Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with scenes of rural Villefranche-sur-Mer and other bucolic spots showing how the area
looked before the tourist boom.
Promenade des Anglais, Cours Saleya, and Rue Masséna are all worth an evening walk.
Nice's bars play host to a happening late-night scene, filled with jazz, rock, and trolling
singles. Most activity focuses on Vieux Nice. Rue de la Préfecture and Place du Palais
are ground zero for bar life, though Place Rossetti and Rue Droite are also good targets.
Distilleries Ideales
is a good place to start or end your evening, with a lively international
crowd and a fun interior (where Rue de la Poissonnerie and Rue Barillerie meet, happy
hour 18:00-21:00).
Wayne's Bar
is a happening spot for the younger, English-speaking
backpackercrowd(15RuePréfecture).AlongthePromenadedesAnglais,theplushbarat
Hôtel Negresco
is fancy-cigar old English.
Plan on a cover charge or expensive drinks where music is involved. If you're out
very late, avoid walking alone. Nice is well known for its lively after-dark action, but if
you need even more action, head for the town of Juan-les-Pins (
here
). For more relaxed
Don't look for charm in Nice. Go for modern and clean, with a central location and, in
summer, air-conditioning. The rates listed here are for April through October. Prices gen-
erally drop €15-30 November through March, but go sky-high during the Nice Carnival
(Feb 12-March 4 in 2014,
www.nicecarnaval.com
)
, the Cannes Film Festival (May 14-24
in 2014,
www.festival-cannes.com
), and Monaco's Grand Prix (May 22-25 in 2014, May
21-24 in 2015,
www.acm.mc
)
. Between the film festival and the Grand Prix, the second
half of May is very tight every year. Nice is also one of Europe's top convention cities,
and June is convention month here. Reserve early if visiting from May through August,
especially during these times. For parking, ask your hotelier (several hotels offer deals
for stashing your car or have limited private parking; reserve early), or see “Arrival in
I've divided my sleeping recommendations into three areas: in the city center,
between the train station and Place Masséna (easy access to the train station and Vieux
Nice via the tramway, 20-minute walk to Promenade des Anglais); in the heart of Vieux
NicebetweenNiceEtoileandthesea(eastofAvenueJeanMédecin,goodaccesstothesea
at Quai des Etats-Unis); and near the beach, between Boulevard Victor Hugo and the sea
(asomewhat classier andquieter area,offeringbetter access tothePromenade desAnglais
