Roomex Beginners Travel Guide to Nice
Nice, City of Contrasts !
Nice is France's fifth largest city and the capital of the Cote D'Azur, The French Riviera. It is an extremely friendly place to visit with everything for the tourist - markets, beaches ( mainly of pebbles but very clean ), walks, cafes along the Promenade a few feet from the Med, festivals and wonderful food. Nice is 'crescent shaped', built on the foot of a mountain surrounding the old-town, almost like an amphitheatre surrounding the coastline. The promenade, known as 'Promenade Des Anglais' runs almost the full length of the City, with the towns and shopping on one side and cafes and the sea on the other. A new tram system was installed in 2007 and getting around could not be easier, with all forms of transport subsidised and all journeys costing only 1 Euro !! Just outside the town are many gorgeous little towns and villages nestled in the hilltops. Nearby day-trips also include Cannes, Monaco, Juan-Les-Pins, Villefranche and even a trip to the neighbouring Alps or Italy !
Arriving in Nice
Most airlines now fly directly to Nice. The airport is situated just on the edge of the City and a taxi will have you in the centre in less than 15 minutes for about 20 euro - expensive enough - bus is certainly cheaper at 1 euro and almost as quick !
Nightlife
There are many open-air bars and cafes easily found in the centre of town. There's nothing more pleasant than wandering along the pedestrianised streets in the evening, taking in the atmosphere and entertainment. A drink in the world famous Negresco Hotel on the waterfront after 7.30 pm is a must - will be expensive but definitely should be done at least once !
Shopping
No shortage of designer shops and some great bargains to be had in the centre of town. There's a real gem of a costume jewellery shop here too called 'Aratto' on 18 Rue Massena. You may never have come accross a shop like it. It is so popular, you need to take a ticket outside and come back probably an hour or so later before your 'number is up'. Once inside, you browse all items on shelves, write down what you want, hand it in at the counter and they retrieve from the stores, almost Argos style. Ladies, you could leave this shop with 10 fantastic pieces for less than 100 euro - don't miss it !
Eating Out
Again, no shortage of restaurants all over the centre of town and often its nice just to wander and look at the menus and go in wherever takes your fancy.
For local provencal cuisine and not expensive - arrive very hungry and take the set menu at Lou Nissart Restaurant - 1 Rue de L'Opera. Arrive after 7pm. We had a fantastic 6 course meal there at the beginng of March 2008 for less than 30 euro a head, including wine !!! This is a real 'meet the locals' type place to eat.
Another lovely restaurant but more expensive is Le Safari Restaurant, 1 Cours Saleya, in the old town.
Another very good value restaurant off the main track in Nice is Brasserie L'Occitanie, 54 Bd Gametta, Tel: 0033 (0)4 93 82 11 41. This is a typical French restaurant. You are likely to be the only foreigner there and the food is GREAT value and simply delicious.
A restaurant that we also like is Chez Memere in the Old town. The address is 6 rue Francis Gallo, 06300 Vieux Nice (50 meters from Place Rossette) Tel 0033 (0)4 93 62 48 46. This is a fun restaurant where the food is good. There is a HUGE choice. To be recommended is the mixed vegetable deep fried starter for two people (the portions are big) !
Superb award winning restaurant in nearby town of BIOT called La Pierre a Four, Tel 0033493656000. Biot is about 30 mins in the car from Nice. You can also go there by public transport. The restaurant is so good I keep the number on my mobile. Last time I was there they didn't open on Mondays. Really, really good value and top notch food. The town of Biot is well worth a visit with lovely pottery shops and some other nice restaurants as well.
The Mimosa Festivals
February / March is the season of the mimosa flower and there will be local celebrations everywhere.
Other things to do:
Local Markets
Every morning in the old town - the ideal way to savour the local ambiance and produce.
Promenade Des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais is more than just a place to deliberate over where to plant your towel or work up an appetite before dining in one of Nice's excellent restaurants, it is
the place to see and be seen in the city. Built in the 19th century by English residents, the promenade still attracts the rich and fashionable from all over the world, and they keep up the tradition of the early evening stroll before dinner. Running the length of the beach front, a walk down the boulevard offers plenty of opportunities for star-spotting or admiring the invariably glorious sunset. Looking good is a must, so bring your finery.
The Russian Church
Amazing church - the biggest Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia.
Beaches in Nice
Relax and unwind ! The city's main promenade stretches for 10k from the airport to the Colline du Château tree-dappled hill above Nice old town. Better still, the beaches are almost entirely public - unlike many stretches on the Riviera. The sun is always shining and the water warm and clean. The only thing you won't find is sand - it's best to bring a mat as the beach is pebbly. There are free showers every 100m.
Little Guide Train
My personal favourite way of getting to know Nice quickly is to hop on the
little guide-train which goes from the Promenade des Anglais every half hour or so, and now costs only 1 Euro for the hop-on hop-off 1 hour journey ! It brings all around the town, new and old, gives you a great sense of Nice and the overall location of everything. And you can just hop off at any stop, spend half an hour sightseeing ( such as at the top of the mountain ) and wait for the next train to come to bring you to the next stage of the journey. This should really be done on your first day !
Renoir's house / museum
is also worth a visit in the neighbouring town of Cagnes-Sur-Mer, just to the West of Nice, the other side of the Airport. Closed Tuesdays and month of November.
Cours Saleya Flower Market
- Takes place in old town daily
Matisse Museum
- Whether or not you appreciate Matisse's decorative and exuberant paintings, the 17th-century Genoese country villa in which this collection is housed is reason alone to visit the museum. The Museum is in the Cimiez area, a ten-minute walk north of the Nice-Villa train station. This huge selection of engravings, drawings and cutouts spans Matisse's entire career and includes the period in which he made Nice his home (1917-1954). Sun-worshippers can read an inscription by the painter himself, explaining that he moved down to the South of France as the quality of light was so helpful for his art. 164 Ave des Arènes. Open: daily 10h00-18h00 (closed Tuesdays). Admission: EUR4, adults; free for children. Tel: +33 (0)4-9381-0808.
Le Chateau - Castle Ruins
Pedestrian Zone - Rue De France
Place Massena
- This fountain-strewn public square is at the heart of Nice - the pulse of the city radiates out from here. As much a park as it is an urban square the expanse of green is often littered with people eating lunch, socialising or just whiling away another glorious day on the Riviera. Neo-classical arcades and elegant buildings, all of which are painted a striking Pompeiian red, surround the square, contrasting with the enigmatic skeletal art sculptures that adorn the fountain centrepiece. The square is also at the hub of Nice's business and shopping district making it the perfect point to start a browse of the boutiques.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Nice
- The building that houses Nice's Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain (or MAMAC as it is known locally) is as much an exhibit itself as it is a functional space. Built in grey marble, glass and brushed metal it is a significant modern landmark in Nice's geography. From the top floor the views stretch for miles, making it a great place from which to orientate yourself. Inside, transparent footbridges interconnect the three floors that contain significant collections from the Modern Art movement, up to the present day. The European and American avant-garde schools are well represented and all the big names are here: Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Alexander Calder and more. There are often temporary exhibitions showcasing contemporary works or concentrating on a particular artist or movement. Promenade des Arts. Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00. Admission: EUR4, adults; free for children. Tel: +33 (0)4-9713-4201.
Getting around
The buses are 1 euro and bring you anywhere. Great facilities to travel by train as well to go to Villefranche or Cannes or Monaco. And of course Nice has just got it's new tram system in place !
Where to Stay
We have almost 100 hotels on offer in Nice, click here to search Nice Hotels !