendations on a day trip along the coast to Italy from the city.

She has lived in this Côte d’Azur city for 40 years and now runs walking tours and a guiding service called Nice by Heart. After studying and working in London, O’Donnell returned to Nice, where she shares the city highlights on Nice by Heart walking tours.

Day Trip to Italy

While there are many possibilities for exciting excursions in the area, my preferred day trip is to go to Italy. Nice is only 32 kilometres from the Italian border, and it’s easy to go by car or train. Here is the detailed “menu” for the perfect day getaway from Nice – an escapade to Italy, teatime in Monaco and evening in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Day Trip to Italy from Nice

Chrissie McClatchie

Sydney born Chrissie fell in love with the French Riviera at the age of 17, when she embarked on six months of French lessons (and table dancing at the Vieux Nice institution Chez Waynes).

Almost ten years after her first Nice experience, Chrissie returned to Nice for a summer and somewhat fortuitously landed a role with a local company selling fine wine to the superyachts along the coast, which cemented her passion for the fermented grape.

In late 2012 Chrissie started her blog, The Riviera Grapevine, to chronicle the wonderful and little-known local wines and indigenous grapes found along the French and Italian Riviera. Chrissie still works in wine and can often be found enjoying a sneaky Provence rosé at one of the al fresco bars on Nice's Place Garibaldi, or with her nose in her ever-expanding collection of wine literature.