Nice
At the Mediterranean, in the southeastern part of France, as a centre of the flourishing and turquoise French Riviera, you will find Nice – a city which actually once belonged to Italy, but today it is one of the most important travel destinations of France, being somewhat the country’s Rolls-Royce!
The fifth largest city in France – a gem at the clear blue Riviera!
The heart and hub of the city is the car-free square Place Rossetti located in the old city centre, also known as Vieux Nice. The square has a fantastic atmosphere and is surrounded by pastel-coloured buildings, old historical churches/cathedrals and small cobblestoned alleyways. The largest square, which separates the old Nice from the new modern one, which also can be said to be the most important square of the city, is Place Massena where thousands of locals pass by daily on their way to school and work. Take a break from your shopping tour (shopping in Nice is to die for) and sit down with a cup of coffee in one of the many cafés and restaurants at the square, or on the rim of the lovely fountain, located in the corner of the square, and watch French everyday life rush by!
Psst: If you want to go all in with your tourism, you cannot forget to take a selfie in front of the historical statues, doing so is a classic!
We recommend you to explore the city, in particular, the beautiful “old town”, by foot so as not to risk missing all the cosy streets filled with stores and restaurants, teeny tiny squares and colourful cafés. It’s also here, in the “old town”, that the city’s Italian influences are most noticeable, with many hints in the local cuisine. And who doesn’t love Italian cooking? The best of two worlds is what you get in Nice.
The optimal time to visit Nice is during the summer, which lasts for six months from May to October! Though April and November can also offer temperatures above 20 degrees (Celsius), and the city is ideal for a quiet weekend trip with its 300 sunny days a year!
The hallmark and primary defining feature of the city is the walk from the Castle Hill at the harbour towards the flower market in the direction towards the airport which constitutes a 7-kilometre long boardwalk, Promenade des Anglais, with beautiful beaches and curious tourists from the entire world. Here, you can also find exclusive casinos and luxury hotels, including the city’s most prestigious hotel, Hôtel Negresco. Rollerskates are a local favourite at the boardwalk, and there is an uncountable number of vendors for renting these.
France and Nice are among other things associated with beautiful beaches and fine wines, a sophisticated language, elegant culture and pleasure in general. However, Nice can also offer some of France’s best nightlife with a number of trendy night clubs, bars and vibrant shows that attract elite celebrities to party during the summer months.
You will find all this in one single city, and we haven’t even mentioned the French cuisine yet! We will conclude by mentioning that you can enjoy food and drinks in Nice that will stick in your gastronomical recollection for a long time to come…
A final recommendation! There is also Cannes, just 30 kilometres away, with the world’s most prestigious and acclaimed festival, the Cannes Film Festival!
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Tourism Tax in Nice
The French government has introduced a tourism tax for overnight stays in Nice. All hotels and apartment hotels will charge this extra tax. Children and teenagers under the age of 18 are exempted from tourism tax. The tax is paid directly to the hotel, upon checkout at the latest.