Blu Riviera Tour

While exploring the French Riviera we desperately wanted to move away from the classic tourist trails and discover the French Riviera the way a local would. Jake and I have always had great success when booking private experiences and Blu Riviera Tours did not disappoint! The company works closely with you to design a tour that suits your specific interests and pace. We love tours that are a bit more personal and friendly and Walter's extensive experience means every part of your day is everything you ever wanted!

Our day started off getting picked up from our apartment. We met our guide Walter who was so incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. It felt more like meeting up with an old friend excited to show us his home town rather than a routine 'one size fits all' tour. First things first, breakfast! We headed for coffee, croissants and of course a Pan Au Chocolat and spent a bit of time getting to know each other a little better whilst watching time pass us by in the heart of the old town.

From breakfast we headed to Cours Saleya Markets a short stroll away in Old Town Nice. These markets are colourful, picturesque and bursting with a jovial atmosphere. If that doesn't get you going, the scores of beautiful boquets and fresh produce all year round definitely will. Everything is so super affordable it was impossible not to take a bunch home. The market is bursting at the seams with history so we continued on to discover some hidden secrets.

As we walked through the Old Town exploring the cobble stone streets and appreciating the old historic buildings Walter taught us a little of the Nice's origins. Aristocrats, the House of Savoy, Napoleon...it all happened here and the proof is in the pavement. The below shows a family name, date of construction (yes that is the 1600's) and the church the family would belong to.

We continued on to Promenade Du Paillon which is a little oasis in the heart of Nice. The perfect place to take a stroll, enjoy the sculptures, people watch and cool off if you need!

This huge water feature boasting a 128 jets, perfect for those hot summer afternoons and an absolute must do photo opportunity.

We hopped back into the van and continued our tour onto our next destination.

Soon we found ourselves overlooking the best views of Nice. Walter knew all the best locations and its history, a few celebrities houses and the best spot for panoramic pictures!

The village of Eze is listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France! You can see why as soon as you get your first glimpse while driving along the scenic hillside to this charming hilltop village. It's different from the other glamorous towns you will find along the French Riviera and perfect for travellers that could care less about celebrities and yachts.

We stopped in at Fragonard one of the local perfumeries. France is widely known as the perfume capital of the world. Even the flowers used for making the world-famous Chanel N°5 are grown and harvested here!

Look at that incredible view! It was overlooking our next location Villefranche, our absolute favourite location with it's beautiful colourful homes and quiet bay.

Walter took us along to one of his favourite restaurants, Le Mere Germaine which was situated right at the waters edge overlooking the Riviera coastline. Translated to 'The house of Germaine' this restaurant actually became famous for Mom's home cooked comfort food that was served to sailors from the United States Navy when Villefranche served as a strategic naval base for America. Historical photos line the walls illustrating Le Mere Germaine's story and the atmosphere was perfect as we sat back enjoying the views while trying some fabulous local cuisine.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon exploring the cobbled stone streets of Villefranche, attempting to chat with the locals and soaking up the sun.

We absolutely loved this tour. It provided us with a break from the crowded Riviera coastal towns and offered a glimpse of the local country life. It makes the perfect destination for your weekend get away and would make an even better honey moon location! Speaking of honeymoons, Walter has just released a new honeymoon tour which you can check out here. If you are looking for fun tours, day trips and unforgettable experiences be sure to check out Blu Riviera Tours! Walter has to be one of our best guides yet! Blu Riviera know the best places to experience some local cuisine along with showing you some places you would never find by yourself! It also helps to have to someone who speaks the language (as well as many others) trust me!

*This tour was complementary. As always my opinions are my own and completely honest.