Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the peninsula on foot, in its gardens and by the water
A small wooded cape between Nice and Monaco, ringed by footpaths, with a Belle Époque villa and nine gardens at its neck. Here is how to spend a day there well, and how it compares with the Cap d’Antibes as a place to stay.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a small wooded peninsula between Nice and Monaco: 2.48 km² of pines, walled gardens and coves, with 8 km of coastal footpaths open to everyone. Give your day to three things: the Tour du Cap path past the lighthouse (4.8 km, about 1 h 30), the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its nine themed gardens, and a swim at Paloma beach below the Pointe Saint-Hospice. A walk in the cool of the morning, the gardens around midday and a late swim is the order that works in every season.
Most of the Cap is private: large villas behind hedges and stone walls, reached by quiet lanes. The public sees it from the footpaths, the beaches and the gardens of Villa Ephrussi, which is exactly why a day here feels so different from the busier resorts along the coast. The village of St Jean Cap Ferrat itself, around its port on the eastern side, is a former fishing village that became its own commune in 1904 and took its present name in 1907.
This guide covers how the peninsula is laid out, the three official walks, how to visit Villa Ephrussi, which of the five beaches suits whom, and an honest comparison with the Cap d’Antibes, where our nearest residence stands. Next door, our guide to Villefranche-sur-Mer and its bay covers the old town you look across to from the western shore.
The Cap in verified figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
The Tour du Cap-Ferrat path runs 4.8 km from the Chemin de la Carrière past the lighthouse to Passable beach in about 1 h 30. It is rated medium and not advised for anyone prone to vertigo.
Source: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat tourist office, walksThe Pointe Saint-Hospice loop is 1.8 km and takes about 40 minutes (an hour with the chapel), passing Paloma beach; the Promenade Maurice Rouvier to Beaulieu-sur-Mer is 1.3 km one way, paved and without steps.
Source: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat tourist office, walksThe peninsula covers 2.48 km² and has 8 km of walkable coastal paths.
Source: Nice Côte d'Azur tourist officeVilla Ephrussi de Rothschild was built between 1907 and 1912 for Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, who bequeathed it, its collections and 7 hectares of land to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1933.
Source: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, historyVilla Ephrussi is open every day of the year. From early February to early November it opens 10:00 to 18:00, until 19:00 in July and August; last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Source: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, opening timesAll five beaches of the peninsula are public and covered in fine gravel; Passable and Paloma also have a private section, open from Easter to the end of September.
Source: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat tourist office, beachesHow St Jean Cap Ferrat is laid out, side by side
The peninsula hangs south from the coast between the bay of Villefranche to the west and the bay of Beaulieu to the east. It is small enough to cross by car in a few minutes, but each side has its own character, and knowing which is which saves a lot of wandering on a hot day.
| Part of the Cap | What you find there | Go for |
|---|---|---|
| The neck of the peninsula | Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, whose gardens look over both the Villefranche and Beaulieu bays | The gardens and the Belle Époque rooms, ideally at opening |
| The village and port (east side) | The fishing port, the old quay where convicts from the Villefranche penal colony built the first harbour between 1840 and 1876, cafés, Cros deï Pin beach | Lunch by the water, the start of the Saint-Hospice walk, families |
| Pointe Saint-Hospice (south-east) | The 11th-century Saint-Hospice chapel, listed since 1929, with an 11.40 m bronze Virgin from 1903; Paloma and Fossettes beaches | A short shaded walk and the most sheltered swims |
| Pointe Malalongue (south) | The lighthouse, first built in 1732 and rebuilt after 1944; it is closed to the public | The wildest stretch of the Tour du Cap path |
| The west shore | Passable beach facing the Villefranche roadstead, and the end of the Tour du Cap path | Afternoon sun and a view of Villefranche’s old town |
The roads inside the Cap are narrow and parking is limited in summer: a driver who drops you at one end of a walk and collects you at the other is the easy way to do it.
The coastal walks, which one and in what order
The tourist office maintains three walks. Together they make a near-complete loop of the Cap; separately, each suits a different group. Paths can be closed in swell or strong wind, so check conditions with the tourist information office on the port on the morning itself.
- Walk the Tour du Cap early: the path is exposed and rocky in places, with little shade on the south side between June and September.
- Expect a diversion at Passable: because of cliff-securing works, the tourist office currently routes access from Passable beach inland via the Chemin du Roy; starting from the Chemin de la Carrière end avoids confusion.
- Wear proper shoes: the Tour du Cap has uneven rock and steps; trainers with grip are the minimum, sandals are not enough.
