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The city of Nice has been a popular tourist destination for centuries, for royalty and commoners alike. As a transportation center, with the Paris-Nice train and the international airport, it is probable that your entry into Beyond will be Nice.
Check out or new Nice Tramway page and the Nice Tramway map.
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More: |
Nice Dining |
Nice Facades |
Nice History |
Nice Museums |
Nice Parks |
Nice Shopping |
Nice Transportation |
Nice Tramway |
5-Star Hotels |
Nearby: |
Aix-en-Provence 176 km |
Antibes 25 km |
Breil-sur-Roya 55 km |
Cannes 32 km |
Grasse 42 km |
Marseille 189 km |
Menton 28 km |
Monaco 20 km |
Peillon 20 km |
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin 26 km |
Saint Jeannet 20 km |
Saint Paul-de-Vence 18 km |
Train des Pignes |
Vence 21 km |
Villefranche-sur-Mer 4 km |
Hotels near Nice, France: |
Nice |
4 km Villefranche-sur-Mer |
18 km Saint Paul-de-Vence |
20 km Monaco |
20 km Peillon |
21 km Vence |
25 km Antibes |
Nice is ancient. Inhabited for 400,000 years, the "modern" city of Nikaia was established by the Greeks. The Romans may have started the tourism with their extensive baths on Cimiez. In spite of modernization, the city retains its medieval heritage in the vieille ville (old town), with its narrow winding streets and closely-packed red-tiled roofs.
Other than a base for your trips into Beyond, Nice is a center of activities. Lodging, dining, shopping, sunbathing and swimming, movies, theaters, opera, museums -- or just strolling along the Promenade des Anglais and enjoying the good life.
What's happening in Nice this week? The "Semaine des Spectacles" is a weekly guide available from every newsstand. It comes out every Wednesday, and contains everything that's going on in the towns of Provence and the Côte d'Azur (including Nice, Cannes, Aix). It lists restaurants, nightclubs, movies (many in "Version Originale"), museums, and other diversions.
Parks and Playgrounds
There are parks and playgrounds all around Nice. Places to sit in the shade and rest your weary feet during a day of shopping or sightseeing, and let the kiddies burn off some energy.
Nice Public Library
The public library is on Rue Biscarra, behind the "Nice Etoile" mall. Open to anybody, the library has a good collection of books on local history and regional areas and villages. Mostly French, of course, but it also contains a selection of books and magazines in English, and some other languages, if you want to spend a few hours inside on a rare rainy day.
Sundials
Walking along the Promenade des Anglais towards the port, the walk rises up to the Pointe des Ponchettes beneath the chateau rock. There's a good view from here back along the beaches and the town. You can become a part of the sundial (cadran solaire) here; stand at the correct place and your shadow will indicate the time.
The Center
The center of Nice is from the big fountain, Fountaine du Soleil, across the Place Massena, ringed by bright pastel buildings, and up the Avenue Jean Médecin. Continuing beneath the railway overpass beside the train station, Ave Jean Médecin becomes Ave Malaussena.
The Rue de France pedestrian shopping street runs from the end of the Place Massena, roughly parallel to the seaside. This area is full of shops, including some exclusive clothing boutiques, and restaurants and cafés with outdoor terraces - a great place to sit and watch the world go by, while you eat or drink.
The Chateau
"Le Chateau" isn't a chateau -- the castle on top of this high rock hill overlooking Nice old town and the port has been gone since 1706, but it's a great place to visit. There are cool walks in the shade of the trees, great views out over Nice and the Mediterranean, a large grassy park, playground, Roman ruins and a waterfall.
Access. You can walk up the stairs at the front, from the Quai des Etats Unis, and have a great view as you climb; there are 213 steps from the bottom to the observation platform on top of the Naval Museum, and then more steps and various walkways on to the top. An elevator is available from the same starting point if your legs aren't up to it.
In the old town, go up the Rue Rossetti from the Cathedral Ste. Réparate to find steps and walkways that go up past the cemeteries to the top. There's also roads that you can drive, or walk, up: the Monté Montfort goes up from the "point" between the Baie des Anges and the port, and from near the Place Garibaldi.
Cimiez
Cimiez sits on a hill a couple of km from the center of town. It's about an hour's walk, or a short bus ride, to this lovely site in a residential area above the hustle and bustle of the city. The grounds of "Cimiez" include a large park amidst olive groves, the Archeology museum, Matisse museum and the Franciscan Museum and Monastery. During a couple of weeks in August, this is the site of the Nice Jazz Festival, with music until midnight every night from three stages, in the olive groves and the Roman Amphitheater.
