We never expected the French coast to be so beautiful. Nice is a postcard-like city that captivated us with both its vibrancy and its slow-paced life. You won’t regret visiting this beautiful city on the French Riviera. Here is the Nice Travel Guide: The Pearl of the French Riviera!
Nice Travel Guide: The Pearl of The French Riviera
In our Nice travel guide, we covered transportation to Nice, places to see in Nice, eat and drink in Nice, and accommodation in Nice.
Transportation to Nice
We begin our Nice travel guide with how to get to Nice. You can reach Nice by car, train, or plane. By car, you can reach Nice from Paris or Stuttgart in approximately 9 hours, from Milan in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and from Bern in about 6 hours and 45 minutes.
By train, it is possible to travel to Nice via Marseille with a transfer in Lyon. In this case, the journey takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. Additionally, you can reach Nice from Paris with a train transfer in about 6 hours and 45 minutes.
In our opinion, the easiest way to reach Nice is by plane. Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur, located on the Nice coast, operates numerous flights. It is possible to fly directly from Paris and Stuttgart in just 1 hour and 25 minutes, from Milan in 1 hour and 5 minutes, and from Bern in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Places to See in Nice
Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice
Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice is a Russian Orthodox church. We recommend you visit this church with its impressive architecture. It is quite different from the Gothic architectural style of the usual churches in Europe. Moreover, entrance is free.
Google Maps: Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice
Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
This is a library where we admired the details and beauty of the building. Located at the Libération station, you reach this library after walking along Av. Jean Médecin. It was created by converting the old South Train Station. In addition, on Saturdays, a lovely market is set up in front of it.
Google Maps: Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption
Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption is a church inspired by the Notre-Dame in Paris and is considered as the largest church in Nice. It is located on Av. Jean Médecin. Moreover, entrance to this basilica is free.
They built the church in 1864 with the aim of modernizing the city after Nice joined France. This structure stands out with its impressive architecture and stained glass windows. Additionally, besides being used for worship, the church also hosts various events throughout the year.
Google Maps: Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption
Av. Jean Médecin
This famous shopping street, which also hosts important historical buildings like the Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, is lined with many shops. Walking along this street is also very enjoyable.
Google Maps: Av. Jean Médecin
Place Masséna
After crossing Av. Jean Médecin, you arrive at Place Masséna. Created in 1840, this square is surrounded by aesthetically pleasing red-facade buildings, and in the center of the square stands the Fontaine du Soleil. Additionally, the square features sculptures by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa representing the 7 continents. This square has become a meeting point for the city’s residents.
Google Maps: Place Masséna
Fontaine du Soleil
The Fontaine du Soleil, or Fountain of the Sun, is located in Place Masséna. At its center stands a marble statue of Apollo. In Greek mythology, Apollo is revered as the god of various realms including the sun and light. Surrounding Apollo are five bronze statues representing Earth, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, and Venus.
Google Maps: Fontaine du Soleil
Promenade des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais is a 7 km long promenade stretching from the seaside to Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur. So, theoretically, walking from the airport to the city center is not impossible. However, considering the heat and carrying your luggage, it could be quite a challenging walk.
The Promenade des Anglais was once favored by English aristocrats. Today, it has become a place where everyone enjoys the beautiful beaches of the French Riviera and the palm-lined boulevard.
Google Maps: Prom. des Anglais
Le Negresco
Le Negresco, located on the Promenade des Anglais, is a 5-star hotel opened in 1913. The building’s exterior and interior are adorned with incredible details. The hotel houses many artworks such as paintings and sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries. Room rates start at 750 Euros and are incredibly expensive. While staying here may not be realistic for many due to high price, we recommend visiting the building itself.
Google Maps: Le Negresco
Plage publique de l’opera
Nice has pebble-stone beaches and the sea is quite wavy. Therefore, you’ll be much more comfortable if you wear water shoes. We didn’t wear them and honestly struggled a bit. The water is very clear, and swimming is very enjoyable. There are many free spots on the beach where you can lay down with your towel and sunbathe. Additionally, you can rent sunbeds if you prefer. Moreover, there are many places where you can rent equipment for various water sports.
Google Maps: Plage publique de l’opera
Cr Saleya
This is a street located just behind the beachfront, where you can find many beautiful restaurants and bars. You can also spot street artists here. We really enjoyed spending time in this area.
Google Maps: Cr Saleya
Colline du Château
Colline du Château offers a magnificent panoramic viewpoint where you can overlook Nice’s coastline and aesthetic buildings. The unique view of Promenade des Anglais from here is especially impressive. The castle located above the hill, approximately 90 meters high, was once designed to protect Roman and Greek settlers from devastating enemy attacks. Only the ruins of this castle have survived to the present day. Additionally, there is a terrace on this hill where Nietzsche used to visit frequently.
