My first encounter with this little coastline city went all the way back. It was the first stop of my 1-month long easter break vacation. Flying in from the gloomy weather in the UK, I remember I was immediately captivated by the beauty of this place – sunny weather (almost year around), breezy sea water, vibrant old town lined with cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways, casual cafes and restaurants, and outdoor markets. Recently, I visited Nice again during my belated honeymoon and it surely did not disappoint. Nice is nice! (:D)

As the fifth largest city in France, Nice is a charming little coastline city situated on the southeastern part of France on the Mediterranean within the French Riviera or also known as Cote Azur Côte, literally means the “Blue Coast” in French. It is beautiful on its own and also a perfect gateway to other neighboring towns and villages along the French Riviera.

If you have only 2 days, here is my recommendation of top things to do:

Day 1

Take A Stroll Along the Promenade des Anglais

This world famous must-walk seaside promenade is a signature attraction of Nice, France. Walking along the promenade that is lined with tropical palm trees and blue benches will give you a breathtaking view of the Bay of Angels.The promenade is approximately seven (7) kilometers or four (4) miles long, stretching from the foot of Colline du Château to the Parc Phoenix near the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. It takes about an hour to walk or jug from one end to the other. But for a shorter walk, focus on the section between Le Negresco and Jardin Albert 1er. a such nice place to walk around at any time of the day. While ‘le prom’, as the locals called it, is popular to both tourists and locals, and full of street performers, skaters, and bicyclers, surprisingly you will not find it crowded or overly-touristy. Definitely recommend to walk around, listen to the sound of the sea, and sit down at one of the blue benches to take everything in.

Beach Hopping

While Nice does not have the nicest beaches in the French Riviera and there is definitely no pink sand beaches like the ones in Caribbean, Nice has the most accessible beaches in French Riviera right at the footstep. No matter you are a budget traveler or a high-end traveler, Nice has something for you. With the Bay of Angels at the backdrop, there are countless beaches, either public or private. Some are right next to the Promenade des Anglais and there are more further east. Public beaches are totally free, although they are usually packed and do not typically have onsite facility. For more luxury experience, there are about 14 private beaches in Nice you can choose from. They are easily identifiable, because the private beaches are fenced and dotted with umbrellas and lounge chairs with restaurants/bars next to them. The azure blue water (sometimes you can even see layers of different blue and emerald colors) is such a healing sight to the soul. People come here to swim, surf, sail or do water sports, while others have more laid-back way to enjoy the beach. During my honeymoon, we hopped around three beaches and took a nap. No matter which beach you are going to, don’t forget to bring sunscreen with you. The sun gets brutal early in the morning until sunset. The beaches are popular at night as well and perfect for an after dinner walk and star gazing. La Réserve (public), Coco Beach (public), Blue Beach (private) are few nice beaches that I like.

Getting Lost In The Old Town

Vieux Nice (“Old Nice”) is the old town area of Nice. The historical part of the city is famous for its colorful buildings (a nice combination of yellow, pink, orange and white), narrow alleyways lined with restaurants, cafes, ice creamery, and shops. The best way to explore Vieux Nice, yes, is to get lost in it and immerse yourself in its charm. Do not bring a google map, just walk around where your heart takes you. The area is small enough to wander for an hour or two, and you can’t seriously get too lost. Some notable places in case you do want to check the bucket list:

• Porte Fausse, the small yet beautiful covered passageway with a big arch and wall paintings which connects the old town and new Nice
• Place Masséna, this is the main plaza of Nice. The black and white checker style town square is surrounded by neoclassical buildings and the tram runs alongside of it. If you stay close to the Nice train station, you can’t miss this plaza as it leads you directly to Promenade des Anglais.
• Place Rossetti, the square place is located at the heart of the old town, intercepting few streets and with tenements hovering around it. Cathedral of Saint Reparata, a 17th century baroque style church, is the anchor of the square and not to mention the little cute water fountain. You can’t really take a picture of just the square by itself unless you wake up super early. The square is filled with restaurants with outdoor tables and chairs. Order a coffee and sit at one of the tables to watch people passing by if you have the time.

Day 2

Exploring Cours Saleya

Cours Saleya is actually situated inside Vieux Nice. It is one the most picturesque outdoor markets in France. The most well known market in Cours Saleya is the flower, fruit and vegetable market (Marché aux Fleurs) which opens daily except Mondays (hours may vary). This is a real market. It attracts both tourists and locals. Nearby farmers will come to sell a variety of local produce, fruits, vegetables, flowers, food and other handmade things. The vibrant color and beautiful display of the flowers are pleasing to the eyes and to the mind. This is the best place to get souvenirs for friends and family or to pretend like a local and get some fresh flowers, spices and herbs home. The colorful canopies of stalls are seemingly endless that you can easily spend half day in the market. The vegetable and fruit section of the market closes earlier than the flower stalls around early afternoon while the flower stalls remain open until later afternoon. The antique flea market in Cour Saleya (Marché à la Brocante) is open on Mondays. Although not as aromatic as the flower market, the flea market is filled with interest things: old furniture, home decor, silverware, vintage paintings and postcards, and so on.

Get The Best View of Nice From Parc du Colline du Château

After having lunch, you can enjoy the rest of the afternoon at Castle Hill (Parc du Colline du Château) which is situated at the far east end of the promenade that overlooks the Bay of Angels and the old town. Once a military citadel, the castle was besieged and finally dismantled in 1706 by Louis XIV. Today, this is more of a park for families to spend their leisure time but also a perfect spot to get a panoramic view of Nice. Before going up to Castle Hill, don’t forget to snap a picture at the nearby #ILoveNice sign. You can then take the stairs and climb up to Castle Hill or alternative take the elevator on the side of the base of the stairs. There are some historical ruins and monuments around the park, but the most impressive attraction is the man made waterfall that cascades down over a cliff that overlooks the Mediterranean sea. There are several view points at Castle Hill to snap great looking pictures.

WATCHING SUNSET AT PORT LYMPIA

Passing the #ILoveNice sign, down from the Parc du Colline du Château and keep walking up the path, you will reach the Old Port of Nice (Port Lympia) where small boats and yachts are dotted along the waterside. The port is much quieter than the main promenade and it is a nice way to end the day to watch sunset or take a relaxing stroll here.

SUMMARY

Can you see and do a lot of things in Nice for 2 days? Of course, it is a small city that you can technically walk to everywhere by foot. But can you experience everything that Nice has to offer in 2 days? Definitely no. Nice is a city that the more time you spend with it, the more in love you will be with it. It is a city that does not get cocky with its fame in the tourism world, but instead welcomes travelers of all kind to come and experience its good.