Nice, France was not my intended destination on my recent trip to Europe. It was a necessary go-between stop. Monte Carlo and Barcelona were where I was heading for tennis tournaments. The expense of Monte Carlo drove me to seek cheaper accommodations around the two destinations.
After flying out of Toronto on Friday evening, I arrived in Nice around 5pm on Saturday. Look at flights here. I spent the bulk of Saturday morning in Copenhagen airport running from gate to gate as they changed departure gate five times throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Where I stayed in Nice
Nice Airport Sheraton
Since I was only going to be in Nice for two nights bookending my week in Monte Carlo, I made the decision to go with what I know. I booked at the Nice Airport Sheraton.
The Sheraton is walking distance from the Nice airport’s terminal 1. Just be careful, you will need to cross a cycling path! I checked in and fell asleep!
Advantages of Staying at the Nice Airport Sheraton:
- Proximity to the airport (don’t go by Google maps. It is much closer than it shows on the map).
- Extremely friendly and helpful desk and service staff
- Excellent breakfast (I added it as an extra to my stay at booking).
- Proximity to public transit (the trip to the city centre was about 25 to 30 minutes).
- Proximity to cycle path (you can work with hotel to get bike rentals)
- The shower was excellent.
- The roof top pool and bar
- The view from roof top of the Mediterranean Sea and airport
Disadvantages of Staying at the Nice Airport Sheraton
- Distance from attractions and the downtown
- Unlike airport hotels in other cities, the rate per night was quite pricey
- No other restaurants or even fast-food outlets nearby (other than the airport).
- Rooms were quite small.
- Finally, one of my major beefs – not enough electrical outlets. As a photographer and a blogger, I need to plug in and charge multiple devices. One outlet on the desk is not enough!
Where to Stay in Nice, France
If your stay is going to be a longer in nature, I would then recommend some of the other hotels in the centre core of the city. Here is a quick list that I compiled:
- Hotel Negresco – A high-end luxury hotel that has a 5/5 rating; Price rating is: $$$$$
- Hotel La Perouse – A boutique hotel on the Mediterranean. It has a 4.5/5 rating and price: $$$$$
- Hotel Villa Rivoli – In the heart of Nice; close to the Promenade des Anglais. Rating 4/5; price $$$
- Hotel Beau Rivage – On the Promenade, in centre of all the action with rating: 4/5; price $$$
- Hotel Esprit d’Azur – Budget-friendly and near train station. Rating 3/5; price $$
(Where possible each of the hotels is linked for booking).
My Intended Intinerary for Day One
Actual Intinerary Day One
If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that I am a big fan of Hop-on; Hop-off bus tours. I will definitely say that is not the case for the operation in Nice.
I have never been treated this badly as a tourist. Enough said that Google maps had me waiting in the wrong place for an hour then when I did find the proper spot, the operator treated me so bad that I abandoned the tour.
My goal was on this day was to take the tour and figure out where the major attractions were for the following weekend. I ended up just walking about the centre square taking pictures and admiring the statues and artwork.
5 Things to See in Nice
Itinerary for Nice, France
My Day 2
While planning for my stay in Nice and knowing that I had limited time, I had done some research to come up with the following list. I did not make it to all given the Hop-on, Hop-off bus kerfuffle.
- Promenade des Anglais – The Promenade des Anglais is a well-known avenue that runs alongside the stunning azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It was built in the 18th century by the English, who spent their winters in Nice to enjoy the warm climate. The promenade is now a popular destination for both tourists and locals, with many beaches, restaurants, cafes, and luxury hotels dotted along its length. On my second Sunday back in Nice, this is where I spent most of my day. It was a gorgeous warm day. Everyone from tourists to residents were out for a walk along the beach.
- Castle Hill – Castle Hill, located in the heart of Nice, boasts stunning views of the city and the surrounding countryside. The site was the location of the original castle of Nice, which dates back to the 11th century. The castle was destroyed in the 18th century, but the hill remains an important historical and cultural landmark and a popular spot for visitors. I so wanted to visit the hill as I had been told it was a great picture taking spot. By the time that I made it there, the lines for the elevator access were too long. One of my travel peccadillos is that I don’t wait in long lines unless I really, really want to visit that attraction.
