Nice, France - A Mini Travel Guide
A vibrant town along the coast filled with endless summer any time of the year. Truly what more could anyone need?
As an American who does not speak much French this was a great combo, Easy to access by train from Marseille, to find accommodation and hotels, some options while dining out for English speakers. Of course I absolutely loved my adventure with my friends in Aix ( who are French) tasting a slice of local life but, if you want a buzzing vacation with lots to do this is it.
So now that I have made my pitch to visit Nice I wanted to share some of the things I did and loved about my trip and would recommend to anyone going to visit.
The Scenery - The Old Port of Nice has some beautiful boats tucked away in the harbor. This inland part of the city sits nestled into the hills and is just on the other side of Colline du Château We walked from Old Nice up around the Colline du Château to the Port. A perfect mixture of green space, winding streets, old shops, and of course the best views!
The walk is a few miles round trip, so be prepared for some hills and steps. Wear good shoes as you will most likely be out most of the day because there are a lot of lovely spots to stop along the way.
If you want a grand adventure I would suggest walking or taking the bus to the other side of the port. The Panorama du Mont-Boron sits on the east side of the city. Featuring an unbeatable view for miles of coastline.
Where To Stay - Since Nice is a very popular spot as are many other towns along the coast it's pretty easy to find some accommodation. But there are still a few things to keep in mind.
As with most old towns and cities, transportation infrastructure may or may not be the best to rely on. We found that Nice is a very walkable city which is great. Although access to cars, Uber, and busses is not as common as one might think. So keeping that in mind I would definitely book accommodation close to the city center or along a walking/biking route. The train station can connect you to many other fabulous spots for a beach day trip such as Cannes, Saint Tropez, and many more. I do want to add that going into Monaco being its own country may require a passport. Public transport to Monaco from Nice is a little harder. One that just takes some planning beforehand.
Mixed budget options:
Le Riviera Collection, BW Signature Collection
Getting There: We were staying in Marseille beforehand so for us it was an easy 2-3 hour train ride over to Nice. I have no experience flying into a closer airport but I do know that they do exist and flights might be very accessible depending on where you are coming from.
Things we did and what I loved: If you love the beach. This is the place for you! I honestly can't say enough good things about Nice for that reason. You can walk along the water or sit down at the beach itself, There are a bunch of beach bars, usually part of hotels or private clubs but in most cases you can go for a drink. They are perfect for a relaxing time spent while sipping a spritz in the sunshine.
We really enjoyed all the walking and cute tucked-away streets. There are some amazing shops as well. I think anywhere in the south of France is a great place to find perfumes. We stumbled upon some vintage antique shops. There is a vintage Chanel store called Dépôt vente luxe Mademoiselle. Be sure to take a peek at what they have.
A big highlight for me especially for all the beautiful flowers and of course the food was Cours Saleya. A street market filling the old town with vibrant colors, fresh fruits, and so many other goodies. I love the ease of walking around and enjoying life, shops, and cafes.
At night is the perfect time to explore the south side of Nice down by the water. It's a very romantic spot or even just a beautiful view for a night run. As the moon shines over the sea and the warm air blows on the breeze. Truly a magical South of France experience.