Sun and sea, nature, villages perched, beauty, diversity, art, activity, traditions, & yachts: some words that come to mind, from living here for over 8 years, but what stands out the most is (Mediterranean) BLUE! The one thing I would change would be to have sandy beaches in Nice, rather than pebbly ones.
Overview of Nice and all that this area has to offer – watch new Tourist Office video HERE
SUN:
“In an open-topped tour bus, a collector’s car, by Segway, by tram, on foot by boat or by bicycle, there are so many ways to discover Nice and its attractions! Are you having trouble choosing between a classical tour or a chance to get off the beaten tracks, an instructive treasure hunt to discover the history of Nice, a photographic trail accompanied by a professional photographer, a guided tour through some of the city’s most attractive districts with the Heritage Centre, a culinary tour featuring the theme of Niçois cuisine or a custom tour designed especially for you, supervised by a guide?
SEA:
Just imagine… 7 km of beaches bordering the famous Promenade des Anglais! 15 private beaches and 20 public ones in the very heart of the town! Beach restaurants where you can enjoy fish-based dishes, salads or other summertime cuisine with the sound of the waves in the background. Disabled access beaches, children’s games, organised features and entertainment and nautical activities, crystal clear water at just the right temperature …and an amazing view out to sea! A number of private beaches organize music evenings where you can dance through the night under the stars, with your feet in the water!
GREEN:
As the “green city” of the Mediterranean, Nice is home to more than 100 gardens and some 20 parks with a surface area exceeding 10,000 m2 including the 7-hectare Parc Phoenix, a holder of the “Jardin remarquable” (Remarkable Garden) label. Genuine oases of greenery in the heart of the city, these parks and gardens have been designed to bring man into contact with nature, which can be discovered and admired at any time of year. Already ahead of target in terms of the national ECOPHYTO 2018 Plan, Nice is continuing its efforts to promote sustainable development and has opted for “zero pesticides” to protect biodiversity and the health of its citizens and visitors. Waterfalls, water fun areas and varied tree and shrub varieties await… Enjoy a lungful of fresh air… You’re in Nice!”
See major SUMMER EVENTS HERE
Source: Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau
Kid-focused sites on the French Riviera, so that the whole family can enjoy the sun and sea, and experience the savoir-faire that the area has to offer.
CURRENTLY Available on Amazon HERE
Review:
The author’s love of France shines through in this remarkable travel book, and so does her comprehensive knowledge of the riviera. When you think of the south of France, you don’t automatically link it with a holiday for children, but this book certainly breaks down that barrier. As well as a valuable resource for parents, the book has also whetted my appetite, and Kim has sold the region to my wife and I. We’re all going on a summer holiday! – C.B.
1 – Museums
Follow in the footsteps of Chagall, Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso, among many other artists, with a visit to the numerous historical and fine arts museums. Discover how the light of the French Riviera inspired and captivated artists, beautifully reflected in their works of art.
2 –Old Town
Marvel at the Apollo fountain in Place Masséna, as a starting point. Enjoy the culturally diverse food stalls & large flower market, as you stroll through the daily morning market in Cours Saleya; a flea market is held instead on Mondays for you to find just the right antique or trinket souvenir. Among the winding, medieval streets of “Vieux Nice,” you’ll find art studios; a variety of quaint shops, cafés, & restaurants; Palais Lascaris; Sainte Reparate Cathedral, and many charming churches. Oh, and don’t forget to stop for ice cream at Fenocchio in Place Rosetti, if you can choose among the 98 flavors!
3 – Beaches & Seaside Restaurants
Nice’s beaches are iconically pebbled, with smooth stones of various patterns and shapes. Enjoy the azur, turquoise, and cobalt blues of the Mediterranean while dining al fresco. For up close and personal seaside views, lunch or dine at one of Nice’s private beach restaurants, or at one of the Promenade-lined hotel restaurants for panoramic views.
4 – Bellet Wines
The vineyards of Bellet comprise around 11 domaines, situated in the higher elevations behind Nice, and are classified as AOC (appellation d’origine controlée). Producing red, white, and rosé wines, the Bellet vineyards are iconically rich in both terroir and taste.
