Top 5 Things To Do in Nice
Nice as a Tourist Destination
Speaking of Nice, let your mind wander into the beauty of the French Riviera with all its serene shades. From the beaches to waterfront walkways, Nice is ideally that kind of a place where you will like to stroll aimlessly, simply soaking in the beauty of the natural surroundings. The Mediterranean Sea greets Nice in a mélange of idyllic sea shores, such as the pebbly Promenade des Anglais. For a more exclusive experience, you need to visit the beach by Castle Hill, which is also the perfect place to find good restaurants.
For travelers who want to relax in a quiet place by the sea, the Plage de la Reserve happens to be one of the best attractions. A trip to the gentle waterfall on top of Castle Hill is one of the foremost things to do in Nice, where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the old town besides the magical sunsets. But of course, a trip to this place is incomplete without walking down the iconic stretch along the coastline, the Promenade des Anglais. The walkway is lined with beautiful restaurants, cafes, and restaurants, offering perfect spots to spend relaxing evenings. If you are in time for the Nice Carnival, be ready to be serenaded by vibrant festivities.
Yet another beautiful way to enjoy Nice is to explore the old town. Situated by Castle Hill, the colorful old town creates perfect photogenic moments at every turn. The array of lovely facades, historic churches, and the most charming buildings offer a great place to stroll when you are in Nice. It’s also a great place to shop, especially if you are looking for artisanal jewelry. The jazz clubs and bars fill the space with lively music every evening, and you might just feel that you have stepped into a part of paradise. The Nice Cathedral is also located in this part of the town and is one of the most well-known landmarks to find your tidings.
Things To Do in Nice
1. Climb the Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
Making a trip up the hill is one of the rites of passage in Nice, especially if you want to enjoy panoramic discoveries of the city from the top. To climb, you can walk up the stairs or ride the old lift built on the stone wall. There’s no sign of a castle on top of the hill, though, and you will instead find a large municipal park up there. The hill essentially segregates the seaside section into the eastern and the western parts.
The port is visible from the eastern side, while the western side offers fantastic views of the old town of Nice. The erstwhile castle may only exist in historical engravings, but Castle Hill stands unfazed even after so many years. A trip to Castle Hill should be considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in France, especially if you simply want to enjoy a vacation on the French Riviera.
2. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais
The ‘prom’, as it is fondly called in Nice, is a stretch of seven kilometers by the coastline that is simply the most popular spot in the city. If you are wondering about the things to do in Nice, a walk on the prom should naturally be on your itinerary. The walkway was originally a gift by the British to the city of Nice, who built it so that the vacationers could enjoy uninhibited views of the sea on one side. In recent years, it has become extremely popular with electric bikers and roller skaters, who love to cover the whole stretch from beginning to end just to get a feel of the vibes. The promenade is lined by many hotels, some of which still bear English names, such as the West End and the Westminister.
Speaking of the attractions, you can definitely try your hand at being rich in one of the casinos that line this stretch. The remains of the Casino de la Jetee Promenade can still be seen imposingly rising out of the water, as this building was destroyed in the Second World War.
3. Visit the Marc Chagall National Museum
The unmistakable fairytale-like quality of Chagall’s paintings can be best felt at the museum. The Mark Chagall National Museum houses an impressive array of works from different phases of the artist’s lifetime. The renowned artist experimented with various styles, ranging from surrealism to cubism and fauvism, with the body of creations often displaying a childlike obsession with colors. He was inevitably poetic and was endowed with the gift of inner vision to represent the workings of an often chaotic mind. The brush strokes are often surreal, sometimes even with a disregard for form. His artworks seemed to explore the hidden dimensions of the feminine with a non-judgmental view, and often as a part of folklore.
The autumn is widely considered the best time to visit Nice, particularly following the spring. If you want to sip the champagne and explore Chagall, take the time to explore the museum, which also presents different kinds of shows to attract the crowds. The museum does present a wonderful cultural experience and is a great place to discover the life of an artist in love with the French.
4. Explore the Old Town (Vieux Nice)
The Old Town is a picturesque neighborhood in Nice offering a pleasant walk amidst the colorful facades and the old-world houses. If you would simply stroll around the old town, exploring the narrow streets feels like the French Riviera at its very best. But of course, it is also a great place to shop, with several shops, restaurants, and local art galleries. Whether you need to get Provencal spices or handmade jewelry, Vieux Nice is one of the best places to explore.
You can feel the spirit of the place ushering a heartwarming welcome at every corner, where you can discover hidden amazements for the perfect photogenic moments. It is considered one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in France, especially because of the fusing of old-world vibes with an innate sense of modernism. The Cours Saleya should be a must-go when you visit this place, along with other attractions like the Opera House and The Cathedral. Don’t forget to visit the La Porte Fausse, with ceilings that look as if adorned with real gold.
5. Cours Saleya Market
For many travelers, the highlight of Nice as a tourist destination is to explore the course Saleya, for all that the old market has to offer. Presumably being the very first wholesale flower marketplace in the world, the place still lives in the idyllic Mediterranean lifestyle.
The abundance of flowers, vegetables, and fruits describes the easygoing life in Nice, where the motto seems to be happy and relaxed. It’s one of the best places to spend time in the old town, and you can always find a good café with chairs spread out on the pavement. So, just sit down, relax, and taste the best of French bakery while the happy life of Nice sings the songs of peace to your heart. It’s also a good spot to shop for antiques, especially when you plan the visit on a Monday. The evening market is available in the summer months and is a hot spot for buying local crafts. If you need to shop for local spices and real olive oil from the Riviera, look no further than the Cours Saleya.
