The aftermath of this holiday resulted in a series of puns, although expected, after the seventh or eighth time hearing them didn’t make laughing them off get any easier. But yes, Nice was nice. In fact it was absolutely glorious, located along the beautiful blue Mediterranean waters on the South of France, more known as the Côte d’Azur.
Being the easy laid back person that I am who was just in need of some sun and chill time (after those oh so stressful uni exams…), made deciding between the two countries that I managed to narrow it down to quite the problem. And so, like how I make most of my decisions, the finalised destination was left up to the fate of a coin toss. Which of course couldn’t have been done without me giving a completely absurd and illogical reasoning’s for assigning each side of the coin. So heads became Nice because well, heads are nice?? And tails was assigned to the Amalfi Coast because it kind of has the shape of a tail…(I said kinda, just go with it!). Heads it was. But yeah, I’m simple like that.
On my first morning, after a bit of French cuisine for breakfast (croissants, croissants and more croissants eating enough to turn into one) I made my way on the 20 minute walk into town from the area of Saint Roch. The reason I stayed a bit out of centre is well, have you seen the prices? Going here on a student budget wasn’t the brightest idea but I survived, plus walking about really lets you explore the city properly so I kept telling myself. On the way I came across the endless amounts of restaurants and bars that I would be keeping in mind for later when it came to the hardest faced decision on holidays. WHERE. TO. EAT. Do you find this happens you too? Whilst suffering from the fear that it may not turn out to be as nice as it looks in those aesthetically pleasing pictures (when you’re absolutely starving) quite clearly taken on a Nikon COOLPIX compact camera. The first stop ended up being the Port of Nice, one of the main harbours filled with the most expensive of boats that looked so luxurious and I couldn’t pass without picking out which ones I’d buy if I had the money, a girl can dream.
Heading on around the corner was the Promenade des Anglais, a great people watching spot while working on that tan. The place where locals, tourists and pets gather to spend their days. Little did I know I would feel at home here because what came next? Rain. The area suddenly became abandoned, everyone running for shelter it was like something out of an apocalypse. Although only lasting for 40 minutes, it allowed for me to get my first few glasses of French merlot of the holiday whilst waiting for it to stop. As the skies cleared up again I saw the real beauty that this place holds, stunning blue crystal water which can be viewed from a height; Parc de la Colline du Chateau, giving an absolutely spectacular view of the coastline which I dreamingly stared at for quite a while, knowing that I’d be wandering up those winding steps a few times over the holiday to admire.
Just across from the Promenade through the bay you enter Vieux Nice, the Old Town, which are always my favourite parts to see when going on holidays. The whole atmosphere, aesthetics and authenticity is always charming and full of character which draws me every time. The markets take place here every day from early hours of the morning which have an array of handmade artwork, pretty flowers and your usual souvenirs. Come 1pm it then clears out so the restaurants and bars placed here can set up and begin service, the perfect spot for dining as you can admire the old buildings and authentic streets that surround you whilst trying lovely French cuisine. One of my favourite meals I tried here was in the Seafood restaurant ‘Le Grand Bleu’, where I got an assortment of shellfish on a bed of garlic tagliatelle and it was so yummy!
A few days in, I made the first day trip to Cannes with just a quick 25 minute train journey from Nice, only costing €6 return booking the tickets online in advance. I couldn’t believe how cheap it was for public transport here. Translink need to up their game big time! A quaint and quieter town famously known for the film festival they hold in May. The streets are lined with all your designer shops to indulge and restaurants located on the beach (the majority privately owned, jel would be an understatement) overlooking the seafront. Reaching the ‘about to pass out stage’ wandering in to one of the restaurants called ‘Bâoli’ where I see on the menu a €110 burger. Overcoming my shock and confusion I realised it must’ve been a very handsome cow. Thankfully, there were other slightly cheaper options on the menu and the food was to die for along with the view!
