When I think of the French Riviera, I think blue and white striped umbrellas, over-sized sun hats, white wine, glistening water, and a touch of class embedded in every crevice. That being said, it’s no surprise I chose Nice as my ‘base’ along the French Riviera. Nice epitomizes everything you could ever wish for in terms of glamour, sunshine, and bliss.
I booked an Air Bnb in the middle of town: 5 minute walk from the train station, 15 minute walk to old town, and 20 minute walk to the beach. The room was pretty tiny, but two of us slept fine — you can read my full review of the property here. Keep in mind my accommodation budget for three months in Europe was $30.00 a day.
As previously mentioned, the duration of my time spent along the French Riviera was allocated to rest and relaxation.
I had just spent a month and a half sightseeing in Spain, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Italy without much down time to simply exist. With Eastern Europe on the horizon, my body required a few days to recharge. And what better place to do so than Nice?
The first afternoon in Nice was spent wandering around the old town and walking along the pebble beaches. I must admit that although I preferred Nice as a destination overall, the beaches were seriously lacking in comparison to Cannes. You can read about my beach-heavy days in Cannes here. Don’t get me wrong, they are still stunning — just something I observed after visiting both coastal villages.
The highlight of Nice is it’s extensive promenade.
I got some serious Santa Cruz beach boardwalk vibes as I walked along the paneled walkway. But way classier — it’s France after all. Whether you fancy sitting down for some fresh seafood, or simply want to sip a glass of savy b — you’re set.
I woke up the second day in Nice and found the loveliest place to eat breakfast. Maizon is located near the Mamac Museum, also situated very central in Nice. When I tell you this is the best breakfast spread I enjoyed in France {including Paris}, you betttta listen. It was simple, but spectacular — in a word, french.
The rest of the day included exploring more of the promenade and a walk up Castle Hill. There are two ways to get up to Castle Hill — the obvious stairs or the hidden elevator. I don’t believe the elevator was intentionally hidden from the world, but it’s a bitch to find. That being said, it was worth the hunt.
To find the elevator, begin at the Promenade Des Anglais. When facing the sea, head left and walk all the way down until you reach the word ‘CASTEL’. Basically, walk all the way to the end of the promenade. Before the sharp bend in the promenade, keep left. You will spot orange and yellow buildings, but look for the words ‘Ascenteur de Chateau’. Look for the archways and you will find the elevator. The trip to the top takes just over a minute and totally beats climbing all of the stairs. I opted to take the stairs down {instead of up} and was satisfied with my decision.
For a more extrensive list of things to do in Nice, check out this blog post by The Crazy Tourist. Super bummed I missed out on visiting the Nice Cathedral, not gonna lie!
It was an interesting time to be traveling Europe in 2016.
With multiple terrorist attacks taking place, it had a lot of the world on edge. I’d be lying if I said the attacks didn’t worry me slightly, but they certainly didn’t impact my decision to travel that area of the world.
For instance, I walked past the theater that was bombed in Paris one afternoon, I was stuck on a bus at the Berlin airport when a bomb threat was exposed, and I happened to visit Nice only weeks after the Bastille Day attack. Witnessing these things in person {although after the fact} are memories that I will never forget.
Nice is a great place to base yourself along the French Riviera. An easy day trip from Nice includes taking a 15 minute train ride to Monaco. To live out your James Bond fantasy, visit the Monte Carlo Casino {read about my experience here}.
Renting a car is also a great option along the South of France. The roads are scenic, the towns are nearby to one another, and it allows you to create your own itinerary. I will be sharing my full French Riviera itinerary next on the blog.
Of all of the villages along the South of France, I would love to return to Nice. It captured my heart and left me wanting more.