We are thinking of staying in Nice next September for a week and doing day trips from there. Any suggestions on a nice hotel in Nice and also suggestions for the day trips from there?
Posted by
Washington DC
28062 posts
Interests? You can get to any of the coastal towns except St-Tropez via the regional train, which is very handy. Most of the places up in the hills require a bus.
Menton has a couple of good hillside gardens. One is near the town's secondary train station; the other has some bus service, I think, but a taxi would be more convenient. Menton's historic center is very atmospheric if you can squint your eyes and ignore the hordes of other visitors.
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Villa Kerylos are walkable from each other if you're energetic. Train from Nice will get you reasonably close.
Antibes has a nice historic area and the Picasso Museum.
St.-Paul-de-Vence is an extremely picturesque but terribly touristy hill town (bus). Outside the town is the very good Galerie Maeght art museum.
Vence is farther from Nice than St.-Paul. Larger and much less touristy. Probably best to avoid the afternoon siesta period; the sidewalks can be deserted then. Bus from St.-Paul.
There's a great deal more. Rick has a guidebook focusing on the Riviera and Provence. It would be very helpful.
Pickpockets work the regional trains. If someone gets in your personal space unnecessarily, assume he or she is a pickpocket. Hand over the zipper of your purse at all times!
Posted by
OP
Whitefish
3 posts
Thank you, for your suggestions! We are coming from Chamonix and maybe make a stop over in Annecy and explore the alps area before heading down to Nice. Any suggestions for this area?
Posted by
Irving
3226 posts
If you click on this link and scroll down to the At a Glance line and press the + sign on the right you’ll see Rick Steves suggestions: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/chamonix.
Posted by
Washington DC
28062 posts
I've only been to Annecy, which is beautiful but whose historic center will probably still be mobbed in September (maybe weekdays would be better than weekends?). A boat ride on the lake is very nice, and I'm sure you can rent bikes to ride along the lake.
Posted by
Calgary
1740 posts
We stayed here and loved it: https://en.villa-leonie.fr/
It's in the Old Port area, and the bus to Ville Franche sur Mer (gorgeous place, worth a day trip) and Monaco stops right in front. It's an easy walk to another bus stop right at the Old Port, and there are cute little water taxis that can take you from one side of the harbour to the other.