The beautiful city Nice on the French Riviera

nice_beach

Most visitors to the French Riviera must have spent some idle moments musing about moving to this coast.

Living in one of these vibrant towns and cities set like sparkling jewels along a ribbon of gorgeous coastline beside the Mediterranean must feel like a year-round cavalcade of pleasures beneath a sky that’s shades of blue.

And it’s true – when much of Europe suffer the whims of the weather, even in the height of the summer, the Med has far more sun than showers.

And when it comes to festivals and celebrations, visitors are spoilt for choice right through the glorious heights of the holiday season.

With the sea lapping at its shores, it’s hardly surprising that boat shows are big attractions, and there’s plenty to please fans of the film, live music and theatre.

There are also some of the best golf courses in Europe, Monaco’s Grand Prix for a fast-car fix, and yachts lined up in gorgeous marinas if you fancy a bit of boat envy.

Some, of course, just come for the shopping, everywhere along the Côte d’Azur.

It’s not quite so strenuous as a sporting activity unless you’re battling the crowds for big brand bargains at January sale time.

Museum Matisse

Attractions in the city

Apart from the weather and a lovely long beach, Nice has many other attractions.

Old Nice is a beautiful part of the town featuring a maze of streets and alleys.

It has a different, quaint, laid-back atmosphere compared to other parts of the city.

It’s great for wandering around; head for the flower and fruit market for a more vibrant atmosphere in the old town.

If you enjoy walking, you’ll find fabulous views by walking the trail and steps up to Castle Hill Colline du Chateau, overlooking the city.

Nice has some excellent museums too, and you can read about these and other attractions on the “Nice attractions and events page”.

Beautiful and popular throughout history

This coastal resort town on the French Riviera certainly lives up to its nickname ‘Nice the Beautiful’.

The city itself is beautiful, as also the surrounding area.

Nice has ancient origins, but it’s best known as a resort town, and since the mid-18^th century, it’s been attracting visitors from around Europe for its excellent climate.

The English upper classes were particularly taken with Nice; they came in their droves for extended summer holidays or to spend their winters here, enjoying the milder weather than England provided.

Nice was so popular with the British that the city’s seaside promenade was named Promenade des Anglais – the Walkway of the English!

Today it’s not just the English who are attracted to Nice; people from all over the world come here to enjoy the city’s shops, great restaurants, events, festivals and culture.

Destination

Check-in date

Mon 16 Sep 2024

Check-out date

Tue 17 Sep 2024

I don't have specific dates yet

View from the luxury Hotel Negresco

Many Great Hotels to choose from

As one of the most visited cities in France (around 4 million tourists per year), hotels are in high demand.

Despite having the country’s second-largest hotel capacity, hotels still get booked up in advance, especially during the busier summer season.

There are several hundred hotels and many B&B and budget hotels.

Luxury Hotels in Nice

Hotel Boscolo Exedra, where everything is decorated in white and gold.

Hotel Negresco and the Boscolo Exedra Nice are 5-star rated.

Both have beautiful Belle Epoque architecture.

If you prefer art deco, you can stay at the Palais de la Mediterranee, also a 5-star.

More luxury hotels in Nice here

How to get there?

The Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is the main entryway to the French Riviera and the inland regions of Provence, as well as Monaco, handling over 10 million passengers annually.

Nice Airport Website with information: https://www.nice.aeroport.fr/

It is also easy to get here by train from most European cities.

French Railway Website: https://www.sncf.com/

Weather and climate

The Mediterranean climate keeps the city mild all year round, with temperatures peaking in July and August.

During these summer months, Nice is hot, with average highs of around 27C.

Temperatures are pleasant from April through to November, and although they drop to around 13C over the winter months, despite the added rainfall, it’s still very sunny.

Nice has over 2,700 hours of sunshine annually, which is why the city has long attracted artists for its extraordinary light conditions.