Travel Junkie: Nice, France

By Anastasia Burton

I have recently spent a week in Nice, France and thought it would be fun to give our readers some tips as to which destinations are worthwhile if you are planning a trip to this beautiful city!

Firstly, you must keep in mind that the city is split into two parts, the old city and the newer, more modern city. Both sides of the city are beautiful in their own unique ways, though I, personally, fell in love with the old city.

Of course, the main attraction would be the pebbly beaches! The water is a magnificent, rich, baby-blue colour, with waves for days, which makes it very fun to chill in the water and just enjoy the view. You would be surprised how quickly your body heats up in the sea! A major pro–tip is to buy beach shoes that you can wear inside the water. This is very important to remember, due to the entire beach being stone–based, which can make it very painful to walk in. Trust me on this one; if you’re visiting the beautiful Nice beaches, you should get the shoes!

If you are a fan of museums, you’re in luck! There are many student free–entry museums, including one of the most popular museums in Nice, the Musee Massena. This museum contains beautiful paintings and little knick-knacks, as well as Napoleon’s death mask, which attracts tourists from all over the world. However, there are also modern art, human anatomy and music museums for the more cultured among us! Most museums are located around the inner city, meaning you can easily walk to them, rather than having to take public transport.

Another tip would be to visit Monaco and Monte Carlo while in Nice. You can get train tickets for as cheap as €2.50, travel for about 20 minutes and visit one of the most expensive places in Europe! Now, unless you are planning a massive expensive shopping spree, you will be quickly bored of the city in less than a day. You could visit the castle and a small museum, which are located close to each other, as well as the Monte Carlo Casino. However, you should be conscious that Nice and Monaco are both quite expensive places to stay in, so, if possible, try to stock up on food from supermarkets.

A place in Nice that you absolutely must visit is Castle Hill. Beware of the stairs! There is the option of taking the elevator before 6pm and this saves you the steep stair climb. The view is breathtaking and amazing for photo opportunities. There is also a waterfall, which you can admire close-up! Something I found cool was that you could see this waterfall from the beach. So, when you decide to go for a swim, look to the side and you will see the Castle Hill and the beautiful waterfall.

The last thing you should do in Nice is simple: just walk around the old city. It’s very easy to get lost, due to the vast number of alleyways, which all lead into different areas, but, honestly, you will be blown away by the stunning architecture and cute little cafes and shops. The old city is very charming, while the new city is more tourist–orientated and heavily consumer-based. You will find branded clothes stores on every corner, as well as overpriced ice creams and souvenirs!