There aren't many cafés in this residential area, but the terrace café in the park, on the Allée Miles Davis, behind the bust of Lionel Hampton, has whole-wheat baguette sandwiches.
Promenade des Anglais
The promenade stretches about 7 km around the Baie des Anges, a favorite for leisurely "promenades" since the Belle Epoque at the turn of the last century. Activities include sitting and watching the sea - and the sunbathers on the beach, jogging and roller skating. Summer nights the activity actually increases.
Beaches
The beaches of Nice, and along the coast to Antibes, are shingle (smooth stones). From Antibes-Juan-les-Pins to Cannes, the beaches are sand. It's obvious which you need for building sand castles, but many people actually prefer the grit-free shingle beaches. Also, it's not much fun trying to skip sand out across the water. Our photo here shows a family enjoying the warm winter sun in the middle of December.
Vieille Ville (Old Town)
The "vieille ville" is the most "Beyond" part of Nice. With narrow streets curving in irregular fashion between old buildings with red-tile roofs, this could be almost any medieval village of the region. The streets are packed with shops and shoppers. Small restaurants, food, meat, produce, pasta, clothes, gifts, anything and everything. You can buy wine by the bottle or the barrel (bring your own container) and an amazing variety of fresh-made ravioli and other pasta.
The Cours Saleya has a daily flower market and a food market in the mornings. There are scores of stands, from large, professionally displayed wares to folding tables set up by family farmers with their produce and live fowl directly from the farm. The length of the Cours Saleya is sided by the low buildings separating the "Cours" from the seaside. Once housing the fishermen's catch, they have given way largely to seafood restaurants. The other side of the Cours Saleya is lined by terrace cafés, lovely old buildings and the grand Prefecture.
Markets
Cours Saleya. The most famous market of Nice is the flower market and main market on the Cours Saleya in the old town (see above). On Mondays, the Cours Saleya has a large flea market, the Marché a la Brocante et Antiquités.
Ave. Malaussena. A very large, authentic market can be found most mornings along the Ave. Malaussena (continuation of Ave. Jean Médecin beyond the train station overpass).
Rue Raiberti. The covered market on Rue Flaminius Raibereti, just off the Place Général de Gaulle at the top of Ave. Malaussena, has produce in the street-side stalls, and mostly butchers and dairy-product stands inside.
Favorite Sons and Daughters
Lance Armstrong, the American winner of the 1999 Tour de France cycling race lives in Nice (or did at the time of the race). Well-done, Lance! Since Beyond wrote that, a few years ago, Lance also won the tour de France in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, deserving another Well-done, Lance!
Simone Veil, considered the "First Lady of Europe", was born in Nice. Passing via the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen Nazi camps, Simone has gone on to win worldwide recognition as one of the most courageous and influential people in our time, with national honors from countries around the world. Simone Veil was the first president of the European Parliament, and just recently (May 2005) was awarded Spain's Prince of Asturias prize for International Cooperation, following previous winners Helmut Kohl, Yitzac Rabin, Yasser Arafat and Lula da Silva (of Brazil).
Office de Tourisme
Tel : 04 93 92 82 82; Fax: 04 93 92 82 98
Web: www.nicetourisme.com
Email: info@nicetourisme.com
CRT - Comité Régional Tourisme - 55 Promenade Anglais
Tel: (33) 493 37 78 78; Fax: (33) 493 86 01 06
Office de Tourisme - Gare SNCF
This tourist office is at the railway station.
This is a good source for flyers on laundromats and cybercafés.
Office de Tourisme et des Congrés - Ave Thiers
BP 79, 06302 Nice cédex 4
Tel: (33) 493 92 82 82
Information, Ave Thieres; Tel: (33) 493 87 07 07
Information, 5 Promenade Anglais; Tel: (33) 492 14 48 00
Reservations - Tel: (33) 493 92 80 90
Reservations - Address: BP 4079, 06302 Nice Cedex 04
Office de Tourisme - Nice-Ferber (near the airport)
Tel: (33) 493 83 32 64
Dates
Every Tue-Sat - Brocante-Antiques, Pl. Rabiliante, port (Tue-Sat)
Every Mon - Brocante, Cours Saleya
Every Feb - CARNAVAL
Every Mar - Fête des Cougourdons - Jardins de Cimiez
Every Mar - Foire Internationale de Nice - Acropolis-Expositions
Every Mar - Paris-Nice Cycling Race arrival
Every May - La Fête des Mai - Cimiez jardins et Arènes (every sunday of the month)
Every June - Fête de la Mer/Fete de la St Pierre - Port de Nice
Every June - Triathlon International de Nice (email: fftri@fftri.com)
Every July - Nice JAZZ Festival - Cimiez Jardins et Arènes, from 18h every night.
