Perched on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is arguably the most beautiful palace on the French Riviera. History, gardens, hours, prices and insider tips to plan your visit from Monaco.
Perched on the ridge of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, between two turquoise bays, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is arguably the most beautiful palace on the French Riviera. This rose-pink Italian Renaissance mansion, surrounded by nine themed gardens and musical fountains, tells the story of a baroness with a passion for art and beauty. Just twenty minutes from Monaco, it is a timeless escape that our guests love to weave into their stay. Here is our complete guide to planning your visit: history, gardens, opening hours, prices and insider tips.
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink palace facing the sea
It is hard to remain unmoved by your first sight of the villa. Its powdery pink hue stands out against the deep blue of the Mediterranean, and its position on the narrow isthmus of Cap Ferrat offers a 360-degree view over the sea, with the bay of Villefranche on one side and the bay of Beaulieu on the other. Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild nicknamed it "Île-de-France", after an ocean liner she adored: the illusion of standing at the bow of a ship is striking.
Now owned by the Académie des Beaux-Arts, the villa is open all year round. Inside you will discover richly furnished rooms, the art collections gathered by its owner, and above all the terraced gardens that cascade towards the sea. It is one of the most popular cultural visits on the French Riviera, and a must-see for anyone staying between Nice and Monaco.
The story of Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild
An heiress with a passion for art
Born in 1864, Béatrice was the daughter of Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, a regent of the Banque de France and a great collector, and of Leonora de Rothschild, from the English branch of the family. Raised among masterpieces, she inherited her father's taste for art, precious furniture and rare porcelain at an early age.
When her father died in 1905, the baroness inherited an immense fortune. That same year, she chose Cap Ferrat, then a wild peninsula covered in pines and scrubland, to build the villa of her dreams. She wanted a setting worthy of her collections, and a garden that seemed to float above the waves.
Five years of titanic work
Construction lasted from 1907 to 1912. Béatrice oversaw every detail with legendary exacting standards: she had the plans altered, moved tons of earth to level the rocky ridge, and shipped marble, fountains and antique elements from Italy. The villa draws inspiration from the palaces of the Italian Renaissance, with a patio of pink marble columns at its heart.
In 1934, Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild bequeathed the villa and its gardens to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, in memory of her father. It is thanks to this legacy that this Belle Époque treasure is open to the public and preserved in its original state.
☉ Good to know
The villa is also known as "Île-de-France". Béatrice de Rothschild, who loved ocean cruises, had the French garden designed like the deck of a liner: she even asked her gardeners to wear berets with red pompoms, like sailors. A detail that says a great deal about the whimsy of this grande dame of the Belle Époque.
What to see at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
The rooms and collections
The interior of the villa unfolds like a lived-in home. The grand salon, the boudoir, the dining room and the private apartments still hold the period furniture, tapestries, Sèvres and Vincennes porcelain, old master paintings and rare objects collected by the baroness. An audio guide, included with your ticket and available in several languages including English and Italian, tells the story of each room.
The nine themed gardens
This is the highlight of the visit. Béatrice de Rothschild created nine gardens that unfold around the villa, each with its own character:
- The French garden: the most spectacular, designed like a ship's deck, with its pond and Temple of Love as the focal point.
- The Spanish garden: shaded, with pomegranate trees, arum lilies and a wall fountain.
- The Florentine garden: a marble staircase and cypress trees, in the Tuscan spirit.
- The stone garden: gargoyles, bas-reliefs and stone remnants.
- The Japanese garden: a wooden pavilion, stepping stones and zen planting.
- The exotic garden: cacti and succulents clinging to the rock.
- The rose garden: at the tip of the grounds, dedicated to the baroness's favourite flower.
- The Provençal garden and the Sèvres garden complete the ensemble with olive trees, pines and Mediterranean species.
Allow around two hours to fully enjoy the villa and its gardens, more if you stop at the tea room.
The musical fountains of the French garden
Every twenty minutes, the water jets of the large pond in the French garden come alive to music, in a choreography that builds to a crescendo. Settle on a bench facing the Temple of Love for this moment: it is one of the most photographed sights on the French Riviera.