Google Maps: Colline du Château
Port de Nice Lympia
The Nice harbor is one of the most captivating spots in Nice, with colorful buildings and impressive yachts and ships. Spending time at the surrounding restaurants and bars, followed by a walk along the harbor, is very enjoyable.
Google Maps: Port de Nice Lympia
Place Garibaldi
Place Garibaldi is Nice’s oldest square. The Garibaldi statue in the square, surrounded by decorative fountains, adds to its charm. The restaurants around the square contribute to making it a lively place at all times.
Google Maps: Pl. Garibaldi
Eat & Drink in Nice
Patisserie Lac
Patisserie Lac is a bakery known for its delicious pastries. We got a birthday cake from there to celebrate Şahin’s birthday, and it was very tasty. We can recommend it without hesitation. Moreover, they are visually very impressive indeed. 🙂
Google Maps: Patisserie Lac
La Favola
La Favola is a lovely Italian restaurant located on Cr Saleya. We sat at one of the tables in the street and had a delicious sea bass with mashed potatoes. Like in any Italian restaurant, we couldn’t resist trying their Tiramisu. However, they made their Tiramisu with the famous Lotus biscuits from Belgium. Because of this, the taste was a bit heavy, to be honest. To be honest, we adore the original Tiramisu, and the Lotus adaptation didn’t quite impress us. 😅
Google Maps: La Favola
Barbacane Bar
On Cr Saleya street again, at Barbacane Bar, you can find unique cocktails. It was delightful to sip our cocktails while watching the street. We had a whisky sour and an espresso martini here, and they were delicious.
Google Maps: Barbacane Bar
Waka Bar
Waka Bar is a bar right on the beach, a superb spot to enjoy cold drinks and cool off when the beach gets too hot. We liked both their music and their service. We had beer with tortilla chips here.
Google Maps: Waka Bar
Le Barbecue
Le Barbecue, a Portuguese restaurant located in a narrow alley with stairs. It’s a restaurant where you may find yourself waiting in a long line, but we can assure you it’s worth the wait. We tried their mixed barbecue plates, and the meats were delicious.
Google Maps: Le Barbecue
Rouge Restaurant Bar à vin
Rouge Restaurant Bar à Vin is a charming French restaurant. We stumbled upon it while wandering through the streets near Nice Port. We really loved the atmosphere here. They offer a variety of dishes and serve wine by the bottle. We enjoyed some wine and snacks. If you happen to be in the area, we recommend checking it out.
Google Maps: Rouge Restaurant Bar à vin
Chez Acchiardo
Chez Acchiardo is an Italian restaurant. We recommend making a reservation before going there, as it tends to be busy. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit, but it was on our list due to its excellent reviews.
Google Maps: Chez Acchiardo
Le Shapko
Le Shapko is a bar where you can enjoy live jazz music. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Place Masséna. The bar offers a wide variety of alcohol options as well.
Google Maps: Le Shapko
Azzurro Artisan Glacier
Azzurro Artisan Glacier, just an 8-minute walk from Place Masséna, is an ice cream shop worth adding to your list for hot days in Nice.
Google Maps: Azzurro Artisan Glacier
La Voglia
La Voglia is an Italian restaurant with a wide variety of dishes. It has good reviews and is centrally located, so you can consider adding it to your list.
Google Maps: La Voglia
Accommodation in Nice – Nice Travel Guide
When you stay near Avenue Jean Médecin in Nice, you can walk to most places in the city center. Walking from one place to another doesn’t take much time and can be quite enjoyable.
Student Factory Nice Gare du Sud
Student Factory Nice Gare du Sud is just 2 minutes away from Libération station. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to the beach from here. The room includes a bathroom and a small kitchen. Additionally, there is a balcony where you can relax. We were very satisfied with both the cleanliness and the location. There is also a large supermarket right below the building, making it convenient to meet our needs. We can definitely recommend it! 🙂 We paid approximately 130 Euros per night for two people.
Booking: Student Factory Nice Gare du Sud
Google Maps: Student Factory Nice Gare du Sud
This concludes our article on Nice Travel Guide: The Perl of The French Riviera.
We wish you a pleasant travel! ☺️
Also read: How to Spend 4 Days in Paris in Winter, Amsterdam Travel Guide: Places to See in Amsterdam, A Complete Hamburg Travel Guide: Top Places in Hamburg
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