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Welcome to our traditional Niçois apartment - just a few minutes stroll from the bustling old town and beach, and a two minute walk from the bus station when you arrive from the airport. |
Nice enjoys an average of 300 sunny days each year so the chances are you'll end up sitting outside on a cafe terrace soaking up the atmosphere whatever time of year you visit . Here are some webcams in Nice in case you want to see what it's like today. We've gathered a collection of helpful pointers for your time in Nice which we'll expand from time to time. Please also look at the special events page for festivities taking place through the year. Many of the things listed here are within walking distance of the apartment which is very central. For those that are a little further we've included some transport tips at the end of the page. Let us know if you think anything should be added, or if you have any questions: irene@niceallyearround.com Must do Chateau Hill and waterfall - you can walk up or take the little tourist train. There are several ways up. If you take the steps from the seafront we counted 425 steps - but there are plenty of stopping places. Great views over the city, sea and port. Cafe, park, playground, waterfall and ruins at the top. Take a picnic and stay there all day if it's sunny. This was the site of the original settlement of Nice. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais lined with palm trees - the seafront promenade extends several kilometres around the Baie Des Anges in the direction of the airport. Explore the old town with it's maze of narrow streets, small shops , squares, galleries and churches. Linger in the colourful and atmospheric flower, fruit and veg market at the Cours Salaya (Tues-Sun). There is an antiques market every Monday all year round and a crafts market most evenings in the summer. Beach - the various popular beaches in Nice are partly free to the public and partly private facilities with a charge for sunbeds etc. Beaches are given names which makes it easier to meet up at a particular one. Opera Plage is nearest to the flat - which has a public half and a private half. Port circuit - head east along on the seafront and you'll first past a giant war memorial built into the chateau hill and then you arrive at the port. On the left there is an antiques area and also a glace fruit factory which does free tours in English. There are many restaurants around the port. The Terra Amata museum is a short walk past the port. Return via the north side of chateau hill. Must eat
Socca - a delicious chick-pea pancake served with a sprinkling of pepper. Nice olives - small and very tasty Pissaladiere - onion pizza slices with olives and anchovies Salade Nicoise - wonderful with a carafe of rosé on the terrace of one of the many restaurants around the Cours Salaya Stock up at the daily market at the Cours Salaya in the old town for fresh food and flowers (Tues-Sun). Use the pink pull-along trolley to bring your lunch home! Look out for the peppery mesclun salad (a combination of leaves from the hills around Nice) Restaurants are everywhere and you can't go far wrong. We've included some suggestions in the guest information book in the apartment. Check out the visitor book too. Museums, Arts and Entertainment Most of the museums in the Nice area now have free entry (from Summer 2008). MAMAC - Modern and Contemporary Art Museum is just a few minutes walk from the flat. Large, lots to see, air conditioned, great views from the top roof terrace. There is also a large restful garden adjacent with various sculptures www.mamac-nice.org The Musée Barla, a branch of the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle is a few doors away from MAMAC in boulevard Risso. Fun for a 15 minute visit but only comprises a single main display room. Terra Amata - paleontogy museum is located past the port but within reasonable walking distance of the flat. www.musee-terra-amata.org Archeology museum at Cimiez. www.musee-archeologique-nice.org Palais Lascaris in rue Droite in the old town - easy to walk past it without realising but worth stepping inside to explore the various rooms and exhibits - seems to also have a 'Jazz in Nice' exhibition at the moment. Chagall Museum. www.musee-chagall.fr Matisse Museum at Cimiez. www.musee-matisse-nice.org Fine Arts Museum. www.musee-beaux-arts-nice.org Museum of Art and History Palais Masséna). www.nice.fr/mairie_nice_174.html Anatole Jakovsky International Museum of Art. www.nice.fr/mairie_nice_198.html Asian Arts Museum. www.arts-asiatiques.com Nice Opera. www.opera-nice.org National Theatre of Nice is located next to MAMAC very close to the apartment www.tnn.fr Palais Nikaia (concerts) www.nikaia.fr Trips in Nice and further afield Parc Phoenix botanical gardens - catch a 9 or 10 bus from the road behind the apartment called Hotel de Postes and get off at the stop near the airport called L’Arenas. Catch the same bus back from the stop just opposite where you get off. The main entrance to the park is at the west side but you may find a nearer entrance is open. Cost is only 2 euros or free for under 12s. Lots of interesting trees and plants as well as animals, fish and insects and various water features. Also boasts the largest greenhouse in
