To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all – Oscar Wilde

As the plane was landing, I could already see the blue Mediterranean waters making up the coast of Nice. This coastal line is also famously known as “Cote d’azur” or “French Riviera” and it stretches all the way from Saint Tropez passing over to Italy’s border. Officially, there is no divide between the French and the Italian Riviera. Even back then, they knew sharing is caring.

Although I’ve always encourage to do research before you travel, I decided to let things go with Nice. Sometimes it’s good to let things take you by surprise, but don’t discount the effort in keeping your mind and eyes open and let the discovery of the city within take place.

City

It’s a beautiful city by the shore and is known for it’s Mediterranean weather. All the expensive resorts built along the coast were the favourite holiday getaways for the Brits back in the days. Today, it is still one of the busiest spots during the summer and it’s no surprise.

Because Nice is close to Italy, it stole a bit of its charm. You can see it in some of the architecture within the city. There is something about this coastal city that makes it so easy to fall in love with; at least I know I did. Although filled with people during the summer, it is still quaint and reserved in its own way.

Best to stay along Avenue Jean Médecin where you can easily walk down and enjoy the stretch of shops along the way. If you follow Avenue Jean Médecin down south, you will reach Place Massena, a wide open space area where a lot of activities/festivals will be held here during the summer. On the contrary, the great thing about the city in my opinion, is lack of sky scrapers. I really appreciate walking under clear blue skies, what felt like walking through a vast empty space. This was what freedom felt like.

Further south of Place Massena, you will reach the maze-like Vieille Ville, also known as the old town of Nice. Make your way through each turning as you encounter many tiny specialised shops ranging from hand-made soaps to gelato. What I really enjoyed was the fact that I walked in without a map. So I was lost half of the time but slowly, managed my way out which made the entire visit absolutely exhilarating. You’ll find many boutiques, cafes and restaurants all around the historic town, making it an ideal destination for lunch and shopping. While dining out in Nice can be costly, look out for menu du jour (menu of the day) which is usually a set lunch that’s reasonably priced.

Food

Nice is one of the cities in France that is close to Italy. No doubt most of the foods here consist of pasta, pizza and gelato. When I was there, we rented an AirBnb space which came with a kitchen we could make use of. Heading out to Vieille Ville and purchasing fresh pasta for only 3 Euros was one of the best European experience I’ve had.

Cheapest way to eat in France is at home. Buy your goodies and have it at home. Most places will charge extra for table service. I cannot even begin to list down the things you need to eat whilst in France as per my Paris post, but Nice is the south of France and even the food has its subtle differences. So do not miss out on trying as much food as you can.

THINGS TO DO:

1. Hike up to Colline du Chateau to get an amazing panoramic view of the city. It is quite a climb so be prepared
2. Be sure to spend some time along the promenade Anglais where you get a great view of the blue waters.
3. Catch one of the many festivals held in Place Massena during the summer
4. Be sure to take a day trip to Monaco and visit the casino whilst you there. Imagine the high rollers and their rooftop parties (yeah, you know what I’m talking about)
5. Spend the entire day wandering along the streets inside Vieille Ville
6. Watch the sunset over the Mediterranean sea. I can promise you, it will be a sunset unlike any other.