Hello!
This will be my first time to Nice in June. I'll be there for a full 3 and a half days June 12th - 15th. Which surrounding villages would you recommend visiting? Would a day trip to Provence be worth it (I love flowers and countryside) or would another place be more apt? Also, which beaches would you recommend?
Thank you so much in advance.
Ashley
Provence is at least 3 hours one way from Nice. Take that into consideration.
Eze sur mer both the hill top town and the beach there I'd recommend
If you are into art, go to St Paul de Vence for the Maeght museum or Vence for the Matisse-designed chapel.
An underrated destination I was impressed by is a train trip to the fortified town of Entrevaux - it's less touristed than coastal places like Eze but very atmospheric. You can take the Provence Railway train there, and the trip through the River Var gorges is scenic as well.
Many of the beaches are rocks, not sand. Juan-les-Pins has sandy beaches; I forget which others do, but check carefully if this is important to you.
For me, some of the more memorable places were the gardens at the top of Eze Village, the car collection and aquarium and Jardin Exotique in Monaco, the Fondation Maeght in St. Paul de Vence, the Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu, the view from La Turbie down to Monaco and the Mediterranean, and the town of Haut-des-Cagnes (the best of all for me).
Rick's Provence And The French Riviera book has details of all of these except Haut-des-Cagnes, including how to get there by train or bus. He also describes lots of other places in the region; see which interest you. His general France book has much less information about this area.
My wife and I stayed in Nice for a couple of nights in 2003, we really only had an evening and a day. We went to Monaco and on the back hopped off the train in Villefrance-sur-Mer, which was delightful. Next time, which might be in the next few years, we might look into staying in Villefranche. Monaco was nice too, but I would not necessarily feel the need to go back on a return visit to the region (and I am one who likes to visit the same places over again). The cruise ships do go to Villefranche (as they do to Nice), but you can plan around them using the Cruisemapper site. Provence is definitely way too far for a day trip.
Thank you all so much!
I am looking into the sandier beaches on the Riviera. I am going to check on the bus routes to see if that would be the best way to get there.
Eve Village, Entrevaux, & St Paul de Vence are absolutely gorgeous (just took a look at pictures) - I definitely think I will be visiting those villages.
Does anyone have any recommendations on things to see/do, as well as possible tours to see Nice? Would you recommend walking around with Rick steves guidebook (I've done that before in the past)?
Also, how fluent in French shall one be to trek around by themselves in the Riviera?
Thank you all, again :)
Chagall Museum in Nice -- for me, the #1 sight. (For others, not so much.)
We spent 3 days in the Riviera in October 2015. We stayed 2 of those days in Villefranche Sur Mer since i like to stay in smaller towns with less tourist crowds. Absolutely no regrets. Wonderful small sea side town with no big sights just a pleasant sea side ambience.
As far as sightseeing goes, make sure u go to Eze village early morning before the big tour buses congest the village.
At Monaco the aquarium is a decent one as is walk along the harbour ( the famous formula one track). There is the cathedral with tombs of the royalty including Princess Grace. I didn't feel like going into one more palace so skipped it altogether in favour of a bus ride to La Turbie. The trophy of Augustus is huge and awe inspiring. Plus it has the best views over Monaco.
In Nice itself, since I'm not a fan of Chagall we just walked around the old town, promenade de anglais and went up castle hill for great views over Nice old town.
As far as sandy beaches go we found one on Cap ferrat , but it is a very small one. You can also see the Villa Ephrussi and it's gardens when there.
Have a great trip
Of course Monaco and Cannes are the famous place names, but you might look to instead experience Antibes and Grasse, plus Eze and Villefranche-sur-mer.
I wouldn't bother with a guide. Print out maps and transport logistics, as well as information on major sights. Public transport is good with the rail line along the coast. However note the Cannes-Grasse line is closed for works this year.
