Nice and easy
09.05.10
Chic, cosmopolitan and colourful, Nice is a city that has a lot to offer. It has sun, thanks to its location in the South of France; it has sand, thanks to its position on the Cote D’Azure and it has sea, which happens to be the warm waters of the Mediterranean. This is why people come here, it is a bountiful beach destination that offers luxury and style without the grandeur, pomp and expense of St Tropez and Cannes.
From the Promenade des Anglais to the harbour, Nice sums up every positive stereotype about the French Riviera. But other than sunning yourself on the beach, seeing and being seen jogging along the promenade and sipping cocktails watching the sunset, what else is there to do?
The castle ruins of Colline du Chateau make for an interesting setting for an evening stroll. The view of the city, harbour, coastline and countryside from here are mesmerising. The old town, with its flower and fruit market of the Cours Saleya and winding cobbled streets and labyrinthine alleys has much to offer including some of the best seafood restaurants in the French Riviera.
The Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez showcases the ruins of the Gallo-Roman settlement in Cimiez. The museum has some great activities for children and it documents the life and culture of the Gallo-Roman settlement.
Parc Phoenix is a spectacular botanical garden with over 2500 different plant species. It is also home to various animals and is a great place to take children.
If you want to escape the city for the day, put your hiking boots on and get out and explore the surrounding countryside. The Alps are just a few hours drive away, but just outside La Turbie is the Grande Corniche where views are remarkable and the scenery is truly inspiring.
Being France’s fifth largest city, hotels are plentiful in Nice. However, during the summer, if you don’t book in advance, you will be hard-pushed to find any beds going spare. Prices too are usually greatly inflated at this time of year so travelling in June and September is better for the budget-conscious traveller.
However, whether you go for grand historic affairs, or instead opt for boutique B&Bs run by ever-knowledgeable locals, hotels are of a high quality. Breakfast is almost always included and service is impeccable. The hotels are the icing on the cake in this ever popular, beautiful and stylish city.
Keen travel writer James Holly has over 10 years of travel experience. When abroad, he has often booked with octopustravel.com, and would highly recommend them when searching for Nice Hotels.