I have definitely been neglecting the blog the past few days.  Last weekend I not only said farewell to Barcelona, but I also said goodbye to my dear Nana. It was a tough decision for me, but with the support of my family I have decided to not go to her funeral and continue on my journey in Europe in her memory. But anyways… I digress. I’m now in Nice and I’ve picked out my favorite Nice, France attractions to share with you.

Getting to Nice, France

To get to Nice, I opted to fly rather than take a train. For starters, it was cheaper. It was also a lot faster. I bought my ticket online several weeks ago and booked through EasyJet. If you haven’t flown with them before, there are several things you should know.

1. With a general ticket you can only take one 1 carry-on. If you have a backpack, they will not allow to carry on  small purse also. To get around this, I purchased a speedy boarding ticket which allowed me to have 2 carry-ons. Even with the upgrade, my ticket was still around $50.
2. You are not called by zone for boarding. Two lines form (one speedy boarding, one general), and people start to line up early. Overhead bin space fills up quickly, so get in line early.
3. Buy your food and drink ahead of time. They charge for it on the plane.

Arriving in Nice, France

Once you get to Nice you can either take a bus into the city or you can walk along the beach. I opted to walk since it was a beautiful day. Be warned though. It takes about 1.5 hours,  so don’t walk if you have a lot of luggage.

When I first arrived in Nice, I was skeptical that I would like this city. The Mediterranean Sea was gorgeous, the views were stunning, and the food was delicious. Something felt off though. Perhaps it was all the articles concerning safety here. After spending the next few days here , I learned to brush aside the forward French men. I relaxed into the lazy seaside life. I fell in love with this beautiful city on the Cote D’Azur. If I had to sum up my experiences, I would say the following are my favorite Nice, France attractions. This list does not include day trips to Monaco or other cities.

Nice, France Attractions

#1  Cours Saleya (market)

Browsing French markets in the morning is one of my favorite things to do. The Cours Saleya market is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 6:00am to 1:30pm. Starting on the west side of the market, you will wander through stalls  filled with flowers. Then you will come to the food section which has everything from jams, to candies, to spices, to fruits and veggies. Since it is France, there are of course delicious breads and pastries too. At the end of the market, there is a little stall selling socca, and you absolutely must try it. It doesn’t look like much, but socca is a specialty  in Nice. It is like a huge thick crepe made from chickpea flour. They cook it on an enormous pan and the edge pieces get slightly burnt and cripsy while the rest is soft and salty. Order a serving and they will cut it into small rectangle and stuff it in a paper cone. Such a perfect and unique snack to walk around with.

  

I  found that they perfect way to start the morning was to browse through the stalls, pick out a pastry and fruit, and eat it on the rocky beach while gazing at the blue Mediterranean Sea. My favorite was pain au chocolate and strawberries.

 

#2 The Beach

The beach is one of the most popular Nice, France attractions, and you must go. There is a beautiful promenade all along the beach where musicians are playing music, kids are riding bicycles, couples are walking hand in hand, and merchants are selling sweets. The beach itself is rocky, so if you want to sunbath, you should take a padded beach mat. Most hostels and hotels in the area will let you borrow one, and the shops sell them if you want your own. In the morning the beach is lazy and quiet, but by evening the atmosphere is very lively. There were people swimming even in October, but the water is chilly (think Lake Michigan chilly).

I want to note that if you are a solo female traveler, more than likely men will approach you. It might be a little uncomfortable the first few times, but just brush it off and don’t let it ruin your day. They are just flirty and mean no harm. Avoid eye contact with them, don’t respond, and just walk away.

#3 Vieux Ville (Old Town)

The old town was my favorite area of the city and my favorite out of the Nice, France attractions. There are gobs of cafes, restaurants, shops, and ice cream stands. Narrow streets connect beautiful squares full of fountains, churches, and old buildings. Grab some socca or gelato and meander  the streets for a few hours. It is a great place for people watching and casual shopping. You can’t get lost since it is so small and all the streets connect, so ditch the map and just enjoy the experience.

#4 Messena Square

Messena Square connects the old town to the new town, and you  will immediately recognize it by the pink buildings with white shutters and trim. A giant fountain and statue sit in the center, and people gather around eating gelato and resting their feet.  There is also a large garden next to the square where kids (and adults) can play in a large square of fountains.  This is also the starting point of an avenue full of luxury shopping and a cross road full of restaurants.

#5  Castle Hill

Situated just east of the old town is Castle Hill. Let me warn you, there are a LOT of steps going up, but the views are worth it. If  you get tired of walking up the stairs, just stop and enjoy the view while you rest. There is also a road if you can’t take the stairs. In my opinion, the views alone are worth the climb, but there are also a couple cool attractions at the top. There is a beautiful waterfall, and on a hot sunny day the mist feels amazing, and there is a park and playground too. There are also some ruins (hence the name castle hill) but there was little provided information, and a fence surrounds them. If you do make it all the way to the top, be sure to walk to the other side for some lovely views of the port.

Nice in Summary

I highly recommend visiting Nice. I was unsure of visiting, mainly due to safety issues, but I’m glad I ended up going. I never felt threatened in the city, even when out late at night. There is supposedly a lot of pickpocketing though. Just be aware of your surroundings  and keep an eye on your belongings.

I stayed in Nice for 4 days, and honestly I wish I had a  a couple more days there. There are so many charming cities nearby, and I only got a taste of the area. You could of course do Nice in 1 day if you only want the whirlwind tour, but I hope you stay longer and fall in love with the city like I did.

 

 

What are your favorite Nice, France attractions?