- Week Nine - Our last stop in this Reading Week trip is Nice, France! Located on the French Riviera, Nice is the perfect place to go for a beautiful beach getaway. It was my first time seeing bright blue waters since I left Hawaii, which really reminded me of home. Interestingly, Nice had a lot of influence from Italy which makes the city buzzing with both French and Italian cultures! Although the city is not as popular as other areas in France, it is definitely worth visiting to if you have time on your European itinerary. THE TRANSPORTATION Our flight out of Barcelona Airport was with easyJet. Once arriving in Nice, we purchased a 24hr public transportation card that gave us unlimited use of the tramway and bus system. Nice is an extremely walkable city, but transportation is useful if you want to go to farther places or don't feel like walking as much. THE ACCOMMODATION Our Airbnb was located near Port de Nice, which also meant it was in walking distance to Vieux Nice (the most popping area of Nice). The location was in walking distance to a ton of attractions like Nice Cathedral (12 mins), Cours Saleya (15 mins), Castle Hill (20 mins) and of course, the beach! Since we weren't in a busy area of the city, it was nice to be able to sleep in a quiet neighborhood (even though it was only for a night). THE ITINERARY While we only had 24 hours to spend in Nice, the city is actually very small and compact so it was easy to visit multiple attractions in a short amount of time. Instead of rushing to visit a ton of places, we decided to enjoy the amazing weather, beach and views by taking the day slowly. 1. VIEUX NICE Vieux Nice, also known as Old Nice, is the main area to visit when exploring Nice, France. The cobblestone pathways are filled with pubs, restaurants and souvenir shops. You can spend hours here just exploring the cute, narrow streets and colorful buildings. Be sure to grab some gelato while you look around! 2. NICE CATHEDRAL Located in Old Nice is the Nice Cathedral, a Roman Catholic tucked in a pedestrian alleyway. There are also eight other cathedrals scattered across Old Nice, so it could be a fun scavenger hunt trying to find all of them! 3. PLACE GARIBALDI This cute square is lined with yellow buildings and a variety of eateries (we went to a nice brunch spot called Delibo). Garibaldi station is also located here, which will take you to essentially anywhere in Nice. 4. PORT DE NICE This port is one of the key infrastructures that makes Nice a hub for the French Riviera. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even eat at a boat restaurant near the harbor to get an authentic French experience! 5. CHATEAU DE NICE The Castle of Nice sits on top of a hill at the end of Nice Beach. In the past, it was used for military purposes, but now offers breathtaking sights of the bay. You can either walk up the winding staircase to get to the top, or simply take an elevator at the bottom of the hill (we did the latter). 6. COURS SALEYA This popular market is located in Vieux Nice and right across the beach. A majority of the stands sell flowers, fruits and vegetables, but you can also grab food at the restaurants in this area. One suggestion would be to grab takeaway for lunch and have a lovely picnic on the beach! 7. NICE BEACH / PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS One of my favorite beaches so far is Nice Beach! The waters are crystal blue and the promenade extends around 7km. If you have the chance, I would highly suggest setting aside time to watch the sunset here. Being comparable to Hawaii, this beach truly reminded me of home! Our day in Nice greeted us with sunny weather and relaxing vibes. Watching the sunset on the beach was truly the most picture-perfect way to end our week-long trip!
0 Comments
|
AKI'm truly grateful for this opportunity to study abroad and would like to share my experiences with all of you! Ranging from pre-departure tips to recommended travel destinations, I hope this blog will serve as a inspiration and reminder to always explore. Archives
December 2019
Categories
All
|