When I organized my little trip in Provence French Riviera I wondered which place to choose for my stay ... Is it better to take a hotel in Nice or Cannes ? Is it better to choose Nice or Menton, Nice or Marseille ? Nice or Aix en Provence ? Finally, it is Nice that I elected as the basis for visit Provence, Lubéron and French Riviera. I communicate to you below the reasons which made me decide to choose Nice rather than another city in the South of France.
Choose Nice for its location
Between sea and mountains on the French riviera, near the Italian border, the city of nice benefits from an ideal location for seaside, sightseeing, cultural visits and even for hikes in the hinterland! Indeed, the surroundings of Nice are superb and nature offers you grandiose landscapes. Be careful though because there are a few neighborhoods to avoid in Nice and around.
For tourism in the surroundings, without going very far, you can discover Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, Menton and all the small hilltop villages around.
Choose Nice for its beauty
By its historical heritage and its geographical proximity, it floats in Nice a little air of Italy. Beautiful palaces along the Bay of Angels, small picturesque alleys, houses with colorful facades, restaurants and cafes with lively terraces form the backdrop of this beautiful city.
But Nice also offers a whole range of beautiful beaches such as Carras beach, Centennial beach, Voilier beach, Lenval beach, Sainte Hélène beach ...
Choose Nice for its climate
Whatever the time of year, Nice welcomes you with sun and softness. Indeed, Nice and its region enjoy a mild and temperate climate with exceptional light and sunshine for more than 200 days a year. It is therefore an ideal destination for seaside holidays all year round.
Choose Nice for its cultural richness
There are many historical monuments and museums not to be missed in Nice. This city has no less than 14 museums and galleries. Among the most beautiful, the Matisse Museum is a must for those who appreciate the painting of Henri Matisse.
Choose Nice for tourism
Indeed, one cannot be bored in Nice. If you want to visit Nice on foot, here is my tour Nice in 1 day. Otherwise, here are some tips to find out the city of Nice and its little treasures ...
To get an overview, start by climbing the castle hill which leads to a belvedere. From there, you will have a splendid panorama over the Mediterranean and the surroundings of Nice.
Then, you will have to stroll on the mythical Promenade des Anglais and follow the Bay of Angels. Thus, you will admire the sublime facades of most beautiful palaces in Nice including the famous Negresco with its beautiful pink cup.
La old town of Nice can be visited by getting lost in its alleys. This is where you will find an Italian atmosphere at the bend of small lively squares and typical restaurants. You will discover magnificent buildings such as the Church of Saint Reparate, the Opera or the Russian Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.
Other place unmissable in Nice : Place Masséna which is a superb architectural ensemble of beautiful red arcades and facades!
Among the castle hill and Albert 1 parker is the Cours Saleya. This is where you can experience the traditional flower market and local food products. An ideal place to soak up the Nice atmosphere and to make good purchases (regional specialties, olive oil, spices, tapenade, soaps, Provençal fabrics…).
Do not miss to have a drink on Place Girabaldi (the oldest in the city of Nice).
Choose Nice for its Carnival
At the end of February, for more than 15 days, Nice offers tourists and Nice people giant and colorful parades that take place day or night with more than 1000 musicians and dancers and hundreds of floats. This beautiful carnival comes alive especially with the famous flower battles on the Promenade des Anglais… Personally, I haven't yet had the chance to go to Nice during Carnival but it's in the works!
Choose Nice for its gastronomy
Nice, with its typical mediterranean cuisine, is full of good little restaurants where you can taste pissaladières, bagnat breads, ratatouilles and of course the famous Niçoise salad. Its gastronomy also has an air of Italy ... Moreover, many restaurants proudly bear Italian names. Some even say that it was in Nice that the recipe for gnocchi and ravioli was invented.
Choose Nice for its hotels
Yes, in Nice I was spoiled for choice when it comes to finding my hotel because the hotel offer is enormous. We can find little ones cheap hotels, apartments from 70 Euros per night or, when you have the means, superb Palaces where the stay must resemble a fairy tale ...
Me, I favored the location and comfort in a nice setting, with a budget of around 160 Euros / night. So I chose the Mercure Nice Flower Market which met all of my criteria.
This hotel is ideally placed on the Promenade des Anglais, close to the historic center? very close to Flower market. In addition, car parks are located near the hotel.
My room was comfortable, well equipped and had a superb view of the sea. The continental breakfast was good and plentiful, in short I have no complaints about this hotel which I really enjoyed!
And for those who travel with their pooch, here is an article to read: Nice with a dog
If you prefer to take a road trip to discover the South of France: