Blog, France, Nice

Nice travel guide

The capital of the French Riviera is the perfect holiday destination for relaxing by the seaside and eating good food. It’s also an artistic city, and though a lot of the city is old, it has a modern and exciting vibe.

Castle Hill

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The hill is the best place to head for spectacular views of Nice. It’s a lovely walk up to the top, but if you don’t feel like it, there’s an elevator to the top. At the top, there’s a children’s playground, a mosaic path and an archaeological dig, so there’s plenty to occupy you when you reach the top.

Old Town

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The Old Town is one of Nice’s most vibrant places, and can’t be missed out. It’s a collection of Baroque churches, little shops and restaurants. Many people go just to sample the ice cream, but there are also plenty of beautiful buildings to see. It also has a gorgeous flower market.

Promenade des Anglais

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The promenade runs along the Baie des Anges, and is the perfect place for a walk. If you fancy it, there are also bikes, scooters and skates for hire, so you can take the whole family on a fun activity.

Blue Beach

This private beach is one of the best in Nice. There’s a centre which provides opportunity for trying out water sports, but it’s fun to watch from the beach even if you don’t participate. There’s a restaurant that serves lunch and drinks until early evening, so you don’t have to go traipsing to find shops for sustenance. It’s the perfect place to relax.

Musee National Marc Chagall

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Art lovers mustn’t miss this gallery. Nice is known for being a home to many artists, and Marc Chagall’s exhibition is one of the best. The Russian artist specialises in Old-Testament art, and the exhibition holds twelve huge pieces of art inspired by Genesis and Exodus. Nice also has a Matisse art gallery which is worth visiting.

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

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This beautiful cathedral looks as though it’s just come out of a fairytale. It was opened in 1912 to serve the Russian community who had settled in Nice, and in memory of Nicholas Alexandrovich, who was Russian royalty. For those with an interest in churches, it can’t be missed.

Port Lympia

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It’s one of Nice’s lesser known attractions, but also one of the most beautiful. The walk to get to it and the surrounding area is stunning, and it’s surrounded by Venetian style houses. To reach it, pass the quai Rauba Capeu, where the ‘Monument of the Dead’ stands. It honours the four thousand locals who fought and died in World War One.

Jardin du Monastere de Cimiez

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The monastery has been used by monks since 1546. The church contains beautiful medieval paintings by local artist, Ludovico Brea, and there’s also a museum, containing over three hundred historical artefacts and documents. In the cemetery renowned artist, Henri Matisse, is buried, as well as the 1937 Nobel Prize winner for literature. Then, of course, there are the gorgeous gardens surrounding the home of so much history.

Images [1], [2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7]