7 Day Itinerary
Provided by Cassandra Tanti, Editor of The Riviera Times and That's Nice Magazine. Your essential guide to Nice.
Pick up your FREE copy in Ma Nolan's.
Day 1 - Soak in the ambiance of Nice
The heart of Nice centres around the old town, bordering the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Located on the famous Cours Saleya, the farmer’s market, fresh flower market and antique market on Mondays, are icons of the city. Stop at one of the café terraces and enjoy a morning coffee and croissant, while soaking in the ambiance of this vibrant city. Then, take a walk through the market, buy some fresh flowers and sample some of the fantastic local produce. Don’t forget to taste the Niçois speciality, socca, located at a small stall near the Chapelle de la Miséricorde.
Then, spend a little time just wandering the streets, admiring the delectable chocolatiers, biscuit shops, fashion boutiques and typical Niçois stores.
Take a break at Ma Nolan’s in the old town, and enjoy a refreshing pint or cocktail.
In the evening, visit one of the many fantastic wine bars in the city: Cave Wilson, Vin sur Vin, The Wine Room, Vinomania, In Vino, Cave de l’Origine, La Mise Au Verre. Buying French wine is not an easy task, so let the experts explain to you what best suits your pallet. For details and locations, visit our Food Guide at thatsnicemagazine.com.
Day 2 - The château and the port
Take a walk east along the Promenade des Anglais, and catch the lift up to the château, or if you are feeling particularly energetic, take the stairs. There is little remaining of this castle, in fact there are just a few ruins, but the hill affords the most spectacular views over Nice city, the coast, and also over the port. If you are travelling with children, they can enjoy a run around on the grass or a play in the playground, while you take the perfect holiday snaps.
After you leave the château, continue east towards the port. Enjoy a refreshing pint at the second Ma Nolan’s, then eat at one of the many quality seafood restaurants, namely Le Nautique, L’Ane Rouge and Les Pecheurs. For vegetarians, there’s the famous Zucca Magica, and for those looking for something a little more laid back, try Café Borghese located behind the church.
Day 3 - Get Cultural
There’s a wonderful mix of old and new art in Nice. From the very large and contemporary MAMAC Museum, with its impressively big exhibition spaces, to the Matisse Museum, situated beside mesmerising Roman ruins, and housing a large number of the artist’s work in a beautiful 17th century villa.
Most of the museums are free, and are easy to find on bus routes.
Day 4 - Take a trip out of Nice.
After you’ve explored Nice, it’s beaches, restaurants, bars and cafés, it’s time to head out of the city and discover the rest of the beautiful French Riviera.
Catch a train to the following cities:
Monaco and its Casino. There are many photo opportunities here, standing alongside one of the many Ferraris and Lamborghinis that are perpetually parked outside the casino. Grab a coffee or glass of wine at Café de Paris. The port of Monaco is also worth exploring. It is lined with chic bars and restaurants, and houses an incredible array of luxury yachts.
Antibes is primarily a yachting city and only really comes alive in the summer. Visitors can enjoy Cap d’Antibes, neighbouring Juan les Pins, maritime history, the charming old town, artistic heritage and a host of cultural and musical events.
Cannes is famous for it’s annual film festival, so a tour of this city will inevitably bring you to the steps of the iconic Palais des Festivals. It’s not a particularly attractive building, but you will be able to take a picture on the stairs that have been graced by the biggest names in the film industry. Cannes is a city filled with luxury fashion boutiques, chic bars and expensive restaurants. But there is plenty more to see. The port is a bustling hub of typical French brasseries, quality seafood restaurants, and a jovial Anglo pub for a little taste of home. The old town, Le Suquet, is a charming medieval village, and affords the most spectacular views over Cannes and out to the Lérins Islands. If Cannes is glamorous, extravagant, urban and sexy, the Lérins are pure, unadultered, rural and modest – a real contrast to the city of Cannes and worthy of a visit.
Trains run regularly along the coast and tickets are quite cheap.
Day 5 - Soak up some sun.
Nice is not particularly famous for its beaches. While they are great for some quick beach time, there are so many other beautiful beaches throughout the region that deserve your attention.
Plage des Ondes, Antibes
This is, without a doubt, the most typical beach on the French Riviera. With its characteristic little tower and overhanging pine trees, it encapsulates those lovely 1950’s postcards of the Côte d’Azur.
Plage Mala, Cap d’Ail
Situated at the bottom of a rock face, this inlet is protected by searing cliffs and trees, and holds the most inviting turquoise waters.
Théoule
Nestled in the heart of the Esterel mountains, Théoule is the hidden jewel of the Côte d’Azur. It may be an hour’s trip from Nice, but the uniqueness of this sandy beach makes it well worth the effort. It is quite small, but far less busy than the Promenade des Anglais, and it is surrounded by the characteristic red hills and lush vegetation of the Esterel mountain range.
St Jean Cap Ferrat
Recognisable for its purple flower-covered wall, Passable is the most versatile of our beaches. The public section is very family friendly, with diving docks that will delight the kids and cheap refreshments available at a little stand called La Cabane. The private beach offers cocktails, massages and lounge music.
On the other side of the point is Paloma Beach, nestled in one of the most spectacular bays on the Riviera, with its jaw-dropping views of the Moyenne Corniche, Eze and Beaulieu. There is a public section as well as the private Paloma Plage, where you can feast on expensive local seafood or enjoy a fresh salad for around 15€.
Day 6 - Do something exciting
There is a lot of opportunity for adventure in the French Riviera. Whether it’s skiing the breath-taking French Alps in winter, or exploring the magical caves in summer, there’s always an activity to excite the senses. Within easy access of Nice, you will find: horse riding, kayaking, climbing, water sports, bungee jumping, wine tours, perched medieval villages, castles, caves, a wolf park, snorkelling, diving, boat trips, and fun parks. Visit thatsnicemagazine.com for details.
Day 7 - Winding up
The best way to wind up your holiday in Nice is to do what the locals do. Have a lovely long lunch in the sun with a pichet of rosé and reflect on your fantastic time in the French Riviera. Enjoy a plat du jour or some mussels on the energetic Cours Saleya, or for a more relaxed ambiance, enjoy a pizza or some fresh seafood on Place Garibaldi.
Then, for those final holiday snaps, head to a fabulous rooftop terrace, where you can relax with a glass of bubbly and admire the spectacular views over Nice and out to the Mediterranean Sea. The best rooftop terraces in town can be found at Le Meridien, Boscolo Plaza and the Hotel Aston.
Finish your evening by enjoying some fantastic live music. There’s music to suit any mood in Nice, be it jazz, rock n’ roll, soul or Latin music.
And by this time, you’ll be planning your next trip to Nice!
