On a recent trip to Nice, my daughter and I were fortunate enough to find Ingrid's information in Rick Steve's book. The day we spent with Ingrid was the highlight of our trip by far. She is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, flexible, interesting and very personable! I learned so much about the area. By the end of the day I truly could call her a friend. Anyone who is fortunate enough to spend the day with Ingrid is very lucky indeed!
Thank you so much for your kind words Lori. I am very happy to hear that my tour was the highlight of your trip. I was very happy meeting you and your daughter and to showing you a bit of our beautiful French Riviera!
Gary Garson2026.05.27
It was our pleasure to have Ingrid as our guide for Nice. It was like having a friend for your tour guide – a very knowledgeable and helpful friend. And Ingrid was more than just a tour guide. She was a helpful advisor. We emailed back-and-forth over the months we were planning this trip and she continued to provide us advice and assistance throughout our time in Nice.
Merci beaucoup for your kind words dear Gary. I am happy to see that you enjoyed the 2 tour days with me. There are still many places to show you, I hope you will come back one day. Best wishes to both of you!
Pamela Porter2026.04.26
The smartest thing I did while planning our trip to the French Riveria was having Ingrid meet us at the Nice airport, drive us to our AirBnB and several days later tour us to lovely towns in Provence.
Having her at the airport after a long International flight felt so welcoming and she was available our entire trip for any questions we had.
She is such fun to be around with her reassuring smile and enthusiasm and knowledge of the area.
My husband and I recommend her highly as she will add color and flavor and joy to your trip.
Dear Pamela, thank you soooo much for this wonderful review, it makes me very happy. I am pleased to see how much you enjoyed my tours. I hope you will come back to Nice one day, it would be great to see you again. All the best!
Jen K2025.11.06
We just returned from a fantastic trip to the south of France, and our day spent at the sites outside Nice with Ingrid remains a treasured memory - so much so that we hope to return next year. From our morning spent in Eze tasting the most amazing fresh-baked croissants, to the bustling market in Antibes, and finally the lovely village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Each stop left us in awe of the South of France. Ingrid, too, was lovely, gracious, and so very knowledgeable. We feel very grateful for all the memories we experienced on her amazing tour!
If you are looking for a personal travel guide in Nice and the surrounding French Riviera, Ingrid (Best French Riviera Tours) should be your first choice.
We spent 2 1/2 days in Nice, Eze, Gourdon and Menton (France), as well as a day trip to Dolceacqua (Italy) in September 2025.
Here are some of the reasons that why we recommend her:
First of all, she is a wonderful human being. She is charming, energetic, and flexible, not to mention that she speaks 5 languages. Her English is outstanding, but she easily transitions between English, French, Italian, and German, even in mid-sentence if necessary.
Second, she is very knowledgeable. She has a very good understanding of the history, cuisine, architecture, and art of this region.
Third, she is a very good driver. If you have been to small villages in Europe, you understand that being a good driver is very important. We felt safe the entire time we were with her.
Fourth, she has a very good vehicle. She has invested in very comfortable transportation for her clients. A 6-passenger van was more than the two of us needed, but you should know that she can comfortably handle groups without having to rent a vehicle.
Fifth, she is prompt. When she says she is going to be somewhere at a certain time, she will be there right on time. I love that in a tour guide.
Sixth, she is a good communicator. From my initial inquiry to our final good-bye, she was readily available by email, text, and phone. I never had to wait a long time to get a response from her.
Finally, she is appropriately priced for the high level of service that she provides. The price of her tours fully reflects the value of her services. We felt that our money was very well spent with her.
Nice and the surrounding French Riviera are fortunate to have Ingrid of Best French Riviera Tours as a guide and ambassador. We recommend her without hesitation.
Thank you so much for this amazing review dear Dave, what a pleasure reading your words and to see how much you have enjoyed my tours. I was happy to have you as my tour guests and to spend 2,5 days in your wonderful company. I hope to see you again in the future!
Alissa Kohlhoff2025.09.12
We toured east of Nice with Ingrid on September 4, 2025. Ingrid is extremely personable, knowledgeable and professional! We loved our day with Ingrid....a highlight of our time in France!
