Places to Visit in Europe

City Guide

Nice, France

Nice (Nizza) sits on the French Riviera where the Alps meet the Mediterranean — a city of pale yellow and terracotta buildings, a gorgeous crescent bay, promenades lined with palms, Italian-influenced cuisine, and a gritty authenticity beneath the glamour. France's fifth-largest city has been attracting artists, writers, and holidaymakers since the 19th century. The old town (Vieux Nice) is one of the most charming in France.

Best Places to Stay

  • Luxury: Hôtel Negresco (legendary Belle Époque palace on the Promenade des Anglais), The Maybourne Riviera, Hyatt Regency
  • Mid-range: Hôtel La Pérouse, Hôtel Villa Rivoli, Best Western
  • Budget: Villa Saint-Exupéry Beach hostel, Welcome Hostel, Hôtel Acanthe

Best Places to Eat

  • Fine dining: Keisuke Matsushima, L'Acqua, Avec Réso
  • Nice cuisine: Café de Turin (oysters and seafood), La Route du Bonheur (classic), Oliviers (in old town)
  • Café culture: Café de la Place, Fenocchio (famous for ice cream — try lavender or pistachio)
  • Markets: Cours Saleya in the old town — daily except Monday, flower and food market, wonderful for lunch

Best Sites to Visit

Promenade des Anglais: The iconic seafront walkway — 7km long, palms, benches, the Mediterranean.

Vieux Nice (Old Town): Narrow lanes, pastel buildings, Café de Turin square, baroque churches, Place Rossetti.

Castle Hill (Colline du Château): Park above the old town with panoramic views over the bay, a waterfall, and city. Free.

Place Masséna: The grand central square — red ochre buildings, the iconic Ferris wheel, photogenic.

Matisse Museum: In a beautiful 17th-century villa, covering Henri Matisse's Nice period.

Marc Chagall National Museum: Biblical message in art — the collection is beautiful and peaceful.

MAMAC (Museum of Modern Art): Connected to the Matisse/Nice art lineage. Free to visit the ground floor.

Cimiez Monastery: Olive trees, Roman ruins, the Matisse museum in a lovely garden setting.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Waterfront and Old Town

Morning: Promenade des Anglais walk, Place Masséna. Late morning: Old Town wandering — Place Rossetti, baroque church, Cours Saleya market lunch. Afternoon: Castle Hill — waterfall, panoramic views. Evening: Place Saint-François for aperitif.

Day 2: Museums and Port

Morning: Matisse Museum OR MAMAC. Afternoon: Walk east along the Promenade to the Port of Nice, then to the Cap d'Antibes viewpoint. Evening: Rue Bonaparte area — trendy, bars and restaurants.

Day 3: Day Trip

Option A: Èze (the cliffside village 12km east — Jardin Exotique with extraordinary views). Option B: Monaco (30 min by train — casino, Prince's Palace). Option C: Cannes (40 min by train — film festival city, La Croisette).

Getting There and Around

  • By air: Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) — major Riviera hub, direct from many cities. Bus 98/99 to city centre (30 min).
  • By train: Nice-Ville station — TGV from Paris (5.5h), direct connections to Cannes, Monaco, Genoa, Milan, Marseille.
  • By ferry: Nice port has ferry connections to Corsica (Bastia in 6-8h).
  • Getting around: Tram runs along the Promenade and through the city. Everything in the centre is walkable.

Travel Tips and Practical Info

  • Best time: April–June or September–October — lovely weather, fewer crowds, lower prices.
  • July–August: Busy and expensive.
  • Beach: All French beaches are public — but they are all pebble/stone, not sand.
  • Free: Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill park, Old Town wandering.

Where to Next?

  • Monaco (30 min by train — F1 circuit, casino, Prince's Palace)
  • Cannes (40 min by train — film festival city, La Croisette)
  • Antibes (20 min — Picasso museum, Provençal old town, marina)
  • Èze (15 min by bus — the cliff village, Jardin Exotique)
  • Saint-Tropez (2h by bus or boat — famous jet-set port)
  • Marseille (2.5h by train — France's oldest city)