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Nice

Introduction to Nice

Nice - The Prime Entry to the French Riviera

Capital of the French Riviera, Nice is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Located just a few kilometers from the Italian border, right between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, Nice has an ideal location for vacationers from France, as well as Italy.

Climate : mild, bright sun,
Known for: Diverse landscapes, beautiful beaches with blue azure waters
City offers : History, culture, art, creation, events, leisure, nature, and culinary flavors

Nice is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe, officially founded by the Greeks around 350 BC.

Many visitors to France say that Nice is their favourite French city because of its great beauty and mild climate.

Getting There

Getting There:

By Plane:
Nice-Côte d’Azur International Airport (NCE) is the third busiest airport in France and serves as an entry point to the Côte d'Azur and Monaco.
It is well connected to Nice, Monaco and Italy via the Promenade des Anglais; and to Cannes and Antibes via other routes.

Nice is served by many carriers from all over France and Europe. 54 carriers across the world operate direct flights to Nice from 30 countries.

By Train:
Direct TGV runs from Paris and can take over 5.5 hours. Rail services are also available from Lille, Lyon and Marseille.
SNCF railway station: connected to all major cities

By Road:
Nice is over 9 hours from Paris.
Motorway A 8: links to European capitals

By Water:
Nice Port is used as a starting point for many popular cruises. Many Cruiseliners include Nice in their itinerary. The port also connects to Corsica.

Read more at: http://ee.france.fr/en/discover/nice-cote-azur

Food

Also don't miss the old town with its many narrow streets - its "Piazzetta" offers many other treasures. Urban, cultural, seaside and culinary explorations are all awaiting you.

Nice and its area have a culture and traditions that have much in common with those of Italy. While the city's many fine restaurants and hotels serve the best food in the French tradition, local specialities in and around Nice have a distinctly Italian and Mediterranean flavour.

Pissaladière is a kind of onion pizza with anchovies.
Nice ravioli, or ravioles, need little introduction.
"les farcis", literally "stuffed things", are vegetables, notably aubergines or courgettes (zucchini), stuffed with a meat rice and herb mix.
Socca, known in Italy as Farinata, is a seasoned pancake made from chick-pea flour and olive oil.
As a seaport, Nice is also a town known for its seafood, including dishes with the classic Mediterranean fish red mullet (rouget) and sea bream (dorade).

Things to see

Nice combines an authentic charm with the conviviality of the Mediterranean by offering a host of activities and sites to visits.

Thanks to the French Riviera Pass, you can receive discounts on some of the city's top guided tours and museums.
Discover or rediscover Nice, a city of scents and flavors, through visiting some of the many markets, boasting fresh flowers, vegetables, fruit and fish.
The sea front, called the Promenade des Anglais.
The old port; the old city and flower market, the Matisse and Chagall museums.
Landmarks
- Place Masséna
- Promenade des Anglais
- Villa Masséna

Historic Centre and Museums

Even if Nice had nothing in the way of museums and monuments, it would be a place whose charms would be enough to satisfy many of its visitors.

Old Town (Vieux Nice)

The old city of Nice arcs round inland from "Castle Hill", from the Promenade des Anglais to the old port. Its backstreets are filled with cosy cafés, baroque churches, charming boutiques and flâneurs (strollers). Nice, being close to the Italian borders, is very much influenced by the country’s architecture and culture.

Museums

Until recently many of the museums were free; but charges have now been introduced.

Musée Matisse showcases the diverse work of former Nice resident, Henri Matisse and is housed in a stunning Genoese villa .
Musée National Marc Chagall is dedicated to the works of Marc Chagall, including the 17 Biblical Message paintings.
Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Nice is a natural history museum that celebrates the rich biodiversity of the Mediterranean,
Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain (MAMAC) features over 400 works of modern art, from artists like Warhol, Wesselmann, Lichtenstein and some of France’s most celebrated avant-garde artists.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice is housed in a lavish, late 19th-century building and showcases sculptures by Rodin and Degas, paintings by Van Loo, Fragonard, Dufy, Rodin, and Monet, with works of art ranging from the 13th to the 20th century.

Beaches

Nice has one of the longest and most famous beaches of the French Riviera. Even though the beach is not sandy, but of small pebbles, millions of bathers continue to be driven here each year.

The pebbly beach of Plage Publique des Ponchettes throngs with bronzed bodies relaxing or playing a game of beach volleyball while operators rent out catamarans and jet skis. There are dozens of shops and cafes around the area too.

Old port Nice : The old port is nowadays a yachting marina, where visitors can admire the luxury yachts of the super-rich.

Tourist attractions around Nice

Nice is well connected to the Riviera coast and to the Alpine hinterland by public transport.

Villefranche sur Mer

A delightful small old seaside town, with narrow streets and small beaches.

Beaulieu sur mer

A seaside town, the most exclusive of Nice's suburbs, on a rocky peninsula.

Villa Ephrussi House and gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Garden lovers should climb the hill to visit the exquisite house and famous gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

There are various Organized Tours that cover the main towns of the Riviera. The tours range from 4 hours to 8 hours.

The French Riviera Pass

Discover Nice and the Côte d'Azur with a single card.

It provides free access to the most important sites in Nice and on the Côte d'Azur and helps you make big savings on your holiday budget!

Available options: 24h, 48h and 72h

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