I just got back from just over 2 weeks based in Nice, France and I didn't want to come home! Usually you're ready for the comforts of home, but I could picture myself coming back year after year.
Nice
People asked me when I got back what was my favorite location, and it was Nice itself. There is a ton to do, the food is good but expensive, the people were very nice, and it was close to a lot.
Most things are closed on Sunday, but a lot of the museums are open. So go then! Or, to the beach.
Venture out of Old Nice and check out the other neighborhoods for different food that's usually a better value. For something different, Nice has something that seemed like a Chinatown slightly southeast of the train station.
Favorite bits:
- Jardin Botanique
- Amorino Gelataria
- La Pizza restaurant
- Chagall Museum
Eze-le-village
Old hilltop town with narrow, winding streets. Cute, but very tourist-trappy. Most of the shops contained absolutely nothing I would ever consider buying, but it was worth the bus ride (although I'd say barely). I happen to go on the day of the Monaco Grand Prix so I had a little bit of trouble getting a bus back to Nice. They were "complet".
The restaurants don't open for dinner until at least 7 but the last bus to Nice is at 8. :-/
Villefranche-sur-mer
Cute, small town that's close to Nice. It's very close (I think it's about 20 minutes by bus and I think you could technically walk in a pinch) and worth a visit.
Calvi, Corsica
Gorgeous, probably my second favorite location on the trip. The scene was breathtaking when I first arrived, especially at my hotel which was outside the downtown area and uphill.
On my second day I walked to Notre Dame de la Serra, stopping downtown to buy a hat (I had already gotten a little sunburned on the ferry ride over). It was hot, I was wearing jeans, and I thought I was going to die getting there, but it had great views.
View Walk to notre dame de la serra in a larger map
St. Paul de Vence
Eze-like. But in general, prettier, although it took longer to get to. If choosing between the two, go to St. Paul de Vence.
Monaco
Monaco was all right but not what I expected. I expected it to be more... shiny and expensive looking, I guess. I went the day after the Grand Prix and the guardrails and fences were still up, which was a pain in the rump. Even without them, though, the sidewalks were inconsistent (or absent) and it didn't strike me as a particularly pedestrian-friendly area compared to the other places I had visited.
San Remo, Italy
An hour and half (or so) train ride from Nice, it was nice to pop on over to Italy basically for lunch. The town itself is small (with the standard old section, pedestrian only) with not a huge selection of things to see and do, so we only spent a few hours. Lunch was great though. Carbonara!
Advice
- At least in the spring when I went, bring an umbrella with you just in case, unless you don't mind getting caught in the rain. The weather is a little unpredictable and kind of like Florida. Sunny in the morning, but often cloudy and/or rainy in the afternoon, clearing up again in the evening.
- Say "Bonjour" to the shop keepers when you enter and "Au Revoir, merci." when you leave. In talking with others, this might be where they went wrong. From what I understand, it's considered rude if you don't do this. They'll be rude back, apparently, although I don't think I encountered a single rude person in a shop.
- Don't wear jeans if you go to Notre Dame de la Serra. hehehe.
- If you're in Nice, it's tempting to go to Fennochio with its 1000 flavors, but try Amorino on Rue Massena. All natural, awesome texture.
