Your trip to France is not complete without visiting the sunny seaside city of Nice – a major draw for tourists from all over the world. Its beaches, palm trees, and Mediterranean views are perfect for those tourists who want to soak up some sun. Nice has more to offer besides its beaches, though. It’s home to several museums, historic architecture, and outdoor spots. Here are the six things in Nice you can’t miss.
Huge thanks to a friend who inspired to publish this article! Maybe soon, I’ll visit there in person 🙂 Next year or the year after ;D
Promenade des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais is the city’s famous 4km stretch of seafront. It wraps around the Baie des Anges and is the centerpiece of Nice. Whether patrons are relaxing on the beach or riding by on a bicycle, the Promenade is always full of activity. Apart from the stunning view of the Mediterranean, you can also see some famous landmarks in the city. Along the Promenade, keep your eye out for the casino at the Palais de la Mediterrané and the Hôtel Negresco.
Musée Matisse
The museum houses a large collection of the famous Niçoise artist Henri Matisse. Matisse lived and worked in Nice from 1917 to 1954, and much of his artwork is inspired by the French coastal city. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, you’ll still find the museum compelling. Matisse’s art evolved significantly over his career, from his bold early style to his classical adherence to French painting, to his unique use of paper cut collages at the end of his life. The collection at Musée Matisse represents each of these distinct periods, making for a fascinating visit.
Cannes and Île Sainte-Marguerite
Take a day or half-day trip to France ‘s famous Cannes, the French Riviera’s home to the famous international film festival. Cannes is a sumptuous departure from Nice; the coastline and streets surrounding the film exhibition theatre, Palais des Festivals, are the most impressive. Only the vibrant boardwalk, with its staggering waterfront view, rivals the high-end luxury in Cannes.
To escape the opulence and dive into some history, book a boat cruise to Île Saint-Marguerite. Only 15 minutes from the Cannes docks, this pristine habitat was home to the French barracks and prison Fort Royal from the 16th to 20th centuries. The fort is open for visitors to explore and includes a museum detailing the history of the island. Historical significance aside, a walk through the island’s natural forest paths is a serene departure from the sometimes-overwhelming extravagance of the French Rivera.
Castle Hill of Nice
Castle Hill is one of two unmissable sights to see in Nice. The other is the Promenade des Anglais. There isn’t a castle on the hill anymore, since it was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1706. The remaining park, with cemeteries and ruins, is still worth the climb. You can either take the stairs or the elevator. Inside the park, you can see the artificial waterfall Cascade Dijon, Bellanda Tower, and of course, excellent views of Nice. From its port location, the Hill gives you the best looks of Nice: the Old Town, the Promenade des Anglais, and the sea.
Place Masséna
If you’re making your way from the city center, Old Town, or the Promenade des Anglais, you’ll cross through this famous main square. The huge pedestrian square is impressive and hard to miss, with its black and white tiles and Italian-inspired reddish-pink arcades. Due to its openness and central location, it’s home to concerts, festivals, and events all year long.
Cours Saleya
A trip to France ‘s popular Nice Old Town wouldn’t be complete without strolling through the market, Cours Saleya. The market is sometimes referred to as the marché aux fleurs instead because the cut flower stalls have the biggest presence at the market. It’s no surprise, Nice has been exporting cut flowers to the rest of France and Europe since the late 19th century. You can also find fresh produce and the traditional Niçoise dish socca at Cours Saleya. The market is open every day of the week, but on Monday’s the produce and flowers are swapped out for antiques.
Close by Cours Saleya is Place du Palais de Justice, which hosts a book, crafts, and postcard market on selected Saturdays every month. If you don’t catch the Saturday markets here you can still see, of course, the impressive Palais de Justice of Nice.
25 Essential French Travel Phrases
You’re planning a trip to France and want to know which French phrases will be essential to know. If you stick to large cities and touristy areas, you’ll find people who speak English. Hotels, restaurants, shops, and cafés in high-traffic areas hire people because they speak English. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t equip yourself with some key phrases to use on your travels. A simple “please” “thank you” “hello” and “goodbye” can go a long way.
