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 The Greeks and Romans did it, as did rich lords, film stars, artists, and thousands of tourists. They were just going to pass by but instead remained in Nice and along the Riviera. Some for just a few weeks, others for months and years. They were too captivated by the light, enchanted by the scents, and charmed by the taste of olives and wine. Additionally, a Nice Nouveau has evolved – a sassy Mediterranean metropolis with pulsating nightlife, modern hotels, and daring art galleries. All this with a chance to dabble their toes in a turquoise sea.

Port of Nice. France. Seascape. Summer day. Artens/shutterstock

The City

If you arrive in Nice by air, you will get straight into the city’s most beautiful avenue — the Promenade des Anglais — the Mediterranean’s Champs-ElysĂ©es. The magnificent seaside promenade runs between the luxury hotels and the beach, all in the shade of the very typical feather duster palms. Roller skaters glide easily between sun chairs, limousines, and beach restaurants. This is Nice’s cosmetic face. The city’s heart is a bit further away — by the Cours Saleya market square. The main artery is la Rue Droite. Stroll around the maze of small streets in the old town, la Vieille Ville, you can wind up into a tiny square here, a tiny alley there, or a cool church beyond it.

Are you looking for shopping? You will find the shopping district above Place Masséna, where the big department stores and surrounding streets with names like Rue Paradis and Rue de la Liberté display their shops.

Most buses depart from Place MassĂ©na if you want to travel up into the hills above Nice. A number of fairly sleepy and well-heeled suburbs stretch from the Chagall museum to the inescapable Cimiez hills to the north. The hills are a must, both for the Matisse museum and the view or just for a picnic in an olive grove, with or without the summer jazz festival. Eastern Nice is a bit more down-market and needs more local knowledge — apart from the area close to the harbour at Port Olympia. The nightlife there has been given a boost recently, ever since a low-cost cruise ship started to drop anchor at the port in the summer of 2005. To the east lies the billionaires’ playground of Cap Ferrat, the Eagle’s Nest of Eze, and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, which has been there since antiquity. To the west, the road passes world-famous artist’s colonies such as Saint-Paul de Vence.

View of the beach in Nice, France LiliGraphie/Shutterstock.com

Do & See

The whole world envies the French for their quality of life while the French envy the Riviera residents for their life in paradise. Nice combines the best of both worlds. This is where you can find small Provençal squares, where you can happily spend hours over a cup of coffee, but also find famous museums, parks and cathedrals. Put your walking shoes on!

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Nice Cathedral

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French Riviera Day Trip with Monaco & Cannes from Nice

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Mediterranean Coastal Sightseeing Cruise from Nice

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PhƓnix Parc Floral de Nice

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Marc Chagall National Museum

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Modern & Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC)

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Musée Matisse

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Russian Orthodox Cathedral

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Rent a Classic Car

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Palais Lascaris

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Place Rossetti

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Place Massena

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Musee de la Castre — MusĂ©e des explorations du monde

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Citadelle Saint-Tropez

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LĂ©rins Islands

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Saint-Tropez Beach

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Monte Carlo Casino

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Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Road signpost in Nice FloridaStock/shutterstock

Excursions

Nice is in the centre of paradise. Bus lines depart from Cours Masséna to all points of the compass. A few Euro will take you to small Provençal villages in any direction.

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Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

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Saint-Paul-de-Vence & Fondation Maeght

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Peillon & Peille

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Cannes

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Saint-Tropez

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Monaco

Spaghetti with seafood in a small restaurant in Nice, France Ivan Mateev/shutterstock

Dining

Nice’s cuisine is a reflection of the city’s 300 days of sun a year. This means great tasting olive oil, garlic and lemons. Also a vast selection of all kinds of vegetables like aubergines, tomatoes, vegetable marrow, and lots more. If you put all this in a frying pan with olive oil, it makes ratatouille. Put it in the oven and you have a tian (au gratin). The city’s own traditional take-away food is la socca — a kind of pancake made from chick peas. Some say it has a salty bracing taste, others say it tastes of old socks. However, this does not stop a new generation of playful chefs who have started to prepare Provençal cuisine nouveau. Bon appĂ©tit!

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Le Café de Turin

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Le Chantecler & La Rotonde in Le Negresco

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La RĂ©serve de Nice

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The Cheese Steak City

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Carlton Restaurant

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Le Louis XV–Alain Ducasse

Cafes

Cafe culture thrives in the Riviera. Every terrace and bar counter has its own, special daily rhythm, get to know them yourself. All along the Cours Saleya, beyond the flower market, the seats are closely packed in a myriad of cafĂ©s and restaurants. The cafe bill will not be welcomed by low budget tourists, but you have to face facts — millions of visitors a year cannot be wrong. Sitting here — in the shade or the sun, is a delight for watching and being watched.

