Who Knows Where You Could End Up...
With a population of roughly 350,000 (though the urban area has almost one million citizens) the city of Nice is far behind big cities like Paris and Marseille, yet it is a great travel destination as it has a great number of sights, a major international airport and excellent connections to other cities on the Mediterranean coast which can all easily be reached in your hired car.
A Good Starting Point
A tour of the city usually starts around Place Rossetti, a central square west of the harbour. The city’s cathedral Sainte-Réparate is the major building on the square and is framed by Mediterranean-style houses, and the square is one of the city’s most popular meeting points for locals and tourists alike.
Another is the harbour, a picture-perfect Cote d’Azur marina, hosting small individual sailing boats as well as big international cruise liners. Small cafes along the waterfront and a regular flower market liven up the atmosphere and turn this inner-city port into an urban oasis.
Historical and Cultutral Sightseeing
Apart from its marine location the city has a major appeal in its art scene. Countless art galleries, music venues, and museums compile a great cultural programme which offers plenty of fall back plans for the extremely rare rainy days. The best museums are the Musée Matisse, devoted to the famous artist who died in Nice in 1954, and the Musée des Beaux Arts.
Exploring the Old Town is best done by simply taking a long walk, since the tiny one way streets downtown can be quite gruesome to drive along in your hire car. Points of interest include major churches like 17th century Église du Gésu, Église Saint-Martin-Saint-Augustin, the oldest church in town, or Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Nicolas, the biggest Russian Orthodox church in all of Western Europe featuring the characteristic onion domes.
To get the best view over the city climb up to the Colline du Chateau, a castle resting above the Old Town.
Relax and Explore
After much historical and cultural sightseeing you might want to indulge in some lighter entertainment. The Rue Massena is the city’s most popular shopping street. The pedestrianised street is lined with small local boutiques and cafes where you are served strong coffee and delicious berry tarts.
Though you won’t get bored in Nice you should plan in a few days for exploring the surrounding area in your rented car.
Monte Carlo, the capital of the sovereign principality of Monaco, is a mere 30 minute drive away in your rental car and if you like the glitter and glamour of fancy yachts and pricey casinos you do not want to miss it. About 14 km (8 m) west of Nice you can visit the medieval fortress of Cagnes-sur-Mer, and Marseille is only two hours in your hired car along the A8 highway. Outdoor fans will love the hiking trails of Mercantour National Park which contains the famous Vallée des Merveilles (valley of marbles) where more than 40,000 prehistoric stone carvings have been found.
