Summers in Nice are warm (and sometimes even hot) and winters are frost-free. There are no sharp fluctuations in temperature throughout the year, so the pearl of the French Riviera is a good idea for traveling in any season.
Nice is a city with a rich history. In ancient times these lands were inhabited by the Celts, the Greeks founded a settlement here and named it after the goddess Nikaia (Nicaea). In 154 BC. Nikaia was conquered by the Romans and became part of the Roman Empire. In the following centuries Nice was under the rule of the Lombards, Franks, Savoyards, and in 1860, during the reign of Napoleon III, it was finally taken over by France.
Nice became a popular resort for European aristocrats and rich tourists back in the XIX century. British aristocrats were the first to visit the resort, and Nice was recognized as a resort where you can wait out both cold winters and hot summers. In October 1852, the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna arrived here. For the Russian court in the city were built palaces and houses, very quickly in Nice found real estate many Russian aristocrats, and in 1912 on the money of Nicholas II built a Russian cathedral, which is still working. By the beginning of the First World War Nice was already «Russian», and after the revolution in Russia the number of Russian diaspora almost doubled.
Nice sights
Modern Nice is one of the largest cities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and one of the main tourist centers of France, here is the third busiest airport in the country. Although in fact the city is compact and small in number — about 350 thousand locals.
Nice Ville’s main train station is a short walk from the Promenade des Anglais. The main bus station, Gare Routiere, is about 2 km from the Old Town and has a streetcar to the city.
From the point of view of tourism, the city is conventionally divided into three parts:
- Old Town (Vieux Nice). It was founded in 350 BC.
- Promenade des Anglais (Promenade des Anglais). Its construction began in the early 19th century.
- New Town (the commercial center of Nice). Its construction began in the 1820s and continued until the early 20th century.
The main attractions of Nice, interesting for tourists, are concentrated in the Old Town and on the Promenade des Anglais.
Place Masséna (Place Masséna)
The main square and the heart of Nice is the square named after André Massena, Napoleon’s general and a famous native of Nice. The square used to be the site of a bridge over the Payon River, connecting the Old Town with the New Town.
The main object in Place Massena is seven figures placed on high columns: they symbolize the seven continents and are illuminated in different colors in the evenings.
During the summer, the Place Massena hosts street performers, cultural events and festivals, concerts and celebrations. It also hosts New Year’s Eve celebrations and a Christmas fair in December. Around Place Massena there are stores, restaurants, cafes, green areas and parks. It is one of the main meeting places for tourists and citizens alike.
Vieux Nice
The historic city center stretches from Place Massena to the castle hill. It is bordered by the sea to the south and the Promenade du Paillon to the north.
The Old Town can be roughly divided into two main parts. The eastern part is a labyrinth of narrow streets with colorful tenement houses. Here is located the Catholic Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate). The Baroque building is similar to Italian churches in its appearance, as the cathedral was modeled on the Italian church of St. Susanna.
St. Reparata was a Christian girl who died for her faith at the age of 15 at the hands of the Romans. According to legend, she was beheaded and her body was sent in a boat to sail the Mediterranean Sea so that her relatives could never bury her. However, angels nailed the boat with the body of the martyr to the shores of Nice. The repartee found rest in Nice, and the bay was named the Bay of Angels.
The Cathedral of St. Reparata is built in the shape of a Latin cross. The dome, covered with colored lacquer tiles, echoes in color.
Hours of operation of the Cathedral of St. Reparata:
- Monday through Friday — 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m;
- Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m;
- Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
One of the most important museums in Nice, the Palais Lascaris, is located in the Old Town on Rue Droite, near the coast. It is a monument of architecture of XVII century, built for Marshal Jean-Baptiste Lascari. Nowadays it houses a museum of musical instruments, antique furniture and art objects.
- Mode of work: every day, except Tuesday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Cost: 10 € (with a guided tour), children under 18 years old — admission is free.
