See more of France. Hit the French Riviera with a train trip to Nice, France. There’s more to France than Paris, after all. The south of France is easily accessible by train from Paris.
Here’s my Nice France Travel Guide (with daytrips from Nice included).
Stroll the promenade, hang out at the beach, shop at the famous flower market, wander the streets of Old Nice, or visit Castle Hill. Nice has a very slow pace that makes you slow down and relax.
While in Nice, be sure to visit the Cimiez neighborhood, which has lots of FREE attractions conveniently situated close together including the Matisse Museum, the Nice Archaeology Museum, Olive tree groves, a monastery and garden, and Henri Matisse’s grave.
Catch the 22 bus to Cimiez. Use the Lignes d’Azur trip planner (Nice City bus system) to find a stop near you. Get off at the Les Arènes stop.
There’s always something going on in the Jardins de Cimiez, so don’t be surprised if you walk right into a festival or concert of some sort. The Jardins de Cimiez are a favorite hangout of the Nice locals, who come to enjoy the olive trees, have a picnic and listen to music. The gardens (along with the Roman arena) are also the home of the Nice Jazz Festival, which has been going strong since 1948. You’ll notice the walkways bear the names of past jazz festival headliners. (Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, etc.) Look out for their statues around the park.
You’ll find plenty of snack stands and food vendors at Cimiez Gardens, so you can buy food there if you don’t want to pack a picnic lunch. There’s a carousel and play area for the kids, so you can set them loose for some fun if they’re bored with all the art and culture.
When planning your trip to Nice, plan on spending at least half a day in Cimiez — although I would recommend a whole day if what I’ve described really appeals to you, and you want to see a part of town other than the beach. Explore this lovely, unique part of the French Riviera.
