Nice

Nice is the largest city on the Côte d'Azur and by far the liveliest. About 33 kilometres from Cannes — half an hour by car or train — it makes an ideal day trip that effortlessly combines fashionable allure with a warm, southern city heart. Anyone who visits Nice immediately tastes why artists, writers and travellers have been falling in love with this city for more than a century. From our apartment in old Le Suquet in Cannes, Nice is easily reached by public transport, so you can explore the city without parking worries. Discover more in our surroundings.

The Promenade des Anglais

The most famous image of Nice is the Promenade des Anglais, the broad boulevard that winds for kilometres along the Baie des Anges. Between the palm trees and the characteristic blue chairs you walk, cycle or skate along the azure water, with the sea on one side and the stately belle-époque facades on the other. The boulevard owes its name to the English winter guests who came to Nice in the nineteenth century and had the path laid out. At sunset the whole bay turns golden — an unforgettable spectacle best experienced with your feet in the water.

Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya

The beating heart of the city is Vieux Nice, the old centre with a maze of narrow, winding streets, ochre-yellow facades and lively squares. Here you find the famous Cours Saleya, with a colourful flower and vegetable market every morning (except Monday) and a large antiques market on Mondays. Taste the local delicacies along the way: a socca (a thin, crisp pancake of chickpea flour), a piece of pissaladière or a fresh glace in one of the countless ice-cream parlours. The scents, colours and the Niçois cuisine make a walk through Vieux Nice a feast for all the senses.

The view from the Colline du Château

Climb or take the lift to the Colline du Château, the green hill above the old town, for the very finest view over the rooftops of Nice, the harbour and the wide bay. Little remains of the old castle, but the park-like hill with its waterfall, pine trees and panoramic terraces is a wonderful place to escape the bustle for a while. The view over the red roofs and the azure sea is one of the iconic images of the Riviera.

A city of art and light

Nice is moreover a true city of art. The Musée Matisse and the Musée Marc Chagall show the work of two great masters who, like so many, were enchanted by the special light of the Riviera. That same light drew artists to the whole hinterland; you find it again in the museums and galleries of the surrounding villages, which you can explore further in our surroundings. Lovers of modern art can fill days in and around Nice.

Gateway to the eastern Riviera

Nice is also an excellent base for the rest of the eastern coast. From here you travel by train or car in no time to Monaco, the eagle's nest Èze, sunny Menton and the Italian border. With its international airport — one of the busiest in France — and excellent connections, Nice is the hub around which the whole region turns. Many visitors to the Côte d'Azur land here first.

Practical

Allow a whole day to do Nice some justice, or visit it several times. The city is large but easy to walk, and the tram takes you swiftly from the station to the old town and the boulevard. Combine a morning at the market with an afternoon by the sea, or plan a museum on a hot day. Nice is lively all year round, but in spring and autumn it is just a touch more pleasant.

A day trip from Cannes

From our apartment in Le Suquet, Nice is one of the most rewarding day trips on the eastern side of the Riviera. Take a look at the apartment and the available dates, and discover the vibrant capital of the Côte d'Azur, where city, sea and art come together half an hour from Cannes.