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“Great things never came from comfort zones.” Anonymous

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Located on the French Riviera at the foot of the French Alps, with its mix of real-city grit, old-world opulence, year-round sunshine, vibrant street life and stunning seaside location, no place in France compares with Nice.

From its relaxed yet stylish atmosphere to the many attractive sights it hosts, Nice should be on the bucket list of every traveller visiting the southeast coast of France.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Hotel Suisse, a charming Italian-style 4-star hotel overlooking the blue waters of the Baie des Anges.

The hotel is located in the most desirable area of Nice with one of the best unobstructed views of the sea in the city, across the road from pebble beaches on the busy Promenade des Anglais, and the port on its doorstep.

On a cliff above the hotel, you’ll find the gardens and waterfall of Castle Hill. A five-minute walk will take you to the flower market and the Old Town (Vieux Nice) with its numerous shops and restaurants, while the Opera House and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art are within a 10-minute drive.

I would recommend staying on the 2nd floor as that comes with a spacious balcony. The 3rd and 4th floors have a slightly better view, but the balconies are tiny.

Nice’s most precious gems

The Promenade des Anglais

The promenade stretches for seven kilometers and provides an uninterrupted view of the azure sea and palm trees.

It’s a fantastic route for a leisurely walk or a run accompanied by the fresh breeze and breathtaking views.

The Promenade des Anglais is where the famous Nice Carnival takes place, as well as sporting events, exhibitions, and meetings. There are magnificent parks, museums, fashionable beaches, and, of course, luxury hotels and casinos. One of the most expensive hotels is the Le Negresco hotel, in which Michael Jackson has stayed.

The Castle of Nice (Colline du Chateau)

Castle Hill in Nice (Colline du Château) dominates the city and divides the seaside part of Nice into two: the eastern part with the port, and the western part with the Old Town of Nice. It gets its French name Colline du Chateau due to the remains (very few can still be seen) of a castle which once stood there in the early 1700s.

The castle was was built in Medieval times but unfortunately demolished in 1706 at the request of Louis XIV after it had been handed over to the French a year earlier. Later on, a place for a cemetery was made on the hill, and a large municipal park with a restaurant was built. There are archaeological excavations currently underway in part of the park.

You can get to the top of Castle Hill in Nice either by lift or stairs. I recommend the stairs if you’d like to enjoy a picturesque walk and views over the Promenade des Anglais. The views from the top are breathtaking.

Worth seeing:

• Tour Bellanda historic tower right by the sea
• the artificial waterfall built at the end of the 19th century;
• the panorama of Nice from the observation deck, which is located above the waterfall;
• the ruins of the cathedral in the center;
• the view of the Old Port of Nice on the other side of the hill.

Old Town

This historic part of Nice feels like a medieval village with narrow and shadowed streets curving between old buildings with red-tile roofs, small restaurants, galleries and open-markets.

I would definitely recommend a stroll to let yourself be carried away by the past, which is still very much present there.

Worth seeing:

• The Cathedral of St. Reparata (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate) with the remains of Saint Reparata, the patron saint of Nice, located in the main altar of this 17th-century cathedral.
• Place Rossetti – a small but beautiful square on which Nice Cathedral is located.
• The beautiful False Gate (la Porte Fausse) that leads to the newer part of the city. The passage is lined with marbles, and its ceiling looks like it was decorated with real gold.
• Lascaris Palace – a museum in a former aristocratic villa with a collection of old instruments.

Port of Nice – Lympia

The port is a beautiful place to stroll along next to Castle Hill, surrounded by beautiful Venetian-coloured buildings, mountains rising up in the distance and numerous cafes and restaurants lining the area.

Place Masséna (Massena Square)

Place Massena is Nice’s main square which you cannot afford to miss with its characteristic checkerboard, made of pavement tiles across its entire surface. It is from here that it is worth starting your city tour.

One of the most photographed objects in the square is the Fountain of the Sun which consists of sculptures symbolizing the planets: Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Saturn. In the middle there is a huge statue of Apollo – the sun of this system.

 Nice Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour or the Petit Train 

The Hop-On Hop-Off buses and mini trains are quite a common sight in most European tourist destinations and are a great way to get a quick impression of cities.

Coastline from the sea

There is a plethora of available trips, after all it’s the French Riviera. We decided to do something slightly different to avoid the crowds and opted for a solar private boat, booked with Viator, more detail here. Viator is a fantastic website to browse and book tours.

Guillaume, our tour guide, was incredibly informative, friendly and very accommodating. We really enjoyed the quietness of the boat not disturbed by a soaring engine and I even got to drive it!

Jardin Botanique d’Èze (botanical gardens)

 Jardin Botanique d’Èze (botanical gardens), set in the ruins of a medieval fortress, is a real open-air museum with the statues of Jean-Philippe Richard. You’ll pay a small fee to experience these dynamic gardens with sweeping views of the Mediterranean sea and it is well worth it!

Today the south facing side of the garden features numerous species of succulent plants and xerophytes from all the continents. The north face, with its caves and cascade, shelters plants from the Mediterranean as well as plants from other humid regions.

The garden pathways are dotted with information about Eze’s artistic and historical heritage, giving the visitor a real feel for the past of this exceptional site.

The Enchanting Village of Eze

Èze Village, lying between Nice and Monaco, is basically two villages on two levels. The lowest is Èze-sur-Mer, through which the Nice–Monaco railway line runs. 427 m higher is Èze (Èze-Village).

This medieval village, built on the very top of a hill, is today one of the places on the French Riviera most-visited by tourists. The views from above are so magnificent that they are almost unreal.

