Nice Côte d'Azur, France

With an international airport and the fast train from Paris, Nice is the first experience of the renowned Côte d'Azur for many tourists. The city was established by the Greeks and named for Nike, goddess of victory, but the Romans started the tourism industry here when they popularised their mineral baths on Cimiez. British and Russian aristocrats favoured Nice in the 19th century, but today it is more of a commercial centre and is not as fashionable as its smaller neighbouring resorts, such as Cannes or St Tropez. Nice still has excellent connections, but these are in the mode of transport options rather than the pedigree of its visitors.



In spite of modernization, the city retains its medieval heritage in the atmospheric Vieille Ville (old town), with its closely packed red-tiled roofs and narrow winding streets packed with shops, bars and fabulous restaurants. Next door, the famous Cours Saleya flower and food market has scores of stands, from large, professionally displayed wares to folding tables set up by family farmers with their produce directly from the farm.



Separating the Cours Saleya from the sea is a strip of low buildings. Once the repository for the fishermen's catch, they have given way largely to popular seafood restaurants, while the other side of the Cours Saleya is lined by terrace cafés in lovely old buildings.



Nice's shingle beaches occasionally disappoint visitors anticipating a classic, white sand beach holiday, but this does not mean the beaches stay empty; during summer the bright blue sea, sunshine and beautiful surroundings draw thousands of holidaymakers to this French Riviera city. The Promenade des Anglais lines the shingle beaches for about five miles (8 km) and has been a favourite for leisurely strolls since Victorian times.

Nice Attractions There is plenty to see and do in Nice and this charming French Riviera city never quite goes out of fashion. Although there are many sightseeing attractions in Nice, there are also lots of lovely places to stroll the day away: the famous seaside promenade, the Promenade des Anglais, is a good place to start; the Parc du Chateau, on Castle Hill, has beautiful grounds, some interesting ruins, and stunning views of the city; Vieux Nice, the old town, has plentiful cobbled alleys, grand squares and quaint shops. If you have an interest in flora and fauna be sure to visit the Phoenix Parc Floral de Nice which is a vast botanical garden just outside the city which features numerous animal and plant habitats and collections. Nice also has some world-class museums including the popular Marc Chagall Museum, which captures the dreamlike quality of his work, the Musee Matisse, located near where the artist once lived, and the Musee des Beaux-Arts Jules Cheret, which includes works by Rude and Rodin among others. The Theatre de la Photographie et de l'Image is a gem for lovers of photography and showcases wonderful exhibitions with universal appeal. Nice is a good base from which to explore the coast and there are many charming villages nearby, like Antibes, which makes for a great excursion from Nice and boasts an excellent Picasso museum in its 16th century seafront chateau. Antibes also has a lovely coastal market; however, if you are looking for the colourful bustle of a French marketplace you can do no better than the Cours Saleya Food and Flower Market in Nice itself. Musee Matisse Renowned artist Henri Matisse spent a good portion of his life in Nice, living in the city from 1918 until 1954, and he is honoured by this museum. The Musée Matisse has several permanent collections, mostly painted in Nice and many donated by the...  see full details The Château de Nice The Chateau de Nice was built in the 11th century on a hilly area for military purposes. It is located in Vieux Nice and features on most sightseeing tours of Nice but the fortress itself is long gone and only some ruins remain....  see full details Phoenix Parc Floral de Nice Just outside of Nice, near the airport, this vast tourist attraction includes a botanical garden and numerous animals, among other things. 2,500 species of plant are collected in the Phoenix Parc Floral and some of them are very rare; the tropical greenhouse is one...  see full details Musee des Beaux-Arts Jules Cheret Housed in the former residence of the Ukrainian Princess Kotchubey is a fine collection of 19th and 20th century art, including works by Boudin, Ziem, Raffaelli, Renoir and Monet. The Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret gallery includes great sculptures as well as paintings, including...  see full details Cimiez The Monastery of Cimiez, which includes a church, a cemetery and a convent where some Franciscan friars still live, is located in a residential area in the hills above the hustle and bustle of the city. The convent houses the Musee Franciscain which...  see full details Cours Saleya Food and Flower Market Nice's most famous market area, the Cours Saleya, bustles with activity every day and is a riot of colour and fresh smells. Cours Saleya is the famous promenade in the southwest of Vieux Nice. A wonderful attraction for visitors, and beloved by locals,...  see full details Marc Chagall Museum Celebrated modernist artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985), though born in the Soviet Union, spent much of his career in France. The Marc Chagall Museum in Nice has the largest permanent collection of his works, including his Biblical Message Cycle, comprising 17 large-scale paintings depicting scenes...  see full details St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral Nice and the French Riviera were fashionable holiday resorts for Russian nobility in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to a close relationship between the regions that culminated in the rose-pink Russian Orthodox Cathedral, one of the most beautiful buildings in Nice....  see full details Nice Events Nice Carnival The main winter event on the French Riviera and one of the major carnivals in the world, the Nice Carnival brings the city to life with a series of flower parades, float processions, fireworks and concerts every year. The float procession is one...  see full details Transport Nice city centre is small enough to get around on foot. Buses form the main form of public transport and cover most of the city until midnight. The Sunbus is a popular tourist service, running daily to popular tourist destinations within Nice. Tickets can be purchased from a local café or tabac. Nice by Bus passes are also available for one, five or seven days including a trip to the airport. Taxis are not a popular means of transport, as they are known to overcharge tourists and are difficult to flag down. The central train station takes commuters to other towns along the Riviera such as Antibes, Cannes, Monaco and more.