Our guidebook, for you
Neighbourhoods
Vieux Nice - the Old Town - is the heart and soul of the City dating back millennia. Most of the current buildings date from the late 18th century when the County of Nice was not part of France, hence the quarter's Italian look and feel.
The Old Town is where many young professionals and older people choose to live, as well as being a popular choice for visitors. It's not hard to see why with hundreds of cafés restaurants and boutique shops.
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old nice
Vieux Nice - the Old Town - is the heart and soul of the City dating back millennia. Most of the current buildings date from the late 18th century when the County of Nice was not part of France, hence the quarter's Italian look and feel.
The Old Town is where many young professionals and older people choose to live, as well as being a popular choice for visitors. It's not hard to see why with hundreds of cafés restaurants and boutique shops.
Cimiez was originally established as a Roman hilltop town and you can still see extensive ruins, as well as a largely intact amphitheatre still used for concerts. In the late 19th century a number of wealthy Europeans began to spend the Winter in Nice and many grand palace hotels were built, including the Excelsior Regina where the British Queen Victoria stayed. From the 1950s onwards a number of stylish apartment buildings were constructed epitomising the mid-century glamour of the French Riviera. Today the area is a largely a residential quarter with a number of popular cultural attractions, and great for wandering round. Stopping off for a glass of rosé or an ice cream of course.
Cimiez is where you'll find the Matisse and Chagall museums.
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Cimiez
Cimiez was originally established as a Roman hilltop town and you can still see extensive ruins, as well as a largely intact amphitheatre still used for concerts. In the late 19th century a number of wealthy Europeans began to spend the Winter in Nice and many grand palace hotels were built, including the Excelsior Regina where the British Queen Victoria stayed. From the 1950s onwards a number of stylish apartment buildings were constructed epitomising the mid-century glamour of the French Riviera. Today the area is a largely a residential quarter with a number of popular cultural attractions, and great for wandering round. Stopping off for a glass of rosé or an ice cream of course.
Cimiez is where you'll find the Matisse and Chagall museums.
Although most visitors will visit the Cours Saleya, arguably the best market in Nice is at Libération (easily reached by tram). After wandering round the market, perhaps have a bite to eat in the one of the surrounding cafés on Place du Général de Gaulle - or in the refurbished former Gare du Sud. A few minutes away (walk north) is the striking concrete Église Sainte-Jeanne d’Arc completed in 1934 - and still controversial!
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Liberation
Although most visitors will visit the Cours Saleya, arguably the best market in Nice is at Libération (easily reached by tram). After wandering round the market, perhaps have a bite to eat in the one of the surrounding cafés on Place du Général de Gaulle - or in the refurbished former Gare du Sud. A few minutes away (walk north) is the striking concrete Église Sainte-Jeanne d’Arc completed in 1934 - and still controversial!
City/town information
Take a bus to this attractive town near Nice for lunch, and perhaps a walk round Cap Ferrat which has a good coastal footpath.
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Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Take a bus to this attractive town near Nice for lunch, and perhaps a walk round Cap Ferrat which has a good coastal footpath.
Beautiful hilltop village with great restaurants and boutique shops, and fab views towards the coast and mountains. Can be reached by bus from the city centre.
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Saint Paul de Vence
Beautiful hilltop village with great restaurants and boutique shops, and fab views towards the coast and mountains. Can be reached by bus from the city centre.
One of the many spectacular hilltop villages around Nice, Eze is easily reached by bus. Or, if you’re feeling fit, take the train to Eze-sur-Mer and walk up the ancient steps to the village.
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Èze
One of the many spectacular hilltop villages around Nice, Eze is easily reached by bus. Or, if you’re feeling fit, take the train to Eze-sur-Mer and walk up the ancient steps to the village.
Hilltop Monaco-Ville is worth a visit, especially for its amazing Oceanographic Museum. Facing Monaco-Ville is the other hill of Monte-Carlo with its famous Casino. The train station is between the two, a 20 minute journey from Nice.
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Monaco
Hilltop Monaco-Ville is worth a visit, especially for its amazing Oceanographic Museum. Facing Monaco-Ville is the other hill of Monte-Carlo with its famous Casino. The train station is between the two, a 20 minute journey from Nice.
One of our favourite day trips from Nice, easily reached by train. We often take the train one way and walk to/from Monte-Carlo along the really good coastal footpath. Menton has a lovely sandy beach as well as great restaurants, museums and gardens.
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Menton
One of our favourite day trips from Nice, easily reached by train. We often take the train one way and walk to/from Monte-Carlo along the really good coastal footpath. Menton has a lovely sandy beach as well as great restaurants, museums and gardens.
Food scene
One of our favourite places to eat, but you will need to make a reservation (which can be done online).
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Olive&Artichaut
6 Rue Sainte-ReparateOne of our favourite places to eat, but you will need to make a reservation (which can be done online).
