Went to Nice in the South of France, on a week’s holiday last September, the weather was scorching, took some time to find our apartment but we eventually located it on the street right next to the famous Fenocchio ice cream parlor. The apartment was on the second floor; traditional, homely, air conditioned and very centrally located just a few yards from the Cours Saleya market and the well known Promenade des Anglais.
It was our first time in Nice and we were enthralled by the narrow streets, so many spicy aromas, culinary delights and captivating historical buildings. The old town of Nice consists of a maze of narrow streets and squares, an abundance of museums and galleries and a beach that stretches all the way to the airport. The place is literally teeming with locals and tourists alike and the atmosphere is almost tangible. At noon everyday a cannon goes off frightening the devil out of anyone not expecting it, this is a very old French tradition going back to over a hundred years ago. Everywhere you go there are market stalls of fruit, souvenirs, fish, ornaments, antiques and jewelry, there are mime artists, quaint shops, restaurants, pubs and above all a perfect mix of ancient buildings, sculptures and cemeteries. A must see for culture lovers.
At night, the old town of Nice springs to life with holiday makers. During the day one can explore the museums of the famous French artist Matisse, numerous art galleries, parks, take a trip around the old town on a tourist train or simply go down to the port. For those who wish to do some further sight seeing but don’t wish to drive they can take the bus to Montecarlo or Cannes for a very small fare.
As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels to choose from to suit every budget or you can do what we did; book an apartment separately on line with http://www.homeaway.co.uk and pay for it securely through Paypal. Whatever you choose make sure it’s in the right location and not in the middle of nowhere!
The beach consists of large pebbles; if you wish to hire a sun lounger it can be quite expensive so I would suggest bringing a beach mat and umbrella.
Overall Nice is a great holiday destination, a little on the expensive side but a fantastic base for exploring the French Riviera. Thumbs up from me!
