Welcome to Nice. 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.
Altstadt von Nizza
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.
Chic, arty neighbourhood where Queen Victoria spent some of her winters. Home to the Matisse and Chagall museums and some impressive Roman ruins.
Cimiez
Chic, arty neighbourhood where Queen Victoria spent some of her winters. Home to the Matisse and Chagall museums and some impressive Roman ruins.
Favourite places to eat and drink
Funky café-bar on Rue Bonaparte. Great cocktails.
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Comptoir Central Électrique
10 Rue BonaparteFunky café-bar on Rue Bonaparte. Great cocktails.
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
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).
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.
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 & Jardins 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.
Just off Boulevard de Cimiez you’ll find 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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Musée National Marc Chagall
Avenue Docteur MénardJust off Boulevard de Cimiez you’ll find 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 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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Musée Matisse
164 Av. des Arènes de CimiezFurther up the hill of Cimiez 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.
Tipps für Reisende
Verkehrsmittel
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. You need to buy a card (La Carte) on a bus or at a tram stop. You can then top it up with tickets from a machine or online. The more tickets you buy, the cheaper each journey.
Nicht verpassen
Walking along the Promenade at sunset
Do as the Niçois do and take an evening stroll along the Promenade des Anglais.
Verkehrsmittel
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.
So kannst du sparen
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.