Nice
13 travel tips for a beautiful city by the sea
© Sergii Zinko / Adobe Stock
Nice lies like a necklace on the Côte d’Azur. But while the almost endless beach promenade resembles a catwalk, the small streets behind the harbor are tranquil. Here are our travel tips.
Spend the night
1 Radisson Blu. The main thing is in the first row – the view from the Seaside rooms is gigantic! With a drink on the private terrace, you look down on the boulevard, and the panoramic pool on the roof is also fun. DR/F from 159 euros (223, Promenade des Anglais, Tel. 00 33/497/17 71 77, radissonhotels.com).
2 Le Saint-Paul. Close to the old port next to a fairytale chapel, the former seminary awaits you with spacious, modern rooms – and in turn with a dream view. A There is also a restaurant with a terrace. DR/F from 118 euros (29, Boulevard Franck Pilatte, Tel. 00 33/493/89 39 57, lesaintpaul-hotel.fr).
3 Villa Rivoli. At home with Barbara Kimmig from the Black Forest – her Pavillon de Rivoli, built around the turn of the century, is a charming 26-room house with a secluded garden, just 200 meters from the beach. DR/F from 93 euros (10, Rue de Rivoli, Tel. 00 33/493/88 80 25, villa-rivoli.com).
Enjoy
4 La Vela. On the private beach you can sit under umbrellas at tables with white tablecloths and munch on the sea. beach lounger 26 euros; “Beach Spritz” 12 euros, main courses from 19 euros (58, Promenade des Anglais, lavela-plage.com).
5 Le Plongeoir. The most beautiful summer spot in Nice: the pavilions, flooded with light and air, perch like eagles’ nests on two rocks in the sea. Chef Gregory Melani spoils the guests – among other things – with treasures from the sea. 3-course lunch menu 30 euros. Make a reservation! (60, Boulevard Franck Pilatte, Tel. 00 33/493/26 53 02, leplongeoir.com)
6 Le Safari. It’s most entertaining at lunchtime on Nice’s most popular square under a sea-blue awning when locals and guests shop there. The restaurant specializes in regional dishes: fish soup (18 euros), salade niÇoise (10 euros), a 3-course menu is available for 29 euros (1, Cour Saleya, Tel. 00 33/493/80 18 44, restaurantsafari.fr ).
7 Le Garde-manger des Agitateurs. Cute shop and tearoom near the harbor with pies and little treats to take home – or for now, inside or at the two little tables on the sidewalk. Dish of the day and coffee 18 euros (34, Rue Bonaparte, legardemangerdesagittateurs.com).
Shopping
8 Fragonard. Immerse yourself in Nice’s world of fragrances, soaps, beach dresses, bags and pillows! Started as a perfumery in Grasse in 1926, Fragonard is now a gift oasis (11, Cour Saleya, fragonard.com).
9 Le Peche Mignon. The delicious “Pâtes de Fruits” from the Nice family of confectioners are perfect for putting in: fruit jelly the size of a domino stone with the finest sugar crust (300 g 15 euros; 41, Rue Bonaparte, peche-mignon-nice.com).
10 La Chaise Bleue Collection. The blue chairs belong to the Côte like the sea. Designed by Charles Tordo in 1950, his grandchildren have expanded the blue range – from mugs to beach towels. The workshop, half an hour from Nice, can be visited (Tourrette-Levens, 86, rue Général Tordo, lachaisebleuecollection.com).
Experience
11 cycling around. In Nice you will be spoiled with wide paths, it’s particularly nice to walk along the entire promenade along the sea to Villefranche for swimming (rental bike 14 euros/day; 21, Rue de Rivoli behind the Negresco, rent-bike.fr).
12 Matisse Museum. On Mont Gros you can see a small but fine collection of Henri Matisse’s luminous paintings and then stroll through the gardens of Cimiez to the artist’s grave in the monastery cemetery of Notre Dame de Cimiez. Admission 10 euros, access by bus no.5 from Masséna/Guitry (164, avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, musee-matisse-nice.org).
13 Market Place Cours Saleya. Always a lively meeting place in the old town with a daily flower and fruit market; Flea market is only on Mondays.