Named after the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, Nice is a fabulous way for tourists to experience la Côte d'Azur. Just a train ride away from Paris and with its own international airport, the city is easily accessible. While the Greeks are responsible for establishing the city, it is the Romans who brought tourism to Nice in the 1800s by attracting the affluent British and Russian with mineral baths.
Tourists today seem to gravitate more to St. Tropez and Cannes, leaving Nice the less fashionable distinction of being a commercial centre.
La Vieille Ville still attracts travellers eager to see the medieval heritage the city has to offer. Tiled roofs of red, narrow streets that wind their way past bars, shops and many tantalizing restaurants, and the great food and flower market of les Cours Saleya , all lend to the welcoming and enchanting charm of Nice. A series of well-known seafood restaurants line Les Cours Saleya.
You'll also find many inviting cafés that are housed in quaint old buildings along the way. A tour of the city should include Monuments aux Morts, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Place Massena. You'll also be enchanted by the fountain of the enclosed square of Place Rosseti and the regal cathédrale Sainte-Réparate. Spend the day and enjoy the sights and restaurants, then watch the changes that transform this square into a lively nightspot pounding with music as the sun goes down.
Don't expect sandy white beaches, however, or you'll be disappointed by the shingle shores. But this shouldn't stop you from enjoying a spectacular day on the French Riviera.
The glimmering sunshine of Southern France, the shimmering blues of the Mediterranean and the appeal of les Promenade des Anglais, which lines almost 5 miles, or 8 kilometres, of the beach, draw thousand of visitors every year.
So what are you waiting for? find your cheap flights to Nice now!