Nice is a varied and fascinating place, with lots to see and do; it has beautiful weather all the year round; and it’s a great base for visiting other Côte d’Azur destinations. Just three reasons why it’s so great to be in Nice.
Right on the Mediterranean in France’s south-eastern corner, Nice is a seaside destination with spectacular beaches; it also has so much more.
Stay a week. Stay a month. And you don’t need to be in Nice in the summer. Go in the cooler, off-season times; the weather is nearly always pleasant and the crowds have mostly vanished.
Nice by the sea
Nice attracts large numbers of tourists and its airport is the third-busiest in France. For many years it was an Italian city; it became French in 1860. Today has a pronounced cosmopolitan flavour, which is one of its main attractions.
For visitors arriving by car, a trip along the Promenade des Anglais, with the Baie des Anges and the Mediterranean on one side and the many architectural splendours on the other is a fantastic first view of the city. In just a few hundred metres, you’ll see the famous hotels and casinos: Le Negresco, Hotel West End, Westminster Hotel & Spa, Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée and Le Méridien.
Nice is a beachside playground for the rich and beautiful. The relaxed coastal feel is evident along the roads that curve along the seafront. Just behind them, though, there are other worlds.
You don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy Nice. There’s plenty of sun and fun, history and culture for everyone. You’ll also find a range of affordable dining and accommodation options.
One of the main streets is Avenue Jean Médecin, named after the man who served as Mayor of Nice for more than 30 years. Here, you’ll find shopping and dining areas, and the tramway that connects various parts of the city. The main railway station is close by.
Try a new view
For a different vantage point, go to the Parc de la Colline du Château (Castle Hill Park), which offers a magnificent view of the older parts of the city and the bay. For hundreds of years, Nice Castle stood there. But in 1706, Louis XIV ordered it destroyed. The stones were later used in the paving on the Promenade des Anglais. You can walk up the steep incline to see the ruins and enjoy the stunning parklands, waterfall and picnic area, but many prefer to take the free, self-operated elevator.
Nice’s Vieille Ville (the Old Town) takes you to a different time. It’s a maze of alleys, with shops, cafes and restaurants. There’s no doubting the Italian flavour of this part of town. Most mornings of the week, you can visit the flower and fresh produce market; on Mondays, it’s a flea market.
It’s hard to decide on the most impressive aspect of Nice. At the end of Avenue Jean Médecin is Place Masséna, surrounded by elegant apartment buildings and looking picture perfect with its beautiful paving and superb fountain. It attracts lots of visitors, especially at sunset, when the square comes to life and the creative coloured lighting adds to the atmosphere. It’s really a joy to be there and hard to beat.
To be in Nice now is to be in a city with a blend of old and new and many different architectural styles. It’s a city with something for everyone.
Be in Nice for museums
Nice has a rich cultural life. It has 19 museums, covering art and sculpture, photography, natural history, archaeology, sport… and more. Which are ‘the best’? Well, that depends on your interests.
The magnificent Marc Chagall Museum and the Matisse Museum (which is closed for renovations until mid 2024) are dedicated to particular artists.
The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC) has a vast and varied collection.
Just off the Promenade des Anglais is the inspiring Masséna Museum, specialising in local history and housed in a 19th-century villa that was donated to the city in 1919 by the Duke of Rivoli.
Others have more targeted exhibitions – for example, the Escoffier Museum of Culinary Art for lovers of gourmet cooking and the Lascaris Palace, which has a collection of antique musical instruments, as well as 17th and 18th century art.
Be in Nice for places of worship
The Basilica of Notre Dame (Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption) is an impressive building in central Nice, on Avenue Jean Médecin. It was built in the mid 1860s in Neo-Gothic style, which is why it has a similar appearance to the much earlier Notre Dame in Paris. It is the largest church in Nice and elaborately decorated.
It’s open to visitors Monday to Friday 9am-12noon and 4-7pm.
In the older part of the city, on the Place Rossetti, you will find the Cathedral of Nice (Basilique-Cathédrale Sainte-Marie et Sainte-Réparate). It was completed in 1685; its bell-tower was added a century later and there have been 20th century additions. It has a less imposing external structure but the beautiful interior, with its 10 chapels, is definitely worth a visit.
The Cathedral is open to visitors: Monday to Saturday, 9am-12 noon and 2-6pm; Sunday 9am-1pm and 3-6pm.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas) is also in the centre of Nice. It was opened in 1912 and its main benefactor was Tsar Nicholas II. Not surprisingly, you’ll find it on Avenue Nicolas II, where its 5 colourful domes, topped with crosses, dominate the skyline. The Cathedral remains the property of the Russian State. The interior is spectacular; enjoy it with your eyes only, as photography is not permitted.
It is open every day: (May–October) 9am-12noon and 2-6pm; (November–April) 9.30am-12noon and 2-5.30pm.
Further afield
If you want to see more of the French Riviera (Côte d’Azure), it’s great to be in Nice. There’s a range of transport options to take you to nearby places of interest.
To the west, within fairly easy reach, are Antibes and Cannes.
Want to leave the country briefly? To the east, just 13 kilometres from Nice is the Principality of Monaco. Further along the coast, and back in France, you’ll find beautiful Menton, just 7 km from the Italian border.
The drive east from Nice can be treacherous. There is the motorway, of course, but for the brave (or the foolish) you can negotiate one of the Corniches. The locals drive around the bends toward you at what appear to be sickening speeds, while you grip the steering wheel tight and feel far too close to either the cliffs, on one side, or the low railings and vast drops on the other.
For day trips, the train is a better option: it’s inexpensive and convenient to most of the places you might want to see.
See other destinations in Provence, and Francy That! recommendations about Places To Go.
Information
WHERE IS IT? Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
HOW FAR FROM PARIS? 931 km (580 miles) to the SE
POPULATION: 1 million +
NEAREST AIRPORT: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
NEAREST TRAIN STATION: Nice-Ville (TGV)
TOURIST INFORMATION: 2 Promenade des Anglais, also Avenue Thiers (at the train station)
MARKETS: Plenty of them. Cours Saleya market runs from Tues-Sun.
MUST SEE: Promenade des Anglais, Place Masséna, the Old Town, museums, architecture.
