Top 7 small cities in Europe, where culture and history meet making these some of the coolest and most unique European cities great for weekend city breaks
Nice
Travel blogs, stories and photos from Nice, France — a beautiful city in southern France on the Mediterranean coast famous for the annual Carnival festival
Nice Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the best things to do and see in Nice, France
On the Mediterranean coast of southern France, Nice is the capital of the iconic French Riviera. For a long time, the city was a luxury escape for French and European aristocrats, but today it’s a surprisingly hip beach destination with a friendly and welcoming attitude not often seen in other areas of France. Start here with my basic Nice travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Nice travel blogs.
When to Visit
With over 300 sunny days a year, and a mild, Mediterranean climate, pretty much any time of year is a good time to visit Nice. Late summer and fall are perhaps the best, when temperatures are warm but not scorching and the days are still relatively long.
August is perhaps the worst time to visit, however, as the temperatures can be uncomfortably high (air conditioning is not common in France!) and every French person is on holiday!
Top Things To Do
Visit the MAMAC – This museum featuring modern and contemporary works by both French and international artists is a definite highlight of Nice. It also has a rooftop terrace, with a great panoramic view over the city.
Have lunch on the beach – From the city’s namesake salad, Niçoise salad, to rosé wine, Nice certainly has a lot of great food to offer. All along the Promenade des Anglais, the main beach drag in Nice, are gorgeous and stylish restaurants. Pick one and have lunch on the beach!
Climb Castle Hill – Though it no longer has a castle on top of it, this hill overlooks Nice and provides spectacular views across the city and out to sea in one direction and towards the alps in the other. Take your time climbing up to this forested area on the edge of the old town, but the views are definitely worth it!
Nice Tours
Although it’s a relatively small city, taking a tour around Nice will save you time and get you in to some areas of the city you might otherwise overlook, so it’s definitely worth you time to consider one.
LGBTQ – Gay Nice Travel Guide
These are a few of the best things you should know about visiting gay Nice.
Lou Queernaval – In addition to the regular Nice Carnaval, this queer event taking place in late February features live bands, dancers, traditional carnival floats and LGBTQI organizations throwing glitter and confetti across the Place Massena. It’s a night full of colors and characters—a friendly (and free!) environment for the queer community of Nice and visiting travelers.
Coco Beach – A secluded, rocky beach to the east of Nice’s port, this place is popular with the gay and nudist crowd. From the Coco Beach Restaurant, follow the path heading to the east for about ten minutes till it opens up on this little slice of paradise!
Le Glam – Expect pop tunes at this wildly popular club which fills up quickly on weekends. It attracts a mixed crowd and is a safe bet for a good time.
More gay travel resources here.
Nice Hotel Deals
Nice has plenty of cool and quirky hotels, as well as all the big chains you’d expect. They’ll likely get full when there’s a conference or special event in town, so definitely consider booking in advance. I’ve found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined can be really useful for finding last-minute deals.
Follow @travelsofadam on Instagram for more travel tips!
Nice, France Travel Blogs
February is traditionally the UK’s LGBT History Month. Over the past few years as LGBT individuals have gained more and more equal rights, there’s been a shift in traditional gay culture. And more of an understanding of what it’s like to be gay. “Being gay” is a diverse and uncommon trait, and with more discussion …
With over 15,000 visitors, the first-ever LGBT gay carnival in France, Lou Queernaval in Nice (the French Riviera), was a weekend full of color (and confetti!)