Nice
Overview
You'll be bowled over by the beautiful sea views from Nice's beachfront Promenade des Anglais. Feel the sun on your face as you wander the lanes and explore the flower market, bars and restaurants of picturesque Old Nice. There's plenty of window-shopping along busy city-centre avenues. Make your way to two or three famous art museums like the Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum) – and save the others for your next visit.
Background
You'll sense something fascinatingly different about Nice. That's because, until 1860, it was in Italy, which you can tell from the Italianate architecture of Old Nice. The Queen of the French Riviera, as Nice is known, dates back thousands of years. The city's flair and sophistication comes from the 19th century, however, when English villa owners created a grand waterfront promenade and Belle Èpoque hotels along it. Behind the Promenade des Anglais lie the parks, museums and shopping streets of the modern city centre.
First-time visit
Walk along the iconic Promenade des Anglais with its mimosa flowers and admire sea views to one side, and grand hotels on the other. Just as important, explore the atmospheric lanes of Old Nice, Le Vieux Nice to locals, looking for bright Provençal fabrics and herb-fragrant souvenirs. Take time to visit the Chagall and Matisse Museums. After all that, enjoy the fresh flavours of tuna, eggs, anchovy, olives, beans and potatoes in a salade Niçoise. Stewed tomato, courgette and pepper ratatouille and fresh fish are other local favourites, all washed down with crisp local rosé wine.
Return visit
That hill at the end of the Promenade des Anglais is called Le Château. If you've never been up before, don't miss the lovely leisure park around an ancient site at its summit, with stunning views over the beach and lively, picturesque port. Time to discover more of the great art museums of Nice, perhaps the brilliant Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC) or the prestigious Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum).
airports
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport
Essentials
France's second largest airport, Nice Airport transports more than 10 million passengers per year from its two terminals to 80 worldwide destinations. Located close to the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, it's a 15-minute drive into central Nice.
Airport Facts
- Airport code
- NCE
- Airport website
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport website
- Airport tel
- +33 (0) 4 898 898 28
- No. of terminals
- Two
- Distance from city centre
- 5 km (3 miles) west of Nice.
- Transport between terminals
- A free shuttle bus links Terminals 1 and 2 (allow around 10 minutes for transfer).
- Airport parking
- There are car parks at both terminals including short-stay and long-stay, secure and low-cost parking options.
- Time zone
- +1 (+2 in British summertime)
Top events
Book experiences
- Favourites
- Delicious
- Facebook
- Windows Live
- Digg
- Google
- MySpace
- Yahoo
More bookmarks- StumbleUpon
- Technorati
- Blinklist
- Ask
- Furl
- Newsvine
- Reddit
- Fark
- Propeller
What are these?