Nice is an ancient city, founded by the Greeks as early as 350 BC and named after Nike, the goddess of victory. Nice is one of the most popular resorts on the Côte d’Azur, with a well-developed infrastructure and numerous interesting attractions.
Beaches of Nice
The public beach has a pebble and cobblestone surface, making it difficult to walk on without proper footwear. Large waves are also common, so 20 private beaches located at the picturesque eastern end of the bay, below Old Nice, are recommended for swimming.
Outside the city, there are good rocky beaches in La Réserve, opposite the Parc de Vigier, and Coco Beach around the tip of the cape. Sandy beaches are located in Villefranche-sur-Mer, as well as in neighboring Antibes and Cannes.
The closest sandy beach is Villefranche, a 20-minute ride from the city by bus number 100.
Entertainment and Attractions in Nice
In terms of architecture and attractions, the different parts of the city differ markedly. The Old Town features typical Italian buildings with warmly painted facades, narrow streets, and Baroque churches. The neighborhoods that emerged after 1860 feature a more austere French style with wide, straight streets and stone walls.
Place Rosetti, with its Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, is the geographical center of Nice.
The Promenade des Anglais, overlooking the Baie des Anges, is a place with an abundance of local attractions. Along the promenade are the city’s main squares—Place Masséna, Place Garibaldi, and Place Saint-François, with the Town Hall building.
Aristocratic families from all over the world have always chosen Nice as a place to live and relax. This explains the numerous family palaces and chateaux here. The Palais Masséna is a fine example of the Belle Époque, built in the early 20th century. The Palais Lascaris is a 17th-century Baroque villa with a collection of tapestries, vases, and other antiques. The neo-Gothic Château de Valrose formerly belonged to Baron von Derviz.
The city also boasts a large number of churches, cathedrals, and chapels. The most popular among tourists are the Church of Notre-Dame-du-Port, the Basilica of Notre-Dame, the Franciscan Monastery of Notre-Dame de Cimiez, and the Chapel of Mercy.
