The beautiful town at the south coast of France is a must - go. Known as gateway to Italy, this town has a lot to offer. We were there in mid -March 2017. Seasons were changing. People were still walking around in necessary winter clothing, however, days were bright and sunny. With cool and sometimes colder breeze, we found the weather perfect for outings.
The whole town can be mapped with the reference of tram that runs in an 'L' shape across the town. Right from the rail station, the tram goes through the old city, all the way near to the port. If you keep this in mind, it is difficult to get lost. There are local buses too. But it is perhaps, best to explore town on foot. With right weather, you won't feel very tired even after walking for 30 - 45 min.
The main attraction of the town is the sea side walk. The place feels very lively and charming with people cycling, jogging, roller skating all the time on the promenade. It's very easy to rent a cycle or roller skates. You can rent them right on the promenade as well. We spent almost a day just walking around, relaxing on the chairs on the promenade. The blue of the sea is calming and soothing. Along the sea side, on the eastern side comes the fort of the Nice. There are free elevators to take you to the second floor, where the elevator opens to the breathtaking panoramic view of the sea. There's a well maintained Garden, a couple of small and quaint coffee shops up there. There are many locations all around the perimeter, which offer you mesmerising views.
The buildings in old town, along the coast line, are grand and add further to the beauty. The archways take you to the markets of the old city. Every Wednesday, the market hosts a small art exhibition and sale. These are the local artists themselves at stalls displaying their work. It's an experience in itself. Market is also famous for flower market, which has exquisite variety of flowers. We took a nice, long stroll here. The market lane is lined with bistros and cafés. There's a fresh and invigorating mixture of aromas in the atmosphere, of coffee and flowers and lavenders. Small lanes surrounding the market are filled with bakeries, pastry shops, souvenir shops and so on. Along the tram line you can find big, branded stores, if that's your calling.
We feel that Nice can be a destination for every kind of traveler. If you find yourself an accommodation that suits you, the town isn't much expensive. In fact, in a cozy little chair, with a cup of coffee, along the bright blue coast, one doesn't feel many needs.