5 – Shopping
From the luxurious Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Hermès designer stores to Sephora, Zara, Galeries Lafayette, and Nice Etoile shopping mall (just to name a few), there is indeed something fashionable for everyone’s taste and budget. If you would like a souvenir, designed around the iconic blue chairs lining the Promenade, you can see the information HERE
6 – Chậteau Hill
Take the stairs, elevator, or the tourist train up to Castle Hill for a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city and sea. The city park divides Old Town from the Port of Nice and is a peaceful setting of nature, including a waterfall.
7 – Salade Niçoise
Nice’s iconically-named salad, delicately flavored with a vinaigrette dressing, is generally made with lettuce, red peppers, tomatoes, onions, hard-boiled egg, “les caillettes” (iconic Nice olives), tuna, and anchovies. You may see other variations of this iconic dish, with added ingredients, such as green beans and potatoes. Nice and Lyon are two cities that have gastromically-acclaimed cuisine.
8 – Promenades
Walk, jog, bike, rollerblade, or simply stroll along the wide, seaside walkway – the “Promenade des Anglais.” Daydream while sitting on the iconic blue chairs and taking in the beautiful azure color of the sea.
Stroll through the 26-acre park, “Promenade du Paillon,” with meandering paths from the Albert 1st garden to the Nice Theater – lots of green space, playgrounds, and fountains to enjoy.
9 – Nice Port & Place Garibaldi
The port is enjoyable, to take in during a portside stroll, with its “100 Antiquaires,” eclectic cafés, and boats and yachts of all sizes.
Nearby Place Garibaldi is known for its lovely frescoes and lively cafés, situated in the main square and along the various side streets leading to the port area.
10 – Day Trips
Traveling either east or west of Nice, from Menton to Mandelieu, you can visit many iconic, charming towns and perched villages, easily accessible by car, train, and bus, on the French Riviera. Nice is the perfect base from which to take day trips, due to its central location and comprehensive transportation systems. The Principality of Monaco is only 20 kms. (12 miles) from Nice, with easy access via the #100 bus that stops close to the famous Monte Carlo Casino.
BIENVENUE & BON SÉJOUR !
More travel information and insider’s tips in this book – available in ebook & paperback formats on Amazon & Smashwords.
Book Trailer Video
Nice is a nice place to visit and live all year long, but winter is extra nice this year: a new Promenade park, moderate temperatures, panoramic sea views, and holiday festivities in Place Massena: holiday market craft chalets, lighted holiday decorations, snow-flocked trees, a giant, lighted ferris wheel, and an ice skating rink. Nice is truly a city for all seasons!
It has been yet another excellent year for tourism on the Côte d’Azur with upwards of 11 million visitors to its shores. Putting a global spin on the figures is the fact that the region has claimed one per cent of all international tourism worldwide and almost 10 per cent of France’s total number of visitors.
Foreigners made up half of the vacationing population, with Italians (19 per cent), the British and Irish (18 per cent), Americans (eight per cent), Scandinavians (seven per cent) and Russians (six per cent) dominating hotels and holiday establishments.
Over half of all tourists travelled to the Riviera by car and 27 per cent arrived in its airports. This latter statistic has cemented the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s status as France’s second airline travel hub and Europe’s third business aviation point of call.
Proving that it has earned its place among favourite international destinations, almost three quarters of visitors had already stayed in the Riviera before and more than nine out of 10 said that they were “very satisfied” with their holiday in the south of France.
Spending by tourists topped the five billion euro mark in 2013. Over 60 per cent of all spending was done by foreigners – the equivalent of 90 euros per day – while business clients demonstrated their spending power with an average daily outgoing of 163 euros.
In 2013, tourism provided an estimated 75,000 jobs, of which just 17.5 per cent were seasonal positions. The industry is the region’s leading sector and represents 16 per cent of total employment.
Source/Credit: Elsa Carpenter for The Riviera Times Online
I recently met some girlfriends for a delicious lunch at Blue Beach, one of the seaside restaurants in Nice that overlooks the blue Mediterranean Sea. A nice meal with nice friends in a nice setting in Nice!
Under the warm, Mediterranean sun and overlooking the azur Mediterranean Sea, I recently enjoyed lunch at a seaside restaurant in Nice, called Sporting Beach. I sipped a glass of Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, while taking in the luscious sea view during a ‘girlfriends lunch’ – an afternoon full of fun, laughter, and of course, the latest girly gossip.
There are many private beaches along the Promenade in Nice to experience sun, sea, & (gastronomic) savoir-faire – Bon appetit!
ARE YOU BEING ECOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE ?
LET’S ALL DO OUR SHARE !
Photo source: unknown
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