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Nice is Located in the south area of Franceand is the icon of the French Riviera, which the French call "la Cote d'Azur" (kōt-də-ˈzu̇r ) and we would probably call the Blue Coast.
It is a breathtaking city with lots of magnetism and atmosphere; a blend of French and Italian cultures where people are relaxed and outgoing even if you are not familiar with the French language.
Although you might think it is a summer choice, you can visit Nice at any time of the year and still have a kick out of it. If you occur to go in the wintertime, you will be amazed to see flowers in their many parks and gardens. Nice has a Mediterranean winter, so the temperature remains close to 40 to 50 degrees through the coldest months however if you like skiing, ski resorts such as Valberg and Isola 2000 can be reached by car in one or two hours. If you go in the summer, be ready to see lots of tourists walking around in the city. The trendy streets where most restaurants and cafes are located can get busy, but they can be a lot of excitement if you enjoy meeting people; and since majority of the streets are closed to traffic, people can just walk from place to place and benefit from the cheerful environment.
Nice has a main airport and its close by location to the city makes getting there an easy task.
Finding a hotel it’s easy, since there are amply amount of accommodations for all types of budgets. The author always books online because easy and super-fast. Here are the most easy-to-use websites for your booking based on the author solely experience. From casual to full lodging experience you can check the following:
If you are looking for a longer stay and want to have an “at home experience” then you can browse Homeaway.com and discover more than 1 million homes in over 190 countries.
It is a breathtaking city with lots of magnetism and atmosphere; a blend of French and Italian cultures where people are relaxed and outgoing even if you are not familiar with the French language.
Although you might think it is a summer choice, you can visit Nice at any time of the year and still have a kick out of it. If you occur to go in the wintertime, you will be amazed to see flowers in their many parks and gardens. Nice has a Mediterranean winter, so the temperature remains close to 40 to 50 degrees through the coldest months however if you like skiing, ski resorts such as Valberg and Isola 2000 can be reached by car in one or two hours. If you go in the summer, be ready to see lots of tourists walking around in the city. The trendy streets where most restaurants and cafes are located can get busy, but they can be a lot of excitement if you enjoy meeting people; and since majority of the streets are closed to traffic, people can just walk from place to place and benefit from the cheerful environment.
Nice has a main airport and its close by location to the city makes getting there an easy task.
Finding a hotel it’s easy, since there are amply amount of accommodations for all types of budgets. The author always books online because easy and super-fast. Here are the most easy-to-use websites for your booking based on the author solely experience. From casual to full lodging experience you can check the following:
- Bed&breakfast.com
- Hotels.com
- Tripadvisor.com
- Hilton.com
If you are looking for a longer stay and want to have an “at home experience” then you can browse Homeaway.com and discover more than 1 million homes in over 190 countries.
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Things to see in Nice:
-PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS. The Victorian English residents of the 1800's granted the finances to build the picturesque boulevard, therefore its name. It is an ample avenue that goes along the bay's coast line and it's surrounded by gorgeous palm trees and flowers.
-OLD NICE. Zigzagging tight streets with Italian style buildings color decorated, describes this old part of the city. You will enjoy “promenading” among other people who will be people watching charming little shops full of enchanting Provençal crafts.
- MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS COURS SALEYA. Located on the Cours Saleya, the flower market is open Tuesday through Saturday, 6am-5.30pm, and Sunday from 6.30am to 1.30pm. However if you decide to go, it would be better to check with your hotel for the hours of operation that could change on seasonal base. You can also have lunch or early dinner there, where a large sort of restaurants set up tables and chairs outdoor where you can banquet in a friendly and amusing ambiance.
- MARC CHAGALL MUSEUM. If you like modern art, you can examine some of the painter's most important collection. The schedule of the museum varies depending on the season. Again it’s better to check with your hotel counter clerk before you go.
-OLD NICE. Zigzagging tight streets with Italian style buildings color decorated, describes this old part of the city. You will enjoy “promenading” among other people who will be people watching charming little shops full of enchanting Provençal crafts.
- MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS COURS SALEYA. Located on the Cours Saleya, the flower market is open Tuesday through Saturday, 6am-5.30pm, and Sunday from 6.30am to 1.30pm. However if you decide to go, it would be better to check with your hotel for the hours of operation that could change on seasonal base. You can also have lunch or early dinner there, where a large sort of restaurants set up tables and chairs outdoor where you can banquet in a friendly and amusing ambiance.
- MARC CHAGALL MUSEUM. If you like modern art, you can examine some of the painter's most important collection. The schedule of the museum varies depending on the season. Again it’s better to check with your hotel counter clerk before you go.
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Nice is so comfortably and geographically located that it’s very doable taking half-day and full-day trips either by car or by public transportation. Towns that can be easily reached by car or public transportation are: Monaco, Èze, Grasse, St Paul de Vence, Cannes and St Tropez.
- Monaco - An emblem of glamour and sophistication, Monaco sits on a beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Its most famous town Monte Carlo has much to offer besides some fun time in one of its casinos, boutiques and colorful gardens. Don't forget to visit the village of Monaco, located high on "the rock" as it’s called by the locals. It is an inviting town with shops and cafes and a wonderful view of the sea. Although Principality of Monaco is located on the French Riviera it is not in France which only borders it on three sides. Therefore you need an ID to enter.
- Èze - This petite medieval village settled on a hill is a must see. Both tourists and artists gather to Èze during the summer months because of its scenic location and wonderful views. If you are staying in Nice, you can make it a half-day tour or just stop there to have lunch and then continue to Monaco for a full-day trip. If you would like to experience a glamorous lunchtime you can eat at the Chevre d'Or. The restaurant offers fine cuisine and amazing sceneries. The restaurant is open seasonally with lunch service from 12.30pm to 2pm and dinner service from 7.30pm to 10pm.
- Grasse - Known as the perfume capital of France, Grasse is a small town on the hills north of Cannes with beautiful parks and gorgeous views. If you happen to spend some time in Grasse, then you can leave without visiting the perfume factories. The biggest is “Perfumeries Fragonard”. If available an English speaking chaperon will show you the method of extracting the perfume from flower petals.
- Saint Paul de Vence - A picture-perfect medieval town, resting on top of a hill, St Paul de Vence has been portrayed by many artists and photographed by a large number of tourists. It is located approximately 13 miles from Nice. Enjoy a meal at the famous “La Colombe d'Or” Restaurant or sip a beer at an outdoor cafe while gaze at a local game called petanque. Pétanque (French pronunciation petɑ̃k) is a form of boules where the goal is to throw or roll unfilled steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball
- Cannes - Cannes sits on the shorelines of La Napoule bay, surrounded by a background of Mediterranean hills. While in Nice there is the Promenade des Anglais, in Cannes there is la Croisette Boulevard, an pleasing to the eye promenade, with palm trees and gardens. Cannes hosts the famous “Cannes Film Festival” every year and it is one of most given preference by celebrities. So if you are going, make sure to check around because you never know who is next to you...
- St Tropez - Some time ago a small fishing community, St. Tropez is now a summer place for the “glitterati”. Its setting on the southern coastline of France, made it appealing to turn-of-the-century painters who were then followed by writers, poets and in the long run movie stars and their fans. It is now worldwide well-known.
Now it’s time to pick the dates and buy your tickets, book your hotel and take off to the south of France. I am quite sure you will have an memorable and treasured vacation time.
Till the next one...have a fun trip!
