Major city · France
Vence
Base in Vence for 2 nights if you want a hill town with a Matisse chapel and a walk to Saint-Paul; skip it as a day trip from Nice unless you have a car or bus patience.
Vence is a small inland Riviera town, about 40 minutes by bus from Nice and 20 minutes from Cagnes-sur-Mer, sitting on a hill ring with views down to the sea. Its old town is compact and walkable, the Matisse chapel is the one sight people come for, and the main reason to sleep here rather than in Nice is quiet, cooler nights and a short walk to Saint-Paul de Vence. Two nights covers it; one night is enough if you arrive early.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), Nov (Matisse chapel closed)
- Airport
- NCE
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Vence112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Vence, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyVence is a calm, low-crime town; the real risks are summer heat on the walking paths, uneven old-town steps and the last bus back from Nice.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckNCE Nice Côte d'Azur (About 30–40 min by car; bus 400 from Nice stops at the airport area, check current routing).
- Getting aroundThe old town is walkable in 15 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a square café€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range, per person€25–45 (≈ US$30–55)
- Metro or bus rideBus ride, local network€2 (≈ US$3) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€35 (≈ US$45)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, small hotel, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
- High-end bedDouble room, small hotel, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €130 (≈ US$160) · High €220 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NCE Nice Côte d'Azur (About 30–40 min by car; bus 400 from Nice stops at the airport area, check current routing)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Mar
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Nov
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Nov (8 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Vence: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
6 rd
Feb
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
6 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
6 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
3 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5 rd
Oct
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
7 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
6 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. A small tourist train links the centre with the Matisse chapel if you do not want the uphill walk. Local buses (lines toward Cagnes-sur-Mer, Saint-Jeannet and Saint-Paul) are the only public transport; a car helps for hill villages and the Baou hike.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Saint-Paul de Vence
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h on foot
Walk on the marked path through the woods, or bus 400 toward Nice
The walk is the point; start before the heat and carry water.
Door to door: About 1 h
Bus 400 from the centre, about 40–50 min
Cheap and frequent-ish; last bus back is early evening.
Cagnes-sur-Mer
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Local bus, about 20 min
Nearest train station for onward rail along the coast.
Grasse
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or car via Cagnes-sur-Mer
Connections are fiddly; easier with a car.
Tourrettes-sur-Loup
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Bus or car, about 20 min
Small hill village; pairs well with a half-day.
Antibes
goDoor to door: 1–1.25 h
Bus to Cagnes-sur-Mer, then train
Old town and Picasso museum; a full day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town (vieille ville)
Walk to the cathedral, squares and restaurants; some rooms are small and stairs are common.
Around Place du Grand Jardin
Cafés and the market square on the doorstep; easiest if you arrive by bus.
Cantemerle / Avenue des Templiers edge
Hotels with pools and parking, 10–15 min walk or a short drive from the centre.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €70–110 (≈ US$85–130) excl. bed
- Mid
- €110–180 (≈ US$130–250) excl. bed
- High
- €180 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, small hotel1 × 2 nights × €140 | €280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €130 | €520 |
| Bus 400 Nice–Vence, one way2 × €2 · check | €4 |
| Matisse chapel entry2 × €8 · check | €16 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €85 |
| Trip total≈ €234 per person per day, bed included | €935≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in euros; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a square café | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Lunch menu (formule) | €15–25 (≈ US$18–30) |
| Dinner, mid-range, per person | €25–45 (≈ US$30–55) |
| Glass of wine | €4–8 (≈ US$5–10) |
| Bus ride, local network | €2 (≈ US$3) (check) |
| Taxi Vence → Nice airport | €70–100 (≈ US$85–120) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Matisse chapel keeps short, split hours and closes in November: check before you build a day around it.
- Buses from Nice fill up in summer and run less often on Sundays; check the last return.
- Old-town streets are narrow and steep in places; luggage wheels struggle.
- Many small restaurants close one or two days a week and shut the kitchen by about 21:30.Many small restaurants close one or two days a week and shut the kitchen by about 9:30 PM.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
VenceVence
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassies in Vence; consulates-general are in Marseille and Nice, embassies in Paris.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus 400 Nice → Vence: about €2 (≈ US$3), 40–50 min (check)
- Taxi Vence → Nice airport: €70–100 (≈ US$85–120) (check)
- Train Cagnes-sur-Mer → Nice: about €5 (≈ US$6), 15 min (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART)
- Où est l'arrêt de bus ? — Where is the bus stop? (oo ay la-RAY duh BOOSS)
Tipping: service is included by law; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Vence. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), Nov (Matisse chapel closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NCE: bus 400 timings, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Walking clusters: old town and squares, Matisse chapel, Saint-Paul path, Baou de Saint-Jeannet trailhead.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Matisse chapel, cathedral, Château de Villeneuve) and eat pages with closing days.
- Summer heat and Sunday-bus fixtures so gates A–D can go green.