Why We Chose a Day Trip (and Why Italy Won)
When I started researching Nice, one thing immediately jumped out:
Everyone talks about the day trips.
Coastal towns, hilltop villages, Monaco, Eze, Menton… even Italy was right there.
Once I realized how close the border was, it clicked:
How fun would it be for the girls to say they’d been to both France and Italy in one trip?
And even better—done in a single day.
We rented a car instead of taking the bus so we could stop wherever we wanted. Parking in Nice was worlds easier than Paris, and worst case, there was a big garage right beside our apartment.
The Manual Transmission Surprise
At the rental counter, the woman casually mentioned something about a “manual car,” and that’s when I silently bowed out of driving responsibilities. I can operate a stick shift in emergencies—but this was not an emergency, so Greg became our designated driver.
He took it like a champ.
The Drive: Postcard Views in Every Direction
I don’t have the words for this drive.
Every turn looked like the cover of a travel guide. Mountains, cliffs, sparkling Mediterranean water, tiny towns tucked into hillsides—it was like driving through a dream.
We pulled over more than once just to take photos, and even those don’t come close to capturing what it feels like in person.
Cesarine: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Meal in a Stranger’s Home
While planning the Italy portion, I stumbled across something magical:
Cesarine — a platform that connects travelers with home cooks and chefs across Italy for private meals in their homes.
I booked it immediately. When our assigned host asked about restrictions, I told her:
“No restrictions. We’re here for the experience.”
And then Google Maps decided to give us the wrong kind of experience.
Instead of guiding us along a normal, human road,
At one point, we faced a hairpin turn the exact size of the car. I had to take a picture. Greg did not appreciate this. Once he did navigate the turn though, we were met with a road that was a steep, narrow pathway meant only for foot traffic and maybe—maybe—a scooter.
Eventually I called our host, and she said, “Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you.”
Turns out Google sent us through her family’s private access path to their shared greenhouse.
A path intended for people and bikes, not rental cars.
Once we were rescued and led to the actual road, we arrived at her home—where the smells coming from the kitchen made every wrong turn worth it.
Out of respect, I didn’t take many photos, but it was one of the most special experiences of the entire trip.
She told us she was serving a typical Italian Sunday meal, and it was generous: fresh focaccia, handmade pasta, roasted vegetables, and a rabbit stew that ended up being shockingly delicious.
We talked about family, history, culture—everything. It felt like sitting in a relative’s home, even though she was a complete stranger when we arrived.
And because we booked it using credit card points, the entire thing cost us
$0 out of pocket. Pure magic.
A Coastal Drive, Monaco Traffic, and a Dash to Eze
Stuffed and happy, we drove a bit more along the Italian coast before heading back toward Nice. The only time-sensitive thing on our agenda was the
Fragonard Perfume Factory tour in Eze.
You don’t have to book a tour in advance, but I knew when the last one started.
Traffic through Monaco and Monte Carlo (where we didn’t stop—but absolutely will someday!) slowed us down.
We pulled into the parking lot with minutes to spare, and they let us join the final tour of the day.
The tour was fascinating—short, engaging, and full of smells I wanted to bottle up and take home.
The gift shop ended up being perfect for souvenirs. The small fragrance sets were thoughtful, beautiful, and—my favorite—did not become clutter.
Takeaways for This Nice + Italy Day Trip
- Consider renting a car from Nice. Parking is manageable, and the views are unmatched.
- Expect a manual transmission unless you specifically request automatic.
- Google Maps can be unhinged. If the road looks too small for a car… it probably is.
- Cesarine is absolutely worth booking. It’s intimate, unique, and unlike anything you’d get at a restaurant.
- Eze + the Fragonard tour are great last-stop options. Easy to do after a border-crossing day trip.
- Leave buffer time if driving through Monaco. The traffic is real.
- Souvenirs that get used (like fragrance sets) > souvenirs that take up space.
