NICE

One of the highlights of our 3+1 Côte d’Azur tour* was, of course, Nice. We arrived making terrible ‘nice/Nice’ jokes, yet this charming coastal city genuinely captivated us. Even in autumn it welcomed us warmly, and perhaps because the atmosphere felt more relaxed than we expected, we liked it more than most of the other French cities we had visited—with the exception of Paris.
*Our 3+1 Côte d’Azur tour: Nice, Saint-Tropez, Cannes + Monaco :)

PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND NICE

We divided our Nice itinerary into three groups. The first covered sights in the compact, walkable city centre. The second included nearby places such as Antibes, Grasse, Èze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche-sur-Mer, many of which can be reached by public transport. The third consisted of easy day trips to cities such as Cannes and Monte Carlo.

What, a casino?

THINGS TO DO IN NICE

Nice is so close to Italy that we often felt we had crossed the border :D The city has a warm southern character, and we recommend allowing at least a week if you also want to explore the Riviera. Nice itself is compact: many of its principal attractions are within walking distance, making it easy to move from one to the next.

One of our favourite travel activities: doing absolutely nothing =)

A view of Nice.

PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS

Everyone seems to carry an image of Nice: deep-blue sea, palm trees and a long coastal road in front of elegant, low-rise buildings. That boulevard is the Promenade des Anglais. You will return to it again and again—whether arriving from the airport, walking beside the sea or watching a romantic sunset. Tram line 2 now links both airport terminals with central stops including Jean Médecin and continues to Port Lympia, so an old airport-bus description should no longer be treated as the default route.

HOTEL NEGRESCO

Hotel Negresco rises grandly beside the Promenade des Anglais and has been a Nice landmark since 1913. Do not assume the entire hotel is open for casual sightseeing: access, restaurant reservations and dress expectations can change. If you plan to visit Le Chantecler or another venue inside, check the hotel’s current policy and book directly before going. Welcome to the formal side of France :)

PARC DE LA COLLINE DU CHÂTEAU

View of Nice Port from the hill

If the sea, cafés and restaurants do not distract you before you finish walking the Promenade des Anglais, a hill awaits at its eastern end. Castle Hill—Colline du Château—is now a park with sweeping views over the city and port. You can climb the winding stairs or use the public lift near the seafront; operating hours and access can vary. Whichever route you choose, the panorama is superb. The park also has refreshment points and an artificial waterfall. Do not leave Nice without coming up here.

Lift or stairs? The choice is yours :D

The lift entrance in the park

Nice beneath your feet...

The park’s artificial waterfall

MONUMENT AUX MORTS

After passing Castle Hill and rounding the headland towards the port, you reach the Monument aux Morts, inaugurated in memory of people from Nice killed in the First World War and later associated with subsequent conflicts as well. Even if monuments are not your passion, the waterfront path opposite continues towards the port and passes several appealing cafés and restaurants.

AVENUE JEAN MÉDECIN

Avenue Jean Médecin is one of the city’s main arteries, running between Nice-Ville railway station and Place Masséna. It is a major shopping street, with Galeries Lafayette nearby and the Nice Étoile shopping centre offering both shops and a useful break. Restaurants and stores could easily occupy much of a day, while tram line 1 runs along the avenue and connects it with other central districts.

Nice Étoile shopping centre

PLACE MASSÉNA

Walking towards the sea from Avenue Jean Médecin brings you to Place Masséna, Nice’s main square and an important crossroads between several attractions. The Fontaine du Soleil features Apollo, while Jaume Plensa’s installation Conversation à Nice places seven seated figures on tall poles, representing the seven continents. Their colours change after dark. To me, Gökay, the lighting was a little reminiscent of decorative planters outside a shisha café—but who am I to question the art market? :)

Seven figures facing the seven continents

Place Masséna by day

PROMENADE DU PAILLON

This place is wonderful. The Promenade du Paillon is the green urban corridor extending from Place Masséna. It includes play areas, places to rest and the famous water mirror. On a sunny autumn day, watching children play in the fountains and relaxing in the chairs felt perfect. Rules for lawns, pets and water features may be enforced and can change, so follow the current signs. If you continue north-east, away from Avenue Jean Médecin, the park leads towards Place Garibaldi and the edge of the Old Town. In the other direction it reaches the Promenade des Anglais. We preferred the Old Town side, which felt more atmospheric and brought us closer to the historic centre.

VIEUX NICE — NICE OLD TOWN

Vieux Nice is the historic heart of the city. Its narrow streets hold restaurants and souvenir shops, while markets in its small squares create an entirely different world.

We wandered through these streets to Cours Saleya, home to Nice’s flower and food markets and, on the traditional Monday schedule, its antiques market. Behind narrow stalls, sellers sat on plastic chairs and ate food brought from home with the elegance of a grand restaurant, drinking wine from beautiful glasses. It reminded us that nobody else can decide the value of the life you create for yourself. Perhaps the street musician playing jazz on a saxophone helped, but that market has remained in my memory ever since.

