929km (577 miles) S of Paris; 32km (20 miles) NE of Cannes
The Victorian upper classes and tsarist aristocrats loved Nice in the 19th century, but it's solidly middle class today, and far less glamorous and expensive than Cannes. It's also the best excursion center on the Riviera, especially if you're dependent on public transportation. For example, you can go to San Remo, "the queen of the Italian Riviera," and return to Nice by nightfall. From the Nice airport, the second largest in France, you can travel by bus along the entire coast.
Nice is the capital of the Riviera, the largest city between Genoa and Marseille. It's also one of the most ancient, having been founded by the Greeks, who called it "Nike," or Victory. Because of its brilliant sunshine and relaxed living, it has attracted artists and writers. Among them were Dumas, Nietzsche, Apollinaire, Flaubert, Victor Hugo, George Sand, Stendhal, Chateaubriand, and Mistral. Henri Matisse, who made his home in Nice, said, "Though the light is intense, it's also soft and tender." The city has, on the average, 300 days of sunshine a year.
Nice Travel Experiences
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On to Monte Carlo!
After breakfast and checking out of our Menaggio hotel, we drove next door to the ferry boat and caught the next boat for Va... Continue reading »
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Monte Carlo
We head onwards and come towards th Monte Carlo casino and once embarking the coach everyone is in complete awe of this place. It is wher... Continue reading »
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Nice: Où sont les toilettes?
The train ride from Cinque Terre to Nice is the most amazing train ride. For parts of it (and also probably when we were sleeping) you co... Continue reading »
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Day 26: Nice
We left on an overnight train last night from Rome. By far one of the worst nights we've had. Instead of a couchette, which i... Continue reading »
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That's right... French Riviera baby..
Getting to Nice from Lyon took a bit of time, but whatever. We're on European time anyways. The ride went past a bunch of Riviera towns i... Continue reading »
Popular Nice Hotels
- Palais De La Mediterranee
- Hotel le Grimaldi
- Goldstar Resort and Suites
- Clair Hotel
- Le Grimaldi
- Hotel Gounod
- Villa Saint Exupéry Hostel
- Negresco
- Hotel La Perouse
- Meyerbeer Beach
