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Nice Travel Guide

Travel to Nice - Cosmopolitan City on the French Riviera

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The cosmopolitan city of Nice, located on the French Riviera in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is a mixture of superb beaches, cultural sights and museums, and fantastic shopping and restaurants.

The city is located on the Bay of Angels and has a wonderful crescent-shaped, 5 km long beach. Running the length of the beach is the Promenade des Anglais, a long walkway built in the 1830s where most of the elegant hotels, restaurants and shops are situated. Travellers can not only enjoy the city’s main sights and museums but there are many opportunities for fishing, swimming and sailing.

Roman occupation of Nice can be traced back to 14 BC, the start of the Roman Empire and it was at this time that the Romans effectively built a second town, Cemenelum, on Cimiez hill. More recently the 17th century saw the emergence of baroque art in Nice with facades painted in warm reds and yellows and doorways and window sills painted in contrasting colours of blues and greens.

The restoration of the facades over the last few decades has returned Nice to its former baroque glory. For centuries Nice was a merchant port and city before gradually becoming a tourist destination in the 18th and 19th centuries when it became the winter playground of the rich and famous. After the Second World War, mass tourism grew and the city became a summer holiday resort.

Attractions in Nice

The Musee des Beaux Arts features work from great Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists including Monet, Renoir, Duffy and Sisley. From Colline du Chateau, where there is an old fort, there are wonderful panoramic views of Nice and the French Riviera.

The main outdoor market is the Marche aux Fleurs which is located in the old city, here you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.The town of Antibes is located just west of Nice and has a lovely sandy beach, an interesting old town dating back to the 5th century and Europe's largest yacht harbour.

The city of Cannes, located just west of Nice, can be visited very easily by city bus. Best known for the Cannes Film Festival which is held in the city each May, the town attracts the rich and famous to its expensive shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Monte Carlo is located in the Principality of Monaco just east of Nice. The town can be easily visited from Nice by bus and is best known for its Grand Casino but other attractions include the Palais Princier, the Musee Ocenanographique and the Jardin Botanique.

Activities in Nice

The city can be explored easily in a couple of days however if you have an extra day or two you can explore the surrounding area or just relax on the beach.

Relaxing

Take a stroll around the old town followed by a leisurely lunch where you can sample the local seafood delicacies.

Getting Around

The best place to stay is right in the centre of Nice in the Carre d'Or, the Old Town or the port. From here you can easily explore the town on foot. Taxis should be avoided as they are extremely expensive, it is better to take one of the local buses if you do not want to walk.