Nice, an appealing destination any time of year

Sea view at Eze ©Photo agence Media

Any time of the year active attractions

With diverse landscapes to explore and 300 days of sunshine a year, outdoor adventurers are spoilt for choice.

Along its 47-kilometre coastline are 15 kilometres of beaches while offshore there’s scuba diving, sailing, parasailing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, and even underwater hiking. Walks along coastal belvederes offer spectacular views while 600 kilometres of trails await those traversing the alpine valleys and current masterpieces are in abundance at the International Centre for Contemporary Art inside a medieval castle in the village of Carros.

Photo : Promenade du Paillon ©A.Issock

In town, stroll the seven-kilometre Promenade du Paillon flanking the spectacular Bay of Angels and explore its 300 hectares of green space including the Botanic Gardens and the Promenade des Paillons, dotted with cooling fountains and inventive playgrounds, popular with children of all ages.

A kaleidoscope of offerings

Marvel at the natural splendour of Nice Cote d’Azur by driving The Three Corniches; coastal roads that run parallel to each other and the Mediterranean, from Nice to Menton (highlight is the stretch between Nice and Eze). The Grande Corniche was built by Napoleon over the ancient Roman Via Julia Augusta 550 metres above the Mediterranean; the Corniche Inferieure hugs the coast; and the Moyenne Corniche, between the two, is among the world’s most scenic roads.

photo ©J.Kelagopian

Stop and explore charming villages, such as Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche-sur-Mer beside the sea, and Eze, Falicon and Tourrette-Levens in the hinterland. With its incandescent light playing on the variegated blues of the Mediterranean, Nice Cote d’Azur once attracted masterful artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Renoir and Bonnard.

Today, visitors can admire their work at the Museum of Modern Art, Marc Chagall National Museum, and The Matisse Museum all in Nice. The Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer and Matisse’s Chapel of the Rosary in the hilltop town of Vence provide a generous dose of beauty and current masterpieces are in abundance at the International Centre for Contemporary Art inside a medieval castle in the village of Carros.

In town, stroll the seven-kilometre Promenade du Paillon flanking the spectacular Bay of Angels and explore its 300 hectares of green space including the Botanic Gardens and the Promenade des Paillons, dotted with cooling fountains and inventive playgrounds, popular with children of all ages.

Eats and stays

From its vibrant produce and flower market at Cours Saleya to its Michelin-starred restaurants and casual bistros, visitors will be tantalised by the freshest of seafood and Provençal produce.

Photo ©HÔTEL NÉGRESCO

The pink-domed Hotel Le Negresco encapsulates the glamour of Nice with its fabulous art collection and its restaurants helmed by Virginie Basselot, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France. Under construction are the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel (opening in 2022) embodying the Riviera’s golden era, while the five-star Hôtel Maison Albar le Victoria, with rooftop terrace and pool, will reside on the top floors of the Park Avenue Nice luxury retail precinct. From cosy hideaways and international chains to rustic cabins and palace hotels, there’s something for every kind of holidaymaker