The underrated French city that has a ‘bit of everything' with picturesque beaches and new cheap hotels
WITH relaxing beaches and super sightseeing – plus just a two-hour flight away – Nice on France's stunning Cote d'Azur makes for an easy sunny getaway.
While it may happily soak up the glamorous associations of nearby
4
The idyllic beach at Nice in the South of France
Credit: Getty
WHY SHOULD I GO?
NICE has a bit of everything. Great food, scenery and swimming.
But it never feels like you need to elbow your way through its quaint streets.
It is also one of France's brightest cities, with a reported 147 days of sunshine a year making it a great choice if you want to bask in the rays while also getting a top-notch culture fix.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
ONE of the best things about
Read More on Travel
As you get your steps in alongside the palm trees, look out for the iconic hotel Le Negresco, which hosted
Pack comfy shoes to walk 30 minutes up to the Colline du Chateau — a park from which you can get the best views of the city.
It's smart to hop on a tram (€10, or £8.39, return) outside the airport to get into the centre after landing — it takes just over half an hour.
BUCKET LIST ATTRACTIONS?
THE cute Old Town comprises a series of winding alleys that have hardly changed from the 1700s and are made for wandering, complete with colourful, shuttered facades.
Most read in Beach holidays
Between the many historic squares and churches, you will find plenty of adorable shops selling handbags, jewellery and other stylish items.
Or head to the flea market Les Puces de Nice, a treasure trove of affordable designer clothing.
Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport
Need an energy boost? Stop off at the Frisson coffee shop which serves dainty pastries and ice cream.
Enjoy art at the Matisse Museum (€10, or £8.39, entry), before a free walk through the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre in the Jardin des Arenes de Cimiez.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT?
LUNCH on delicious Mediterranean cuisine beneath a chic, striped parasol at the laidback Hotel Amour Plage (part of Hotel Amour Nice) in a prime position on the promenade.
Then retreat to the beach club's sunloungers beside the beach.
4
Hunt for bargains at the flea market
Credit: Getty
For a dinner you can dress up for, head to Taulissa above the five-star Le Victoria hotel.
Dine on mouthwatering Provencal dishes — including plenty of fish and seafood options — with panoramic views of the city.
For more of a local feel, try the friendly Rouge wine bar, whose small
I FANCY A DRINK
EASE into the evening with a sunset visit to Babel Babel, for a range of natural wines and a sea view.
Later, Place du Pin and the adjacent Rue Bonaparte are full of bustling cocktail bars with terraces.
4
Enjoy a seaview from Babel Babel cafe
Credit: Alamy
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
THE Old Town is arguably best, not only for its charm but for practical reasons too — it's close to all the key sites you'll want to visit.
EasyHotel Nice Old Town has had a multi-million pound refurb, and is a stone's throw from all the action.
4
Relaxing by the crystal sea
Credit: Getty
There is an all-you-can-eat continental breakfast buffet (£10.49, per person) — including croissants, of course — and the handy option to store luggage at €5 (£4.20) per item for up to 12 hours before or after your stay.
GO: NICE
GETTING THERE:
EasyJet flies from Gatwick to Nice from £38.99pp.
See
STAYING THERE:
Rooms at EasyHotel Nice Old Town is from £85 per night on a room-only basis.
See
MORE INFO:
See
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
I went to the Greek island that's the ‘birthplace of marathons' and ran the most beautiful 13 miles in the world
I'M 16 kilometres in and almost sorry I only have five more to go. On my right are the sparkling seas and ancient fortifications of Advertisement 6 The mountains of Halki island near Rhodes Credit: Getty 6 The TUI Rhodes half-marathon Credit: TUI / Christian Wyrwa 6 The majestic Acropolis Credit: Getty Around me are 4,500 sweaty other runners, all soaking up the beautiful course that is the TUI Rhodes half-marathon. I've run a lot of different places — along New York's Brooklyn Bridge, around France's Mont Saint-Michel, even in the moat at London's Tower of London — but this is easily one of the most beautiful. Starting in the middle of town, the two large 10km loops take the runners (some who will do it twice to complete a marathon) along the water's edge, past the town's old fortified walls, around the Rhodes Windmills, before throwing a hill or two in there to really get the heart pumping. I have always wanted to do a run in Greece — it's the birthplace of the marathon. Advertisement Read More on GREECE And thanks to the stunning scenery, perfect climate and cheers of supportive locals, plus 700 volunteers who beam as they hand out gels and water along the way, I'm glad I've finally made it out here. At 20km in, I see the pro marathon runners on the other side of the course. And I realise that, thanks to the trail, these gazelles are likely to lap some of the slower half-marathon runners. I better pick up my pace. Soon, it's 500 metres to go, 400, 300 . . . suddenly, in the crowd, I spot my husband cheering me on and I give it one last push, thundering over the line in 1hr 55mins. Advertisement Most read in Beach holidays I'm happy with the result, and even happier that, for the rest of the day, I have the Greek sun — and even more importantly, Greek food — to revive me. I'm here for the TUI Collection experiences, a package that allows you to get flights, sign up to run 5km, 10km, a half-marathon or even a marathon, and relax at an all-inclusive. The adult-only Greek hotel with laid-back DJs and hidden beach After all, as much as we all love a fly and flop, TUI have realised how hot running is currently. And they are happy to deliver packages to help you head to some of the most picturesque destinations for your next race. Advertisement TUI are supporting more and more sports events, including a run (marathon, half, 10km and 5km) in Swim-up suites Tired out from my exertions, I spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool at the stunning, adults-only Imperial Atlantica resort, beside the shimmering While the shoulder season means the sun disappears behind some clouds every so often, it's still warm enough to sunbathe — and is quieter and cheaper than the summer months. The facilities are that little bit quieter, too, meaning I get an easy slot in the hotel's sauna to help my muscles recover, and score a great spot by the pool. Advertisement 6 Runners pass the Rhodes Windmills Credit: TUI / Christian Wyrwa 6 The adults only Atlantica Imperial Resort Credit: Supplied Even in entry level rooms, you're treated to Nespresso coffee machines, bathrobes and slippers. And for extra luxury, you can plump for one of the swim-up suites that lead straight out onto the many pools winding their way through the resort. Advertisement But if you get tired of relaxing, I would heartily recommend getting out of the hotel and exploring the local area. The Old Town in Rhodes is filled with fantastic shops and restaurants — and we fill up post-marathon with mouth-watering dolmades, tzatziki, stews and a final delectable bite of baklava. Meanwhile, you can sign up to olive oil or wine tasting courses, explore Lindos Acropolis and hike up the mountains that dot around the island. Our own trip is over too quickly, and we sit by our personal pool until the very last moment when the taxi arrives to drive us half an hour to the airport. Advertisement But there's no chance I'll be forgetting this holiday. After all, unlike other trips, I have a physical medal as my souvenir. And we do all deserve a little reward now and then. GO: RHODES GETTING / STAYING THERE: Seven nights' all-inclusive at the 5H Atlantica Imperial Resort is from £1,029pp including flights from Gatwick in September, 23kg hold luggage and transfers. See MORE INFO: Sign up to run in the 10k, half-marathon or full marathon in Palma, Majorca, on October 19. See 6 The Sun's Brittany Vonow in Rhodes Credit: Supplied Advertisement
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Common beach activity at holiday hotspot could see tourists fined over £2,500 – or risk getting stopped at the airport
UK HOLIDAYMAKERS could face a hefty fine if they carry out this one common beach activity. Brits travelling to Sardinia, Italy this summer will be looking forward to the island's sprawling white 1 Collecting shells in Sardinia was made illegal in 2017 Credit: Getty But whilst the area is known for its While collecting shells might appear like a harmless Local law prohibits Studies suggest removing shells from a seashore could impact an area's ecosystem as many animals live inside the husks. Read more on Travel In 2017, Sardinia made it illegal to take sand from its beaches after thousands of tourists were caught trying to transport boxes of the stuff back home. Just a few years later customs police on the Collectively they attempted to swipe 220lb (100kg) of beach items in separate incidents. Most read in News Travel There is even a dedicated Facebook page - called "Sardinia robbed and plundered" - to highlight the problem, which has amassed 37,722 followers. Visitors have been caught at airport and harbour customs checks, while police and the military have also been monitoring websites for unlawful sales. Spanish Beaches Close Due to Dangerous Sea Creature Cops reported dozens of illicitly advertised beach items - some with "high prices". Islanders warned the issue is creating an environmental emergency. Pierluigi Cocco, an environmental scientist and resident of the Sardinian capital Cagliari, told the He said that although taking sand home served as a reminder of a "treasured memory", it could contribute to the reduction of beaches in the future. In 2019, a French couple were caught with 40kg of sand in the boot of their car. Police found the sand crammed into 14 plastic bottles taken from a beach in Chia, southern Sardinia. The couple claimed they wanted to take it home as a "souvenir" and did not know they had committed an offence.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Renovated £1.5billion stadium now generating almost £1million a DAY after incredible transformation
REAL MADRID'S Santiago Bernabeu is reportedly generating nearly £1million a day. The world-class stadium is known around the globe as being one of football's major cathedrals. 3 Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium is generating nearly £1million a day Credit: Getty 3 The club is enjoying great success from both football and non-football events Credit: Getty Boasting over 78,000 seats, the Bernabeu has been home to It was the first stadium in Europe to host both a Euros and a World Cup final. And in 2019 The major renovation job saw a retractable roof added to the arena, while the surrounding area was boosted by the creation of a shopping centre and hotel. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Now, Real are reaping the benefits of their new home thanks to football and non-football events alike. According to When it comes to matchdays, fans are also able to upgrade their experience by moving to premium seats and boxes scattered throughout the ground. They can also boost their time at the Bernabeu by opting for a plush tour of the ground. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS And tickets remain accessible for both fans and tourists, with several matches not sold out before the end of this season Elsewhere, Real have also boosted revenue with numerous concerts and events. Real Madrid open their Club World Cup campaign with draw against Saudi minnows 3 Taylor Swift played three shows at the Bernabeu last year Credit: Getty Last year saw Taylor Swift play three shows to hundreds of thousands. And in November, the Bernabeu will play host to an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders. There could still be plenty more revenue to come in the future, with Real currently banned from hosting music concerts following noise complaints from local residents after Swift's shows. But the regional Madrid government is working on a reform to current laws about noise pollution, potentially allowing the Bernabeu to start hosting concerts again from next year.
