24 Hours in Nice, France

August 26, 2023

Nice is the heart and the hub of the Côte d’Azur, France. With the sea, the sunshine, the culture, the food and the access to the South of France (and beyond), one cannot help but be happy in such a beautiful corner of the world. When you rent a car in Europe, it is much easier to return the car in the same country in which you rented it. We picked up the car in Paris, drove through Switzerland and Italy, but it was much less expensive and easier to plan to drop the car in Nice, France than to try to drop it in Italy or a different country.

Enjoy the sea in Nice, France gscinparis — Enjoy the sea in Nice, France

Getting around in Nice, France

Arriving into Nice is quite easy, and from the freeway exit, we were a short way to the main area, the Promenade des Anglais and the Mediterranean Sea. The International airport is quite close to downtown Nice, as well and the main train station is just 10 minutes from the beach. In addition, there are a number of local trams, trains and buses that can take you to some of the beautiful towns nearby. We returned to Paris by the TGV train: an easy 5 hour ride that takes you along the coast for a bit before heading north.

What to do: Head to the Beach

Obviously, the best thing to do in Nice is go to the beach. Here, there are rocks, no sand! For this reason, you may want to pack your water shoes to make your way from your chair to the ocean. There are many nice beach clubs as well as public access to the beach.

Access to the beach at the Negresco Beach Club gscinparis — Access to the beach at the Negresco Beach Club

One recommendation is the very chic Negresco Beach Club which also has a very nice restaurant for lunch when you need a break from swimming and sunbathing.

Lunch at the Negresco Beach Club was light but delicious gscinparis — Lunch at the Negresco Beach Club was light but delicious

It's all in the details! — It’s all in the details!

What to do in Nice: Stroll the Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade is bustling with activity! Runners, bikers, sight-seers. The promenade is very wide, so even though there were many people taking advantage of the sun, there was room for all. Visitors will also appreciate how clean and well cared for this area is: no graffiti, no trash. There are seats here and there facing the ocean if you just want to sit and enjoy the view. There were also sculptures along the promenade to enjoy.

The famous Promenade des Anglais gscinparis — The famous Promenade des Anglais

What to do in Nice: Explore the Vielle-Ville (Old Town)

Visitors can stroll around the charming Old Town where there are shops, restaurants and plenty of ice cream or gelato to enjoy. The streets are intensely narrow and there are many shops selling regional items from the South of France, from linen dresses to lavender soap to olive oil.

Old Town Nice, France gscinparis — Old Town Nice, France

What to do in Nice: Explore the Cours Saleya

The Cours Saleya is home to the famous flower market or Marché aux fleurs. It is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 6:00-17:30; Wednesday and Saturday 6:30-18:30 and Sunday 6:300-13:30. The market is closed Mondays.

Vieux Nice (Old Town) — Cours Saleya in Nice, France

What to do in Nice: Explore the Port

What to do in Nice: Cathedral of St. Reparata (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate)

As far as European Cathedrals go, this one is definitely ‘newer’: construction began in 1650 and was completed in 1685. Although, as it goes with much of the architecture in Europe, details and structures were continually added all the way to 1949. The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Reparata.

Architecturally, it is a bit of a mix. A campanile (a tower) was added between 1731 and 1757. The façade was added between 1825 to 1830 which is Baroque revival in style. Various other details were added and it became a national monument in 1906.

Cathedral of St. Reparata in Nice, France

What to do in Nice: Enjoy the Views from La Colline du Château

Castle Hill (la Colline du Château) is a highly recommended activity in Nice, more for the views than for the actual castle. Once you climb the hundreds of steps, you will enjoy a sweeping panorama of Nice and the Baie des Anges. There is a nice (free) park at the top with a great playground and room for picnics. There is also an instagrammable artificial waterfall. For those with mobility issues, there is a free elevator which takes you ‘almost’ all the way up. Otherwise, it is possible to drive and park. The park itself is open from sunrise to sunset.