A foodie heaven. Innovative, modern French cooking with a twist. We love it. Reservations needed.
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Les Agitateurs
24 Rue BonaparteA foodie heaven. Innovative, modern French cooking with a twist. We love it. Reservations needed.
Le Bistrot de Gillou
30 Rue AlbertiOur new favourite. Simple, flavoursome cooking
Favourite Cafés
Comptoir Central Électrique
10 Rue BonaparteFunky café-bar on Rue Bonaparte. Great cocktails.
Sightseeing
Fabulous Belle Époque villa with spectacular gardens built for one of the Rothschild banking family members. There’s a good multilingual app and once you’ve finished wandering round, the terrace cafe is great place to chill. Take the bus to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the driver will stop at the foot of the drive. Or, take the train to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and follow the coastal path and signs.
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Villa og haver Ephrussi de Rothschild
1 Av. Ephrussi de RothschildFabulous Belle Époque villa with spectacular gardens built for one of the Rothschild banking family members. There’s a good multilingual app and once you’ve finished wandering round, the terrace cafe is great place to chill. Take the bus to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the driver will stop at the foot of the drive. Or, take the train to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and follow the coastal path and signs.
One of our favourite places to chill, very close to our Rue Neuve apartment. The château itself is ruined but there are lots of places to walk, sit or sunbathe . There are a couple of snack bars open every day, and in the summer there are often evening concerts and plays. The château hill is definitely the place to go for the best views of Nice.
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Castle of Nice
One of our favourite places to chill, very close to our Rue Neuve apartment. The château itself is ruined but there are lots of places to walk, sit or sunbathe . There are a couple of snack bars open every day, and in the summer there are often evening concerts and plays. The château hill is definitely the place to go for the best views of Nice.
A few minute’s walk from our Le Lesseps apartment in lower Cimiez is the Chagall Museum, one of France’s national galleries. The museum also has a lovely lavender and olive tree garden with an indoor/outdoor bistro that’s great for lunch. Top tip - access to the garden and bistro is free!
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Marc Chagall National Museum
Avenue Docteur MénardA few minute’s walk from our Le Lesseps apartment in lower Cimiez is the Chagall Museum, one of France’s national galleries. The museum also has a lovely lavender and olive tree garden with an indoor/outdoor bistro that’s great for lunch. Top tip - access to the garden and bistro is free!
Further up the hill of Cimiez from our Le Lesseps is another of our favourite places to chill. The Parc des Arènes de Cimiez has a beautiful olive grove with a snack bar and a pétanque court. You can also visit the remains of the Roman town , the Matisse Museum and the Monastery of Cimiez with its own beautiful gardens. Enough to do for at least half a day! If you’re staying in our apartment at Le Lesseps it’s a 20 minute stroll uphill, otherwise it’s on several bus routes.
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Musee Matisse
164 Av. des Arènes de CimiezFurther up the hill of Cimiez from our Le Lesseps is another of our favourite places to chill. The Parc des Arènes de Cimiez has a beautiful olive grove with a snack bar and a pétanque court. You can also visit the remains of the Roman town , the Matisse Museum and the Monastery of Cimiez with its own beautiful gardens. Enough to do for at least half a day! If you’re staying in our apartment at Le Lesseps it’s a 20 minute stroll uphill, otherwise it’s on several bus routes.
Entrevaux is an ancient town overlooked by a medieval castle high on a rocky crag. It’s a great day out from Nice by train - the wonderful «Train des Pignes» which leaves from the Gare des Chemins de Fer de Provence.
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Entrevaux
Entrevaux is an ancient town overlooked by a medieval castle high on a rocky crag. It’s a great day out from Nice by train - the wonderful «Train des Pignes» which leaves from the Gare des Chemins de Fer de Provence.
Råd om byen
Sådan kommer du omkring
Nice has an excellent tram, bus and train network.
There are two tram lines and tickets are valid for a journey of 74 minutes which includes switching to a bus and vice versa. Best option is to buy a 10 journey ticket or if think you'll make a lot of trips, a day or weekly pass is best.
Gå ikke glip af
Walking along the Promenade at sunset
Do as the Niçois do and take an evening stroll along the Promenade des Anglais.
Sådan kommer du omkring
Download the Lignes d’Azur app for real time bus information
The Lignes d’Azur app can be used in French or English to plan routes and advise you when the next bus is due.
Måder at spare penge på
Ligne d’Azur buses and trams
Rather than pay €1.50 for each bus or tram ride, a 10 journey pass costs €10 and can be used by more than one person. A weekly pass giving unlimited travel makes sense if you’re planning to visit lots of places in and around Nice.
Måder at spare penge på
Pass Isabelle - regional trains
The Pass Isabelle costs €35 and gives unlimited rail travel for up to 2 adults and up to 2 children (under 16) for a day. Great for a trip to slightly farther away places like Tende, Menton, Cannes, Marseille or the perfume city of Grasse. Not valid on the TGV.