Nice: A city for all seasons

The city offers so many different panoramic views. One of my favorites is the way the Alps plunge into the Mediterranean as seen from the northern most tip of the Promenade. Another great view is looking out over the harbor and Old Town from the chateau on the hill. Two very different vistas! As for the water, there are so many shades of blue, you can't begin to comprehend it until you see the sun sparkling off the water and changing colors right before your eyes. The blue sky meets the blue of the water meets the pewter blue pebbles of the beach.

While the rocky beach is a bit shocking at first, I came to really appreciate not leaving with a bag/shoes full of sand every time I went to the beach. It is also beneficial in that the water stays impeccably clear because there isn't a lot of sand being churned up with the waves. Just buy a cheap beach mat from any market or shop and lay a towel down on top of it, or just go to one of the resorts and pay to rent a lounge chair for the day!

Quick Tips:

If it is your first time in Nice, I highly recommend getting a map and just walking all over the place the first day or two. Orient yourself and then plan to spend a bit of time in each section of town.

Best Way To Get Around:

It is easy to fly into Nice using EasyJet or one of the discount airlines from London or Paris. Directly from the US, it's not so cheap. Once you are there, the public transportation is relatively easy, even if you don't speak French (just do your homework about how the fares work). It's a cinch if you just take the bus along the road that follows the Promenade. The bay is a lot longer than a lot of people expect. It is a few miles in length.

A shuttle into the city center leaves the airport regularly and costs about each way. This is probably the cheapest way to get into the heart of it all. Quite frankly, I suggest just walking everywhere, but take bottled water with you! It's hot!

The Beau Rivage has the most modern amenities and perfect location. The rooms are spacious and minimialist. The bathrooms are quite posh. The hotel has its own private beach, at which anyone can rent beach chairs for $10/day. They have a seaside restaurant and bar open to the public. I lived in Nice for a while and had many good meals here.

This museum is good for history buffs and garden-lovers alike. It is WAY off-off-the-beaten path for the average visitor, but if you are in the mood for a dose of culture, hop a bus or put on your hiking shoes and head inland. The Franciscans built this monastery in the early 16th century. Its small museum showcases the Franciscan way of life from the 18th century to modern day. The church displays over 300 documents and works of art, including three of the most important works from the medieval artist Louis Bréa. Don't miss the tombstone of Henri Matisse, who is buried in the Cimiez Cemetery and whose museum is just around the corner. The monastery grounds contain a magnificent rose garden and breathtaking views across Nice toward the sea.

Nice has amazing public art all over the city. Just keep your eyes open for it. While some works are completely obvious, like the Arc in Place Massena and the violin sculptures outside the Acropolis (convention center), others are not. Mobiles by Alexander Caulder are located outside the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain. Monumental architectural sculpture by Latvian artist Sacha Sosno can be found throughout the city. If you aren't staying at the Sheraton Elysee Palace, wander by to have a look at Sosno's gigantic broze Venus keeping watch over the hotel! It is unbelievable!

The Museum of Fine Arts is well worth the 4-euro admission. It has a particularly strong collection of 17th-century Italian art and post-Impressionism. It houses many major works by Raoul Dufy and Van Dongen, too. It's a little off-the-beaten-path but well worth the effort to find this beautiful private home.

Take a wander through Nice's Old Town and see the sights and smell the smells that have been filling the narrow medieval streets for hundreds of years. Several boutiques, the opera, churches, and other ancient buildings line Rue Saint François de Paule, Rue Jules Gilly, and Rue Droite. Some points of interest are the PALAIS de JUSTICE, PLACE ROSSETTI, and PLACE GARIBALDI.