Small towns like Cannes, Antibes, Èze, and of course Nice, France are amazing cities that line the French Coast. My time on the southern coast of France was spent mainly in Nice, so I can give some recommendations and my thoughts on this beach city.
The Transportation
If you are flying into the Nice airport, you won't find it challenging to take public transport to get yourself down the coast. The train stop is steps outside of the airport terminal and stretches far, allowing you to be able to get to wherever you want to go straight from the airport.
I won't lie, it was a bit confusing at first, as is any public transportation system, but once we obtained the correct metro card, it was a very simple train route and we made it to our Airbnb easily.
Be aware that you have to load up your metro card BEFORE going on the trains because if the stop you want to get off at happens to be underground, you may get trapped inside if your card doesn't have the appropriate credit/swipes on it to exit the station. Basically, just buy your tickets if your stops are underground so you can avoid further delays.
Around The City
I thought that the scenery was absolutely incredible. In Nice, there is a great path along the beach, perfect to stroll at any time of day. Since it is a French beach, there is no sand, and all rocks which is not the best for lounging in, but they do have iconic blue metal chairs that look out over the water along the beach path where you can stop and admire the view.
There are some great beach clubs along the rocks as well that you can check out for the day, or even to grab a meal. We went to Cocoon Beach and ate delicious truffle pasta! It was a rainy day when we went, and it was still beautiful so I am sure in the sunshine it would be amazing.
Also, if you are feeling adventurous, check out the Bellanda Tower and climb your way up to the top of the Point de vue Colline where you are sure to see incredible views.
Grab A Drink
I feel like if you go to Nice the trip isn't complete if you don't stop into a bar and grab a drink or two. Along the beach path, there are some super trendy bars and clubs that are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view, or even going for some nightlife.
We stopped by Waka Bar and had a great time. We asked to sit upstairs outside and though it was crowded, we found a spot right before sunset.
We stayed in Nice a little over a week, and I feel that we definitely could have seen everything in two to three days, so just keep that in mind. A big perk of Nice is how close it is to Monaco. We took advantage and rode a Vespa, and even took the train over to Monaco for a few days which I would highly recommend. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Nice and felt that it was a relaxing city, good to stroll around in and explore.