Thank you so much dear Alissa for this wonderful review. I am happy to hear how much you have enjoyed my tour and that it even was a highlight of your time in France. Come back one day, there is still a lot that I would love to show you.
TheArtLover2025.07.20
Verified
A Perfect Two Days
I came across Ingrid’s website when I was researching tours for my family to take from Nice, and I am so glad I did! Ingrid’s website lists some pre-planned itineraries, but my family was interested in visiting specific places and wanted to fit in a perfume-making workshop in the perfume capital of the world, Grasse. Ingrid was great to communicate with via email, and she was more than happy to create a customized itinerary that matched our desires and confirmed that we could visit all of those places over a two-day period.Our hotel in Nice was on a pedestrian-only street, so on the first morning, Ingrid met us inside our hotel lobby and brought us to her van. Her van was new, clean, comfortable, and we appreciated how she kept it cool because those days were so hot. Ingrid arrived on time and was excited to take us on the tour. That day, Ingrid took us east — first to a spot from which we had a great view of Nice and then to Eze, Menton, and Roquebrune. On the second day, we knew where Ingrid would be parked, so we met her at her van. Ingrid took us west to Antibes, Grasse, and Saint Paul de Vence. Each place was truly spectacular, and Ingrid went with us on foot to show us around, provide some history, and help us have the best experience. She took us into some shops so that we could sample different foods, into a gorgeous hotel perched up high in Eze Village so that we could enjoy the view of the Mediterranean, and into an art gallery to view some beautiful paintings. Ingrid was professional, knowledgeable, and very personable. She helped make those two days really perfect. We’ll never forget how we splashed water on each other in the old stone fountains to cool off because we were all so hot. What fun!! Our children loved spending time with her just as much as we did. If (hopefully, when) we return to the French Riviera, we will absolutely reach out to Ingrid for another tour!
Ingrid is a fantastic tour guide for the French Riviera! We spent two days touring with her, and there were so many highlights. First, she was on time and greeted us warmly with hugs and water waiting for us in her air conditioned van. Second, she really knows the region well, and was full of stories and information about everywhere we went. Third, she structured each day beautifully, with many many wow moments and off the beaten path secrets. She is wonderful!
Merci beaucoup for this amazing review dear Benjamin. Your kind words make me very happy. It was such a pleasure spending 2 days in your lovely company and to showing you and your family our beautiful French Riviera. I hope you will come back one day and we will meet again. Enjoy France and thanks again for everything!
Alicia2025.04.01
Ingrid is simply amazing! My mom and I spent three days with Ingrid in March 2025 and had a wonderful time. Ingrid created a custom tour for us based out interests and some mobility limitations. I engaged a few guides and ultimately felt most comfortable with Ingrid given her willingness to customize a tour and great initial suggestions on what to prioritize.
You can feel Ingrid’s genuine warmth and passion for what she does as soon as you meet her. I knew that we were going to have a great three days and we did. Ingrid is a great driver but also incredibly knowledgeable about all things Riviera-related. We learned a lot and had many laughs along the way. We explored many of the best markets, stores, bakeries, and food thanks to Ingrid’s expert recommendations and experience. She knew the best store or market for everything! And everyone knew her! Rain was in the forecast each day but thanks to Ingrid’s dedication and adaptability, we chased the sun and changed the agenda to visit the areas on our itinerary and miss the rain every day.
It was truly memorable three days and we surely would not have had such incredible trip were it not for Ingrid. She is one of the best guides that we have ever had. Don’t hesitate to hire her for a truly memorable tour of this very special part of the world. Her kindness, depth of knowledge, guide skills, and passion for what she does puts her in a class of her own.
Dear Alicia, thank you so much for this most wonderful and detailed review. I am so happy to read your kind words and to see how much you have enjoyed my tours. I was really delighted to spending 3 days with you and your mother and to showing you the most beautiful spots of our Riviera. I hope our paths will cross again in the future. Thanks again for everything and all the best to you!
