Quite frankly, Nice is just well… nice. It’s basically the middle child of the French Riviera. Not quite as flashy as Monte Carlo, or as charming as St Tropez, Nice is more the commercial and tourist centre of the Côte d'Azur and it certainly feels like it. Perhaps it's the continual influx of tourists into the town centre, but the first impression you get when arriving into the town centre is a certain taste of tackiness. From the abundance of fast food chains (a no-no in other parts of France) to the cheap stores that line the main boulevard, this is not the impression you’re supposed to get from one of the main towns of the Côte d'Azur.
The town certainly has its quirks and beyond the main drag is where the city’s real charms show themselves. There is of course the pebble beach, which, for any Australian visiting is more a novelty than anything else. The problem is not the beach itself, but trying to get out of the water with rocks jabbing at your feet certainly doesn't make it easy. Heading just a couple of blocks east of the main boulevard (Avenue Jean Médecin) and one finds themselves in charmingly narrow streets and laneways that wind their way up and down the hilly terrain. These hills lead up to Castle Hill, which provide the highest and most beautiful views of Nice and the surrounding coastline. It is only from up here that you realized just how big Nice actually is, with the city extending vastly inland up into the north.
On a sunny weekend day, there is nothing better than living the French dream by taking a stroll along the older part of the city where numerous cafés and patisseries line the streets as well as the food markets where exquisitely grown fruits and vegetables prove that once again, the French know a thing or two about food. Giant strawberries, succulent melons and all types of fruit representing every colour spectrum of the rainbow adorn each vendor’s table, and provide a feast for both your eyes and tastebuds.
Because it is not as flash as some of the other cities in the Côte d'Azur, Nice is the idea place to stay as it is cheaper than say Monte Carlo or St Tropez and thus saves you a bit of cash to spend elsewhere in the expensive French Riviera.
Getting Here:
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport: serves flights from all over Europe and is the main airport serving all the Côte d'Azur cities. If you so happen to be lucky enough, private jet parking is also in abundance.
- TGV trains arrive from all parts of France and Italy frequently.
- Cruise ships dock in nearby Monaco and Nice is connected by both bus and train to the city-state for those looking to go on a day trip.
