In the ruins of Cimiez, you’ll find the origins of one of France’s most fascinating cities. Nice is a charming mix of antiquity and upscale living, a bit of Italy and France melted together.
Standing atop Colline du Chateau, looking out of the Baie des Anges, and Nice’s harbor, one gets a feeling for the soldiers who once bastioned the castle here. Now in ruins, once this promintory gave a commanding view of the city, 300 feet below. This is one of the best places to gather in exactly what Nice is about. The landscapes, Mont Boron, the sea, Nice is gorgeous. A thoroughly “Roman” place, the French Riviera at its sunny, seaside best.
Nice is Nice
Tourists have been arriving in a steady flow at Nice’s various ports of entry since perhaps 350 BC. Why? The scenery, the climate, the wonderful way the landscape melts into the Mediterranean? Who can say more? You’ll find all the historic and cultural attraction here you can stand too. Gaze on wonderful stained glass at Musee Chagall, discover Nice’s distant past and relics at Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez, stand in awe at the remains of Remains of Cemenelum.
Enjoy the marvelous outdoors here too. The beaches are the biggest attraction, as always. However, venturing into the hills you’ll likely find those hidden gems waiting to be discovered. A hostel, winery, traditional café, maybe even a secluded ruin. Make sure and visit the small village of Èze, for a taste of the French countryside.
Shopping and…
As you should expect, Nice is all about high fashion, luxury, designer this and that, it is the French Riviera, you know? Whatever your heart desired, and your pocketbook can afford, you’ll find all you can stand here. Dining and dancing are much the same too. Hotdogs to Michelin Stars, chic discos to corner dives, Nice has a bit of everything by way of fun. Not exactly the most family friendly of Riviera resorts, the city does have its share of “gentler” attractions too.
Scooter tours, sailboat rides, side trips into the country, even the kids will enjoy the panoramic beauty of the place. Back to grownup spots though, no visitor should miss the liquid libations of Ma Nolan's, Blue Whales, or Wayne’s.
If all else fails. You lose your luggage, the hotel loses your reservation, a fly gets in your soup, you can still have a picture perfect album photo of a trip visiting Nice. For most people, just saying you were here is reward enough. But, you’ll find much more pleasure along the way during your stay. Nice is Nice, after all.
Main attractions: Colline du Chateau, Museum of Asian art, Parc Phoenix, Musee Chagall, Musee Matisse, Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez, Place Masséna, Promenade des Anglais, Old Town and Cours Saleya, Marché aux fleurs, Mont Boron, and many more.
Currency: Euro (€) (EUR); CFP franc (XPF)
Official language: French
Population: 344,875
Area: 71.92 km2 (27.77 sq mi)
Electricity:
- Voltage: 220-240 Volts (U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts)
- Primary Socket Type: Europlug, Schuko
- Multi-voltage appliances (laptops, etc.): Plug adapter
- 110-120V electronics: Plug adapter + step-down transformer
- Hair dryers, curling irons, etc.: Plug adapter + voltage converter
Other places to see & things to do: Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC), Cliff Walk, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Antibes, Eze, Nice Etoile Shopping center, Place Garibaldi, Notre-Dame de Nice, Galleries Lafayette, Palais des Congrès et des Expositions, Monument aux morts, Jardin botanique de la Ville de Nice, and others.
Images courtesy: Wikipedia
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