Suggestions for things to do In Nice (without a car).

The Musee Massena near the Hotel Negresco is very interesting if you want to understand the formation of modern Italy in more detail--remember who's buried in the Pantheon in Rome? Well, you'll learn more about him.

I don't know how much of Antibes is covered by the tour, but I bet there's plenty more to do, and it's very easy to get to by train and by bus.

A walk round Monaco or quiet Villefranche sur la mer is wonderful.

Chagall Museum !! (My big reason for visiting Nice) And walking along the promenade.

Bus along the corniche all the way to Monaco and back. Amazing amazing views. on the way there or way back, stop at Eze village -- expensive and touristy, but like a little hideaway with gorgeous views.

Or take a bus the other way and go to St Paul de Vence.

But for a first visit, definitely Eze and the corniches!!

I think St Paul du Vence was my fav stop on our trip last year. We had a car but if you can go by bus. Great place to spend a half day just wandering around, have a bite to eat - lots of little alleyways to explore.

My husband and I have visited Nice on three different occasions. I love seeing the sights! Two years, we were there for the Carnaval days and parades.

Besides the Chagall Museum, you can also visit the Matisse Museum and the Russian Orthodox Cathedral (if it is open). Be sure to wear clothing appropriate for a cathedral. My husband was wearing shorts and had to wait outside for me. The mosaics for the icons are beautiful.

There is Le Grand Tour Bus that is a hop-on, hop-off trip. We used it on our first trip to Nice to get an over-all picture of things to see. There is also a small tourist train that will take you along the Promenade des Anglais and to the chateau at the top of the hill where you can see ancient ruins. There is an elevator at the bottom of the citadel that is easier than walking up the hill. Besides the ruins, there is a park and viewpoints where you can see the city, especially the view along the bay.

Of course, you should go to the market in Vieux Nice (Old Nice). There is an antique market on Monday and flowers, fruits, vegetables and regional gifts on the other days. Just walking around the Cours Saleya is fun. There are many restaurants along either side of the marche. Be sure to try some "socca" . It is a flat pancake like item made from chickpea flour.

One day, we took a small van tour along the coast and to Monaco. We made the arrangements at the TI (Tourist Information) office. We stopped at Eze and had time to walk around the small citadel town. The tour also stopped at the Fragonard perfume factory/museum/gift shop. The driver took us around Monaco and Monte Carlo. Since it was close to the date of the Monte Carlo, he drove the route of the race. Of course, we went at a much slower pace. It makes it fun to watch the race back home. We saw the Palace with the changing of the guards in Monaco. We also had time to see the church in which Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. Over-all, the tour was worth the money just to see different sights without having to figure out which trains and/or buses to take.

On another trip. we took a bus from Nice to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild's. The house had gorgeous furnishings and there is a lovely little restaurant in the villa. The gardens surrounding the villa are also fantastic. There are seven gardens with different themes. You can get the bus information at the TI.

To me, it was just interesting to see things in Nice. Any other trip, other than what I have suggested, we did after we rented our car to venture farther into Provence.

Bev

Bus or train to Monaco. Really enjoyed my 1/2 day excursion there. Maybe bus one way and train the other, bus ride along the coast is wonderful. Bus to St Paul de Vence, definitely worth the time if you like small beautiful villages. If you like art and museums make sure you make time for some of the wonderful museums there - Matisse, Chagall, etc.

There are several small towns around Nice. Last time I was there, it was a Euro each way for a bus to take you. Grasse was a nice trip. My wife loved the perfume factory and perfume shops. Monoco was ok, but verrrryy expensive to buy anything, even lunch. Bring your own. We also enjoyed waking around the covered market in Nice. It opens early and closes around 1 or so. At night, the plaza in the middle of Nice has a light show. Statues there change colors. Also, there are bands, dancers, etc. doing their thing for tips or to sell their CD's. Be careful of pick-pockets in the area.

Picasso Museum in Antibes!

We did a 4 hour Electric Bike tour. It was such fun! I'm not a huge biker...but these electric bikes make it so possible! We even had about 1/2 hour to swim at Villefranche, too. Take your suits...and ride home wet. It felt great last week when it was hot!
We also took the train to Monaco and spent the afternoon renting some beach chairs and umbrellas at a nice private area. Lunch and drinks brought right to you. Amazing!