In the western part of the Old Town there is an opera house (Opéra de Nice Côte) and the famous market Cours Saleya (Cours Saleya), which is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 to 17:30, on Sunday — until 13:30. Here you can buy fresh produce, grab a quick bite to eat and try the local chickpea flour pancakes — socca.
There are four different markets in Cours Saleya. The most famous is the Flower Market (Marché aux Fleurs). It is a real bright oasis in the middle of the city, flowers have been sold here since 1808. On Sundays, bird vendors come to the market and the market becomes not only a flower market, but also a bird market.
Opposite the opera house, don’t miss the famous Maison Auer pastry store, which dates back to 1820 and still uses traditional recipes, handmade products and natural ingredients.
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum)
The museum in the center of Nice, opened in 1990, houses about 1300 artworks and is one of the largest contemporary art museums in France. It presents works of art created from the late 19th century to the present day. In the museum you can see works by Henri Matisse, Henri Leclerc, Georges Brassens and other famous artists. The museum building itself is already modern art.
The museum holds temporary exhibitions that are regularly updated. This allows visitors to discover new works of art every time. In addition, the museum organizes various events: lectures, master classes and concerts.
- Working hours: daily from 11:00 to 18:00. Monday is a day off.
- Admission: 10 €. Entrance for children under 18 years of age is free of charge.
- Museum website
Promenade des Anglais (Promenade des Anglais)
The famous promenade of Nice, about 7 km long along the city beach, owes its name to the British tourists to Nice. English aristocrats fell in love with the city back in the XVIII century because of the local climate. Back then, the seashore was still wild and stony. For the lords and their spouses to rest in comfort, a seaside promenade was built — it was named in their honor. The historic hotels built for the English aristocracy still stand along the seafront.
Walking along the Promenade des Anglais, you will see palm trees and azure sea (really azure on sunny days) on one side and hotels on the other. The western side of the promenade is dominated by modern buildings, new residential buildings with supermarkets on the first floors, and office space. The closer to the harbor, the more elegant the buildings. One of the most picturesque hotels is the Hotel Le Negresco with its palatial architecture. It is named after Henri Negresco, a Romanian hotelier who built the establishment in 1912. The pink dome of the building was forged in the workshop of Gustave Eiffel, and under it is a 4-meter-high crystal chandelier, the work of the French Baccarat manufactory. There were only two such chandeliers, and the second, made for Nicholas II, hangs in the Kremlin. The hotel, where Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway and Hollywood stars stayed, has preserved the interiors of the Belle Epoque. The cost of a room for two in low season — from 350 € without breakfast, in high season — from 600 €, for New Year’s Eve — from 1200 €.
The city beach itself is rocky and pebbly. It is a narrow strip about 100 meters wide, covered with a mixture of fine gravel and coarse pebbles.
Castle Mountain (Colline du Château)
A high hill rises above the curve of the Promenade des Anglais and the Old Port, which divides the seaside part of the city into two parts: the eastern port and the western part with the Old Town. The Castle Hill, at 92 meters above sea level, offers views in all directions. It is here that most of the photos showing the panoramas of Nice are taken.
Castle Hill can be accessed via a path, stairs or a free elevator. At the top there are ruins of defense walls, an artificial waterfall, a children’s playground and a small café.
Where to stay in Nice?
Nice from May to September turns into a resort crowded with tourists. It is therefore not easy to find accommodation in this city during the warmest months and the holiday season, so you should start looking for accommodation well in advance. Then you have a chance to find a well-rated accommodation at a lower price.
The most tourist-friendly areas are the Old Town (Vieux Nice) or Promenade des Anglais.
- Best Western Lakmi hotel — convenient location — 5 minutes to the train station on foot, 10 minutes to the Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town. Room for two persons costs from 164 €.
- Hôtel & Appartements Monsigny — the hotel is located next to the train station (5 minutes on foot). A room for two persons costs from 122 €.
- Boscolo Nice Hôtel & Spa 5* — convenient location — 3 minutes walk to the sea and 5 minutes to the Old Town. Room for two persons costs from 218 €.
