Nice, France

SRFC90

Heading there soon enough for the main part of a week, any must do's?

Thanks!

oleras

You will have to try the biscuits ! Like the Guinness in Dublin, when they don't have to travel far they must really be at their best.

hiltonhater

Depends where in Nice you are going, it is a vast place and very expensive via cab. Are you staying near the airport or going further afield? I have been to Frejus, Cannes, St Tropez and St Raphael all last September if I can be of any help to you.

grimm2005

Was thinking of Nice myself soon at some point as flights seem to be pretty cheap most of the time, although even staying in large dorms in hostels seems to be crazy expensive, would Nice be more expensive then Paris for example?

hiltonhater

Funnily enough I have only come back from Paris last month although it was disneyland that we stayed so may be different. I have stayed in Paris previous to this and found pricing for food and drinks etc on a par with Ireland but as before (or maybe a previous response to someone) taxis are beyond expensive, even by Dublin standards and in my recent enough experience with public transport there out of season times, you will be needing cabs. Beautiful area though.

SeanPuddin

You don't need any cabs in Nice.
Lots of eating and shopping to be done.
The beach is all pebbles so don't expect sandy shores.
Casino.
Antique market on (I think) Monday.
Harbour area is class.
Monaco isn't far. Great train journey,
There seems to be a cliff stair case up to something, didn't get a chance to go up.

I had a toddler there so went to the nature museum. It was an old room full of dusty stuffed seagulls.
The art neuvaux museum is also nearby, and is also entirely ****e unless you are into that sort of malarkey.

If you're there for a week I'd suggest a trip out to another town for a day or two, even for sand alone. The bus system is grand.

hiltonhater

SeanPuddin I don't mean to contradict you in any way but when I got there, there was a transport strike so cabs were essential. I was told at the time (sept) that they would be ongoing for months but my french is not good enough to understand why. I also went with a toddler and was stuck. Perhaps my views on the place were skewed due to the buses and trains striking at the time.

SeanPuddin

I meant more that once you are located near the centre of Nice, everywhere is within walking distance. Some days the legs were hanging off us but it certainly isn't a huge city.

Got the 98 Airport Bus from Bay 1 to Nice. Return bus stop is a little harder to find due to roadworks so plan ahead. Cab prices are crazy.

lauratkd

Sorry to piggy back on this one but I'm also thinking of going on holiday around that area in August. Any accommodation suggetsions? We would spend up to around €150 per night for a double room...

SeanPuddin

Highly recommend this property and owner. 2 minute walk to the beach and near everything. Place is a one bed apartment, acts as a great base near centre of Nice and a great place to chill out also. Only downside is the bed isn't amazing and there's no way 5 would be happy there for a week. We had 2 adults, one toddler which was grand. Cot supplied.

http://www.holidayhomesdirect.ie/10118/

miss choc

Sorry hijacking the thread I have only 3 full days ideally wanted to do one day Nice, half day Monaco and another half day Cannes with other little towns near to Monaco/Cannes thrown in. Would that be too much Nice and two day trips? Or should we do 2 days Nice and one day trip re Monaco what towns/villages are nice to visit round there ditto for Cannes. Thanks hopefully no striking transport in August :rolleyes:

Strumms

Cannes is vastly overrated. Make time for Villefrance Sur Mer for a few hours, also Antibes and if you have time Menton, Grasse is worth a look too.

Paul_Hacket

Miss Stroc - Strumm's advice is good, Cannes is over-rated, Villefranche (photos here) plus the peninsula it leads out to (Cap Ferat) is amazing. It's what people probably imagine when they visualize the south of France in their head. The Rothschild Villa on Cap Ferat is well worth a visit, there are also some very nice sandy beaches on the east of the cape.

Villefranche is also very good to stay in and the train (to Nice and Monaco) is right behind the town beach. Hotel Darse right on waterfront has great views of the port, cleans rooms and is within your budget. You have to call them to book but they speak basic English. If you haven't booked by now you're going to have a hard time finding anywhere in the entire Cote D'Azur in August though.

Monaco is obviously worth an day trip, although in my opinion the best part of it is the train ride there. It is horrendously expensive, don't eat there. Not just because of the cost but because of the utter contempt of the servers in most restaurants and the absolute crapness of the food. Bring a picnic lunch and eat it in the clifftop park near the Town Hall or in the park at the Place Du Casino for an al fresco meal with a (literally) billion dollar view. Then treat yourself to a desert or a glass of rose in the Cafe de Paris.

Andrewf20

Id agree that Cannes is overrated. Monaco is a definite. Not as many fancy cars as I thought when I was there in 2005.

Strumms

I'm just back from another trip there with the OH. Definitely doesn't get old. My favorite long weekend / 5 day break in Europe by a mile.

chatperche

Hi,
No, no need for taxi in Nice. The train service and the bus should be enough.
In the town itself there is plenty to do.
You have the port area which is lovely. And you could visit the 'old town' with the Market on the Cours Saleya which is really nice. Try some Socca, which is a pancake made from chickpea flour, a local speciality which you won't find anywhere else in France.
You could go to the 'castle', someone mentioned it. It's a park on top of the cliff that is over the harbour.
You could also visit Terranova museum, the Roman ruins in the area of Cimiez. Or the Russian Orthodox church which is worth a look. There is also the Chagall museum if you're into art.
Or just chill and enjoy the food and wine :-)
Further afield, you could go to Monaco, Villefranche, Menton, Eze or the Lerins Islands outside Cannes. See where the Man with the Iron Mask was supposedly jailed. Italy is also fairly close by. All in all, there is plenty to do!