Visit Nice, France
Updated: Jul 17, 2022
Nice is located in the French Riviera, on the southeast coast of France on the Mediterranean sea, bordered by Provence to the west, the Alps to the north and Italy to the east.
Nice is known as the capital on the French Riviera and is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast after Marseille.
The population in the metropolitan area of Nice is about 1 million.
The beautiful city has a lot to offer. Its natural picturesque beauty in combination with lively city ambiance and mild Mediterranean climate attract tourists and visitors all year round.
The town is easy to explore on foot, has some excellent street markets, breathtaking seafront promenade, charming Old town and lively squares. Nice is surprisingly affordable and can serve as a base and starting point to your gateway to the spectacular places on the French Riviera.
What to see and do while in Nice? Here are some ideas.
Main Attractions and Places to Visit:
Promenade des Anglais and the Beach
The most famous seafront boulevard in Nice gets its name from the English expat patrons who paid for it in 1822.
The beautiful promenade attracts like a magnet. It stretches for seven kilometers along the Mediterranean sea, from the airport in the west of the city, to the Castle Hill in the east.
The promenade consists of a two-way street lined with palm trees, cycle paths, wide pedestrian zone
dotted with kiosks, pergolas, restaurants and lounge chairs that give strollers the opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy the view of Baie des Anges.
The wide and long pebble beach is divided into private and public areas. The amazing blue water of the sea is inviting visitors to dive in.
The promenade is also lined with opulent iconic buildings and high-class hotels such as the Palais de la Méditerranée Theater, the Opera House and Villa Masséna Palace, which houses a museum of art and history and is surrounded by a beautiful park with formal French gardens.
Another exceptional building on the promenade is the Le Negresco , which is listed as a National Historical Monument. Le Negresco is a lavish five-star luxury hotel with a world-class art collection.
A walk along the promenade is a wonderful way to wind down, relax, ride a bicycle, skateboard or enjoy a meeting with friends.
Castle Hill ( La Colline du Chateau )
A must-see place in Nice that offers spectacular panoramic views of Baie des Anges, the Old Town, the Port and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Hill is 92 meters above sea level and it's located between the Promenade des Anglais and the Port of Nice.
Probably you would expect to see a castle on the hill, but it was destroyed in 1706 and today all that is left of the castle are ruins.
Another reason to climb the hill is the beautiful park where you can stroll and relax. There are playgrounds for children and meandering alleys that make it a wonderful place for families and picnics. The main highlight of the park is a beautiful artificial waterfall. There is also a historic cemetery and Belanda Tower.
If you don't want to climb the hundreds of steps to reach the top, you can get the free elevator or a little tourist train.
Place Masséna
Centrally located at the crossroads of several main boulevards and walking distance to Promenade des Anglais, Old Town, town center, and Albert I Garden, Place Massena is the heart of the city. It's a vibrant place where many public events take place. It is used for concerts, summer festivals and is also a major location for the famous Carnaval de Nice.
The square is dominated by the Fontaine du Soleil, a splendid fountain featuring a statue of Apollo, the Greek Sun God. It's one of the emblematic places in Nice and it's a great place for taking photos.
Colorful buildings with impressive red facades surround the square and enhance the vibrance of the place.
Right next to Place Massena is located the Promenade du Paillon, a green space that features
children’s playgrounds, gardens and a massive water mirror pool equipped with 128 water jets and fountains that spray water in a random pattern.
Avenue Jean Medecin
For some retail therapy the area around Place Massena is a great option. Avenue Jean Medecin which starts at Place Massena is the major shopping street in the city with plenty of stores and brands to choose from. The street is almost entirely pedestrianized with tramlines running along.
On Avenue Jean Medecin is located the majestic Basilica of Notre Dame de Nice, built in the Gothic style between 1864 and 1868.
