Nice is a must on any southern France itinerary! It’s relaxing beaches, turquoise water, and red roofed buildings make for a beautiful summer vacation. You don’t need much time focused strictly on Nice so I’ve included a few day trips into this itinerary as well.
Weather: In this hot Mediterranean climate summers are warm and dry with mild winters.
Language: The official language in Nice is French. Although not everyone speaks fluent English, it is still easy enough to get around.
Currency: The official currency is the Euro. We rarely needed cash. The only exception to needing cash are the Farmer’s markets however, many tents did accept card with a small fee.
Transportation: The public transportation (trains in particular) are very efficient. Go to Nice Ville station where you can buy train tickets. More on this below!
Getting There:
We flew directly from JFK to NIC and arrived in the morning. Upon landing, we easily located the tram by following the signs. We purchased a one-way ticket to Nice city center for about $3 for both of us. The tram swiftly transported us into town in approximately 15 minutes. To ensure we exited at the right stop for our hotel, we had mapped it beforehand using Apple Maps and the Rome2rio app. Inside the tram, remember to validate your ticket using the validation machine. If the doors don’t open when the tram arrives, just press the large button on the outside to open them.
Where to Stay:
We chose to stay at Hotel le Nice Etoile, an excellent budget-friendly option. The staff was incredibly friendly, although their English proficiency was limited. The hotel was straightforward to locate and reach. We disembarked at Durandy tram stop, and from there, it was just a short walk to the hotel. Its strategic location was a significant advantage – merely a 7-minute walk to the Old Town, and conveniently close to the train station for our day trips. Although the room was quite small, we didn’t spend much time there, so it didn’t bother us, plus it was spotlessly clean!
What to Do:
Day 1: Nice
- Parc de la Colline- This was probably one of my favorite things in Nice. It was a little bit of a hike up the hill to the top. The gardens are gorgeous and have amazing views of the city. It was so relaxing and fun.
- Morning market- The markets are located in Old Town and are so fun to shop around for fruits, snacks, treasures, postcards, you name it!
- Nice Cathedral
- Walk the beach
- Walk around all the old streets, explore the alleyways, and take many fun and beautiful pictures.
Day 2: Day Trip to Monaco
- Casino Monte Carlo
- Grand Prix racetrack
- Jardin des Pecheurs-There’s a bunch of gardens up this hill. Little bit of a walk but it was beautiful!! We loved exploring.
- Palais Princier de Monaco-We didn’t go inside but it was fun to see.
Pro tip: To travel between cities, use the public train system. Purchase your train tickets at Nice Ville station and board the TER (SNFC) heading towards Ventimiglia. Before you embark, check the timetables to identify the platform for your departure.
Day 3: Day Trip to Ezé and Menton
- Ezé is a castle village that is so picturesque. I strongly recommend strolling through every nook and cranny you can find.
- Exotic gardens at Ezé- These gardens are phenomenal. They have the best views of the coastline and some pretty amazing plants.
- Take a bus from Ezé to Menton
- Menton is a lesser known gem of France near Italy’s border. The town’s coloring is incredible and it’s a city you must not miss when exploring southern France!
- Basilica St Michael in Menton- The famous “orange church” that will take up much room on your camera roll.
- Walk along the coast
What to Eat:
- Ham and cheese baguettes are so delicious. You can’t go wrong with any patisserie.
- La Favola for dinner in Nice- Arrive early! A long queue formed shortly after our arrival. The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic. While it’s a bit pricey, we opted for simple pizzas, and they were way more than we could eat. We could have shared.
- Pastries from a patisserie!! I always recommend.
- Pipo Socca- Good place to try local Socca.
- Definitely get some gelato in Menton!
Non Rev Roamer 