Welcome to the Côte d’Azur! This casual and cool beach town in the French Riviera boasts sparkling Mediterranean coastline, bleached pebble beaches and dramatic cliffs with creeping bourgainvillea and breezy jacaranda trees.
If you are flying into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, and plan to explore Nice in addition to surrounding areas, hire a car. It is possible, however, and quite easy, to take buses from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Eze, and a train to Monaco. Taxis and ubers to and from Nice and Monaco are quite expensive.
EAT
Niçoise specialities include socca (thin, chickpea pancake), pissaladière (a savory tart), gnocchi and the well-known Niçoise salad.
La Cave Nature Chic wine bar with fresh, delicious food in Villefranche-sur-Mer. A great stop for lunch on the way to the beach.
L'Escalinada Romantic restaurant in the Vielle Ville Old Town. We recommend the pissaladière and gnocchi.
DRINK
Provence has been producing rosé wine for nearly three millennia, and the pink drink makes up nearly half of the region’s entire wine production.
La Cave de la Tour Excellent little wine bar in the Vielle Ville. Go for happy hour, they close at 8pm!
PLAY
Eze A short drive from Nice, this charming medieval village on a hill has stunning views of the coastline. Spend time exploring its shops and the beautiful Jardin Exotique.
Parc de la Colline du Chateau This green park, also known as Castle Hill, used to house an 11th century citadel. The hill looks out over the Vielle Ville and coastline, and is worth the climb.
Place Garibaldi An 18th century square in central Nice decorated with powder puff trees.
Promenade des Anglais The Promenade running parallel to Nice’s public beach and bay. Don’t miss the gelato stands!
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat This forested peninsula, just a few miles from Nice, is known for its old-world glamour.
Villefranche-sur-Mer Another adorable, coastal village with a medieval town, sleepy harbor and beautiful beach.
STAY
Stay near The Promenade for easy beach access or the Vielle Ville Old Town for proximity to restaurants and nightlife. That said, Nice is small at the Vielle Ville is only a 20-30 minute walk from the far side of The Promenade.
We stayed at Hotel de la Fontaine, a 3-star, budget option two blocks from The Promenande and a short walk from central Nice.