Every Aug - Bataille de Fleurs (parade of flowered floats on the Promenade des Anglais)
Every Sep - Arrivée du Tour de France Automobile Historique - Promenade des Anglais
Every Sep - Fête de la Vigne, celebrating the Bellet wine _ Jardins de Cimiez
Every Sep - Triathlon de Nice - Promenade des Anglais
Every Oct - Fête Patronale de la Ville de Nice Sainte Reparate - Vieux Nice
Wine
Domain Augier
Charles Augier
Location:
680 Saint-Roman-de-Bellet; 06200 Nice
Tel: 0493 378 147
Tasting by rendez-vous
Chateau de Bellet
Ghislain de Charnacé
Location:
440 rte de Saquier; 06200 Nice
Tel: 0493 378 157; Fax: 04 93 37 93 83
(no visits?)
Collet de Bovis
Location:
442 chemin de Crémat; 06200 Nice
Tel: 0493 378 552
Tasting by rendez-vous
Les Coteaux de Bellet
Location:
325 chemin de Saquier, Saint-Roman-de-Bellet; 06200 Nice
Tel: 0493 851 392; Fax: 04 93 18 10 99
Tasting by rendez-vous
Transportation Nice, France
Bus
Bus Line 200 Nice - Cannes Local
Bus line 200 is a local bus (many stops) between Cannes and Nice. In Cannes, the 200 stops at the bus stop in the street in front of the railway station, at the far left (west) end (not at the bus area to the right (east) of the station).
There can be many local stops along the way, including near Cap3000, Saint Laurent-du-Var, Cros-de-Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet, the Biot railway station, Antibes, Vallauris and Golfe-Juan.
The full trip takes 1h30 and costs 1 euro.
An official list of Alpes-Maritimes bus lines, with links to the schedules for each line (PDF), is available on the following link:
Web: www.cg06.fr/fr/servir-les-habitants/deplacements/transport-collectifs/lignes-et-horaires/lignes-et-horaires/
Fun - Amusement - Kids
Amusement
Kindia Park
Childrens attractions
Location:
Parc de Vaugrenir - RN 7; Villeneuve Loubet
Tel: 0493 656 192
Marionnettes and Childrens Shows
Clown, Grenadine, Magician
Location:
28 rue El-Nouzah
Tel: 0493 802 183
Show at the Castel des 2 Rois
Location:
Corniche André de Joly
Open: Wed, Sat, Sun - 16h, 17h.
Astronomy
Astorama
Discovering astronomy, planetarium, telescopes.
Location:
Rte de la Revère, Grande Corniche, Col d'Eze
Open: July-Aug - every night starting at 18h30.
Sept-June - Tue, Fri starting at 18h30.
Tel: 0493 858 558; Fax: 04 93 85 62 85
Observatory of the Côte d'Azur
Visit the observatory
Location:
Bd Bischoffsheim
Open: Saturday 15h
Tel: 0493 858 558; Fax: 04 93 85 62 85
Shows
Théâtre de la Cité et Théâtre Chou
4 children's shows alternately in both theateres
Open: Sat 14h30
Tel: 0493 268 345
Water
Aquascope - Trans Côte d'Azur
Explore the underwater world from a glass-bottomed boat.
Location:
Quai Lunel, 06300 Port de Nice
Open: Spring - daily 9h, 10h, 11h, 14h, 15h, 16h, 17h, 18h.
Tel: 0492 004 230; Fax: 04 92 00 42 31
Trans Côte d'Azur - Sea Excursions
Sea excursions along the coast, departing from Nice or St-Laurent-du-Var.
Location:
Quai Lunel, 06300 Port de Nice
Tel: 0492 004 230; Fax: 04 92 00 42 31
Nice Côté Mer: 1 hr; Cap de Nice, Cap Ferrat, Baie de Villefranche, Promenade des Anglais.
Monaco: all day or afternoon: Cap Ferrat, Baie de Villefranche, Beaulieu, Eze, to Monaco.
San Remo: with a stop for shopping at San Remo.
Iles de Lerins.
Corniche d'Or: 2 hrs; departs from Sainte Marguerite (Iles de Lerins)
Saint-Tropez.
Sports
Cycling Tour de France
On the route of the 2009 Tour de France, stage 2, Monaco to Brignoles.
