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Nice, France Travel Guide |
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Fashionable but relaxed and fun, Nice is the unquestioned queen of the French Riviera. It makes a great base from which to explore the rest of the Cote d'Azur but if you stay in town you won't run out of things to do. There's a wealth of sights to see , great nightlife, great shopping, diverse accommodation and a wide assortment of restaurants. Plus, there's the ever-popular sport of sunbathing on one of Nice's 27 beaches. (see a street map of Nice) Nice HistoryNice was founded around 350 BC by the Greek seafaring folks who had settled Marseilles. They named the colony Nikaia, apparently to commemorate a victory (nike in Greek) over a nearby town. In 154 BC the Greeks were followed by the Romans, who settled farther uphill around what is now Cimiez, site of a number of Roman ruins. The Counts of Provence ruled Nice in the 10th century until the House of Savoy took over in 1388. In 1860, Napoleon decided he wanted to annex Nice to France. He put the matter to a vote and Nice voted to become part of France.In the 19th century, the English aristocracy began travelling to Nice as an escape from foggy London winters. Other European royals followed and Nice became fashionable. Many of Nice's most illustrious buildings were constructed as luxurious villas for the European aristocracy. What to See & Do in NiceThe first thing to do in Nice is take a stroll on the Promenade des Anglais, the seaside walkway that runs the length of the Baie des Anges. Then, head to the heart of Vieux Nice, the Cours Saleya, preferably for the morning market. Other highlights of Vieux Nice include the place Garibaldi, the baroque Cathedrale Ste-Reparate on Place Rosetti, the impressive Palais de la Prefecture and les Ponchettes, the row of 19th century buildings that separate the Cours Saleya from the sea. Sightseeing in Nice is just getting started! Read more. Getting to NiceFlights to Nice land at the Nice International Airport. Trains to Nice all stop at the main train station, the Gare de Ville. It's old and nowhere near large enough to handle the summer crowds.There's also the even smaller Gare St Augustine and the Gare Riquier but not all trains stop there. Check the timetables of trains to Nice. Buses to Nice are handled by Eurolines and board at the Gare Routiere. From Nice Airport to Nice Getting Around NiceTramwayAfter many years of haggling, planning and construction, Nice's tramway finally opened in November 2007. The Niçois were delighted. The tramway is fast, quiet, efficient and modern. At a cost of only 1.30EUR a ride, the tramway is a bargain as well. The tramway arrives like clockwork every 12 minutes (somewhat less frequently in off-hours) and runs from 5am to midnight (unlike the buses). Optimistically named Ligne 1 (will there be a Line 2?) the tramway runs from Las Planas in Nice Nord to Pont Michel, stopping at Vieux Nice, the Acropolis and Place Massena. See a map of the tramway. BusNice has a very good bus network, hampered only by infrequent service on Sundays and in off-hours. The price is one euro and you can buy tickets on board directly from the driver. There's also a daily pass for 4EUR which is economical if you'll be doing a lot of sightseeing. See more on buses in Nice. TaxisIt's often said that Nice taxi drivers are known for ripping off visitors. That's not exactly correct. They're equally likely to rip off residents. A taxi from Nice airport to the town should cost anywhere from 20 to 30 euros but the actual price could be quite a bit more, depending upon how creative the driver is in tacking on extra charges and supplements. Tourist Information in NiceSee the tourist office website at www.nicetourism.com Related Pages
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