Nice isn’t just a city made for roaming the Riviera, it’s also a place crammed with culture, fine French food and beautiful churches and squares. Embrace the art and architecture one day, then soak up the sun and people-watch the next.
The vital Vieux
Vieux Nice is the city’s Old Town and a warren of winding streets, many bedecked with scented flowers – and most of them painted with pastel shades made for this kind of glorious weather. Visitors love it, but it still feels authentic – a place where the locals go about their lives and meet for coffee outside a café.
The centrepiece is Cours Saleya market, which combines antique, flea, flower and food stalls, depending on the day. Tick off some of Nice’s most splendid sights here too, such as Cathédrale Sainte Reparate, the beautiful baroque of Chapelle de la Miséricorde and the 17th-century Palais Lascaris. If you’re here in summer, you can choose from the almost 100 flavours of ice cream, many of them quite unusual, at the legendary Fenocchio’s.
A day at the beach
Nice boasts idyllic beaches: some popular with locals, others thronged with visitors, some with pebbles, and others with sand. On a warm, sunny day, your first choice is which you’ll opt for.
You could head to Plage Beau Rivage, where you can hire sun loungers, indulge in a cocktail (if you’re done driving for the day) and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere. There’s a similar vibe at Florida Plage next to Promenade des Anglais, with parties galore. If you’re in the mood for something more relaxing however, head for Coco Beach or the charming shores of Villefranche-Sur-Mer, a sweet neighbouring town.
Matisse and more
Away from those bronzing themselves by the sea, you can ascend Cimiez Hill and explore Musée Matisse, which boasts one of the finest collections dedicated by the great eponymous artist. There are paintings, sculptures and more drawn from a wide period of time, a fitting dedication to one of France’s greatest creative minds. You can also visit Matisse’s grave in the Monastere Notre Dame de Cimiez opposite, and take a stroll in the gardens.
This is a fine area to wander off the beaten track, with remarkable Roman remains and a general opulence to this upmarket part of the city. At the Musée Archeologie you’ll find ancient baths and an amphitheatre, while art lovers can get even more of a fix at the Musée Chagall. It’s an excellent area to dine too, with views of the town below and the sea beyond.
With car hire in Nice you can explore all of the city’s wonderful neighbourhoods, before heading out to roam the Riviera.