This bustling city is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes department. The famous Promenade Des Anglais (Walkway of the English) was named so due to the popularity of the area for the British upper class since the late 18th century. Do as the locals do and sit at a café and people watch, or sit in the perfectly placed seats and benches and gaze out over the endless Mediterranean ocean. The Old Town is a must-see, with its numerous historical sites, cafés, quaint restaurants and the famous flower market selling not only a bright array of blooms, but fruit, vegetables, spices and other Provençal delicacies. Summer may be the busiest season, but an estimated 4 million visitors come to Nice throughout year.
There are many festivals and events that take place in Nice, but perhaps one of the most notable is the Carnival de Nice, which takes place in February each year. Visitors can enjoy the parades, fireworks, animations and festivities. Vieille Ville is the oldest part of the city and the architecture is interestingly quite Italian. The 17th century Nice Cathedral can be found here and is beautifully ornate. There are many little restaurants and cafes here, which are open till quite late at night, giving the area a nice buzz. The Parc de la Colline du Chateau is a bit of a steep climb, but worth it for the magnificent views of the city and out over the Mediterranean.
The Nice Cote d’Azur airport is the third largest airport in France and services flights from around the world. The main railway station is Nice Ville, served by both the high speed TGV train, which connects with Paris in less than 6 hours, and also the local train service TER. The tramway de Nice is a very convenient way to explore the city, linking the northern and eastern suburbs, with more lines in the planning stages.