Teresa Serratt2025.03.25
We had a fantastic time visiting Vence, Gourdon & Tourette sur Loup with Ingrid. It was a crisp day with beautiful clouds. The scenery couldn’t have been more gorgeous and Ingrid was a charming, friendly host. She made sure our tour was personalized to our interests and we had a serendipitous opportunity to watch a real artisan make candy. We also enjoyed walking around the local shops purchasing items for our picnic lunch. Ingrid thought of everything and we feel like we’ve made a new friend. We heartily recommend Ingrid for your next trip to the Côte d’Azur.
Dear Teresa, thank you so much for your kind review. I am very happy to see how much you have enjoyed my tour to the villages in the back country of our Riviera. It was such a pleasure meeting you and to spending the day with you. All the best to both of you!
John D2024.12.05
Verified
Super day in the Nice, Monaco area
If you are looking for a private tour guide in the Nice, Monaco/Monte Carlo area, look no further than Ingrid Schmucker. I found her in a Rick Steves’ book and I was certainly not disappointed with the results of spending a day with Ingrid. Her website list the many tour options you can choose from, or, you can discuss with her, the things that you would like to see and do in the Nice area. She is extremely responsive in corresponding with you from either her website or from WhatsApp. Through my discussions with her, we decided on visiting the hill village of Eze, then lovely town of Antibes and then St. Paul de Vence. We could not have asked for a better more satisfying itinerary for the day we spent with Ingrid. She is an excellent driver, knows the area exceedingly well, and is a pleasure to spend time with her and her excellent sense of humor. I highly recommend that you contact Ingrid at Best French tours for a glorious tour on the French Riviera.
My college aged daughter and I had the most magical time with Ingrid as our guide. We spent the whole day exploring Eze and Saint Paul de Vence, including her suggestion for a wonderful lunch. Ingrid was exceptional, it truly felt like we were having a day out with a local friend. She is so warm, knowledgeable and flexible with what your interests may be. I highly recommend her for a day exploring the French Riviera, you won’t regret it!
Our day with Ingrid to Antibes and the western Riviera was the highlight of our stay in beautiful Nice. Ingrid is a wonderful guide and we immediately felt like we were spending the day with a personal friend who happens to live in Nice and was delighted to show us the surrounding attractions that are not to be missed! Her van was beyond comfortable, she is an excellent driver, and her commentary is so interesting that the day flew all too quickly. You should consider yourself fortunate indeed if you can book a tour with Ingrid! Thank you, Ingrid, for the wonderful day and treasured memories!
Dearest Lorrie, it was such a pleasure spending a day in your wonderful company. Thank you for having been such sympathetic tour guests and thank you also for such a beautiful review i feel very flattered. Come back to Nice anytime, you have a friend here. Best wishes to all 4 of you!
Jerry R2024.03.16
Verified
Best personal tour ever!
Our tour with Ingrid was one of the highlights of our trip. She made us feel welcome and brought us to hidden spots of beauty. Like touring with a friend who is a local. Great personality and excellent driver. Can’t go wrong with Ingrid!
Ingrid was one of the Very BEST Tour Guides that we have had over many years of utilizing professional touring services in Europe.
She is Very Knowledgeable & Informative, Multi Lingual and Her Vehicle was Spotless. Not the least of which she was Accommodating & Kind. We spent 3 Wonderful Days touring with her and would have spent more had she been available. We relied on her to set the best itinerary based on her knowledge of the cities and villages that we wanted to visit and of course the traffic. She did not disappoint!!! You can't go wrong with her!!!
When my friend told me she booked a private tour guide for 4 days during our vacation in Nice/Villefrance, I thought that was unnecessary and that we could just book group day tours online. However, touring with Ingrid exceeded my expectations and I ended up feeling grateful for her services.
First, Ingrid seemed like the most professional, informative and knowledgeable person we interviewed, she spoke English clearly and expertly, and best of all, she had a new, comfortable Mercedes van, which she drove with impeccable skill through the narrow, windy streets.
