France has a lot of places to visit, especially on the warm south side. One of those places is Nice! It is no wonder why people choose Nice so much. When I arrived I only saw sunshine and nothing else. Did you know that in Nice there are more than 300 days of sunshine? Well, that freaking awesome if you ask me! When I arrived there I immediately saw the mix between Italian and French styles. It has a big beach and a nice old town that make the perfect places for your holiday.
Before we get to the most alluring part, let me mention this – if you are a shop-o-colic like me then you will find a plethora of shops around. Whether you want fancy brands or cool clothes, you will find it there! Also, if you want to explore the history and learn a new thing or two, then there are many museums to visit. Plus, if you want to explore other cities in French Riveria, Nice is the perfect base city. In this guide, we will go through all the things you can do in Nice and make your stay there more enjoyable.
How Big Your Budget Should Be?
Well, if you visited France, you know that you need to spend a lot. However, Nice is not so expensive as the other places in the French Riveria. Nextravel recommends having a minimum budget of around 50 Euros per day. The more you plan to spend, the greater enjoyment you will receive!
How Long Should You Stay In Nice?
Well, you can explore all the important locations in just two days, but you can additionally add a couple of days exploring other cities like Eze, Cap Ferrat and of course the crown jewel Monaco! Plus, you can also explore inland cities and see another perspective of France! If you want to spend your vacation days, Nextravel recommends at least six days there. You can enjoy the beach, great drinks and foods and of course a decent nightlife!
Best Parts of Nice!
The food there is great! Like we said before it has a mix of Italian and French cuisine! Restaurant prices are decent, but they are more expensive compared to Spain. The most alluring part of Nice is the view of the Riviera. You can enjoy a view that inspired many famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and many more!
The beaches are long and really crowded. You can find locals and tourist all over the place. Another activity you can do in Nice is hiking. The terrains are not so tough, so you will only require a good pair of shoes.
What Landmarks to Visit in Nice?
Promenade Des Anglais
If you love biking then Promenade Des Anglais is the perfect location. It has dedicated bike paths that are safe to ride. Renting a bike only costs 4 euros per hour or you can go for the full day packages for only 10 euros! The long Promenade goes along the white pebble beach. It is 5 km long populated with bikers and tourist along the way. The eastern part really offers beautiful views of the city and harbour. At night you can go back and listen to street musicians playing beautiful diverse music.
Explore Vieux Nice
If you love old architecture, then Nice’s old town will satisfy your needs! It dates back from the 16th century and it is a great place to explore. If you want to take a break, just stop at any of the many cafes there and take a well-deserved break.
Castle Hill
If you want to experience the best view in Nice, then you must visit Castle Hill. It is located on the eastern part of the Old Town, and getting there is easy by foot or you can take the free elevator. Also, near the castle, you can find a park and a waterfall.
Promenade De Paillon
The walkway that separates the old and new part of Nice is called Promenade De Paillon. If you want to take a relaxing and inspiring walk then De Paillon is the ideal spot. Along the way, you can find dozens of children playing in the water fountain park in warm summer days.
Ave Jean Medecin
Now to my favourite spot – Ave Jean Medecin. It is a shopping avenue that stretches from the old side of town until the train stations. There you can find many big brands and some excellent restaurants. One place that astonished me the most was the Cesar Milano – one of the best gelatos I’ve tasted in my life.
Nextravel Tips:
Food and Drink
In Nice, you can find both French and Italian cuisine. However, there is also traditional local food that must be tried. The most famous one among tourist is called Socca. It is a large chickpea pancake.
There are many restaurants in Nice, where some are quite expensive (elite) and others offer great food at decent prices. When speaking about drinks, you are in France after all. There are a plethora of wines you can try and local brands as well.
Nightlife
Compared to other places Nice has a decent nightlife. it has only one night-club and many small coffees. You can still party hard, but if you ask me I would go out in the close city of Monaco. Of course, this all depends on your budget.
Hotels
Hotels are pretty expensive in Nice and France in general. You can get a great price in a hostel, but be warned about the security there. Also, there might be even three-star hotels that offer reliable prices per night, but you will probably stay in a district that is not so safe (speaking from experience).
Clothes
We said before – Nice has 300 sunny days! That means light and whiter colors clothes in summer and spring. In winter, it can get windy and rainy so bring a jacket!