- Nice Cathedral – The Nice Cathedral, also known as the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, is a beautiful Baroque-style church located in the heart of the city. The cathedral was built in the 17th century and is dedicated to Saint Reparata, the patron saint of Nice. It features stunning artworks and artifacts, and its history dates to the early days of Christianity. Unfortunately, I did not make it here.
- Matisse Museum – The Matisse Museum is dedicated to the life and works of the famous French painter, Henri Matisse. The museum showcases an outstanding collection of his artwork, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs spanning his entire career. The museum is located in an elegant 17th-century villa surrounded by a beautiful garden and is a must-visit spot for art lovers. Again, missed this spot on this trip.
- Cours Saleya Flower Market – The Cours Saleya Flower Market is a vibrant and colorful market located in the Old Town of Nice. The market has been around since the 18th century and sells a variety of locally grown produce, including flowers, fruits, vegetables, and spices. The market is a popular attraction for both locals and tourists, and the stalls and cafes lining the streets offer a delightful and unique shopping experience. It was absolutely buzzing with people post church services. Cafes, stalls, restaurants were filled with people.
Senior Note: Getting around is very easy in Nice. The transit is all low rise so that you don’t have steps to climb. The city centre is all relatively flat so there not a lot of steps to climb or hills to ascend and descend. The tram stations that are underground all had either escalators or elevators.
Here is the caveat: if you get off into some of the back streets away from the main areas, I did find that there are steps and stairs you may need to navigate many of which are old and made of uneven stone. Make sure you pack a cane or walking sticks if you feel insecure on stairs.
Getting Around in Nice
Nice has a very good public transit system. During my stay there, it was all I used. There is an extensive system of light rail trains or trams. You can purchase a day pass or single ride ticket from vending machines at most of the stops.
On my last morning, I needed to get to the Nice train station early in the morning. Like most big cities, Nice has both taxi and uber services. In chatting with the hotel desk staff, they recommended that I use Uber as it would be half the price of a taxi. This fact has been my experience in most cities including my own.
Is Nice a Safe Place to Visit?
From my perspective, I felt secure during my stay in Nice. I even got lost a few times ended up in a few alleyways but never felt insecure.
However, I will say like any larger city, you always need to be aware of your surroundings. I made sure all my belongings like my camera bag, and wallet were safe and secure. There are warnings around some of the busier cafes to make sure that you do not leave your purses and belongings out in the open where they can be snagged quickly.
Cover off your insurance needs with Safety Wing
Tired of chasing low air fares; get fare dropper and let the app do the work
Bonus – My Helicopter Flight Nice to Monte Carlo
Conclusion
I would highly recommend Nice for anyone travelling to Europe. It is a little more budget friendly as compared to Monte Carlo and Cannes. Nice is steeped in rich history.
Whether you are a foody, shop-a-holic, or just wait to relax by a pool or on the beach, visit Nice. There are side trips one can take to the surrounding cities. Potentially, hop a ferry to Corsica, sail around the harbour and more.
Why not check it out!
Check here for details on my stay in Monte Carlo for the Tennis Masters
Have a browse on our list of travel essentials
Want more information on Nice: have a look at this post on Nice travel
One additional site with a lot of good info on travel to Nice
For more pictures of Nice and Monte Carlo; go to Al murray Photography here
Please note: The opinions expressed in this document should never be construed as advice. The thoughts are based on my experiences after 40-plus years of business and vacation travel. My likes and dislikes may vary drastically from yours. Do your research and find products and experiences that align with your likes and dislikes. Most of all have happy travels and see you out there on the road!
Al of Al Murray Travel & Photography: From the time in my youth, when I would lay on our garage roof watching planes traverse the skies above me, I knew I wanted to see the world.
My passion grew after spending a semester of my university days in Barcelona. I spent more time on trains and buses than I did in class.
After earning my BA from Carleton University, life got in the way. But I did find time to graduate again from George Brown in Fitness and Lifestyle Management and then work my way through most of a degree in Sports Administration. However I needed to find work and pay for all this education!
It wasn’t until my “middle age” did I start exploring the world again. First, transversing the US and Canada to take part in tennis tournaments. Then later to complete my spectator “grand slam” of tennis.
I accomplished this while earning my certificate in photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. I am now combining the two passions and now sharing with you my many lessons learned.