Visiting Nice & Villefranche
Discover Nice
Called Nice La Belle (“Nice the beautiful”), the capital of the French Riviera has long been famous for the beauty of its old town, markets, beaches, and Castle Hill, which affords stunning views of the entire city.
Nice is a great city to discover on foot, as most of the main points of interest are very close.
Walk along the famous and beautiful « Promenade des Anglais. »
Visiting the City of Nice
As the second-largest city of Provence after Marseille, Nice is both chic and popular, festive and dynamic, and boasts a diverse and young population. To visit Nice is to discover the historical, multicultural and gastronomic center of the Riviera.
On the program: stroll through the streets of the old town, discover the bluest sea of the legendary Promenade des Anglais, taste many local specialties, and admire the most beautiful views of the Bay of Angels.
Place Massena: the starting point of Avenue Jean Médecin, the main shopping street.
A Day in Nice: What to Do and See.
1. Free walking tour Nice
Take the Villa Hostels guided walking tour to get a free and entertaining introduction to Nice and its history. You’ll discover the hidden sites and monuments among the winding streets of the Old Town, and learn about the history of the city, stories both well-known and secret. Visiting the Place Massena, the opera house, the Cours Salaye market, Castle Hill, and many other sites, you’ll get a feel for all that Nice has to offer.
It’s a great way to meet other travelers staying at the hostel and a good introduction to the city itself. Ask at the hostel for more details.
Our Walking Tour (leaving from Villa Hostels) ends on top of ‘La Colline du Chateau’ (Castle Hill) with some amazing views of Nice!
2. Promenade des Anglais
The “Promenade des Anglais” runs the entire length of Nice’s beaches, from the old town past the airport. It’s a beautiful walk along the Promenade, and you can stop at any beach that piques your interest. The Promenade is also lined with restaurants and cafés with terraces to stop for a coffee and croissant and enjoy the view. It’s great for people-watching, as the Promenade is a popular spot for joggers, cyclists, locals, and tourists.
You can also check out the famous hotels along the Promenade like the Negresco and the Palais de la Méditerranée, a 5-star luxury hotel in Art Deco style.
The « Blue Chairs » along the Promenade are a well-known feature of Nice.
3. Castle Hill, La Colline du Château de Nice
At the southern point of the city, at the end of the Promenade des Anglais and next to the port, is a large hill that overlooks the old town and port, which was originally the site of the castle which protected the city. You can climb to the stop by stairs, which takes 5 – 10 minutes, with different look-out points along the way. Alternatively, a free elevator will also take you to the top.
The rocky hill once hosted a fortified citadel, of which today you can see only some ruins. It’s a beautiful, wooded park, perfect for a picnic with the most stunning views of Nice and the Mediterranean and port. The top of the hill boasts a famous waterfall that looks out over the city – an absolute must for Instagram photos!
At the top of the hill, you will have a breathtaking view of Nice and the Baie des Anges.
4. The Old Town of Nice
Old Nice looks like a small village from the middle ages: a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and wide-open city squares. Building facades run from pale yellow to rich ocher and red with brightly colored shutters which help bring to life the winding alleyways. Many of the buildings are centuries old. Wander through the maze of narrow streets to find the best French products: craft shops, small food vendors and restaurants, and chic clothing stores, plus innumerable cafés, gelato shops, wine bars, and souvenir shops.
After doing some shopping, be sure to stop at Place Rossetti, a well-known city square with restaurants and cafés, a famous gelato shop (Fenocchio), and the cathedral Sainte Réparate, whose namesake is the patron saint of Nice.
The narrow streets are lined with high buildings colored with red, orange or yellow.
5. The Cours Saleya Fruit & Flower Market
This pedestrian street is known for a lively food and flower market. You’ll find fruits and vegetables from the region, but also prepared specialties like Socca, Pan Bagnat et Pissaladière, and local products like olive oil, spices, tapenade, and anchoïade.
The market takes place every day except Monday, where an antique market takes place. We love the market for its dynamic atmosphere, bustling crowds, and discussions in French, English, Italian, and Nissart – the local dialect.
The Cours Saleya is the center of the animated Old Town, with its market and many cafés and restaurants.
6. La promenade du Paillon
The Promenade du Paillon also called the Coulée Verte or green splash is a beautiful new central park of 12 hectares in the heart of Nice that separates the old town from the new city, following the route of the now subterranean river Paillon. It begins at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC), passes by Place Masséna and ends at the Théatre de Verdure next to the Promenade des Anglais.
The park is a favorite spot for locals and tourists to rest and enjoy the greenery. There are many facilities for children, shaded areas and green walking trails, and a large fountain space that draws crowds in the summer. In the winter, the Christmas market and Ferris wheel grace this area and make for beautiful views and photos.
The perfect place to relax and enjoy a walk.
7. Matisse museum
Easily accessible by bus and on foot in the beautiful Cimiez district, the Matisse Museum is housed in a beautiful 17th-century Genoese villa, located in the heart of a grove of olive trees, some of which are over 1000 years old. The museum is dedicated to the works of Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954), who lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954, and is a must-see if you love art. You will have access to nearly 70 paintings, 200 drawings, engravings, sculptures, illustrated books, photographs, and paraphernalia of the artist.
Matisse Museum, housed in an elegant red building, surrounded by olive trees.
8. Russian orthodox cathedral
Classified as a Historical Monument, the Russian orthodox cathedral is located close to the train station. Your visit will transport you to another era: that of Tsars on the Red Square of Moscow. The St. Nicholas Cathedral is one of the most important Russian Orthodox buildings outside of Russia. The interior is adorned with blue wall paintings and iconography of the Orthodox religion.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Nice.
Villefranche Sur Mer
Villefranche is a charming fishing village protected by a 17th-century castle and set in a stunning little bay 15 minutes along the coast from Nice. It’s the perfect place to relax at the end of the day, or for an early morning trip to the beach and a visit to the old town and market.
The beach overlooks one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, full of little fishing boats whose white bows contrast with the gold and red buildings of the town. On the promenade above the beach, you’ll find one of the best Pan Bagnat restaurants, a typical sandwich of this region, at the restaurant Nicette. The straight station is just next to the beach, and you can also reach Villefranche by bus (81 from the end of the Parc du Paillon).
The beach in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
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