Marseilles and Nice - suggestions please??
 

Hello everyone,

I am planning a trip to Cote d'Azur on late April next year. I have already booked a flight to Marseilles, we will be staying there for 1 night and the next day we will take the train to Nice where we will stay for 3 more nights. We will arrive Marseilles at midnight so we will just have the next morning to see the highlights if possible. So I am asking you experts what should we do for that morning. What is the absolute must see at Marseilles? Or should I skip Marseilles and take the earliest train to Nice?
Also I would love to hear about the Nice leg of the trip. Where should we go once we explore Nice? St. Tropez, Monaco or Monte Carlo? Or maybe try to see 2 of them? Or somewhere else? I am quite confused right now and would love to hear suggestions. By the way, first time to France and we won't be visiting Paris. Is that crazy??

Monte Carlo is the casino area within Monaco. When you go to Monaco you may visit the royal palace area, the port area, and the casino area, all in one day. Get a Rick Steves' FRANCE guide book to get a general idea. Bring your passport if you want to go inside the gambling rooms in Monte Carlo casino.

Other day-trip to consider from Nice are Cannes, or St. Paul and Vence.

Your Marseilles/Nice trip is something I've hoped to do soon, very soon. I cannot offfer any suggestions but I would like to ask one question.
How long is the train trip from Marseilles to Nice?
Enjoy your trip.

Well there are many options near Nice - if you get the Rick Steves book (maybe the one for Provence and Cote d'Azur)it will give you a number of ideas. There are several art museums in the area as well as some perched villages up in the hills with great views and little shops. On our last visit we went to Villa Euphrissi and the gardens and it was one of our best vacation days ever. For a really low key day you could rent bikes and ride along the promenade in Nice.

I know zip about Marseilles, in fact had only heard negative things about it but on a recent plane trip I met a woman who had spent five days there and loved it. Hopefully other posters will have some advice for you.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will definetely get the Rick Steves book, I am intrigued. j_nunes41, I hope you make your trip as soon as possible, by the way train from Marseilles to Nice takes 2h35m according to TGV web site. I am not sure if it is flexible,i hope not.
I am so confused about Marseilles I hope someone could tell me if it is worth spending precious time or should I skip it already.

DH and I visited Marseille by train from our base in Aix. We saw their Arch de Triomphe, a church and ate a lovely lunch at the harbor, but didn't get to some of the places mentioned in the guide books.

For me personally, I'd get on to Nice. Yes, do look and see if anything calls out first.

May I presume that your hotel knows how late you're getting in? Do they have someone to meet you?

I enjoyed a couple days in Marseilles but, with only 4 days, I think moving on to Nice is a better option.

There are many day trips you can take after spending some time in Nice.....Menton, Eze, St Paul de Vence, Vence, Tourettes sur Loup, St. Jean Cap Ferrat & Villa Ephussi. Antibes, Biot, etc. Many of these can be combined with others for a long day.

Do you leave from Nice or need to return to Marseilles?

Good point TDudette, I should make sure hotel knows about our late check-in. I hope they have a greeting system but wouldn't count on it, it is Holiday Inn Express. I understand that it is near the train station but I don't know how convenient it is for a ride from the airport. Do you guys have any idea?
Judy, we will be leaving from Marseilles, it is a 16:20 flight so we will probably take th 8ish train. However we will have a luggage which will definetly limit our last day actions.

Holiday Inn Express at BWI in Baltimore has a pick up and drop off service for its customers (and free parking). Might be different in another country but can't hurt to ask.

The Holiday Inn Express is right opposite the train station. Just take the down escalator opposite Platform F and cross the road. To get to the station from the airport, take the shuttle bus. You may have to check that it's still running after midnight when you arrive, though. Here's the link. http://www.mp2.aeroport.fr/pdf/fiche...e_Aeroport.pdf

For things to do, I recommend you take the tourist train from the Old Port up to Notre Dame de la Garde. It's the iconic landmark of Marseille and there are magnificent views from the top of the hill where it's located. Here's some info about it and how to get there. http://bit.ly/93GnHx

Sheila thank you so much for your reply it was most helpful. About the shuttle I have the same question in mind so the best way is to contact the hotel I guess.
Since noone commented on me being crazy because not visiting Paris makes think I am making a huge mistake. Is that so guys??

raindeep, since you didn't ask about Paris, why would anyone wonder? For all we know you've been around the world 30 times but just hadn't made it to Nice! :-d

Paris needs to be a trip of its own IMHO--don't see how you'd have time to do it justice.

Walk down the Canebiere, go to the old Arab quarter, eat bouillabaisse in the port area, drink a pastis. I wouldn't skip Marseilles.