Overlooking the Bay of Cannes there is the Musée de la Castre, a medieval castle surrounded by a breath taking and picturesque Mediterranean garden, one that would continue to leave you speechless each time you stepped out into it as the natural beauty continually unfolds. And even more of a plus, it has exceptional views of the coastline and sea. The Vieux Port; which holds the yachts and sailboats is also the launching point for the Royal Regatta. Not too far from the port are the Allées la Liberté which are narrow streets filled with shady trees where they hold a flower market in the morning. The array of colours are simply stunning to look at. After a day of exploring and eating, it was time to catch the train back to Nice. Cannes is really the postcard picture that you not only want but NEED to visit.
Next on the list was Monaco aka; Paradise. An immensely rich filled city where the wealth hit you as you exited the train station. Not what I was expecting after the hours journey. Definitely a magnet for high rollers and if that’s what I had to act as for the day then so be it. Despite it being the world’s second smallest country, it’s still possible to get those steps up. Trust me. What fascinated me were the beautiful finely detailed houses and buildings that encircled the city, something I could admire for a while. The first stop was off to visit the Royals; Palais Princier de Monaco. Built as a fortress meant you had to take what felt like a million steps all the way up and with the sun beaming down, it wasn’t pleasant. That was leg day done. But with the overlooking views of the city getting clearer it was an excuse to stop for photos along the way and for me to catch my breath, totally worth it.
Before making my way to the Monte Carlo Casino I stumbled upon the remainder of the staging that had been set up for the Grand Prix which had taken place just a couple weeks before I got there, fascinated that such a huge event took place in such a small city. Then off to my favourite part, a trip that wouldn’t have been complete without visiting the Casino known for featuring prominently in a few James Bond movies. Everything about it was admirable. As you can see in the photos it was covered in opulently decorated marble and so beautifully antique; to die for. It was free to enter into the stunning foyer then it was 17 euros to enter into the rest of the casino that held all the slot machines, tables and of course the bar where I couldn’t go without sampling a Margarita whilst watching super rich people gamble their money. Unfortunately you weren’t allowed to use cameras or phones in this part, so a memory I won’t forget in a hurry.
For a more relaxing day trip you want to visit Lerins islands: Ile St Sainte Marguerite, dreamy islands located off the South Coast of Cannes. With a short ferry ride you will arrive at what may appear slightly abandoned until you start to venture round. Covered in pine and eucalyptus forest and edged with beautiful coves, this is the perfect spot to enjoy nature. The waters are crystal clear, with stunning views back to the Riviera coastline. There are only around 20 houses on the island in a small village near the docks; the rest of the island is covered in forest and sand, with an old fort and museum where you can explore the island's Roman history. The island takes around 3 hours to walk and after you deserve some time out, there are lots of tiny private beaches where you can spend the remainder of your time sunbathing with a few drinks. A-lot of people park up their yachts and have parties surrounding the island but these are a big step up than your typical Ibiza boat party, classy.
The nightlife ranges from chilled out bars in the Old Town to nightclubs along the seafront and you want to find places that would do some drink promos or blow all your money if you like. ‘Waka’ club had a great vibe (it also allowed you to take dogs in btw-big plus) and we returned there a couple of times where there was great music and views over the Promenade so it was a great place to put the night in. The staff were super friendly as one of the barmen started recognising us and ensured we were taken care of, probably because we were the only Irish people in the place each time and not because we agreed to take all the free shots he offered (Tequila!)…Another was Le Batleur located in the Old Town; a lot more relaxing where they had a live band playing smooth Jazz and was a great spot for your after dinner drink before moving onto the nightclubs.
Maybe not exactly the student holiday unless you’re prepared to save for it but Nice does have plenty to offer and if you want the mix of a relaxing holiday but still loads to do I would highly recommend adding it to your list! I went for 10 days and I felt this was the right amount of time to allow you to explore the city and surrounding islands at a nice pace. With its mix of real-city grit, old-fashioned opulence and sunshine all year round with a vibrant street life, no place in France compares with Nice.