Nice traditionally holds an antiques and flea market on Monday mornings at Cours Saleya in the Old Town. It is as enjoyable to observe the stallholders’ style as it is to browse the market—especially when jazz drifts through the street. Market days can change for holidays or special events, so check the city’s current calendar. #autumn #vacation #vieuxnice #nice #courssaleya #france #wanderlust #travelphotography #fleamarket #cotedazur Share your favourite travel photographs with the #kokladunyayi hashtag and we may feature our favourites on Instagram!

A photo posted by Kokla Dünyayı (@kokladunyayi) on Dec 22, 2016 at 1:59am PST

NICE ATTACK MEMORIAL

I wish this cheerful article did not need to mention terrorism, but remembrance is part of the city’s story. The 14 July 2016 attack took place on the Promenade des Anglais. Memorial arrangements have evolved since our visit; please treat any flowers or commemorative spaces with respect and consult official local information for the current site.

PLACES TO VISIT NEAR NICE

This subject deserves its own article, but nearby destinations reachable by public transport include Antibes, Grasse, Èze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Routes and ticket zones change, so plan with the current regional and Lignes d’Azur journey planners. Saint-Tropez and Monte Carlo are also possible day-trip destinations; we visited both by hire car. Some guides also list Cannes as a day trip, although we would allow at least two nights if your itinerary permits.

Antibes is not to be missed on the Côte d’Azur

Make time for Grasse too

WHAT TO EAT IN NICE

LOU PILHA LEVA

Nice is not simply a resort; it is a busy, lived-in city with places for many budgets. Lou Pilha Leva, near the Old Town end of the Promenade du Paillon, always seemed to have a queue—often including local residents. We tried several Niçoise specialities there. Socca is a thin chickpea-flour pancake, crisp at the edges and very satisfying. Daube is a slow-cooked meat stew, often made with red wine and vegetables; ours came with a dense, comforting side. This reflects our visit, so verify the restaurant’s current opening status and menu.

L’AMERICANO

This small, no-frills café stood on one of the streets leading to Cours Saleya (1 Rue Louis Gassin). Among tourist-focused restaurants, it felt like a local lunch counter. Pavement tables offered almost the same view for less, while lunchtime plates supplemented the usual sandwiches, salads and pizzas. We enjoyed the creamy mushroom pasta and sandwiches. The exchange-rate aside and all prices in the original article belong to our 2016 trip; confirm that the business and address are still current before going.

LA PIZZA CRESCI NICE

Pizza has rescued many of our travel budgets, but this restaurant was memorable for flavour rather than price alone. It served one of the best pizzas we had eaten and even entered our personal top five. We chose quattro formaggi and pepperoni and would happily order both again. Pizzas cost €10–13 during our trip—a historical price, not a current menu. Check today’s address, opening hours and prices before visiting.

LA STEKIA

One evening, hungry and searching for an affordable meal, we found La Stekia at 37 Rue Masséna. Despite an unpromising first impression, the food arrived quickly and tasted good. Our three-course meal cost €11 at the time; both the price and the business details require current confirmation.

MOVIDA

Movida (37–39 Quai des États-Unis) was one of the attractive café-bars between Cours Saleya and Castle Hill, just off the Promenade des Anglais. As the name suggests, it was a tapas bar in the heart of Nice. We recommend the upper balcony for a cocktail, tapas and a beautiful sea view—provided the venue and access remain unchanged.

LA SHOUNGA

This was one of the cafés on the road to Nice Port beyond the Monument aux Morts, at 12 Place Guynemer. The view and €5 happy-hour mojitos made it worth a stop during our visit. The price is historical; verify the current name, opening status and menu.

No, we do not know the lady—and no, we were not arguing :D

WOK 2 NICE

Yes, we came to Nice and ate wok noodles, at 41 Rue d’Angleterre. It offered good value and flavour during our stay. The long street had many affordable restaurants representing immigrant cuisines and remained lively, if not especially picturesque. Check recent reviews before choosing a restaurant today.

FENOCCHIO

Fenocchio appeared in almost every travel guide, so naturally we tried it. We paid €2.50 per scoop for mojito and chocolate flavours, but neither won us over. Perhaps our standards were shaped by Turkish ice cream; in any case, this is purely our personal taste and a historical price. Try it if curiosity wins :D

WHERE TO STAY IN NICE

Hotels in Nice vary considerably by location and price. At the luxury end sits Hotel Negresco, while moving inland can reveal more affordable options. We stayed at Little Palace, a simple, clean hotel around a ten-minute walk from the centre. This description and every price comparison in the original article reflect our old trip; verify the property’s current name, status and reviews before booking.

Our very simple but perfectly adequate room at Little Palace Hotel.

HOW TO GET TO NICE

Direct flight schedules between Istanbul and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport vary by season, so search current airline timetables rather than relying on an old route statement. From the airport, Lignes d’Azur tram line 2 serves terminals 1 and 2, central Nice and Port Lympia. As checked in August 2026, an urban single ticket costs €1.70, while current passes and airport-specific ticket rules are published by Lignes d’Azur. From Cannes, regional trains are usually the fastest public-transport option; bus routes and fares have changed since our trip. We flew with Turkish Airlines and had a comfortable journey.