If you plan to visit areas that attract fewer tourists – la France profonde – the number of English speakers drops significantly. There might be, at most, one server in the restaurant who can speak in broken English. In these situations, having your travel phrases practiced and ready isn’t just advisable; it’s essential.
Here you’ll find the 25 most useful French travel phrases.
Basics
Bonjour/Bonne journée. Hello, Have a good day. You say the first one upon greeting someone, the second one when you leave (and it’s still daytime). When you enter anywhere, always greet people with “Bonjour.” Always. It should be the first thing out of your mouth – it’s a basic sign of respect in when you leave for a trip to France. The same goes for leaving and “bonne journée.”
Bonsoir/Bonne soirée. Good evening/Have a good evening. The same rules apply as in “bonjour/bonne journée.” You’ll switch to “bonsoir/bonne soirée” in the evening.
Au revoir. Goodbye. “Au revoir” is just like “bonne journée.” say it when you leave. Usually, say the two together: “Merci, bonne journée, au revoir!”
S’il-vous-plaît. Please. When asking for things, it never hurts to throw a “s’il-vous-plaît” on the end. Additionally, if you see a sign in French giving a command, often you’ll see the letters S.V.P. This indicates “s’il-vous-plaît.”
Excusez-moi. Excuse me. For catching people’s attention, or asking someone to move out of your way. If you make a mistake and want to apologize, don’t use “excusez-moi” say “pardon” or “pardonnez-moi” instead. “Pardon” is also a catchall for accidentally moving in front of someone, asking them to move out of your way, or any similar circumstance.
Shopping
Combien? How much? To make it more polite, turn it into a full sentence with “C’est combien?”
Une promotion. A discount, or sale.
Gratuit. Free.
C’est tout? Will that be all? Servers and shopkeepers will ask you this, and you can reply either “oui” or “oui, c’est tout.” Only respond with “c’est tout” if you’re asked first, though. Otherwise, it’s impolite.
Je regarde seulement, merci. I’m just looking, thank you.
Getting around
À droite/à gauche. To the right/to the left.
Tout droit. Straight ahead. Do not confuse “tout droit” with “à droite.” They’re pronounced slightly differently.
Où est…? Where is…? This one is best when looking for locations with proper names, or metro stops. Otherwise, you might have to put one of the definite articles “le, la, les” in front of whatever you’re looking for. Another useful variant of “Où est…?” is “C’est où?” which means “Where is it?”
C’est quelle direction? Which direction is it?
On descend où? Where do we get off (the metro, bus, train, etc.)?
C’est le prochain arrêt? Is it the next stop?
Emergencies
Au feu! Fire!
Au secours! Help!
Au voleur! Stop! Thief!
Allez-vous-en! Go away.
Appelez une ambulance! Call an ambulance!
Eating and Dining
Carte. The menu, or list of food offered, is called either “carte” or “menu.” Beware, though, a “menu” can often be the day’s special, or a combo meal, consisting of a starter, main dish, and dessert or coffee. Make sure when you ask to see the menu you don’t accidentally order the special!
Entrée. Appetizer. The main dish is “plat principal.” You could also look at prices to figure out which are the smaller and which are the bigger dishes.
L’addition, s’il-vous-plaît. The check, please. As an extra note, do not refer to your server as “garçon” as this is no longer acceptable and very rude. If you want to politely catch your server’s attention, say “excusez-moi” instead.
Un café allongé. A weak coffee. Like weakened espresso, this drink is the closest you’ll get to American-style coffee in France. You’ll find an americano is many places, too, which is similar. If you order a simple “café” it will be an espresso, served black in a smaller cup.
Conclusion
This list is only a sampling of all there is to explore in Nice! The city’s rich cultural heritage will captivate you and its myriad outdoor activities will keep you anything but bored. With everything Nice has to offer, it’s clearly more than a beachy coastal town. A trip to France is more than just beaches and swimming. But if you want to visit the beach too, who could blame you?
