Riviera queen Nice is what good living is all about – shimmering shores, the very best of Mediterranean food, a unique historical heritage, free museums, a charming Old Town, exceptional art and alpine wilderness within an hour's drive.
Vieux NiceHISTORIC QUARTER
Nice’s old town, a mellow-hued rabbit warren, has scarcely changed since the 1700s. Retracing its history – and therefore that of the city – is a highlight, although you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy a stroll in this atmospheric quarter. Vieux Nice is as alive and prominent today as it ever was.
Promenade des AnglaisARCHITECTURE
Palm-lined promenade des Anglais, paid for by Nice’s English colony in 1822, is a fine stage for a stroll. It’s particularly atmospheric in the evening, with Niçois milling about and epic sunsets. Don’t miss the magnificent facade of Hôtel Negresco, built in 1912, or art deco Palais de la Méditerranée, saved from demolition in the 1980s and now part of a 4-star palace. The promenade follows the whole Baie des Anges (4km) and has a cycle and skating lane.
Musée MatisseART MUSEUM
Located about 2km north of the centre in the leafy quarter of Cimiez, this museum houses a fascinating assortment of works by Matisse documenting the artist’s stylistic evolution, including oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, tapestries and Matisse’s signature famous paper cut-outs. The permanent collection is displayed in a red-ochre 17th-century Genoese villa overlooking an olive-tree-studded park. Temporary exhibitions are hosted in the futuristic basement building. Sadly, all explanations are in French only.
AIR
Nice Côte d'Azur airport is 6km west of Nice, by the sea. A taxi to Nice centre costs around €30.
Buses 98 and 99 link the airport terminal with Nice's centre and Nice train station (€6, 35 minutes, every 20 minutes). Bus 110 (€20, hourly) links the airport with Monaco (30 minutes).
BOAT
Nice is the main port for ferries to Corsica. SNCM and Corsica Ferries are the two main companies.
TRAIN
From Nice's train station, 1.2km north of the beach, there are frequent services to Cannes (€7, 40 minutes) and Monaco (€3.80, 25 minutes).
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