Friday, 15 May 2020

Day 13: Nice

It's on French Riviera, usually has great weather and is a lot cheaper than neighbouring Monte Carlo so therefore, Nice is definitely very nice!

I went here in January 2018 and, even despite the fact it was in the middle of winter when you'd expect temperatures to be at freezing point, the weather was comparable to what you'd get in April/May in the United Kingdom with blue skies and sunshine all day.

The most notable 'attraction' in Nice is the long and sweeping Promenade des Anglais which sweeps around five or six kilometres from pretty much where the airport is located to the Old Town which has many of the attractions seen in the photos below.

A money-saving tip (to have a few extra Euros in your pocket for that first drink later on) would be if you're travelling without much luggage, then take a stroll from the airport onto the main road and then catch a local bus into the centre. Or, if you're like me - stupid, crazy or just feeling fit - then you can walk it from airport to the Old Town in just under two hours at a leisurely pace and you'll get to enjoy some bloody nice views along the way which are almost therapeutic.

Interestingly, the beach isn't a traditional sand beach but instead one of grey pebble stones which is... different, to say the least!

When you do reach the Old Town, you'll find it's filled with picturesque monuments, pastel-coloured buildings, bars, culture, and on the whole it's a quaint and enjoyable place. There's plenty of green spaces around the seafront though do beware of the seagulls/pigeons as they appear to have emigrated to this part of France, en masse, probably for the James Bond lifestyle.

The Allianz Riviera, constructed in the build up to Euro 2016, is home to the local football team, OGC Nice. However, it's several miles out of town though special buses/trams are in operation on matchdays to make it more accessible. I must admit that I haven't yet seen a game here (and don't really have plans to do so anytime soon) but I've seen the stadium from the skies above.

On that subject, if you're planning to visit Nice and flying there by air, then you'll enjoy some more remarkable views if you happen to be sat on the left-hand side of the plane when flying into Nice Airport, or the right-hand side when flying out - something which is useful to know in advance as is the fact that the runway is literally next to the Mediterranean Sea which can make for rougher landings than you'd usually get elsewhere should the weather be windy.

Finally, if this place is just one of a few locations on your itinerary, then Gare De Nice Ville, which offers a rail connection to nearby Monte Carlo, is within a 15-20-minute stroll of the Old Town if you're planning to nip across to the second-smallest country in the world.

Nice is still expensive compared to other coastal resorts (as everywhere in France generally is) but you can definitely visit here on a budget and enjoy the place and what it's got to offer.

Enjoy the photos...
















































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