French Riviera

After our trip to Paris in June 2016, we became addicted to France. Naturally we jumped on the first opportunity to go back but this time to the capital of French Riviera–Nice. Nice has gorgeous weather and some of the best beaches. If you crave a perfect blend of old-world charm & history with new-gen energy & modern luxury; Nice HAS to be on your bucket-list.

HOW TO GET AROUND

Nice can be easily explored on foot or by local transit. We walked most places but when our feet needed some rest, we hopped on the easily accessible metro. We highly recommend checking bus timings before and after you reach a destination to make sure you are not wasting time waiting for transit.

TOP THINGS TO SEE

• Castle Hill: There is no castle at the top of this hill, however, it has one of the best views overlooking all of Nice. You can either chose to climb the hill, which takes about 15 minutes or you could chose to take a free elevator to the very top of the hill. At the very top, there is also a man-made waterfall, ancient ruins, parks and playing fields. Entrance is free, so be sure to check this spot out.
  • TIP: check their closing times before you leave and also the waterfall shuts off after 5pm.

• St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral: This unusually beautiful cathedral is very interesting. As all churches it is free entry, however, there is a fee if you decide to get a tour. It is located in old town and was easy to get to.
  • TIP: As any church, you are required to wear clothing up to your knees and cover your shoulders out of respect.
• Monment aux Morts: Great monument carved right into the mountain for those who passed during WW1. Grand and impressive.
• Promenade des Anglais: If you love long walks by the beach, this promenade will not disappoint. It curves almost five miles around the Bay of Angels and is a delightful stretch with lots of tourists.
• Old town: Le Vieux Nice, literally the Old Nice, is the oldest part of the city and has a maze of streets with never-ending amount of markets and tiny shops selling everything you could imagine.
  • TIP: If you are a shoe lover like Mani, this is a must visit. Lots of Italian leather shoes at very reasonable prices.

OUR STAYS

Airbnb: We decided to do an Airbnb close to the beach. Our apartment was beautiful with walking distances to all the attractions and shopping. We were on a street surrounded with small local cafes and restaurants. If you want to opt to be close to the beach there are lots of hotels right on the promenade. A hotel to definitely check out was Hotel Le Negresco. The hotel holds world class paintings and sculptures and is located right on the promenade.

OUR ITINERARY: 4 DAYS

Day 1: Relax by the beach, Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill, Monument aux Morts
Day 2: Old town, St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral and Beach
Day 3: Day trip to Eze and Monaco
With trains and buses running everywhere it is easy to explore the French Riveira from Nice. We decided to do a day trip to Eze and Monaco on our third day. Eze-le-Village is pleasant to wander but it’s really the incredibly scenic bus journey high over the coast that makes it a worthwhile excursion. In Eze, there is Jardin Exotique which has amazing views. The plants are mainly cactus but there is a Mediterranean garden and a grotto….
Eze is on the way to Monaco from Nice and hence both of these can be seen all together in one day. Monaco is famous for the Prince’s Palace in old Monaco and glamorous Monte Carlo casino.
Day 4:Menton
On the last day we decided to explore the last city on the French Riviera, Menton. It is approximately a 30 minute train ride from Nice. Round trip from Nice is about 10 euros. Menton is less crowded and has a lot to offer. The old town area is quite charming with lots of winding streets and alleys, beautiful old buildings. Few things to see here are the main church, the Basilique Saint Michel and the Old Chateau Cemetery.

WHEN IN NICE

DO walk the promenade
DO take the time to lay and relax on the beach
DO a day trip to Eze
DO go shopping in the local markets
DO acquire a taste for red and white wine before going