Besides the fact that Ingrid was fun to be with, she had a wealth of historical knowledge that she shared in a relaxed manner when the time was right. Together we decided on our itinerary with Ingrid’s suggestions, visiting 3-4 different surrounding villages per day. I learned that having her as our guide helped minimize traffic jams, divert tourist congestion and to handle food ordering or any situation that arose, like when the restaurant wanted to seat us in the sun on a hot day, or another time when we were told we couldn’t just order an appetizer for lunch. It was helpful having her navigate for us English-speaking tourists.
My favorite experience was when Ingrid announced that we were going on a picnic. First she took us to a great market to shop for food, then she drove us to her favorite spot under a tree looking out onto the mountains and valley below, set out a table, cloth and 4 chairs and we had our French picnic in verdant splendor. It was wonderful getting away from the business of the City and relaxing in the mountain air, and it totally changed my perspective on how to do picnics.
By the end of the tour, I felt like we had made a new friend and I look forward to hiring Ingrid again when we return to the the Cote d’Azur.
Dear Leah, thank you so much for having taken your time to write this wonderful review. Your words make me very happy. The 4 days we spent together were indeed very special, I had a lot of fun with you ladies and I am very pleased to know how much you enjoyed my tours. I very much hope that you will come back one day. All the very best from Nice!
Ingrid
CMD2023.09.04
Verified
A Tour Experience Not to Be Missed
We hired Ingrid as a private guide for 4 days during our 10 day stay on the French Riviera. Best money ever spent! I chose Ingrid after a thorough search: I contacted and discussed with 4-5 different guides and Ingrid was the clear favorite: she was responsive, her pricing was fair, and she went out of her way to understand our wants and needs. Ingrid showed us the highlights of the French Riviera (must sees like Eze, Antibes, Saint Paul de Vence) yet also the less touristy “hidden gems” that only the locals really know. We spent a lovely afternoon in a small town in Italy, for example. Ingrid is a perfect guide: knowledgeable without overwhelming you with facts, and present while giving you freedom to experience and enjoy the moment. I wish all of you wonderful tours with Ingrid in one of the most beautiful places on earth! Bon voyage !
Amazing
Ingrid is amazing, I recommend to book her for all your tours in this area!!! She is a pure joy, informative and knowledgeable!!! My family of 4 enjoyed it and she also recommended other areas to visit such as gourdon which is a small town on top of a hill, the drive up was spectacular alone, and the town and small shops a real delight!! Worth the drive. Thank you Ingrid!!
Ingrid really is the best!
I found Ingrid in my trusty Rick Steves France Guidebook. My husband was a bit apprehensive about our holiday as it was his first time in Europe. We talked to Ingrid on WhatsApp before we arrived and after talking to her, hubby felt much more at ease and was starting to think maybe I wasn’t crazy after all planning this holiday. We started our adventure in Villefraiche du Sur, a small town/village outside of Nice. Ingrid picked us up at our hotel on a 2 day adventure. First to the west and second day to the east. As I have read in previous reviews, she was a very professional driver and definitely had the knack at us going to places when they weren’t busy. As we travelled on our first day, the itinerary would change as she got to get to know us better. She would suggest maybe we should go here instead of there. We trusted her judgement and she didn’t let us down. She suggested perhaps we would want a picnic overlooking the most incredible views or perhaps a restaurant. We chose the picnic. Out of the back of her immaculate Mercedes van, she pulled out her portable picnic table, chairs, dishes, and everything we needed to make a picnic. We went to a market and bought our wine, cheese, meat, olives and baguettes. It truly was a highlight of our time with her. Day 2 we headed to wards Italy and had lunch in another of her recommended spots. Everywhere we went, the shop owners, restaurant staff, etc were so happy to see her. She is a very classy lady. I loved how she always held her purse over her hand. She really was a fantastic woman and told us so so so many wonderful stories and information along the way. I had tears in my eyes as our 2 day adventure ended. I never would have thought of hiring a private guide until I read about it in the guidebook, but so very glad we did. Thank you so much Ingrid. We will never forget our time with you and the adventure you took us on in the French Riviera! Merci!
Verified Company
