Nice

Nice has plenty to offer travelers being the second largest tourist destination in France. It is filled with wonderful hilltop lookouts, restaurants, glamour, tons of scenery, and beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean coast. Sun seekers sip cocktails on parasoled lounges lining its polished pebbled shores and rollerbladers cruise the curved Baie des Anges flanking the promenade. Nice is used as a jumping off point to many of the nearby beach towns of the Cote de Azur. I loved Nice (though not as much as I did some of the nearby cities) but be prepared to spend a lot of money here. Its glitz means few budget options.

Typical Costs

• Hostel Prices: Dorm rooms cost around $27 USD per night while private rooms in hostels begin at $60 USD per night
• Budget Hotel Prices: Nice isn’t a real budget place and the cheapest hotels begin at $107 USD per night.
• Average Cost of Food: Eating out in Nice is expensive. It’s $11-13 USD for starters, $20-17 USD for the main dish, desserts $6-8 USD, and wine $4-9 USD a glass. The supermarkets in Nice provide a cheap source of beer and wine and deli-style food. You can buy groceries for a week for between $40-80 USD. There is always fast food or ready made sandwiches for $7 USD.
• Transportation Costs: Local bus service is available for approximately $2 USD and day passes are available for $5 USD per day.

Top Things to Do

• Promenade des Anglais – A very popular location that is always lively. There are always tourists relaxing along the shore, people rollerblading, biking, walking, and jogging. Vendors are in the background selling the days fresh baked crepes and best of all there are nice restaurants on the beach. You can pay to lounge while they bring you food and drink.
• Visit the Cours Saleya Flower Market – Nice is known for all of its beautiful flowers so this is a market you can’t miss. The market is lined with cafes, shops, and isles and isles of fresh flowers. It is open six days a week except on Monday. On Monday, there is a flea and antique market in its place.
• Matisse Museum – An innovative museum showcasing the works of Henri Matisse. He spent a lot of time in this region and painted many nature scenes. Matisse was a very important impressionist artist and if you like impressionist art, this museum is a must see. You can also buy prints of the artist’s work.
• Le Chateau – You must visit the Chateau for the best panoramic view of the city and the sea. You have the option to take an elevator or hike up the stairs, but it’s a long, long walk.
• The Nice Port – The Nice Port is often forgotten by travelers, but it is definitely worth venturing to. Around the corner from Old Nice and the Quai des Etats Unis, the port is a great spot to watch the Corsica ferries lift off. Also, if you are going to check out the nightlife in this city, the hippest nightclubs are located here.
• Go Cycling – Nice and the surrounding area are a great place to go cycling. There are many tour operators here who will take you to some of the surrounding towns and lookouts or you could just grab a map and go yourself.
• Museum of Asian Art – This museum has an excellent collection of art of Indian, Chinese, southeast Asian, and world influence. The architecture of the building is also quite beautiful—and it is situated on a lake. Admission is free.
• Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art – The MAMAC has four connected tours, each featuring modern and contemporary art. There is a great collection of sculptures, conceptual installations, and paintings. The view from the top is amazing.
• Beaches – If you are wanting to head to the beach, be aware that the public areas consist almost entirely of large flat stones. If fact, the beaches of nice aren’t super nice compared to beaches in the surrounding area. Wear your sandals/shoes and be sure to bring a mat or towel. There are free showers on all beaches, which is also convenient.
• Hiking – Trails start from La Turbie and go high above Monaco and the Grande Corniche. There are a lot of amazing views of the Cote d’Azure from here.
• Vieux Nice – This is the ‘old town’. Below the hill of the main city lies a maze of streets and tight alley was, lined with amazing architecture. There are many boutiques here, as well as, the Cours Saleya—a daily fruit and flower market.

Budget Tips

• Use the tourist office - Stop by the local tourist office for information about special events, free concerts, and art festivals.
• Free fun - Take advantage of all of the free sights including the beach, Viieux Nice, Jardin Albert I (the city’s central park), and the Promenade des Anglais that fills up at night with music and street performers.
• Drink wine - Beer is expensive in Nice and can cost up to $11 USD a glass so stick to the house wine when eating out. Buy beer at the local supermarkets to enjoy at the hostel or hotel before you head to the restaurant.
• Avoid the summer - Nice is ground zero for summer holidays when people flock to the beaches of the region. Prices more than double and if you want to save money, visit in the shoulder months. Skip June-September!

Other Destinations in France