A small beach town located along the French Riviera, Nice, France is a popular spot for many European visitors in the summers months. If you're looking for good views, great food, and a place to relax, while feeling like you're exploring, Nice is the spot for you.
HOW TO GET THERE
The most popular method to arrive to Paris is by plane through the Charles de Gaulle Airport. It is about a 45min car ride from the airport to the heart of the city center. Additionally, the Gare du Nord is the most popular train station to arrive into. However, there are 6 train stations in Paris that travelers can venture between.
Map of the French Riviera - note Nice is on the northern tip (Photo Credit: Paris Digest)
WHERE TO STAY
Old Nice (Vieux Nice) and along the Promenade des Anglais are the most popular spots for tourists to stay. In both areas you'll be close to restaurants and the major attractions. Both hotels and AirBnBs are popular. We opted to stay in an AirBnB that was in a great location between Old Nice and the Promenade, but it was quite noisy and bright at night because it was right next to (shared a balcony with) the restaurant Babel Babel.
The view from our AirBnB along the Promenade des Anglais,
TIPS FOR VISITING
Learn a couple key phrases such as greetings and manners prior to visiting. We noticed that our trying to speak French came across as a sign of respect and we were treated friendly.
Eat the dessert and buy that croissant! They're all amazing.
There's so many little spots we stopped at along the way that are not included in this post (at no fault of their own). As you experience Nice, take in the city, and pop in and out of the restaurants and shops.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arriving in Nice, France
Explore Old Nice (Vieux Nice)
Walk the Promenade des Anglais
Sunset drinks at Le Méridien Nice
Late night drinks and desserts through Old Nice (Vieux Nice)
There's nothing quite like landing in a new city and figuring it out. On the first day of the trip, we always recommend talking some time to just wander! See what the city is all about - take in the different sights, smells, and way of life. See how do the people function - are they busy, relaxed, social? In Nice, we quickly noted how friendly and how much of a vacation town it really is.
We started out by walking the Promenade des Anglais. With a rocky, pebble beach it was a sharp contrast from the traditional sandy beaches that we were used to. Restaurants line promenade on both the street and beach side - arguably the beach side was much more busy. Just over half of a mile down the promenade we reached Le Méridien Nice - a Marriott hotel with a rooftop bar that boasts insane views of the Mediterranean Sea and city of Nice. We split a bottle of champagne to commemorate the start of our vacation.
At night, we wandered around Old Nice (Vieux Nice). Around every corner of the winding roads there was another lively bar to join in on. We grabbed a drink at an Irish pub, Snug and Cellar Bar, and brought in a pizza from a restaurant nearby.
Views from Le Meridian, Old Town, and along the Promenade.
Day 2: Day Trip to Monaco
Explore Port Hercules
Visit the Monte Carlo Casino
Hike to the panoramic view spot near the Saint Martin Gardens
Dinner at Babel Babel
When we woke up the next day it was rainy, so we decided rather than having a sleepy day in Nice, let's get out and explore Monaco! We tried to time it so we wouldn't get caught in the rain, and for the most part it worked! We started the day by taking an Uber to the Nice-Ville train station. From there we caught the next train to Monaco. The tickets were less than $10 USD and it was only a 30 min train ride along the Mediterranean Sea.
Upon arrival we wandered around the town and were stunned by the luxury that lined the streets. Any high-end designer brand you can think of was represented there from both fashion to cars. We walked to the Monte Carlo Casino, then walked back to the Port Hercules area to see where the Grand Prix is raced. From there we grabbed a quick bite to eat before taking the hike to the panoramic point for city views near Saint Martin Gardens. After exploring all morning and afternoon we decided it was time to head back and took the train back to Nice. To wrap up the day, we grabbed dinner at Babel Babel and had the fresh catch of the day.
Scenic views across Monaco
Day 3: Exploring Castle Hill
Hike Castle Hill
Enjoy the La Reserve Beach and Promenade de Anglais
Wander the Cours de Saleya Market
On the third day we woke up and had breakfast at La Civelle du Cours, a restaurant located next to the Cours de Saleya Market. It was the best breakfast spot - for only $10 USD you could order the French Breakfast which consisted of juice, coffee, a croissant and a fruit cup. The perfect way to start your day.
Our favorite breakfast spot, La Civelle du Cours!
From there we headed straight toward the Port Town area. Starting with Castle Hill we made the trek up 422 steps to the top of Castle Hill. Situated between Old Nice (Vieux Nice) and the Old Port of Nice, Castle Hill offers panoramic views of the city. The walk is short, but steep and many visitors are constantly making the trek for the views. At the top there is a park you can walk around and learn about the history of Nice, as well as a small food stand to grab a drink and bite to eat. A word of the wise, if you get startled by a loud boom, just note that it's a long standing tradition dating back to the 1800s that every day at precisely 12:00 the cannons will fire alerting locals it's mid-day. At the base of Castle Hill is the I Love Nice Sign - so touristy, but so fun.
Views from walking up Castle Hill
From there stopped for a beach day on the La Reserve Beach. After spending some time on the beach, we headed back up the Promenade de Anglais to grab some lunch. There are so many beach side restaurants it makes choosing hard. We ended up at the Blue Beach restaurant and ordered the mussels for lunch. Then, we set back to the AirBnB for a quick nap before starting our evening.
A typical Nice view!
At night, we headed right back to Old Town Nice- with it's lively nightlife it's hard to go elsewhere. We couldn't figure out where to go to dinner, so instead we decided to snack our way through the town. Starting off, we grabbed socca at Lou Pilha Leva. We found another Irish pub and ordered a few beers there. Then, we finished the night at La Storia with pasta & "the worlds best" tiramisu according to Justin.
Day 4: Exploring the Old Port of Nice
Walked around the Cours de Saleya Market
Set off for the Old Port of Nice
Had dinner at Le Plongeoir
On our last day we woke up and of course had the French breakfast at La Civelle du Cours. We wandered through the Cours de Saleya Market, a market where locals sell their art work, flowers, olive oils, and pastries. We finally found the famous Socca du Cours street car and ordered the Socca. We picked up a few bottles of olive oil to bring home and headed back to our AirBnB to get ready for the day.
The Cours de Saleya Market, Socca, and the view from our AirBnB
We set off of for the Old Port of Nice. On the way over, we made our first stop for lunch at FOAM Nice, Port Lympia : Bar à Bière - Craft Beer Bars. The restaurant offers craft beer, but even better, it's a "pour by the ounce" self serve that you can choose from. The food was also great - we opted for the avocado toast and a focaccia sandwich. From the balcony you face outward and overlook the harbor and watch the boats pull in and out and people stroll by.
Ultimately, we timed it out wrong and had a few hours to waste away. We wandered through the streets of the port area, stopped in a few local pastisseries, saw an elementary school let out, and ended up sitting on a bench relaxing before our dinner plans. Months in advance we had heard of this place called Le Plongeoir. We knew very little except that the views were spectacular, so we were sold. The reservations for Le Plongeoir open months in advance - if you are interested in visiting while in Nice you definitely need to check the website and secure a reservation. Le Plongeoir is a cylindrical rock formation slightly off the coast that extends into the sea. The French word for "the diving board," Le Plongeoir is home to tri-level diving boards, that are no longer in operation, but were once a hit for locals. Now home to a restaurant, Le Plongeoir offers high-quality seafood and wine with unbeatable sunset views.
Views of Le Plongeoir during the day & night. Then, the harbor. Cannot be beat.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
We are obsessed with Nice! After leaving we quickly decided we would definitely go back in the summer months. If you're looking for a charming European city with a relaxed atmosphere, Nice is for you.
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