- Take the short side-trip on Saint-Hospice: a climb of about 100 metres to the summit takes roughly 20 minutes there and back and is worth it for the view of the chapel and the bay.
| Walk | Route | Length and time | Level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promenade Maurice Rouvier | From the town hall to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and the port des Fourmis | 1.3 km one way, 20 minutes | Very easy, paved, no steps | Pushchairs, grandparents, an evening stroll |
| Pointe Saint-Hospice | Loop from the Jardin de la Paix via Paloma beach and the point | 1.8 km, 40 minutes (1 h with the chapel) | Easy | A first taste of the Cap, children, a walk before a swim |
| Tour du Cap-Ferrat | Chemin de la Carrière, past the lighthouse, to Passable beach | 4.8 km, 1 h 30 | Medium; not for vertigo | Keen walkers, early risers, photographers |
Lengths and times as published by the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat tourist office.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, how to plan the visit
The Belle Époque villa at the neck of the peninsula is the one place on the Cap where you can step inside a great Riviera estate. Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild commissioned it from the architect Jacques-Marcel Auburtin, moved in for the winter of 1912, and left it with some 5,000 works of art to the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Outside, nine themed gardens step down the promontory: French, Spanish, Florentine, stone, Japanese, exotic, Provençal and the rose garden among them.
Allow a good half day if you love gardens, less if you mainly want the view. Tickets and current fares are on the villa’s official website. A few rules catch visitors out: bags larger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm are refused and there is no left-luggage, animals are not admitted except assistance dogs, and the free car park fills quickly in summer.
| Period | Opening hours | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Early February to early November | 10:00 to 18:00 | Arrive at 10:00, before the busiest hours, and see the gardens first while the light is soft |
| July and August | 10:00 to 19:00 | Go late in the afternoon, after the beach, when the gardens are cooler |
| Early November to end of January | Weekdays 10:00 to 16:30; weekends and school holidays 10:00 to 18:00 | A good winter outing from a Cannes villa; plan it for the middle of the day |
Hours published for the 2025 to 2026 season; last admission 30 minutes before closing. Check the official website before you go.
Paloma beach Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the four others
Every beach on the Cap is public and covered in fine gravel rather than sand, and none is large. Paloma is the one everyone asks about: an east-facing cove wrapped in greenery, looking across to the cliffs of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Èze, at one end of the Saint-Hospice walk. The tourist office counts Matisse, Cocteau and Churchill among its past visitors. Part of it is run as a private beach from Easter to the end of September, with sunbeds and a restaurant; the rest is open to all.
| Beach | Side of the Cap | Character | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paloma | East, below Saint-Hospice | Sheltered, green, a private section with sunbeds and lunch | Couples and anyone who wants a long, easy lunch by the sea |
| Cros deï Pin (port beach) | East, by the village | The easiest to reach, with showers, lockers, a play area, lifeguards and an anti-jellyfish net in July and August | Families with young children |
| Les Fossettes | South-east, below the Jardin de la Paix | The most preserved and discreet, with rich sea beds | Snorkellers, a quiet morning swim |
| Les Fosses | South | Small, facing the villas and the old quarry, a shower only | Walkers on the Tour du Cap who want a swim on the way |
| Passable | West, facing Villefranche | Sunny, with a private section offering water sports from waterskiing to paddleboard | An active afternoon and the evening light over the bay |
In high summer we reserve sunbeds at a private section ahead of your day; on the public side, arrive before 10:00.
Cap Ferrat or Cap d’Antibes: villa life compared
The two capes are often weighed against each other, and both are among the most sought-after addresses on the coast. They are not interchangeable. Cap Ferrat is smaller and more enclosed, a peninsula you can walk round in a morning, turned towards Villefranche, Beaulieu, Èze and Monaco. The Cap d’Antibes is broader, with more varied beaches and the old town of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins on its doorstep, turned towards Cannes and the Lérins Islands.
| Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat | Cap d’Antibes | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Hushed and residential, one small village and port | Residential too, but with Antibes and Juan-les-Pins right beside it |
| Walking | Three marked walks, 8 km of coastal paths in all | The Tirepoil coastal path round the tip and the Garoupe plateau |
| Culture on site | Villa Ephrussi and its gardens, the Saint-Hospice chapel | The Garoupe lighthouse viewpoint, Antibes old town and museums |
| Beaches | Five small gravel beaches | A string of small beaches and rocky coves, with Juan-les-Pins next door |
| Easy day trips | Villefranche, Beaulieu, Èze, Monaco | Cannes, the Lérins Islands, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Mougins |
| With us | No residence published on the Cap today; ask about off-market villas | Villa Zeliane, Cap d’Antibes, plus our villas in Cannes |
A Cap Ferrat day from the Cap d’Antibes or Cannes
We do not currently publish a residence on Cap Ferrat itself, and we would rather say so plainly. Some villas are let without being listed online, so if the Cap is where you want to sleep, tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly what is available. For most of our guests the better plan is a villa on the Cap d’Antibes or in the hills above Cannes, and Cap Ferrat as one of the best days of the week.
