Nice is on the French Riviera close to the Italian border, barely a stone’s throw from Monaco. Having a sunny temperate climate, it attracts many visitors to its shores in order to enjoy the dry weather and the miles of coastline. There are many sightseeing opportunities in the city as well as trips a little further afield. The city’s long history is evident in the varying architectural styles from ancient ruins to the present day. Exploration should begin in the narrow streets of the old town with its burnt sienna roof tiles and painted facades.
A Nice holiday offers sea and sunshine, charming surroundings, shops and markets, numerous cafes and restaurants and a lively nightlife.
Nice is a very attractive city with its old heart, its narrow streets opening into charming squares. With miles of pebbly beaches offering water sports, a long promenade perfect for walking or cycling, good shops and markets and excellent restaurants, a Nice holiday appears to cater for every need.
A Nice holiday has wide-ranging popularity. It is particularly popular with couples especially those on honeymoon. Sun worshippers, yachtsmen, water sports enthusiasts and golfers will find excellent facilities.
Nice enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Although temperatures can rise to the mid thirties at the height of the season, there is usually a sea breeze which offsets any discomfort. It is generally warm well into November. Rainfall is very rare during the summer months.
Nice is the second largest city in France and lies in the Cote d’Azur on the Riviera. It enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year and is a very popular holiday resort. The beach in Nice is pebbly and stretches for miles along the blue-green sea. There is a long promenade, the Promenade des Anglais, which was begun in the late eighteenth century when one of the English community employed beggars in the construction of a walkway by the sea. The city thought it was a good idea and extended the promenade. It is popular with walkers and cyclists.
The old town lies behind the seafront. It is possible to take a mini-train and tour the area passing the flower market and Castle Hill Gardens on the way. There are some fine churches in the city including the baroque Chapelle de la Misericorde and The Cathedrale de Ste-Reparate in Rossetti Square. There is a wide choice of museums and galleries for those who like a little culture with their sand and sea.
Nice is a shopper’s paradise having a seemingly limitless number of department stores, boutiques, specialist shops and markets.
The Cote d’Azur has a large number of golf courses including the Golf Country Club de Nice. It is a nine hole course and has a pitch and putt and a driving range. Those wishing for a longer game will find superb facilities in nearby Golf de la Grande Bastide.
Monaco, with its famous gambling city of Monte Carlo, can be visited by local bus. Apart from the renowned casino, the Botanical Gardens and the Palais Princier are popular attractions.
Nice nightlife is a lively affair with many bars and clubs. The Place Rossetti, in the old town, comes to life as the sun goes down and it is here that the youth gather to eat, drink and make merry. The waterfront is a vibrant area with many bars and restaurants.
There are many opportunities for shopping from stylish boutiques to market stalls. If you are looking for designer labels go west of Massena Square to streets such as Paradis, Messina and Liberte where you will be overawed by the choice. In Cours Saleya there are antiques and bric-a-brac for sale, a good place for holiday mementoes.
There are all manner of restaurants in Nice serving a wide variety of food and catering for most tastes. Sea food features prominently on menus. Local specialities include a savoury tart combining onions, anchovies and black olives (pissaladiere), and stoquefiche, a cod and garlic stew. There are many restaurants serving international cuisine.
