Exploring Nice

It might be a bit cliche, but Nice truly is nice! More than nice actually. Its rather stunning, a mix of modern European city meets historical charm. You can be in Sephora shopping for makeup one moment and eating pizza in front of a 500 year old church the next. It was truly taken by how romantic and historical the Old Town was. I felt as though I had been enveloped in another world.

The main highlight I found was the Castle Hill. Its a bit of a hike up to the top, however the views of Nice and the Mediterranean are absolutely stunning. You get a panoramic view of the entire area, and in classic French style, when I was there, a man was playing a mandolin to really set the mood.

This is also a beach town, with the charming cocktail bars lining the streets for thirsty beach goers. My personal favourite is Waka Bar. Great views of the the beach, the strip and honestly the best Pina colada of my entire life! I loved spending the day on the warm beach (ok…warm, rocky beach…bring a thick blanket or beach chairs), and refreshing with a cocktail every few hours.

There is also a huge market area just behind the main beach front strip. It is a permanent market, around 4 blocks long selling everything from fresh fruits and veggies to meats and pastries. Surrounding this area are streets lined with cafes, all with great outdoor terraces which allows you to feel like you are part of the action. There is a great little crepe cafe, which is affordable for breakfast, and provides large delicious crepes which can keep you full most of the day.

This city is rich in history and culture. Highly influenced by their close neighbours, Italy, you can see the mix of French meets Italian in the style of architecture and in the culinary scene. Great Italian food, lots of pizza and delicious Italian wines can be easily found here. I discovered this sparking red Italian variety called Lambrusco. If you’ve never had it, its a must try. Delicious!