Spice up your France vacation with a visit to Nice. This sexy city demands attention and oozes a bit of righteousness that is commonly found in France. Couples, honeymooners, beach-lovers and the young and fabulous board flights to Nice for a vacation getaway on the French Riviera. The beaches are clean, the city is bold and the people are all around happy to be here.
Originally discovered by the Greeks, Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and boasts approximately 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s no wonder international travelers flock to Nice for vacations, French citizens hop Nice flights for weekend getaways, and the fabulously rich and spoiled dock yachts on Nice’s coastline. Nice is far less glamorous than its rival city Cannes, and travelers can easily find cheap flights to Nice any time of the year, which makes Nice middle-class compared to its upscale neighbor. But that doesn’t stop tourists from visiting Nice. Come and enjoy a taste of the Riviera in this laid-back sun-drenched city and it’s likely you’ll never want to leave.
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Long, hot summers and mild winters are typical in Nice. January temperatures can drop to the 40s (F) and 50s. August is in the 70s and 80s although it can reach 100 degrees. Sea breezes keep you cool, requiring a light jacket for summer evenings.
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Peak Season:
July and August are the peak season in Nice. Book flights to Nice early and secure hotel rooms -- the beaches, restaurants and clubs are all crowded. February’s Nice Carnaval also brings in lots of visitors.
Off Season:
The weather in spring and fall is still warm and most of the crowds have left, but this is a great time to find cheap flights to Nice. November is also pleasant, but many of the local hotel and restaurants are closed as their owners and staff go on vacation.
Winter is being rediscovered as a pleasant time to visit, but it is a little chilly for sunbathing and swimming. The mistral, though, may blow through for a few days making it feel quite cold.
The water is warm by May and the resorts are re-opening. In June, there is daylight past 10pm.
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Walking is the best way to experience the charm of Nice’s Old Town. The Promenade des Anglais extends for four miles along the bay, and is popular with walkers, rollerbladers, and cyclists. In the east, the Promenade is the Quai des Etats Unis and is lined with some of the city’s best restaurants.
Bikes, mopeds, and motorcycles are easily rented. Driving is another way to get around, particularly if you want to explore the surrounding area.
The train service is inexpensive and frequent. Local buses provide transport from the airport to town, to city destinations, including the promenade and beach, and along the Riviera.
If you take a taxi, make sure the meter is running and that the driver is using the right rate. Drivers are required to display a card detailing the fares.
And, of course, you can rent a yacht for just a day or a week or so.
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- The cours Saleya is in the Old Town. It has a daily market, selling flowers and vegetables and, on Mondays, antiques and bric-a-brac. The area, with its Belle Epoque architecture and Henri Matisse’s old residence, is a beautiful place to people watch.
- Niceski. The city was very popular with the Russian nobility who “wintered” here. The most famous sign of this is St Nicholas Cathedral, with its "onion-shaped" domes, which was the first to be designated a Russian Orthodox Cathedral outside Russia.
- Nice has several outstanding places of worship. These include the baroque Chapelle de la Miséricorde and the Cathédrale de Ste-Réparate, built in honor of Nice’s patron saint.
- There are excellent museums too. The Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain has art by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, and the Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall boasts the largest public collection of works by the artist. The Musee des Beaux-Arts, housed in the former private mansion of a Ukrainian princess,has the original plaster of Rodin’s The Kiss as well as ceramics by Pablo Picasso. The Musee Matisse is on the hill of Cimiez and contains Henri Matisse’s private collection that he gave to the city including a version of the world-famous Blue Nude. Palais Lascaris, a Baroque palace in the Old Town, is a museum of local history and there is also a restored 19th-century pharmacy on the ground floor.
- Nice is expensive, but cheap treats include walking the Promenade des Anglais, bathing at one of the public beaches, and climbing Castle Hill for views of the city.
- Cimiez, an upmarket suburb, is home not only to the Matisse museum, but also of the archaeological museum (Musée et Site Archéologiques), Roman ruins, and a Franciscan monastery where Matisse and Raoul Dufy are buried.
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