💡 The concierge's tip
"Arrive at opening time, at 10am, and head straight for the French garden before the tour groups: you will have the pond and the Temple of Love almost to yourself. Then time your tour of the villa around a cycle of the musical fountains, which come alive every twenty minutes. For our guests, we book skip-the-line tickets in advance to avoid any wait at the entrance."
Practical information for visiting the Villa Ephrussi
Opening hours
The villa and its gardens are open all year round. From 2 February to 1 November, it opens daily from 10am to 6pm, with closing pushed back to 7pm in July and August. In low season (November to January), hours are reduced on weekdays and extended at weekends and during school holidays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. A few exceptional closing dates fall throughout the year: check the official calendar before you set off.
Prices 2026
The ticket gives access to the villa and all the gardens, audio guide included. Here are the current prices:
A combined ticket with the Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer is sold on site: it costs 24 EUR full price (20 EUR reduced) and remains valid for 8 days. An excellent option if you want to visit two of the Riviera's finest mansions in one go.
How to get there from Monaco
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is about 20 minutes by car from Monaco along the lower corniche, at 1 avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. By public transport, the train links Monaco to Beaulieu-sur-Mer station in around ten minutes, followed by a short bus or taxi ride to the villa. On-site parking is free but limited: it is best to arrive early in high season.
For a hassle-free journey, guests of the Port Palace enjoy private transfers and a concierge service that can arrange your visit and book your skip-the-line tickets in advance.
What to do around the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
The Cap Ferrat peninsula is well worth lingering in. After the villa, continue along the coastal path that loops around the Pointe Saint-Hospice, offering spectacular views over the sea and the billionaires' villas hidden among the greenery. The little harbour of Saint-Jean and its terraces are perfect for lunch by the water. Our complete guide to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat details the finest addresses on the peninsula.
A few minutes away, two more gems are worth the detour: Villefranche-sur-Mer and its harbour, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, where the Villa Kérylos recreates an ancient Greek dwelling by the water. Enough to fill an entire day on the Riviera, between heritage and panoramas.
Staying in Monaco to explore the Riviera
The Port Palace's location, right in the heart of Port Hercule, makes it an ideal base for exploring the French Riviera. The Villa Ephrussi, Èze, Villefranche and Beaulieu are all within a short excursion, before returning in the evening to face the yachts and the Prince's Palace. Our rooms and suites with harbour views offer an elegant retreat after a day of discovery, and our rooftop restaurant La Môme extends the Mediterranean art of living on the sixth floor.
Port Palace Monaco
Your base camp for exploring the Riviera
In the heart of Port Hercule, our sea-view rooms and suites place you just minutes from the Villa Ephrussi and the most beautiful sites on the French Riviera. Private transfers and concierge service included to organise every excursion.
Book your stayFAQ: your questions about the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Who owns the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
The villa belongs to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, to which Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild bequeathed it in 1934, along with its gardens and collections, in memory of her father Alphonse de Rothschild.
How much does it cost to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
Full price is 18 EUR and the reduced price is 12 EUR (ages 7 to 17, students 18 to 25). Admission is free for children under 7. The audio guide is included with the ticket.
When is the best time to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild?
Spring and early summer are ideal: the gardens are in full bloom, especially the rose garden. To avoid the crowds, choose the 10am opening or the late afternoon. In July and August, the villa stays open until 7pm.
How much time should I allow for the visit?
Allow about two hours to tour the interior of the villa and wander through the nine gardens. Add extra time if you wish to watch several cycles of the musical fountains or have lunch at the tea room.
Can you have lunch on site?
Yes. The villa's restaurant and tea room, open from 11am to 5.30pm, offers a break with a view over the gardens and the sea. Booking is recommended in high season.
Between the elegance of a Belle Époque mansion and the magic of gardens suspended above the Mediterranean, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild embodies all the refinement of the Riviera. Just a stone's throw from Monaco, it stands out as a cultural escape not to be missed. From the Port Palace, your stay becomes the perfect base camp to combine Monaco's gentle charm with the hidden treasures of the French Riviera.
