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Sightseeing in Nice

Nice’s coastal boulevard, the famous Promenade des Anglais (Walkway of the English). The English aristocracy - the first to appreciate the mild winters and delightful summers of this beautiful city - have always been a typical presence in Nice. On this walk alongside the Baie des Anges (Bay of the Angels), one image that will delight you and you will want to photograph is that of the bicycles that are - almost always - locked to the railings that separate the road from the beach.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC) awaits you at the heart of the city. The museum first opened its gates in 1990 and hosts over 1,300 works of art by at least 300 different artists, including Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol as well as temporary exhibitions. Aside from a dip into contemporary art, you should grab the chance to go up to the museum roof, from where there is a stunning view.
Address: Place Yves Klein, www.mamac-nice.org 

A major attraction in the city is the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice (Nice Museum of Fine Arts). Here you can admire the rich collections, which include, among others, works by Monet, Renoir and Picasso as well as sculptures by Rodin.
Address: 33 Avenue des Baumettes, www.musee-beaux-arts-nice.org

Visit the Musée Matisse (Matisse Museum), which is housed in an old Genoese villa, which was formerly the home of the city’s archaeological museum. Admire the works of the great painter or, if you are not familiar with his paintings, learn more about him. Although he was not born here, Matisse spent the largest part of his life in Nice.
Address: 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, www.musee-matisse-nice.org

The painter Marc Chagall also has his “own” museum in the city. In the Musée Marc Chagall (Marc Chagall National Museum), among the approximately 400 works by the artist, there is also his famous collection of the “Biblical Message”, comprised of 17 works inspired by the Old Testament.
Address: 36 Avenue Docteur Ménard, http://musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/chagall 

In Place Masséna, the central square of the old town which effectively divides it from the new one, porticoes, red ochre buildings with details in white and white and black tiles on the ground make for an impressive scene. The seven raised “Buddhas”, which are lit up in different colours, make the square even more magical at night. The seven Buddhas represent the seven continents, and the “communication between different communities in today’s world ".

The Palais Lascaris was built in 1648 by Jean-Baptiste Lascaris, descendant of Theodoros Lascaris, founder of the Empire of Nicaea.

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St Nicholas is considered one of the most beautiful Russian churches outside Russia. It was built by Tsar Nicholas in 1859 and is particularly impressive as its onion-shaped domes (typical of Russian church-building) touch, as the sun sets, the orange sky of the French riviera.
Address: Αvenue Nicolas II, https://www.sobor.fr

Things to do in Nice

Climb up the castle hill to admire from up high the endless coastline that stretches out to the right, and the marina, with its impressive, luxury yachts to the left. In the afternoon, the sun’s rays, as it sets, paint the Bay of Angels with all possible shades of orange. What will definitely excite you are the modern mosaic pieces, which have the first lines of the Odyssey written upon them. From here up high, the eye travels from one side with the Mediterranean, to the other with the snow-covered French Alps.

Wander around the narrow streets of the old town.Most of the houses are painted in the colours of the sunset and ochre, while you will not be able to resist photographing the large wooden windows! Nice is a city that ideally combines the traditional architecture that is reminiscent of Venetian rule and elements of the Belle Époque with modern architecture.

Excursions

Don’t miss the opportunity to take a day trip to the “queen” of the Cote d’Azur, Cannes, along the famous La Croisette, one of the most famous roads in the world, and neighbouring Monaco, which is just 13 km away.

In Monaco, you can admire the Prince's Palace of Monaco, the official government seat of the Principality and residence of the royal family, the striking Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate and the Oceanographic Museum, which was directed for many years by the famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and which is today home to over 4,000 species of fish.

Monaco is known worldwide for the Grand Prix that has been staged here annually since 1929. If you are a fan of single-seater auto racing then you should wait until May for the big event. Even so, car lovers visiting Monaco will have much to enjoy as they gaze on the luxury vehicles on the streets, such as Bentleys, Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, against a backdrop of stunning buildings!

A visit to the world-famous casino of Monte Carlo is required. In front of the marble, Belle Époque building with the golden adornments are the beautiful gardens with fountains. You must show your passport in order to enter, however as Monégasques are banned from gambling!

Entertainment in Nice

The centre of nightlife in Nice is without a doubt the coastal Promenade des Anglais, where the trendiest bars and clubs are located. This is not to say that you won’t have a good time if you get lost in the labyrinth of the old town and dive into one of the many bars that you will find there. Most have live music. One well-known place is the sumptuous Le Relais in the luxury Hotel Le Negresco on the waterfront, where you can enjoy a relaxed drink to the sounds of jazz and piano.

There are two casinos on the Promenade des Anglais, the Palais de la Mediterranee and the Ruhl, for those who would like to try their luck.

Before leaving Nice, make sure to try the local specialities, such as the pissaladière, the famous focaccia with vegetables, Nice olives and anchovies, the pan bagnat, a sandwich with tuna, and, of course, the salad Niçoise!

Shopping

Wander through the picturesque lanes of the old town to buy souvenirs, soaps made with olive oil and small masterpieces of folk art.

For lovers of fashion, there are two hotspots that you must visit, the area around Place Masséna and Rue de France, parallel with the coastal Promenade des Anglais, where the shopfronts of the high fashion brands are displayed.

On Rue Paradis dare yourselves to enter the Chanel boutique to admire the jewellery and fragrance collections. In Nice there are also many open-air markets, where you can buy a wide range of goods.

Getting to Nice

Take the express line from the airport or bus Χ98 from outside the airport in the direction of Promenade des Arts/Lycée Masséna to get a first taste of the city. The Χ98 travels to the city by following the coastal avenue, with a fantastic view over the sea. A little before it terminates it will turn and allow you to disembark in the old town of Nice, very close to Place Garibaldi (Garibaldi Square). The Χ98 departs regularly every 20 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi, for which there is a set far of 32 euros for a journey from the airport to the city centre!