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Let’s switch it up a little bit and talk about this beautiful city in the French Riviera!
Nice is pronounced as /niːs/ or NEESS 🌞! It is located right on Southern France, by the marvelous Mediterranean Coast ⛵. If you are planning a vacation to France, Nice is totally worth your while. Let me show you why and list some interesting places to visit there! Plan your destinations to have the best time 🥰

What is Nice known for? 🤔

Nice is known for its temperate climate, relaxed lifestyle, and lovely and seaside views. It is the capital of Côte d’Azur, and is a go-to beach vacation destination for aristocrats from all over Europe since the 18th century. This city is the second-largest in France after Paris, and is famous for being an excellent city to visit during winter 🏖️. Many French people choose Nice as their go-to retirement destination because of its amazing views and slower art de vivre!

The Niçarde cuisine is also famous and has its own signature dishes. Experience the local cuisine by trying out Socca (a traditional chickpea flour pancake), Pissaladière (basically french onion soup in pizza form), and Pan Bagnat (sandwich with tuna, egg, olives, and anchovies).

City-hopping in the French Riviera! 🦞

Choosing to stay in Nice is also very ideal for first-time visitors to the French Riviera. Many amazingly beautiful cities in South of France are accessible within a short train ride. You can choose Nice as your basecamp and visit Antibes, Villefrance-sur-mer, Cannes, Èze, and Monaco! Let me know if that’s something you’d like to know more about 💕

Is Nice safe for female solo travellers? 🧳

In my experience, I never felt unsafe during my visit! I stayed at a hostel near the beach and explored Antibes, Èze, and Monaco. Plenty of kind and helpful people, and it was a nice change to experience the slow pace of life in contrast to Paris. I was much more vigilant in Paris, but please do watch out for pickpockets in Nice as well.

Top 10 Places to visit in Nice! 🙌

1. Promenade des Anglais 🏖️

If you go to Nice and did not visit Promenade des Anglais, did you even go here? This legendary beach walk is the most recognizably “Nice” place in the city! Walk along this beautiful path by the beach, and you can find beautiful (pebbly) beaches to sunbathe on.

Grab a spot at a private beach club for a more exclusive ambiance with private beaches. You can also visit Fountain of the Sun and Place Masséna that are close by. They are key meeting points in the city!

2. Flower market (Marché aux fleurs Cours Saleya) 🌷

Taste the biggest, juiciest, sweetest berries in the Cours Saleya Market! This flower market is also full of (you guessed it) fresh flowers and local delicacies. It is a great place to try the unique socca, pissaladière, pan bagnat, salade niçoise and various baked goods. True to its name, you will also find a ton of beautiful flowers and plenty of local products.

Sniff the fragrant lavender soaps, get a cute straw beach bag, grab some freshly pressed olive oil, and eat a slice of tourte de blettes here! 🥧😋 This is the place to find the best things as souvenirs for your loved ones.

3. Hotel Negresco 💗

Built in 1913, Le Negresco Hotel is iconic for its pink-and-turquoise façade à la Wes Anderson movies! The legendary hotel is surrounded by palm trees and is one of the best luxury hotels in the area. It is located right by the Promenade des Anglais and you won’t be able to resist taking a pic.

4. Fountain of the Sun (Fontaine du soleil) ⛲

An absolute icon of the city and source of debates between the Niçoises, this fountain shows the sun god Apollo with little horses carved out as his crown. Some local residents were conflicted due to the historical monument ‘s proud nudity when the statue was first erected.

It was moved at some point, but is now back in the square. Absolutely beautiful place and a popular attraction. 🌞

5. Place Masséna 🏙️

Place Massena is a square in the heart of Nice. It is one of the most famous landmarks of the city and for a good reason. It is a short walk from Promenade des Angles and it was the meeting point for free walking tour! The square is decorated with modern art statues, and they light up in different colors at night. The contrast between historic Old Town of Nice and contemporary art is breathtaking.

6. Jean Mèdecin Avenue 🛍️

Avenue jean médecin is the main shopping street in the city center, complete with plenty of shops and malls. Swing by this street to find the perfect souvenir or a last-minute toiletry emergency.

7. Castle Hill Park (Parc de la colline du château) 🌿

The French troops destroyed the castle in 1706, but now it is a green, romantic park. The panoramic views are absolutely stunning, the best view of the city I must say! Hike up this hill to see and take a super picturesque photo of the Nice coastline. It is a little steep and quite a bit of a walk, but the view was worth it!

8. Matisse Museum (Musée Matisse) 🎨

Henri Matisse lived in Nice for 37 years until his death in 1954, and he is commemorated in this picturesque museum. Highly inspired by the colors of the Méditerranée, Matisse’s works are proudly displayed in this site!

9. Park Cimiez 🏵️

This historic area is an absolute delight for history buffs! It has historical traces of human dwellings in the roman ruins, and it has a very colorful monastery as well. Check out the olive garden and archeological museum while you’re at it!

10. Port Lympia ⛵

The port of Nice is the perfect place for a sunset chill session. Grab a beer at the Irish pub nearby, watch the sun turning everything orange as it sets, and soak up the last rays of the day.

I hope you find this guide useful, and let me know if you have any questions! Enjoy your vacay, and until then I’d like to send you good vibes 💕

P.S. = If you are traveling around Paris, get my must try food list for Paris! Also find out how to do a day trip from Paris to Mont St Michel 😉

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