Tips for Nice and around
#1
Original Poster
Tips for Nice and around
Tips for Nice and around
This was my third trip to Nice in five years. Trip reports are unfortunately not my forte so I'm hoping these few tips might be helpful if you are thinking of going there.
We did not like our apartment but the location on Massena was great.
A Taste of Nice
A walking food tour - 65 euros.
This was the best tour ever . Gustav introduced us to parts of Nice we hadn't seen before off the tourist track. We sampled some wine at a store where we saw customers getting empty bottles refilled for 2.30€. We were back there the next day with our empty 2 liter water bottles. We took a tram ride to a local produce and fish market and had wine, pissaladiere, and socca at a little outdoor restaurant where we were serenaded by a sweet older gentleman. We stopped at a store that specializes in beautifully candied fruit that we sampled. Olive oil tasting at an art gallery with local cake and wine. And lots of other stops., including the best gelato shop.
Promenade du Paillon
Fantastic parc right through the middle of Nice. Dancing waters provide endless enjoyment for the happy children. Lots of benches. Beautiful night and day.
PPP Epicerie Fine
15 rue du Pont Vieux
Charming olive oil shop with great unique gifts. Wish the used wine boxes could have fit in my suitcase. Beautiful with famous wine cellar crests, 2 € each. Clear plastic wine bags that you put on your table and fill with ice - I think they are called wine coolers? Everyone wants to know where I bought them. I also purchased a burlap market bag with the PPP crest. My sil and dd each bought some embossed approx. 8" round shiny tin boxes that they are using for soap or trinkets. Approx. 6 to 8€.
There is also one in Antibes.
Acchiardo, 38 rue Droite in Vieille Ville. 33 4 93 85 5 16
My favourite restaurant. Always packed with lots of regulars. Friendly service with very handsome waiters, 3 brothers. Love everything. No credit cards. Better to reserve.
Villa Massena - 65 rue de France. Just off the the Promenade, not far from the Negresco hotel.
A museum of the city. Located in one of the last luxury villas of the 19th century. Beautifully laid out colorful gardens. More than 20 exhibition rooms retrace the history of Nice by displaying collections of all sorts of items such as furniture, decorations and artwork.
Admission is free.
The Port
When coming to the port from the Promenade if you walk all the way across to the other side there is a little restaurant with a big misting fan. While sitting there having a snack and a cool drink, admiring the view and the boats, we noticed just in front of the restaurant that there is a free boat shuttle to take us across the port where we started, saving us the long walk back. I did not know about this and wish I had before on previous trips.
Happy to tip the cheerful young couple manning the boat.
Antibes
Le qu4tre 4 Cours Massena
Great little outdoor restaurant with umbrellas just in front or behind the covered market. Forget which end but I have included the address.
Crepes, salads, sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. One liter carafe of yummy cidre 7€. Owners very sweet and friendly.
Market Day in Antibes
Best day is Thursday when there are three markets. One features cute pastel clothes made in Italy. The covered market is a real Provencal type market.
Villefranche sur Mer
We stayed three days at La Regence. 2 Blvd Marechal Fosh.
We chose it because of the very good reviews on Trip Advisor. When we arrived we were concerned as it is right on the main road and there is a bar downstairs, Chez Betty. We loved it. Pretty bedrooms recently renovated a la Provencal. Small rooms but great bathrooms. Run by three generations, grandma Betty, son and grandson. So welcoming and helpful. Very affordable. Bus stop to Beaulieu sur Mer, Monaco and Cap Ferrat next door and to Nice across the street.
Hope this helps if you are going to Nice.
Micheline
This was my third trip to Nice in five years. Trip reports are unfortunately not my forte so I'm hoping these few tips might be helpful if you are thinking of going there.
We did not like our apartment but the location on Massena was great.
A Taste of Nice
A walking food tour - 65 euros.
This was the best tour ever . Gustav introduced us to parts of Nice we hadn't seen before off the tourist track. We sampled some wine at a store where we saw customers getting empty bottles refilled for 2.30€. We were back there the next day with our empty 2 liter water bottles. We took a tram ride to a local produce and fish market and had wine, pissaladiere, and socca at a little outdoor restaurant where we were serenaded by a sweet older gentleman. We stopped at a store that specializes in beautifully candied fruit that we sampled. Olive oil tasting at an art gallery with local cake and wine. And lots of other stops., including the best gelato shop.
Promenade du Paillon
Fantastic parc right through the middle of Nice. Dancing waters provide endless enjoyment for the happy children. Lots of benches. Beautiful night and day.
PPP Epicerie Fine
15 rue du Pont Vieux
Charming olive oil shop with great unique gifts. Wish the used wine boxes could have fit in my suitcase. Beautiful with famous wine cellar crests, 2 € each. Clear plastic wine bags that you put on your table and fill with ice - I think they are called wine coolers? Everyone wants to know where I bought them. I also purchased a burlap market bag with the PPP crest. My sil and dd each bought some embossed approx. 8" round shiny tin boxes that they are using for soap or trinkets. Approx. 6 to 8€.
There is also one in Antibes.
Acchiardo, 38 rue Droite in Vieille Ville. 33 4 93 85 5 16
My favourite restaurant. Always packed with lots of regulars. Friendly service with very handsome waiters, 3 brothers. Love everything. No credit cards. Better to reserve.
Villa Massena - 65 rue de France. Just off the the Promenade, not far from the Negresco hotel.
A museum of the city. Located in one of the last luxury villas of the 19th century. Beautifully laid out colorful gardens. More than 20 exhibition rooms retrace the history of Nice by displaying collections of all sorts of items such as furniture, decorations and artwork.
Admission is free.
The Port
When coming to the port from the Promenade if you walk all the way across to the other side there is a little restaurant with a big misting fan. While sitting there having a snack and a cool drink, admiring the view and the boats, we noticed just in front of the restaurant that there is a free boat shuttle to take us across the port where we started, saving us the long walk back. I did not know about this and wish I had before on previous trips.
Happy to tip the cheerful young couple manning the boat.
Antibes
Le qu4tre 4 Cours Massena
Great little outdoor restaurant with umbrellas just in front or behind the covered market. Forget which end but I have included the address.
Crepes, salads, sandwiches. Fresh and delicious. One liter carafe of yummy cidre 7€. Owners very sweet and friendly.
Market Day in Antibes
Best day is Thursday when there are three markets. One features cute pastel clothes made in Italy. The covered market is a real Provencal type market.
Villefranche sur Mer
We stayed three days at La Regence. 2 Blvd Marechal Fosh.
We chose it because of the very good reviews on Trip Advisor. When we arrived we were concerned as it is right on the main road and there is a bar downstairs, Chez Betty. We loved it. Pretty bedrooms recently renovated a la Provencal. Small rooms but great bathrooms. Run by three generations, grandma Betty, son and grandson. So welcoming and helpful. Very affordable. Bus stop to Beaulieu sur Mer, Monaco and Cap Ferrat next door and to Nice across the street.
Hope this helps if you are going to Nice.
Micheline
#12
Original Poster
Hi tdk320n - we almost booked the apartment you stayed in in old town. Wish we had. Ours was not so good. But we were in Nice!
Iris1745 - I looked at the link for the villa you will be staying in. Looks like paradise!
I also saw your profile with the picture of you playing basketball. I showed my dh who thinks he is so smart to be playing ice hockey at 74.
Iris1745 - I looked at the link for the villa you will be staying in. Looks like paradise!
I also saw your profile with the picture of you playing basketball. I showed my dh who thinks he is so smart to be playing ice hockey at 74.
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