Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lounge, tel. 04 92 29 17 00,
www.nicelegrandtour.com
)
. This tour is a pricey way to get to
the Chagall and Matisse Museums, but it's an acceptable option if you also want a city over-
view. Check the schedule if you plan to use this bus to see the Russian Cathedral, as it may
be faster to walk there.
▲
Boat Cruise
Here's your chance to view Nice from the water. On this one-hour star-studded tour run by
Trans Côte d'Azur, you'll cruise in a comfortable yacht-size vessel to Cap Ferrat and past
Villefranche-sur-Mer, then return to Nice with a final lap along Promenade des Anglais. It's
a scenic trip; the best views are from the seats on top.
French (and sometimes English-speaking) guides play Robin Leach, pointing out man-
sions owned by some pretty famous people, including Elton John (just as you leave Nice,
it's the soft-yellow square-shaped place right on the water), Sean Connery (on the hill
above Elton, with rounded arches and tower), and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen (in
saddle of Cap Ferrat hill, above yellow-umbrella beach with sloping red-tile roof). I wonder
if this gang ever hangs out together. Guides also like to point out the mansion (between
Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat) where the Rolling Stones recorded
Exile on Main
Street
(€16; April-Oct Tue-Sun 2/day, usually at 11:00 and 15:00, no boats Mon or in off-
season, call ahead to verify schedule, arrive 30 minutes early to get best seats, drinks and
WCsavailable). Fordirectionstothedockandcontactinformation,see“GettingAroundthe
Riviera—By Boat,” earlier.
Tourist Train
For €8 (€4 for children under age 9), you can spend 45 embarrassing minutes on the tourist
traintootingalongthepromenade,throughtheoldcity,anduptoCastleHill.Thisisasweat-
freewaytogettothetopofthehill—butsoistheelevator,whichisfree(trainrunsevery30
minutes, daily 10:00-18:00, June-Aug until 19:00, recorded English commentary, meet train
near Le Grand Tour Bus stop on Quai des Etats-Unis, next departure posted, tel. 02 99 88 47
07,
www.ttdf.com
)
.
Walking Tours
The TI on Promenade des Anglais organizes weekly walking tours of Vieux Nice in French
and English (€12, May-Oct only, usually Sat morning at 9:30, 2.5 hours, reservations neces-
sary, depart from TI, tel. 08 92 70 74 07). They also have evening art walks on Fridays at
19:00.
