A taste of Nice...

• By: Editor
• On: 23/May/2007
• In: Nice Travel Tips

Situated on the Cote D'Azur on the south east coast of France, Nice is the gateway to the French Riviera.

Upon my arrival, I was astonished at the number of things to do and see in Nice and the surrounding countryside and found myself wishing for more time to spend in this delightful and interesting area.

Nice Airport has two terminals, servicing over 41 airlines in 70 destinations and 23 countries. 
Easyjet and Aer Lingus are amongst the low cost carrier airlines flying to this destination – you can check real time airline schedules to and from Nice here.

It's a good idea to hire a car to explore the neighbouring towns and villages, since Nice is close to the borders of Italy and Monaco. Nice is also within easy travelling distance of Cannes, Antibes, Cap d'Ail, Eze, Villefranche sur Mer and Juan les Pins, to name but a few interesting day trips, making it the perfect location from which to base yourself.

If you're travelling by car, there's a choice of minor roads, national highways, or the motorway to bring you to your chosen location.

Alternatively, bus numbers 99 or 23 will bring you from just outside Nice Airport to the centrally located train station, SNCF Gare Nice Ville. Other routes are also available. A day pass can be purchased on the bus for about €4, allowing unlimited travel on any bus route.

When you arrive in Nice, you'll be dazzled by the beautiful Promenade des Anglais, which runs along the "Baie des Anges" (Bay of Angels) for several kilometres. This strip is lined with palm trees and decked with flowers. Wonderful old buildings overlook one side, while the sparkling, blue-green sea sweeps out to the other. The promenade itself is a hive of activity, with smartly dressed natives out for a stroll with their dogs (poodles and bull-dogs are a popular choice!), jogging, rollerblading, or simply relaxing and enjoying the view. Actually, there is a roller station shop situated at 49 Quai des Etats-Unis hiring rollerblades for approximately €4 per hour, or €6 per day. Bicycles and skateboards are also available to rent but it is advisable to bring an identity card with you.

The beach itself is lined with restaurants, allowing for an enjoyable meal-with-a-view. Most establishments also hire deckchairs for about €10-15 euro per day. As I sunbathed on the pebble seafront, I was lucky enough to experience a live band playing wonderful French chansons in the background, against the peaceful lapping of the waves. Pure relaxation!

Towards the old-town end of the prom, you will find the entrance to Castle Hill, which is considered to be the cradle of Nice. You can either walk up the steps, or take an elevator (for a small fee). Seating is available along the way and there is a park and waterfall near the top, complete with a child's play area. There are many look-out points with telescopes as you ascend the hill to the medieval ruins, giving incredibly beautiful views over the city and bay of Nice. This is really a magical treat not to be missed.

My favourite experience of Nice was the market, which is open everyday (except Monday when it becomes an antique market). Situated on the Cours Saleya, this is surely a chef's dream with produce of such high quality that it looks too good to be true! The market provides a wide range of goods including fruit, vegetables, spices, cheeses, cakes and beautifully hand-made sweets.

I sampled some enormous sweet grapes; while the dried figs and sun dried tomatoes also proved to be delicious. Flowers have their own dedicated section and it's a pleasure to wander around the stalls, admiring their rustic beauty. Lavender products, handmade soaps and herb-de-province souvenirs are also available, while artists sell painted scenes of local areas. One tip is always to check whether the picture is a print or an original despite signatures, as this should be reflected in the price. You can then relax in the sunshine with a coffee and croissant at one of the many cafes, while deciding what to purchase!

Nice is home to several museums, art galleries, churches and historic monuments making it a cultural feast for the discerning traveller.

I was delighted to discover the Marc Chagall Museum, where I saw familiar paintings such as 'Paradise' and 'Adam and Eve expulsed from Paradise' close up, complete with Chagall's famous motifs of tall couples, flowers and animals in wonderful colour schemes of reds, blues, yellow and white. The museum displays a series of biblical paintings, including mosaic, tapestry and stained glass windows.  It is situated on the Avenue De Menard and is open from 10am to 5pm in October to June, or 10am to 6pm at other times (closed Tuesdays). The admission fee is around €7, although it is occasionally free on Sundays. The Matisse Museum is due to re-open in July 2007.

Nice is also a delight for shopping, restaurants and casinos, so there is never a dull moment. Everything from designer gear to bargain buys, to brand names can be found. People tend to eat outdoors in the many restaurants lining the streets. You can sit and watch the world pass by, while sampling the many culinary delights and wines from the region. Meals range in price from €10-15 for soups, salads and pasta dishes to €20-25 for meat and fish dishes. Wine costs around €3.50 a glass, while a coffee costs around €4. While you are enjoying your meal, you will more than likely be serenaded by musicians playing old romantic tunes on the accordion.

If you want a guided tour of Nice, a mini-train ride giving a 45 minute tour departs from the promenade across from Jardin Albert-1er taking you through the flower market, old town and Castle Hill park. Alternatively, a 75 minute tour known as "Nice Le Grand Tour" is also available on open deck buses every half hour, allowing you to hop on and off at the main city sights as often as you please.

You can purchase tickets at your hotel, the airport, the Nice Tourist office or on the bus. This tour includes the following locations: Promenade-Etats Unis, Port Quai Lunel, Mont Baron-Miramar, Croisieres-Bleu Rivage, Place Garibaldi, Acropolis-Barla, Cimiez-Monastere, Musee Chagall, Massena-Verdun, Meyerbeer-Promenade and Promenade-Magnan. There are several other tours available.

As if Nice itself wasn't enough to explore, I found myself taking train journeys by day to explore the many surrounding towns and villages. It is incredibly easy to travel around and relatively inexpensive. You can buy a return ticket to Monaco for around €6.20 and stop off at Villefranch sur Mer or other towns, to enjoy a sandy beach along the way. Alternatively you can buy a return ticket to Cannes for about €11.20 and stop off at Antibes, or Juan Les Pins along the way. If you want to see amazing boats, Cannes is the place to go – while Monaco gives the impression of having the most stylishly dressed people! Journey time to Monaco is 25 minutes, while Cannes is 45 minutes. Final trains return to Nice at midnight, allowing travellers to enjoy a full day exploring other towns along the coast.

I would highly recommend Nice as a city break for the wide variety that it has to offer and the certain je ne sais crois of its appeal!

If you are thinking of heading to Nice, do check out our selection of Nice hotels as we've got a good range of prices on offer.

Editor Note: Thanks for the article Oona, sounds like a really interesting city to visit and it's good to know about the attractions in the surrounding areas as well. Have you been to Nice or do you have any questions on this popular city break destination? Drop us a line in our comment box, we'd love to hear how you got on...