View of the Mediterranean Sea from the Collne du Château in Nice, France

Where to View Art in Nice, France: Marc Chagall National Museum

The Marc Chagall National Museum began during the artist’s lifetime. Originally, it began in 1966 when he and his wife donated 17 large canvases of the Biblical Message. In 1972, Chagall donated more works, like the gouaches of the Bible (1931), engravings of the Bible, important lithographs, sculputres and a ceramic. The musuem officially opened in 1973. Since then, the collection has evolved and the architecture of the musuem has won awards. They offer many programs for visitors, students, families and more. Information about visiting the museum can be found here.

Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice, France

Where to View Art in Nice, France: Matisse Museum

Artist Henri Matisse was deeply attached to the city of Nice, where he painted a large part of his work.

In 1950, the City of Nice acquired the villa Garin de Cocconato, also called the “Villa des Arènes”, which was located in close proximity to Matisse’s residence at the Regina Hotel. Soon, an idea was hatched to convert the Villa into an exhibition space for the donations made by the painter. The Matisse Museum was inaugurated on January 5, 1963. The collection not only includes important works by Matisse but items he kept as inspiration from his studio. Information about h ow to visit the museum can be found here.

Where to Stay: Hotel Le Negresco

Part Luxury Hotel, part Art Hotel, part Historical Icon. Of all the lovely hotels I have stayed in, the Negresco is one of the nicest. The location is fantastic as it is right on the Promenade des Anglais.

Hotel Negresco - Room View — Hotel Negresco – Room View

View from the room at the Hotel Negresco gscinparis — View from the room at the Hotel Negresco

Upon checking in, we were offered a fantastic upgrade to the “Parisian” suite, which might very well be one of the nicest rooms in the hotel. Our view was breathtaking – we looked directly out to the ocean and the promenade, where we could watch the para-gliders zipping around the sea. At the Negresco, it’s all about the details. They left adorable bears dressed like the bellmen and some other fun items in the room for us.

Hotel Negresco Room Details gscinparis — Hotel Negresco Room Details

It was tough to decide whether to stay in the room and relax while enjoying such a great view or get out and see Nice.

Art at the Hotel Negresco

The art collection began over a 100 years ago and the tradition continues today. In the main lobby, the bar, the hallways, the stair well, you will see contemporary works of art, traditional masterpieces, sculptures, and more. From salons dedicated to Louis XVI or Napoleon III to Venetian or “Street Art” rooms, you will see a truly unique selection of French artwork from the 17th century to today.

Artwork at the Hotel Negresco gscinparis — Artwork at the Hotel Negresco

Here you can view a video review of my stay at the Hotel Negresco:

Where to Eat in Nice?

Nice has no shortage of fantastic dining options. If you know you will be heading to the area, you should immediately book a table at the Instagram-worthy, “Le Plongeoir”, which is perched out in the sea. Of course, the specialty is some of the freshest, most deliciously prepared fish you can imagine. On a gorgeous, warm, sunny day, we enjoyed our meal while watching sail boats come in and out of the Port, swimmers in the sea, sunbathers on the beach and even the occasional ferry boat from Corsica arriving. It was truly dreamy!

Boccaccio is a lovely restaurant with excellent seafood near Place Massena.

Oysters on display at Boccaccio in Nice, France

Excellent seafood at Boccaccio in Nice, France

Located near Place Massena, “La Maison de Marie” offers traditional niçoise fare with a charming, string lighted courtyard patio.

Tucked in the narrow streets of Old Town Nice, Marcel Bistro Chic is a super charming and delicious choice with classic niçoise fare.

Nissachic Restaurant in Old Town, Nice gscinparis — Marcel Bistro Chic – Restaurant in Old Town, Nice

Where to Shop in Nice?

There are plenty of shopping opportunities throughout Nice but I wanted to highlight one boutique in particular. I bought a beautiful linen dress and belt for a reasonable price at AFC (Ateliers Français de Confection). They had a beautiful collection, all designed and made in France.