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Cafés Indien

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Café de Paris

The beach and the waterfront of Nice at night, France. Matej Kastelic/shutterstock

Bars & Nightlife

Riviera nights reflect influences from the Orient, Paris and Barcelona, all year round. The foundation of a good night out is the tiny bars and cafes that can escalate into a giant party before the night has ended. Nice is one of the real hot spots to party all year, just go with the flow and rhythm.

Most of Nice club scene is along Cours Saleya, Rue Droite and Place Masséna.

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Les Bars du Negresco

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High Club

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Akathor Pub

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Les Trois Diables

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Les Caves du Roy

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VIP Room

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Charly's Bar

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Le Baoli

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Palm Beach Cannes

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Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo

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La Rascasse

Outdoor flower market in Nice at night, France Veniamin Kraskov/shutterstock

Shopping

Fashion, food and drinks are just not pastimes in France — they are the foundations of life. The range of goods in the shops reflects the French elegance and awareness of trends. There is also a noticeable influence of nearby Italy showing in the smartly dressed people and beautiful shoes. A weekend passes quickly in Nice, and shopping can easily become a full day activity. So if you are in a hurry, it is advisable to concentrate on just a few streets.

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Notre Dame — Jean MĂ©decin — Rue de Paradis

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Rue Saint-François de Paule — Rue de la PrĂ©fecture

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MAMAC — Gioffredo-Gubernatis — MassĂ©na

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Galeries Lafayette

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CAP3000

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AgnĂšs B.

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Sylvie T.

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Maison Auer

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Bonpoint

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Shopping in Saint-Tropez

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Place des Lices Market

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Saint-Tropez Beachfront

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Rue du General Allard

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Shopping in Monaco

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Fontvieille Shopping Centre in Monaco

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Monaco-Ville — Monaco's Old Town

Nizza, Cote d'Azur, France Boris Stroujko/shutterstock

Tourist Information

Passport / Visa

France can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

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Best Time to Visit

With a mild Mediterranean climate and over 300 sunny days a year, any time is a good time to come to Nice. The best time, however, is in the spring and autumn, when the weather in Nice is warm and sunny but not overly hot. Winters on the Cote d’Azur are sunny and crisp, with no crowds, and a real village feel.

The only month to avoid, ironically, is late July and all of August, when temperatures are at their hottest and all of Europe goes on a month’s vacation, jamming the roads, beaches, hotels and restaurants.

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Nice CĂŽte d'Azur Airport (NCE)

Nice CĂŽte d'Azur Airport is 7 km outside Nice. The airport shuttle bus departs every 20 minutes. A ticket gives you unlimited travel for the rest of the day in Nice. Two tram lines connect the airport to nearby towns, the port and train stations. Taxi prices vary, but there is an updated list on the airport website.

Address: AĂ©roport Nice CĂŽte d'Azur, Nice

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Phone: +33 820 42 33 33

Website: www.nice.aeroport.fr

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Public Transport

Buses and trams are an efficient way to travel in Nice and along the Riviera. You can use the same ticket on both bus and tram. Timetables and a map are available from the tourist information office.

Trains are the most comfortable and fastest way to travel along the Riviera. The station in Nice is on Avenue Thier. From here, it takes 20 minutes to Cannes, 20 minutes to Monaco, and 1 hour to Saint Raphaël.

Bicycles can be rented from a company called Nice Allocation Rent. Rollerblades can be rented from the Roller Station.

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Website: www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gares-services/nice

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Taxi

Taxis are available when the taxi lamp on the roof is fully illuminated. There are taxi stations at places like the Hotel MĂ©ridien on the promenade des Anglais. Four people are not always accepted — or are charged extra, and the same applies to luggage.

Uber is available, too.

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Post

Most post offices are open from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 7 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to noon.

Address: La Poste Nice Thiers, Avenue Thiers 2, Nice

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Phone: +33 800 00 36 31

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Pharmacy

Pharmacies are called Pharmacie and are identified by an illuminated green cross. If closed, there is generally a notice on the door with the address of the nearest open pharmacy, day and night.

Address: Pharmacie Riviera, 66 Avenue Jean MĂ©decin, Nice

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Phone: +33 4 93 62 54 44

Website: pharmacie-riviera.fr

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Electricity

220 Volt / 50Hz

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Telephone

Country code: +33
Area code: 493

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