Cycling
Nicea Location de Deux Roues
Location:
9 av Thiers
Tel: 0493 824 271
Nicea Location Rent
Location:
12 Rue de Belgique (near the SNCF train station)
Tel: 0493 824 271; Fax: 04 93 87 76 36
Email: nicealocation@aol.com
Rentals of bicycles, 50cc and 125cc scooters, XT 600 E and XV 240 motorcycles. They speak English and Italian.
Nicea Location Rent
Location:
9 av Thiers
Open: all year - Ouvert tte année
Tel: 0493 878 484; Fax: 0493 87 76 36
Diving
Aigle Nautique
Location:
50 bd Franck Pilatte, 06300
Tel: 0493 567 799
C.T.R Plongée SousMarine Cote d'Azur (Commission Technique Régionale)
Location:
21 rue Marie Bashkirtseff, 06200
Tel: 0493 832 969
Club Nautique de Nice
Location:
bd Franck Pilatte
Tel: 0493 893 978
Nice Diving
Location:
26 Bd Stalingrad, 06300 Nice
Tel: 0493 894 244; Fax: 04 93 89 12 69
Email: esmarine@aol.com
Web: nicediving.ifrance.com
Club de Plongée le Nautile
Location:
35 av Ste Marguerite, 06200
Tel: 0493 212 106
All year
Club de Plongée Nausicaa
Location:
9 av Frédéric Mistral
Tel: 0492 090 070
Ecole de Plongée Sous-Marine Le Poséidon
Location:
Quai Lunel - Port de Nice, 06300 Nice
Tel: 0492 004 386; Fax: 04 92 00 43 87
Email: tlo@poseidon-nice.com
Web: www.poseidon-nice.com
Contact : Thierry Leonard
Fishing
AAPPMA Fédération des Alpes-Maritimes
Fishing Association
Location:
455 promenade des Anglais "Le Quadra", 06299 Nice Cedex
Tel: 0493 720 604, or 0493 936 259
Web: www.peche-cote-azur.com
Golf
Golf Nice Côte Azur
Location:
La Manda, 698 rte Grenoble; 06200
Tel: 0493 298 200; Fax: 04 93 29 86 71
Practice Golf Center
Location:
chem Baraques; 06200
Tel: 0493 298 380
Riviera Golf Tour
Location:
1 av Fracchia
Tel: 0493 269 150
Paragliding
C.P.N. - Cercle Parachutiste de Nice
Location:
7, Rue Gubernatis; 06300 Nice
Open: Tue, Thur; 10h-20h30
Tel: 0493 622 891; Fax: 0493 98 01 10
Swim
Blue Gym (Bébés Nageurs)
Location:
19 r Louise Ackermann
Tel: 0493 879 669
Piscine Municipale Centre aéré
Location:
bd Comte de Falicon
Tel: 0493 842 196
Piscine Municipale Jean Médecin
Location:
178 r France, 06037 NICE CEDEX
Tel: 0493 862 401
Piscine Municipale L'Ariane
Location:
rue Guiglionda Ste Agathe 06300
Tel: 0493 549 430
Piscine Municipale quart St Roman de Bellet
Location:
quart St Roman de Bellet 06200
Tel: 0493 378 176
Piscine Municipale St Augustin
Location:
rue Santoline 06200
Open: School periods: Mon, Wed: 12-14h; Tue, Thur, Fri: 12-14h, 17-19h; Sat: 10-14h.
School holiday periods: different hours.
Entry: Adults 2.40 €, kids, students, seniors 1.20 €.
Tel: 0492 293 650
Piscine Municipale St François
Location:
13 pl St François, 06037 NICE CEDEX
Tel: 0493 855 308
Piscine Municipale St Roch
Location:
17 bd Pierre Sémard
Tel: 0493 567 016
Hiking
The GR5 (Grande Randonnée) that begins at l'Aire St. Michel, Nice north, will take you across France or across Europe. The trail begins at the road junction of the D114 and D214, where the Grande Randonnée (marked with the red-and-white signs) goes up the small Chemin de Chateaurenard.
The GR5 crosses the GR51 - Balcony of the Cote d'Azur 2 km north of the start, past Mont Chauve, between Aspremont and Tourrette-Levens.
Lodging - Hotels
Railway Station. There are several hotels near the Nice railway station, on Ave Thiers that runs past the front of the station, and on the streets going south from the station, Ave Durante, Rue d'Angleterre, Rue Pagnanini. We have some 2-star hotels listed for Ave Thiers and Ave Durante. You can get a current list from the Nice Office de Tourisme.
Lodging
Negresco
5 The famous 5-star Negresco hotel overlooking the Baie des Anges in Nice is a private palace built in 1912.
Beach: 70
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Photo gallery of 11 photos for Nice