Old-world opulence, year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and amazing food - not for nothing do four million tourists head to Nice every year. It’s got everything – mountains, the seaside, parks, a medieval Old Town, fashionable boutiques, excellent food and a thriving art scene.
Heavenly views and a Bay of Angels
Nice is famous for its clear air and soft light, which brings out the mesmerising azure of the sea. The light inspired painters including Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse, and the city houses several art museums displaying their work. The city became popular with the English upper classes in the 18th century and the stunning seaside promenade along the Bay of Angels is known as the Promenade des Anglais.
You can fly into Nice airport, one of the busiest in France, from at least a dozen UK airports. You could alternatively get the Eurostar to Paris and take a TGV if you'd rather enjoy the scenic route onto the continent.
Top 5 sights in Nice
- Walk up to Castle Hill for a beautiful view of the city and the Bay of Angels, and stop for a picnic - there’s a playground, a café and plenty of benches
- Explore the medieval Old Town and discover the markets and little restaurants hiding in its narrow streets
- Visit the Phoenix Parc Floral. This seven-hectare park is home to more than 2,500 species of plants, a 7,000-square-metre greenhouse housing tropical vegetation, and animals ranging from macaws and wallabies to tarantulas and iguanas
- Visit the flower market in the Cours Saleya (every day except Monday)
- Take a stroll along the waterfront on the Promenade des Anglais
Top 5 Nice indoor activities
- Musee des Beaux-Arts - The former home of a Ukranian princess and home to Rodin’s sculpture The Kiss
- Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas - This brightly-coloured, domed edifice is one of the most striking examples of Russian Orthodox architecture outside Russia
- Musee Matisse - Photographs and objects from the artist’s personal collection sit alongside hundreds of his paintings, drawings, engravings and sculptures
- Musee d’Art et d’Histoire Palais Massena - A beautiful Belle Epoque building which tells the history of Nice, and houses interesting objects including Napoleon’s coronation robe.
- Train des Pignes - This narrow-gauge railway takes you on a beautiful trip through some of Provence’s most picturesque countryside