ankitsanmati

Hii

This is my first trip to Europe and I had put in 3 days for Nice. I am coming with my wife and won't mind hectic 3 days of this trip to Nice. I have interests in culture and would like to visit new places to understand the same. Further I have relatively less interest in Museums (they seem a bit boring to me - sorry if this offends anyone).

So, I am arriving Nice on Friday from France at around 12:30 PM and I have a flight back to Geneva on Monday morning.

So I was looking at the following itinerary for Nice.

Day 1 - Local Nice - Vieux Nice, La Chateau, Massena Square and stroll along Promenade des Anglais.
Day 2 - Monaco - From Nice to Eze and then to Monaco
Day 3 - Cannes - From Nice to Antibes and then to Cannes (May be cover de Vence in between)

So are day 2 and day 3 doable??
And what all places can I visit in Eze, Monaco, Antibes and Cannes? And how to travel between these places?

bilboburgler

Monaco.... I guess there must be something to do here, count the Jags, look at the Casino...

nytraveler

I would not bother with Monaco unless you want to watch the uber rich at play, spend a lot of money and head to the casino (not free and appropriate attire required - esp if you want to get past the slots).

We have been to Monaco twice - and thought it a hoot - but we did a nice dinner and the inner casino (James Bond style and dressed as same) to see the uber rich in their tuxes, gowns and jewels losing a month;s salary in one spin of the wheel.

I would focus on the more typical towns to explore - unless you really want the specific Monaco experience. Think you may need to cab back to Nice at end of the evening - we had a rental car.

thursdaysd

With such a short time I would skip Monaco. Eze has good views but is very touristy. You could consider Vence and St. Paul de Vence, also touristy but with famous art museum - not clear when you say you are interested in culture but not museums what you mean.

I would spend one day hiking round Cap Ferat and visiting the Villa Ephrusis and the Villa Kerylos.

Tulips

You don't have 3 days, you have 2,5. And you're spending just half a day in Nice?
You can take the train from Nice to Monaco on Saturday and to Cannes and Antibes on Sunday. That will fill up those 2 days. Stop in Antibes, walk around for an hour or two and take a train to Cannes for the afternoon, back to Nice in the evening. Adding Vence or St Paul de Vence to this day is too much.

TDudette

DH and I took a one-day van tour* from Nice to most of those towns and enjoyed it. We easily took the train back to Monaco in the evening to go to the casino (take your passport, and dress nicely if you want to go to all of the rooms). After casino area, our tour guide dropped us to see changing of the guard in the upper part of Monaco--touristy, yes but I'm glad we saw it. There is an aquarium that is supposed to be pretty nice but we didn't get to it.

I do agree with thursdaysd about Villa Ephrusis if you have time. Bus is an OK way to go along the Corniche but I can't say how far the walk is. Or how crowded bus is in early summer.

Enjoy!

*Flyer for this was at our hotel and we signed up. It also included visit to perfume factory and store.

ankitsanmati

Thanks for the replies....

Monaco - I heard is entirely about lifestyle and yachts and the ultimate luxury experience. Just wanted to experience it.

Yeah I understand with the trip I suggested, I would have very less time in Nice.

So I think 1/2 day in Nice
Next day I can go to Eze and then quick trip to Monaco and try and return by evening to spend some more time in Nice
Final day, may be Antibes and Cannes or De Vence may be

What say guys

thursdaysd

"Monaco - I heard is entirely about lifestyle and yachts and the ultimate luxury experience. Just wanted to experience it. "

Experience it? Unless you drop a lot of cash you'll be on the outside looking at the outside. Find some photos online and then go somewhere more interesting.

Christina

He's just curious, what's the problem with that. I find it interesting to see places completely different than I'm used to. I'm sure he knows he'll be on the outside looking in.

I don't know about Eze, but of course it's doable to take the train to Monaco for a day.

There is a bus line that connects Eze and Nice and Monaco
http://www.rca.tm.fr/horaires/

It's line 112 http://www.rca.tm.fr/ftp/FR_plan/The...ept%202013.pdf

nytraveler

Nothing wrong with being curious but many of the stores are the type that have to open the door to let you in - which they might not do in typical tourist garb (remember Oprah bing turned away from some designer shop in Paris) unless you plan on dropping $6-$7K and up - sometimes way up - for a purse.

And the casino does have a dress code - no getting to the actual game rooms unless properly dressed (at a minimum sophisticated/expensive resort wear in the afternoon, in the evenings many are tuxes and gowns). When we have gone DH had a dark suit and I had a very stylish full length LBD - but not the diamonds of course.

You can look at the yachts in the harbor for free. Last time we were there many had cigarette boats as launches and one had a helipad on a back deck.

nytraveler

Oh - and the last time we were there the entrance fee was 10 euros - but this was about 5 years ago.

kerouac

I hope you know that this is all just a short ride on the local commuter trains. I think the last times I checked, fares were about 2.80€. There are also buses along the coast for just 1€.

I am not a fan of Monaco, but you have to have been there at least once if you are in the area. Do you really believe what everybody says about it? (both positive and negative)

TDudette

When DH and I took the train from Nice to Monaco, there was a separate walk way to the Casino area. As kerouac says, it is a short trip and you can look at schedules online.

But back to that tour, I forgot to tell you that our driver drove the race route through Monaco.