Saint-Raphael France Riviera
41
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Seabourn Cruise Line (36 Cruises)
Seabourn Ovation
36 Cruises
SeaDream Yacht Club (1 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
By tender at the Santa Lucia basin, about two kilometres from the centre, since ships anchor in the bay. A pleasant thirty-minute coastal walk or a short shuttle reaches the old port.
The old quarter with the San Rafeu church and the archaeological museum, then Fréjus less than four kilometres away by city bus. The two combine easily in a single half day, which is rare on this coast.
A 12th-century church in the heart of the old quarter, with a watchtower crowning one of its chapels. The horizon was once watched from there, as the building served as a refuge during Barbary pirate raids. The small archaeological museum next door displays amphorae raised from the surrounding seabed.
Because the twin town, founded by Julius Caesar as Forum Julii, retains an amphitheatre, aqueduct remains and above all a remarkable episcopal complex. Its 5th-century baptistery is among the oldest in France, and the cathedral cloister holds a startling painted ceiling of fantastical creatures.
The scarlet porphyry cliffs plunging into the Mediterranean west of town. The contrast of red against blue makes one of the finest arrival landscapes on the Côte d'Azur. It is seen on an excursion along the Corniche d'Or or on foot from the coastal inlets.
Yes. The red rock coves and the sand beaches of the centre are minutes on foot from the cafes. That is one reason to prefer Saint-Raphaël over calls where swimming requires transport.
The memory of the August 1944 Provence landings, facing the tiny Île d'Or with its crenellated tower, said to have inspired Hergé's Black Island. It is a short stop on the corniche road.
Yes, boats leave from Quai Nomy for an hour's run along the coast. But on a normal call the round trip leaves little time ashore: save this outing for long calls.
The euro and French. Cards are accepted everywhere. The Provençal market and shaded squares lend themselves to a few cash purchases.
No, and that is what makes it likeable. The feel is that of a seaside town alive year round, less flashy than its neighbours. Late in the day, a last coffee facing the bay where locals gather after work says more than many guided visits.
