A Weekend in Nice, France
In July 2016, Matt and I traveled to Paris for a vacation that would turn into something more special than I ever could have anticipated when he proposed to me at the Luxembourg Gardens. To celebrate our engagement, we took a weekend trip to a warm, colorful city on France’s sunny southern coast–Nice.
Nice’s place in the world is a blessed one. On one end, the azure waters of the Mediterranean sea lap at its shores; at the other end, the French Alps rise in the distance. Our trip to Nice began after an hour long flight from Paris. At the airport, our Airbnb host greeted us cheerfully and chauffeured us to his family’s home in the Old Town, where we stayed for the next few nights. Below, I’ve provided a suggested itinerary of how to make the most out of a two- or three-day trip in Nice.
Day 1
MORNING. We spent the morning lounging on the beach and soaking in the Mediterranean sun. I went for a swim with a couple of women my grandmother’s age, but the water was so ice-cold that I didn’t last as long as they did! (Who ever knew that the southern coast of France would be home to the chilliest waters??) After spending a few days in Nice, I quickly picked up on the fact that these women go swimming every morning. What a way to exercise!
Pro tip: bring beach shoes that are not only cute, but super-functional. The rocks on the beach are very painful to walk on in bare feet, and I spent a lot of time icing my aching feet in the cold ocean.
LUNCH. Around midday, Matt and I set off into town to explore Nice’s famous Cours Saleya Flower Market, where vendors sold bright pink peonies, fresh fruits and vegetables, handmade soaps, and sachets of lavender. You can find the market tucked between Vieux Nice (Old Town) and Place Massena on any day of the week. Most days, the market will offer flowers, produce, and other goods, but on Mondays, it transforms into an antiques market.
Matt and I spotted lots of folks pushing carts around the market to stock up on their groceries for the week. We grabbed something to eat at a nearby cafe so we could people-watch during lunch.
AFTERNOON. Time for a short hike! Take the walking path up to Castle Hill, an 11th-century citadel and modern-day public garden. On the stroll up the hill, you’ll pass a waterfall and several stunning overlooks, but the best vista is from the top, which overlooks the bay of Nice.
We spent a long time standing here watching cruise ships wander in and out of the port and giggling at the brave kids cliff-diving below.
If you have time after your hike, make a trip to one of Nice’s beautiful museums: visit La Museé Matisse, a red and gold 17th-century villa to see pieces by the museum’s namesake artist, or travel to the Marc Chagall National Museum for a different type of inspiration.
DINNER. Pop back into Vieux Nice (Old Town) for dinner beside the pastel-colored buildings. We chose an outdoor seat at an Italian place where Matt ordered squid ink spaghetti and we split a bottle of wine. Afterwards, wander down to the seaside Promenade des Anglais for the sunset.
Day 2
MORNING. On the second day of our trip, we decided to take a boat tour of the Cote d’Azur. If you’re interested in a boat excursion, you’ll be able to find dozens of different tour companies, guides, and excursions at the Port of Nice. We opted for a one-hour tour of Nice to the Bay of Villefranche along the Riviera, where our guide pointed out landmarks, celebrity homes, and natural wonders.
BRUNCH. After our boat ride, we stopped at a cafe near the port for a quick break before heading to our next adventure.
AFTERNOON. On your second day in Nice, it may seem like a hundred thousand options lay out before you. The following itinerary is how we chose to capitalize on our short amount of time in Nice, but if we’d had an extra day, we would have taken the time to visit nearby Monaco. Regardless of your expectations or time concerns, however, I cannot more highly recommend making a trip to the medieval village of Èze, which is only about half an hour from Nice by bus. This is how we chose to spend our second afternoon of the trip, and you can read more about our experience here.
NIGHTTIME. After a long and beautiful day, take a relaxing stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. From here, you can spot the famous Hotel Negresco in all its pastel-pink splendor. We bought several sweet paintings of this iconic hotel to take back with us as gifts. Along the promenade, you’ll also run into bars, nightclubs, and outdoor dining areas.
We stole a seat at a beachside restaurant and feasted on seafood while the locals and tourists danced to a live band.
Day 3
MORNING. On our final day in Nice, we headed back to the ocean for one more attempt at swimming in the ice-cold Mediterranean sea before eating a quick lunch in the Old Town. We spent the rest of our time wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets, getting lost in the pastel buildings, making friends with locals, and almost missing our flight to the airport because we were so happy to be in this incredible city.
If you liked this itinerary, please leave me a comment below! If you have suggestions for others who read this blog, I’d love to hear what other places, experiences, or restaurants you recommend. Thanks for reading!
