Nice: the must-sees of the capital of the French Riviera
About thirty kilometers from Jasmins Studio, Nice It definitely deserves a day of exploration.
Capital of the French Riviera, Nice has a very different character from Cannes or Antibes. Its history is marked by the successive influences of the Greeks, Romans, Piedmontese, and then the French. The city only became French in 1860.
It is this unique history that gives Nice its character.
Old Nice
That's obviously where I would start the tour.
Old Nice is a district where you can still find the soul of the city: narrow streets, colorful facades, laundry hanging from windows, restaurants, cafes and markets.
This neighborhood life remains very noticeable despite the transformation of the city.
Take the time to get lost in the small streets rather than following a very precise route.
Saleya Course
Cours Saleya is one of the iconic places in Old Nice.
Its market is an excellent way to discover the products and colours of the region.
Castle Hill
There Castle Hill overlooks Old Nice and the port.
It also occupies an important place in the history of the city.
When the Dukes of Savoy made Nice a stronghold, a fortress was built on this height to protect the city.
Today, virtually nothing remains of the fortress, but the site offers above all one of the most beautiful panoramas of Nice.
On one side: the Promenade des Anglais and the Bay of Angels.
On the other hand: the port and the hills.
The Promenade des Anglais
It's impossible to visit Nice without walking at least a few minutes on the English Promenade.
The "Prom'", as the people of Nice call it, has combined the sea, luxury hotels and the tourist life of the city for more than a century.
The contrast with Old Nice is interesting: On one side, the historic alleyways; on the other, the immense opening onto the Mediterranean.
The port of Nice
The port is also worth a stroll.
Its history is much older than it seems.
At the end of the 18th century, the works undertaken under the impetus of the Savoyard authorities were notably carried out with the help of convicts. The development of the port then went hand in hand with the commercial expansion of Nice.
In the 19th century, port activities experienced a real boom, particularly thanks to the oil trade.
Today, the port has mainly become a particularly pleasant place for a stroll.
Massena Square
With its red facades and arcades, the Place Masséna constitutes the monumental heart of Nice.
In particular, it connects Old Nice to the more modern districts.
The square was created during the urban transformations of the 19th century and connected to Place Garibaldi by wide boulevards.
Nearby, the Green corridor offers a pleasant walk to the Garibaldi Square area.
Nice, a cosmopolitan city
What I find particularly interesting to tell my guests is that Nice is not just a beautiful Mediterranean city.
It is a city of mixtures.
Its history is linked to Savoy and Piedmont, and later to France.
In the 19th century, the English and the Russians played a significant role in the development of winter tourism.
The Russian presence is still visible today through Orthodox buildings, notably the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.
Italian influence is also very present in the architecture: many facades bear witness to the work of Italian craftsmen who came to participate in the transformation of the city.
It is this history that makes Nice a particularly interesting city to explore.
And if you like to think outside the box?
Among the Nice's "hidden treasures", In particular, we can be interested in:
- to less touristy areas,
- to Russian heritage,
- to the old traces of the port,
- with painted facades,
- to the neighborhoods that have changed in recent years.
Nice is therefore not just about the Promenade des Anglais.
A perfect day in Nice
I would advise my guests not to try to see everything.
Morning: Old Nice → Cours Saleya → Castle Hill
Noon
Lunch in Old Nice.
Afternoon: Place Masséna → Coulée verte → Promenade des Anglais → port
Then back calmly towards Jasmins Studio.
If you already know Nice, use this second part of the day to discover a less touristy area.
Nice and the hinterland
Nice also serves as the natural gateway to our page:
→ The hinterland of Nice: hilltop villages and valleys
And from Nice, you can notably take the Train of Wonders towards the Roya valleys.
→ The Train of Wonders and neighboring Italy
Also worth discovering:
→ Monaco – Èze – Menton
→ The hilltop villages of the French Riviera
→ Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Passable Beach
→ Nice hinterland