- Leave early with a driver
In summer the traffic around Nice builds through the morning, so we leave early. Guests at Villa Zeliane have a car with driver five hours a day included in their stay; for a full Cap Ferrat day we simply extend the hours.
- Walk the Tour du Cap
Dropped at the Chemin de la Carrière, you walk round the lighthouse to the west shore while the path is still in shade, and the car collects you at the end.
- Villa Ephrussi around midday
The gardens are a few minutes away by car. We tell you which ones are at their best that month, and book tickets ahead in the busiest weeks.
- Lunch and a swim on the east side
A table by the port or at Paloma, reserved before you leave the villa, then the afternoon on the beach or a boat arranged from the port for a swim off the point.
- Finish at Villefranche or Èze
Stay on for sunset in Villefranche across the bay, or continue to Èze village and Monaco for dinner, with the driver taking you home along the motorway.
Villas for days on Cap Ferrat, on the Cap d’Antibes and in Cannes
Residences from which Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat makes an easy day out, each visited by our team.
The residences side by side
Guests, bedrooms, space and highlights at a glance.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa ZelianeCap d'Antibes | 10 | 7 | 6 | 340 m² | Heated Pool, Tennis Court, Hammam, Sauna, Gym |
| Villa ElarisCannes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 500 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa SoryaCannes | 12 | 6 | 6 | 550 m² | Heated Pool, Gym |
| Villa OrvellaCannes | 20 | 12 | 12 | 1,100 m² | Heated Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
What we take care of on a Cap Ferrat day
The Cap is easy to enjoy and surprisingly easy to get wrong: tight lanes, full car parks, a closed path. The planning makes the difference.
The walk that suits your group
The paved promenade for grandparents, Saint-Hospice for children, the Tour du Cap for walkers, and a check on path closures the same morning.
A car at both ends
Dropped at the start of the walk, collected at Passable or at the gardens, so nobody hunts for parking on the Cap in August.
Sunbeds and tables ahead
A place at a private beach section and a lunch table by the water, reserved before you leave the villa.
Honest advice on where to stay
Nathalie Nguyen and Adam Haddad will tell you whether an off-market villa on the Cap exists for your dates, or whether the Cap d’Antibes suits you better.
Saint Jean Cap Ferrat questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamIs Saint Jean Cap Ferrat worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like walking and gardens. In one day you can walk part of its 8 km of coastal paths, visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its nine gardens, and swim at Paloma or Fossettes. It is far quieter than Nice or Monaco. Come early in summer, when the paths are cooler and the car parks still have space.
What is the best beach in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat?
It depends on who is swimming. Paloma, facing east towards Beaulieu and Èze, is the most beautiful and has a private section from Easter to the end of September. Cros deï Pin by the port is best for young children, with lifeguards and an anti-jellyfish net in July and August. Les Fossettes is the most preserved, and the one snorkellers prefer.
How long is the walk around Cap Ferrat?
The tourist office’s Tour du Cap-Ferrat path is 4.8 km and takes about 1 h 30, from the Chemin de la Carrière past the lighthouse to Passable beach. It is rated medium and not advised for anyone prone to vertigo. Add the 1.8 km Pointe Saint-Hospice loop, about 40 minutes, for a near-complete circuit. Paths may close in swell or strong wind.
How do you get from Nice to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat?
By road, head east from Nice along the coast through Villefranche-sur-Mer. Without a car, bus line 15 stops at Passable Rothschild and line 607 at Pont Saint Jean, each about 15 minutes’ walk from Villa Ephrussi, and the nearest railway station is Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Our guests usually go with a driver, which avoids the parking problem on the Cap altogether.
Which is better, Cap d’Antibes or Cap Ferrat?
For a stay, the Cap d’Antibes offers more beaches, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins next door, and an easy reach of Cannes. Cap Ferrat is smaller and quieter, and better placed for Villefranche, Èze and Monaco. Many of our guests stay on the Cap d’Antibes or in Cannes and spend a day on Cap Ferrat, which gives the best of both.
Can you visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild all year?
Yes, the villa and its gardens are open every day of the year. From early February to early November it opens 10:00 to 18:00, until 19:00 in July and August. In winter it closes at 16:30 on weekdays and 18:00 at weekends and in school holidays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing; fares are on the official website.
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Plan Cap Ferrat from your villa
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates and the size of your group: they will suggest the right villa on the Cap d’Antibes or in Cannes, check for off-market options on Cap Ferrat, and organise the day from the driver to the sunbeds. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com, we usually reply within the day.