Nice
Nice
With its astounding natural beauty, excellent mild weather and wealth of cultural heritage, it’s no wonder Nice ranks so high among many a traveller’s wish list. The idea of strolling along the city’s scenic beaches with the Mediterranean Sea breeze blowing through your hair or biking through the locale and stopping to admire its many landmarks should be enough to convince you to spend your holiday in Nice.
There is plenty to keep you occupied here as well as plenty to see as you partake of the sights and sounds of this touristic gem tucked away in the south-eastern reaches of France.
Sightseeing and activities
When it comes to sightseeing, few destinations offer the kind of view you get when you ascend to the Colline du Chateau and cast your eyes over the spread of Nice 90 metres beneath you. Though there is a lift that will take you up three quarters of the way, many visitors prefer to climb the stairs so as to savour every step of the ascent. Mont Boron also gives those on holiday to Nice spectacular views of both the beach and the mountains.
A trip to the nearby village of Eze is well worth the effort as you will be treated to the sight of a pretty cactus garden which also yields an excellent vantage point over the surrounding landscape. You can continue your sightseeing with a sortie to Old Nice where you are bound to be enamoured by the picturesque buildings and the maze of narrow streets.
While the beach may be very enticing to the eye, its pebbly shores aren’t exactly a sunbather’s dream. Having said that, nothing should stop you from moving them about and creating a soft lounging space for yourself. Or indeed venturing into the deep blue waters for a swim; provided you are a competent enough swimmer as the currents can be quite strong at times.
Nice has several museums offering visitors access to important historical information as well as several exhibitions of art. These include the Musée Matisse which features plenty of artworks housed in a beautiful 17th century Genoese villa.
The Museum of Asian Art showcases works by artists from different parts of Asia. If you’re keen on archaeology, the Musée et Sites Archeologiques de Cimiez is a place you’ll want to pay a visit. Apart from oodles of information on ancient Gallo-Roman life, the place has a number of activities to keep your children occupied.
The more energetic will be excited by the range of activities available for their entertainment at Nice. If you love skating you will want to find out what is on offer at Fun ‘n Roll which is on rue Cassini. The pick of the activities there are inline skating and rollerblading.
Events
Among the many cultural delights you can look forward to as you plan your Nice escapade is the highly anticipated Nice Jazz Festival, a five day fete held every July. It presents you with the opportunity to be serenaded by the sounds of legends such as Herbie Hancock, The Dap Kings and Erykah Badu. At the Carnaval de Nice you get to let your hair down and party all your cares away as Mardi Gras is celebrated with music and colour.