Situated just over half an hour from the Italian-French border, Nice is the French Riviera’s crown jewel, offering a mesmerising combination of beachfront glamour and cosmopolitan culture that brings hundreds of thousands to its shore every year. As the largest city on the Riviera, you can choose from an incredible range of restaurants, shops and historic attractions scattered between the fashionable beachfront promenade and the atmospheric centro storico.
Most people stay at the beachfront, sipping lattes from a Promenade des Anglais café or soaking up the sun on the smooth pebble beach. There’s much more behind the dazzling front however, with a labyrinthine old town moments from the sea. Nice Cathedral is nestled here, as are some of Nice’s most buzzing piazzas and streets. The city’s popular Castle Hill is close by too, so you’ll have no trouble climbing high above the rooftops for mesmerising views.
Of course, a trip to Nice wouldn’t be complete without taking in a little culture, so be sure to visit one of the many world-class galleries or museums. The Musée National Marc Chagall is one of the best, as is the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. For those wanting some ‘me’ time, Nice is packed with boutiques, spas and sun-drenched terraces, so it’s easy to spend some down time away from the city’s energetic bustle.
With such a great climate for vegetable growing, and a seaside setting that provides plenty of fresh fish, it’s no surprise that Nice is also somewhat of a culinary hotspot. There’s an incredible array of restaurants available, but we highly recommend seeking out those that serve the local delicacies, like Socca -- a locally-popular chickpea pancake, baked over sizzling coals and served hot at numerous street market stalls.
