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 suffers 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 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.
Attractions in the city
Apart from the weather, and a long lovely beach, Nice has many other attractions too.
Old Nice is a lovely part of the town featuring a maze of streets and alleys.
It has a different, more quaint and 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.
A suggestion is to book a guided walking tour in the old town and you also have an option to visit the Castle Hill and Colline du Château.
Nice has some excellent museums too, and you can read about these and other attractions at “Nice attractions and events page”.
Beautiful and popular up through history
This coastal resort town on the French Riviera certainly lives up to its nickname of ‘Nice the Beautiful’.
The city itself is beautiful, so also the surrounding area.
Nice has ancient origins but it’s best known as a resort town, and since the mid-18th century it’s been attracting visitors from around Europe for its great climate.
The English upper-classes were particularly taken with Nice, and they came in their droves for extended summer holidays or to spend their winters here, enjoying the milder weather than England provided.
In fact, 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.
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 second largest hotel capacity in the country, hotels do still get booked up in advance, especially during the busier summer season.
There are several hundred hotels along with many B&B and budget hotels to choose from.
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 to go art deco you can stay at the Palais de la Mediterranee, also a 5 star.
How to get there ?
The Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is the main entryway to the French Riviera and to the inland regions of Provence, as well as Monaco, handling over 10 million passengers every year.
Nice Airport Website with information: https://www.nice.aeroport.fr/
It is also easy to get here by train from most cities in Europe.
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, and despite the added rainfall, it’s still very sunny.
Nice actually has over 2,700 hours of sunshine per year and this is one reason why the city has long attracted artists for its great light conditions.