A walk through the narrow streets of Èze gives the impression of visiting a castle that has no end. It’s very pleasant to wander around, soaking in the atmosphere and the architecture enthralling with centuries-old stonework, exquisite wrought-iron street lamps everywhere and hints of history abound – in carvings, plaques, and dedications to characters from the past.

The village has two 5-star hotels – the Chèvre d’Or and Chateau Eza, the latter being the former palace of the King of Sweden.

Getting to Eze is a bit of a climb across steps and ancient cobblestones, remarkably well-laid, but do wear comfortable shoes. Eze gets extremely crowded so arriving early is highly recommended.

Nietzsche’s Footpath, a stunning hike

Nietzsche’s Footpath is a stunning hike through an astonishing variety of landscapes that extends from the top of the hill all the way to the coast, Èze-sur-mer. The trail was named after Friedrich Nietzsche, a famous German philosopher who had loved the challenges of avoiding the easier paths of life.

With Nietzsche’s Footpath, you can choose between starting from Èze-sur-mer, the seaside, or from the Jardin Exotique, at the top of the hill. Both directions are approximately 40 minutes long and 2 kilometres in total but keep in mind that the ascending part from the coast to the hill is a little bit more challenging.

Fragonard Perfume Factory

Before you leave Eze be sure to pop into one of the Fragonard boutiques to do a little shopping from their famous selection of fragrances, candles and soaps.

The tour of the perfume factory includes a visit to the cosmetics laboratory where the brand’s creams and other skin care products are made.

The Church of Eze

Built on the foundations of a 12th century church, the neo-classical style church of Eze-Village, from the 18th century, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.
The building was classified as a Historic Monument on December 5, 1984. 

Villefranche sur Me

Villefranche sur Mer is the perched hilltop village of Eze. This beautiful village dates back to the middle ages and clings impressively to the mountainside above the Mediterranean Sea, between St Jean Cap Ferrat and Monaco. Panoramic views

The colorful village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Once a fishing village, Villefranche is bursting with beautiful pastel buildings and narrow streets full of charm. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and a small yet bustling waterfront.

Dining and Wining

Le Plongeoir

There are rare opportunities in life when you can experience a taste that is as good as the view you have in front of you.

Placed on the sea on two separate huge rocks near the docks offering a convivial cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean is famous Le Plongeoir restaurant.

Le Plongeoir feels like a dining scene set in the midst of the ocean and while the restaurant has an upscale vibe, its ambience is very laid-back accompanied by attentive staff and affordable prices.

Address: 60 Bd Franck Pilatte, 06300 Nice, France

La Terrasse

La Terrasse offers breathtaking views of Promenade des Anglais and the Mediterranean Sea at Le Meridien Nice.

Located on the rooftop of Le Méridien Nice hotel, La Terrasse is one of the highest restaurants on La Promenade des Anglais with a relaxed and casual atmosphere.

I really enjoyed the elegant and creative Mediterranean cuisine combined with super fast and attentive service. It was a great start to our adventure in Nice.

Address: 1 Prom. des Anglais, 06000 Nice, France

Drinks at the Negresco bar

Alongside everything else, Nice is also known for its impressive array of wine bars, restaurants and nightlife spots.

I recommend having a drink or two at the Negresco bar located in a magnificent, privately owned Belle Époque palace. The hotel is ideally situated on the seafront promenade overlooking the scenic Bay of Angels on the Mediterranean Sea.

With its authentic walnut woodwork dating back to 1913 and its exceptional 1683 tapestry, the Negresco Bar is a comfy place to enjoy a drink or eat a snack.

From the doormen dressed in the manner of the staff in 18th-century elite bourgeois households rushing to open the door of your car, live music to indulging cocktails inspired by the change of seasons and events, this is the place to be if you want to rub your shoulders with celebrities.

Glacier Fenocchio – recommended by locals

The company has been run by the Fenocchio family since 1966 tickling customers taste buds with a choice of over 90 ice creams and sorbets, from the most classic to the most original to thyme, rosemary, violet, rose, tomato basil and lavender.

I do recommend a visit if you are in Nice!

Address: 2 Pl. Rossetti, 06300 Nice, France

View Points

Castle Hill (La Colline du Château)

Castle Hill (La Colline du Château) is a rocky hill located at the Eastern side of Promenade des Anglais, overlooking Old Nice and its port.

This hill is one of the best places to visit in Nice, and it offers incredible views of Nice.

Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer via Coastal Path

The Coastal Path offers amazing views of the French Riviera coastline as well as Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat.

This trail is great for hiking, running, and walking. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1h 41min to complete and it offers stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.

This route is so picturesque, I couldn’t help but make several stops to snap some photos!

Jardin Botanique d’Èze (botanical gardens)

The panorama from the garden offers one of the most spectacular views of the French Riviera extending all the way to the Esterel Mountains and the Golf of Saint Tropez.

Nice, the capital of the French Riviera, is a beautiful kaleidoscope of history, artists, aristocrats, monarchs, alluring serenity and scenery. Is Nice worth visiting?

Absolutely yes! Whether you visit for the history, beaches, the architecture or the food, you will not be disappointed with all the exciting things to do in Nice!

• PERFECT HOLIDAY – STAY AT SEA SIDE RESORT & SPA IN CRETE GREECE
• ONE OF THE MOST VISITED CITIES IN THE WORLD, EDINBURGH IN TWO DAYS
• BAGS FOR LIFE – AFFORDABLE LUXURY BY TEDDY BLAKE
• SCOTLAND IN 7 DAYS
• STAYING AT LE PETIT PALAIS D’AGLAÉ, SUMPTOUS BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN GORDES

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