NICE, FRANCE
The French Riviera in Southeastern France stretches along the Mediterranean coastline and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is known for both its striking beaches and gorgeous weather. Of all the cities in this region, Nice is the largest and most popular. Its cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and checkered main square make for a picturesque vacation!
Attractions:
Hike Castle Hill: Talk about an amazing view! Seeing the sun set over the French Riviera is something else! The casual hike up takes about 1 hour, but for those who do not want to hike, there is a lift (located here) that takes you 75% of the way up. From April-September, the park is open from 8:30am-8:00pm. From October-March, it closes at 6:00pm.
Place Masséna: Nice’s famous checkered square, featuring Fountain of the Sun, is always poppin’! It is lined with plenty of cute cafés and bars. You have to visit here for a few hours!
Promenade des Anglais: This iconic French boulevard is perfect for a stroll at any time of day! It is lined with beaches along the Mediterranean and stretches more than 4 miles, connecting the airport to Central Nice.
Day Trip to Monaco: Known for Monte-Carlo Casino and its many yachts, Monaco is a fun place to visit! It is also only 30 minutes from Nice by train or bus. Check out my Monaco travel guide for more information!
Mala Beach: This beach is absolutely stunning! Take the train 15 minutes toward Monaco (€2.90) and get off at “Gare de Cap-d’Ail”. From here, the beach is a short 10-minute walk away. Make sure to bring proper footwear though as it is a bit rocky.
Free Walking Tour: This 2.5-hour, tip-based tour is a great way to acclimate yourself with the city. It picks up near Fountain of the Sun every day at 11:00am. Find more information here!
Other spaces to check out in Nice include: Albert I Garden, Musée Matisse, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC), and Parc Phœnix!
Accommodation:
Hostel Pastoral: A no-frills hostel with a super friendly staff and great outdoor patio. On foot, it is 5 minutes walking from Gare de Nice-Ville, 15 minutes from Place Masséna, and 30 minutes from Gare Routière. Say hi to their pet turtle for me!
Transportation:
Nice’s main train station is Gare de Nice-Ville; all trains below leave from here. The main bus station is Gare Routière; all buses below leave from here.
Monaco is 25 minutes by train from Nice and costs €3.50. The bus ride (#100) is 30 minutes and costs €1.50.
Marseille is 2.5 hours by train from Nice and costs €38. The bus ride is 3 hours and costs €10.
Milan, Italy is 5.5 hours by train from Nice (indirect) and costs €50. The bus ride is 5 hours and costs €25.
Paris is 6 hours by train from Nice and costs €60. The bus ride is 13.5 hours and costs €30.
Florence, Italy is 6.5 hours by train from Nice (indirect) and costs €52. The bus ride is 5.5 hours and costs €42.
Geneva, Switzerland is 8 hours by train from Nice (indirect) and costs €74. The bus ride is 11.5 hours and costs €50.
Brussels, Belgium is 9.5 hours by train from Nice (indirect) and costs €77. The bus ride is 19.5 hours and costs €55.
Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) is 7km (4 miles) southwest of the city center and accessible via tram, bus, and taxi.
Tram Line #2: The ride is 25 minutes and costs €1.50; trams leave roughly every 10 minutes from 5:30am-9:00pm.
Bus Aéroport Direct: The ride is 35 minutes and costs €1.50; buses leave roughly every 20 minutes from 5:00am-9:00pm.
Taxi: The ride is 10-15 minutes and costs €30-€35 depending on the time of day.
