Nice has a azure sea, a kind climate, unbeatable wine and food, exciting nightlife, art, views and ice cream the flavor of flowers. Whether you want history, fashion, fun, beaches, day trips or culture, Nice is more than nice.
Day 1: Discovering Nice
Start the day in Vieux Nice, the old town, at the Parc du Chateau. Enjoy views of Nice and the coast over coffee and croissants. Follow the narrow streets down to the food and flower market near the beachfront, stopping in at Cathédrale Ste-Réparate and the Eglise du Jésus St-Jacques Le Majeur with its yellow and blue-grey Baroque exterior. Take a traditional stroll along the beachfront promenade des Anglais or enjoy the sun on the pebbly beach. Avenue Jean Medecin is the main shopping strip and nearby Place Massena is a lovely public square. At night, the old town has the pick of restaurants and bars.
Day 2: Art and Beauty
Nice bursts at the seams with cultural riches. Begin at the striking Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, home to Warhol, Christo and many French artists. The Musée des Beaux-Arts boasts names like Rodin, Dufy and Sisley. Other must-sees include Marc Chagall Museum and the Musée Matisse in the Cimiez district. Nearby lie ancient Roman ruins at the Musée et Site Archéologigues. Matisse's magnificent Rosaire Chapel is located near Nice in Vence, and the Musée Picasso, in Antibes, is in a wonderful small castle overlooking the sea.
Day 3: French Riviera Day Trips from Nice
Take in the French Riviera by driving the stunning coastal road known as the Corniche. Visit the tiny principality of Monaco and the casinos and yachts of Monte Carlo. Return via Eze, a pretty medieval village perched high on a hilltop. Spend a day millionaire-watching in iconic St. Tropez. Take a boat cruise along the coast, soak in the movie-star glamor of Cannes, enjoy the fishing village atmosphere of Antibes, explore the lavender-infused Provence surrounding Saint Paul de Vence, or go shopping in an Italian market.
