If you want to get away from the selfie sticks and hordes of tourists, here’s five places in Nice which you may not have heard of, but which are most definitely worth exploring. See the map below to get directions to these places.
1. Cimiez
The moment you arrive in Cimiez, you’ll fall in love with the beautiful villas and buildings like the one below, the quaint gardens, the peace and quiet and the elevated view of the surrounding areas.
You can walk there from the city centre. It will take around 15 minutes to get to the edge of Cimiez, or around 40 minutes to get to the Parc des Arènes de Cimiez for example. Otherwise, jump on a Velo Bleu.
Must Visit in Cimiez
- Marc Chagall Museum – 36 Avenue Dr Ménard.
- Musée Matisse – 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez.
- Parc des Arènes de Cimiez – 184 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez.
- Arènes de Cimiez – historical landmark, Roman amphitheatre built in the 2nd century.
2. Liberation
Although only two tram stops North of the main train station in Nice, not many tourists make it this far. Home to the best fresh market in Nice and a handful of shops, restaurants and cafes – spend an hour or two here to get a feel for real life in Nice.
Must Visit in Liberation
- The market – Place du Général de Gaulle (6:00am -12:30pm everyday except Monday).
- Gare du Sud Historical Landmark and Library – Place de la Gare du Sud.
- A la Table Du Marche – Great lunch spot. Boulevard Joseph Garnier.
- Kiosque Chez Tintin – Tasty paninis and snacks. 3 Place du Général de Gaulle.
- Brasserie Borriglione – Nice for a quick beer or glass of wine. 28 Avenue Alfred Borriglione.
3. Coco Beach
Tell only your best friends. Coco Beach is not often visited by tourists, mainly because they don’t know it’s there, just a short walk from the city centre. There is a small pebble beach next to the nautical club, then further up the road you’ll find some great spots for snorkeling and jumping off rocks into the sea.
Must Visit at Coco Beach
- Le Plongeoir Restaurant – 60 Boulevard Franck Pilatte.
- La Réserve Restaurant – 60 Boulevard Franck Pilatte.
- Coastal walk towards Villefranche-sur-Mer – one of the nicest walks you’ll find in the area.
- Parc Vigier – Little park to have a wander though on your way to/from the beach.
A photo posted by Azur Vibes (@azurvibes) on
4. Parc du Vinaigrier
This little hill is on the East side of Nice, just north of the Port. Mont Boron is the ‘go to place’ for tourists as its so easy to access, but Parc du Vinaigrier is just as nice and a million times more peaceful. You’ll be lucky if you see more than 15 people on a walk here.
Look close enough and you’ll see hedgehogs, squirrels, foxes, badgers and 59 species of birds. Pure nature right on the edge of the city.
Must Visit at Parc du Vinaigrier
- Head to the top of Mont Vinaigrier (370 metres altitude) to the viewpoint which gives incredible views of Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer.
5. Aspremont
Okay so now we need to venture a little out of Nice to find some solitude. Aspremont is a short drive up the hill behind Nice (30 minutes by car). If you’re checking out Cimiez too, combine it with a road trip to Aspremont which is a bit further up the road.
From this pretty little village you’ll get great views down to Nice below and across the Var river valley to the North. If you’re feeling energetic, from Aspremont you could take a hike up Mont Chauve which is the mountain behind Nice, rising up to an impressive 853 metres altitude.
Must Visit in Aspremont
- Take a walk around the village to see the nice buildings and gardens, as well as the 17th-century chapel.
- Market days: Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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