The tourist train which runs up to the Chateau departs from the Promenade des Anglais opposite the Jardin de Verdun. It runs regularly from 10am in the summer months and on demand at other times but not on rainy days. The route takes in the old town with a short historical commentary. Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St Nicolas. www.acor-nice.com Observatory. www.oca.eu Cimiez - as well as being the site of the Matisse Museum and the ruins of the Roman arena which host the annual jazz festival, there is a monastery with gardens attached where many local couples go to have their wedding photos taken. A visit to Cimiez could encompass the gardens (with cafe), arena, Matisse museum and archaeological museum next door. Guided tour of Nice on double-decker bus - expensive but you'll get to see things you'd otherwise miss. Beaulieu - take a bus ride to Beaulieu to visit the Greek Villa Kerylos - modelled and furnished in the style of 200bc. You can also buy a double ticket and visit the nerby Rothschild Villa and Gardens. From Beaulieu you can take the seaont path along Cap Jean Ferrat - apparently the most expensive properties per square metre in the world are situated here.There are several beaches to enjoy so take you beach things and a packed lunch to make a day of it. www.villa-kerylos.com and www.villa-ephrussi.com Marineland at Antibes is a very large park with dolphin, whale and seal displays - great fun but pretty expensive www.marineland.fr Next door is water park Aquasplash Antibes itself is a very pretty small town whose city wall juts out into the sea. There is a Picasso museum in the old town which also has various other works by his contemporaries. Take a train or bus. Also a sandy beach. Musee Maeght - www.maeght.com/musee is at St Paul de Vence Vence is a small town which attracted many artists. Visit Matisse's Chapelle du Rosaire. Monaco - the world famous principality is just along the coast from Nice and easily accessible by train or by bus from the nearby bus station. Sights to see are the palace and changing of the guard; cathedral where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier were married and are now buried; the oceanographic museum aquarium - www.oceano.mc and of course, the casino at Monte Carlo. Ventimiglia - a short trip across the border into Italy (by train) brings you to the very large Friday market, which is regularly frequented by the French. Bordighera - a pretty seaside town just across the border into Italy which has a large market straddling the seafront on a Thursday. Cannes is a short trip along the coast from Nice. Menton is the last town in France before reaching Italy and is well-known for its lemon festival in the spring. Eze - take a bus to this nearby hilltop village La Turbie, high on the hills above Monaco, is the site of the Roman 'Trophee des Alpes' www.ville-la-turbie.fr which marks the Romans' conquest of the area. Grasse is renown for its perfume factories. 80% of the world's perfume 'noses' are connected to this town. Tours are run at the Fragonard factory several times a day in English showing the process of perfume production from start to finish. There is a also a perfume museum and a shop with their perfumes at factory prices. Bus from Nice costs only 1 euro.. www.fragonard.com Transport From airport (Easyjet arrives at terminal 2, BA terminal 1) take the 98 to the Gare Routiere (bus station). The bus tariff is normally 1 euro for a journey but a special charge applies from the airport which means you need to buy a 4 euro 1-day pass (billet journalier) to get into town. Buy it from the booth outside the airport - the staff speak some English. Or pay 15 euros for a 7-day pass to use on buses or trams all week including to and from the airport. The number 98 leaves terminal 2 from bay 5. You must put the ticket into machine on bus for every journey. A free shuttle bus runs between the terminals in case you need it. There is a brand new tram system within Nice which accepts the same tickets as the buses. The same bus fare will take you a long way. Check at the bus station or tourist information office, but many nearby villages and towns can be reached for just 1 euro, (including, for example, Monte Carlo, Vence and Menton) though you may prefer to get there faster by train. The Nice train station is a 20 minute walk from the apartment so you might prefer to take a bus from the nearby bus station. By train you can easily reach nearby coastal attractions including Monaco, Cannes, Ventimiglia etc. There is a bus route map in the apartment, and the bus station has an enquiry desk and ticket office, or just buy the ticket when boarding the bus. Further information You may find the following links helpful There is a tourist information centre on the Promenade des Anglais and also at the airport and train station. |
'We loved calling 'Wonderful French 'Perfect location, clean 'I'll recommend this |
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