48 hours in… Nice
Life is beautiful in Nice… The South French city has 350,000 inhabitants. They mainly live in the apartments on the North side of the city. The southern part is much chicer and especially the old town has a lot to offer visitors.
There are various museums, dedicated to great French artists such as Matisse and Chagall, among others. You will find interesting churches such as the Orthodox Russian Cathedral on Avenue Nicolas II. But museums and churches are usually only visited when the weather is bad, and that chance is not so great in Nice.
Promenade des Anglais
It is wonderful to walk along the sea on the 7-kilometer-long Promenade des Anglais. Not only is the bay magnificent, the wonderfully beautiful buildings along the boulevard also recall the time when this was a seaside resort for the elite. Now tourists are amazed by the hundreds of joggers and the virtuoso skaters who flawlessly complete their cone course with bare torsos. Striking in the street scene is the large number of elderly women with one or two small dogs.
Jewish cemetery
A real must-see is the Parc de la Colline du Château, which is located near the harbor. Walking to the top is quite a climb, but the view over the Bay of Nice is worth the effort. In this corner is also the Cimetière du Château, the Jewish cemetery on the hill, perhaps even more special. Every grave is a work of art and you will find mausoleums of famous French artists, scientists and businessmen.
On the East side of the hill is the famous port of Nice. Not only beautiful superyachts are moored here, but there is also space for ordinary beautiful boats. It is nice to stroll around and end the day with a Pastis on one of the many terraces along the harbor.
Shopaholics
Nice is a real city for shopaholics. It is cheaper than neighboring Monaco and just as fashionable. And you will find all exclusive brands with their own stores, but sometimes also shop-in-shops in larger department stores. On Avenue Jean Médecin, all well-known retail chains and major fashion brands are present. Worth a visit is Nicetoile, an exclusive shopping center on this wide shopping street.
On the Cours Saleya there is a fruit market almost every day and on Mondays a flea market is held. There are nice shops everywhere with vintage products and especially many delicious 'comestibles' - refined delicacies. Near the harbor, around Rue Bonaparte, you will find most bars and nightclubs. This neighborhood is also known as a gay-friendly neighborhood.
Specialties
Like every South French city, Nice also has its own specialties. Such as Pan Bagnat, which you should eat at Kiosque TinTin. A Pan Bagnat is a complete vegetable store on a sandwich. Compared to that, a healthy sandwich is just a bland mini-snack. Another Nicoise specialty is the Socca, a kind of pancake, made from ground chickpea flour. You eat them combined with meat or vegetables and the best place to do that is at the Socca Tram on Avenue Alfred Borriglione. This restaurant can be nicely combined with a visit to the Chagall Museum or the Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
For dessert, you can eat a delicious ice cream at Arlequin nearby. Incidentally, in Nice you will find numerous Burgers, Pizzas, Steak Tartare in various forms and Salads on almost every restaurant menu, including the world-famous Salade Nicoise named after Nice.
Sleeping in Nice
Nice has long been known to tourists. At the end of the 18th century, the British elite stayed in this fashionable seaside resort. That is why you can still find stylish classic five-star hotels such as the imposing Negresco and the Palais de la Mediterranee on the Promenade des Anglais. Unfortunately, they are still only affordable for the 'rich and famous'. Hotel Windsor is an artistic family hotel located a few streets behind the expensive Promenade. All rooms are decorated by artists. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is very relaxed.
Public transport
Public transport in Nice is well organized. Trams also run through part of the city. In bus or tram you pay €1 per ride, a day ticket costs €5 and you can also buy a ten-ride ticket for €9. Another popular means of transport is the velo bleu, the blue rental bikes that you can find in many places and that you can return at all those places throughout the city. Renting a scooter costs €48 per day at the harbor, including helmet and gloves.
Parking in Nice is a nightmare, because there are far too few places for all cars. There are parking garages, but parking there is by no means cheap.
Campsites in Nice
Camping Domaine du Colombier
Five-star family campsite on the French Riviera, 4.5 kilometers from the sea, 65 km from Nice. Luxury facilities including a subtropical water paradise with heated water, slides, a rapids, islands and beaches. Extensive wellness, a soundproof disco and an extensive animation program.
Address: Rue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord 1052, F-83600 Fréjus
More information at: www.domaine-du-colombier.com
Camping Esterel Caravaning
This five-star campsite is located 3 kilometers from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur and 75 kilometers from Nice. The campsite has no less than six swimming pools, one of which is covered. Many sports facilities, crèche, restaurant, bar, snack bar, supermarket and disco. Wellness with massages and beauty treatments. For teenagers there is the 'teenagers club'.
Address: Avenue des Golfs, F-83530 Agay
More information at: www.esterel-caravaning.nl
Camping Le Val Fleuri
Small family campsite with terraced pitches. The campsite has a playground, heated outdoor swimming pool and a paddling pool. Furthermore, the campsite has a park-like layout, with beautiful pitches in the shade of trees. The campsite is 14 km from Nice.
Address: Chemin du Vallon des Vaux 139, F-06800 Cagnes sur Mer
More information at: www.campingvalfleuri.fr
Large selection of campers and caravans
Looking for a motorhome or caravan to explore Nice? Our website offers a large and up-to-date selection of motorhomes and caravans.View the offer here
