Venture south to the French Riviera, and Nice will likely top your list of places to go. After all, it's the biggest and most accessible city on this sunny coastal stretch. Days can be filled with wandering through the old town, taking in the sea views from Castle Hill, strolling between the Promenade des Anglais and the Bay of Angels, and pastis drinking in the bars. The city also works well as a day trip base, with Monaco, Cannes, and the wider Provence region all nearby.
Set on the sunny French Riviera, this coastal city entices vacationers in the balmy summer season. For better deals on room rates, September is a great time to visit, with weather warm enough for beach days or day trips along the coast. Top cultural events include the annual jazz festival in July and (for those traveling during the off-season) the carnival in February.
The city is fairly compact, making exploring on foot easier than by car. But if you need to reach some further-away locales, the city’s modern tram system—mostly electric and air-conditioned—is a breeze. For fun options, the bike-share scheme, Vélo Bleu, is easy to use, or you can rent bikes, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, and roller blades from Roller Station on the Promenade des Anglais. The Petit Train is another fun way to tackle the top things to do in Nice in less time.
Do as the Niçoise do: Pass on the beer and order pastis or chilled rosé instead. Pastis—a cloudy aniseed spirit—is usually served neat along with a jug of water so you can dilute how you want. Ask for a popular brand like Ricard or seek out the local Pastis de Nice. For rosé, most bars will serve Côtes de Provence, which is a pretty pale pink color and drier than you might expect. It pairs well with everything from fresh seafood to street food. Speaking of food, it's almost sacrilegious to visit Nice, or this area of France, without sampling socca, a flatbread (some people call it a pancake) made with chickpea flour. Natives of Nice enjoy it as an appetizer and like to top it with everything from roasted tomatoes to whipped feta.
If you want to shop for souvenirs that can turn into family heirlooms, hit up the city's weekly antiques market. It's held every Monday from 7am to around 1pm. Arrive early for the best inventory; show up late for the best bargains. If you're not in town on a Monday, no worries. You can still find plenty of antique stalls that are open on other days of the week at Les Puces in Place Robilante.
