Nice is a timeless city
Nice is in many ways a timeless city, while at the same time accommodating history and culture that goes back more than two thousand years ago.
The city has the nickname “Nice la Belle”, which means “Nice the Beautiful”. It was the Greeks who, around 350 years BC., founded the city and named it Nikaia after the goddess of victory Nike. A name that today is world famous in the world of sports.
It is a city that has changed hands many times over the years. The city’s strategic location and the presence of a port made Nice a strategic hub on the French Mediterranean coast. For a century, the city belonged to the Duchy of Savoy and it was not until 1860 that the city came under the French Kingdom, when the Savoy region and the county of Nice were handed over to France.
Scenic location
A beautiful location and the mild Mediterranean climate helped to make the area attractive to the English aristocracy in the early 1800s. Here an increasing number of wealthy Englishmen began to spend their winters here. At a time when modern central heating was not invented, it was somewhat more comfortable to live in Nice in the winter. Thus began Mediterranean tourism.
Promenade des Anglais – an English invention
It was also the English, led by the pastor Lewis Way, who in 1822 hired workers to build a promenade along the beach. The locals called it the “Promenade des Anglais” (English promenade). Today, the Promenade des Anglais has become a landmark of Nice along with the Hotel Nesgresco, built in 1922 and dominating the buildings along the promenade with its beautiful Belle Époque architecture.
In 1864 the railway arrived, making Nice much more accessible to curious visitors and Nice has not looked back since.
A fireworks-like display of food and art
In addition to the sun, the promenade and the long coastline, it is the city’s intense atmosphere that attracts visitors. It is obvious that Nice is influenced by Italian food art and why the clear air and the soft changing light have attracted famous painters, such as Chagall and Matisse, among others.
Nice offers an abundance of bars, cafés and restaurants, which with their relaxing atmosphere welcome all nationalities and ages. In addition, there is a large selection of experiences where the museums are of international class. Last but not least, the Musée Matisse, Musée Chagall and Musée des Beaux Arts.
Nice has it all
With its international airport just 5 km from the city center, almost 200 hotels, the elongated Riviera with 7 km of beach, a large selection of activities, major events and cultural festivals, the charming old town and the city’s countless shops – yes, Nice has it all!
You can see the complete list of Nice’s sights in the list “Experiences in Nice” and learn more about each of these exciting experiences.
By Tommy Sverre / 2020
Gallery form Nice:
Place Saint-François
The beach at Promenade des Anglais
Place Rosetti with the Cathedral Sainte-Réparate
"Nice by Night"
Facts about Nice
Inhabitants: approx. 345.000
Altitude: 8 m
Airport: 5 km
Beach: 0 km
Cities close by:
Saint Laurent du Var 6,5 km
Villefranche-sur-Mer 8 km
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat 10,5 km
Monaco 13 km
Antibes 28 km
- All
- Art
- Castles and palaces
- Churches & chapels
- Events
- Excursions
- Food & Wine
- Gardens & parks
- Markets
- Museums
- Ports & Islands
- Ruins
- Squares & Promenades
- Zoos
Boat trips Boat trip from Nice to Villefranche
Enjoy the beautiful views of Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on a 1-hour boat trip along the French Riviera.
Excursions Hop-on Hop-off bus tour in Nice
Explore Nice with a 1- or 2-day pass to the open-top Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus. Hop on and off as often as you like and take the time to experience the most popular places
Squares & Promenades Old town of Nice – Vieille Ville
There are many reasons to fall in love with Nice. One of the obvious ones is the charming old town with its cozy little streets, narrow houses painted in breathtaking southern colors.
Events Carnival in Nice
The Carnival in Nice is a two-week intense spring festival on the French Riviera. Experience the carnival parades, brightly colored costumes and alluring samba rhythms that fill the streets of Nice with thousands of spectators.
Gardens & parks Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is a beautiful botanical and zoological park with exciting experiences for both children and adults. With one of Europe’s largest greenhouses…
Art Museum of Modern Art – MAMAC
Located in the heart of the city, close to Place Garibaldi, the MAMAC Museum exhibits modern and contemporary art from the 1950s to the present day.
Castles and palaces Villa Masséna museum
Villa Masséna is an architectural jewel from the Belle Epoque period and today houses a museum of the history of Nice and the memorabilia of Napoleon.
Excursions Excursions Nice
Book your excursions safely with free cancellation. We have put together some of the most popular excursions for you right here.
Castles and palaces Colline du Chateau
This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city and at the same time the place where Nice saw the light of day for around …
Art Matisse Museum Nice
The Matisse Museum in Nice is a city museums and it’s dedicated to the life and works of Henri Matisse as he spent much of his life in Nice and in the Côte d’Azur region.
Churches & chapels Russian church in Nice – Cathedral Saint-Nicholas
This is one of the most beautiful Russian churches of its kind outside of Russia. It is like a section of St. Peter’s Square in Moscow, just located in the middle of Nice.
Markets Markets at Cours Saleya
Cours Saleya hosts four different markets. The most famous is the Marché aux Fleurs or Flower Market, which is held Tuesday through Sunday
Castles and palaces Casino Palais de la Mediteranée
This is one of the most beautiful palaces on the Promenade des Anglais and an architectural testimony to the Art-Deco period from the beginning of the 20th century
Castles and palaces Lascaris Palace
In the heart of the old town on rue Droite lies this extraordinary mansion. It is a true monument in the French Baroque style, decorated with frescoes, luxuriously furnished rooms and ..
Food & Wine Food Mecca at Gare du Sud
The large steel hall has now been transformed into one large cultural and gastronomic mecca and the hall is enriched with a 1,000 square meter mezzanine that is being laid ….
Squares & Promenades Place Masséna
Place Masséna is a historic square in Nice, which connects the old town with the more modern northern part of the city.
Art Marc Chagall museum Nice
Chagall Museum Nice is the first national museum built to pay homage to an artist while he was still alive. It is located on the Cimiez Hill.
Ports & Islands Port Lympia
This is one of the most popular ports in Europe and it is only quite natural with its central and beautiful location by the Mediterranean.
Gardens & parks Jardin Albert 1.
Jardin Albert 1 is one of Nice’s absolutely oldest public gardens and you can hardly avoid meeting it either ..
Squares & Promenades Promenade des Anglais
This seven-kilometer long promenade is the epitome of Nice and the French Riviera. An iconic landmark that today attracts …
