Nissa la Bella – Paul Shawcross favourite places in beautiful Nice
Jogging on the Promenade des Anglais ©Paul Shawcross
Explore · Locals Travel Tips · Paul Shawcross
Must-See Nice
Fabulous Nice lies along the shores of Baie des Anges at the eastern end of Provence, on what English speakers call the French Riviera but which the French know as the Côte d’Azur. The English aristocracy discovered its delights during the early Victorian era but the secret eventually got out and the Riviera soon established itself as an international playground for everyone.

Vieux Ville and the Baie des Anges viewed from Château Hill
Vieux Nice – Nissa
Nice can be divided into two parts, the old town, or Vieux Nice, and the Modern Town. Vieux Nice occupies a relatively small area at the foot of Château Hill near the eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais and can be explored easily in half a day.
Italian in character, and the birthplace of Guiseppe Garibadi, it was in fact part of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont up till 1860 and known as Nizza, or Nissa in the old Provençal language. Even today the unofficial anthem of Nice is ‘Nissa la Bella’ sung in the local Niçard dialect.

Colourful stalls on the Cours Sayeya daily market
A good place to start your exploration is the colourful daily market on the Cours Saleya. Next, stroll along the old streets where you’ll find Baroque churches including Cathédrale Ste-Réparate and Gésu, renaissance Palaces and attractive squares before relaxing in the colourful Place Rossetti.

17th Century Église St-Jacques or Gésu

Baroque facade of Cathédrale Ste-Réparate
Look out for Adam and Eve high up on the wall in rue de la Poissonerie and if you’ve time visit the fascinating Renaissance Palais Lascaris on rue Droite with its Museum of musical instruments.

Cafe tables and diners in Place Rosetti in Vieux Nice
Modern Nice
Modern Nice comprises the urban area which forms a semi-circle around the old town and Château Hill. Famously the Promenade des Anglais lines the shore of the Baie des Anges with its mix of public and private beaches and safe bathing with lifeguards. There are 25 altogether, but my favourites are Opéra and Ponchettes right outside the old town.

Opera Plage, Chateau Hill and Mont Boron
Stroll along ‘le Prom’ and enjoy the Art Deco features of the Hotel Negresco and the architectural gem of the Musée Masséna where you can learn about the City’s history.

The onion domes of the early 20th Century Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicolas
Further afield, the incongruous features of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicolas on Avenue Nicolas II are well worth a visit as is the fascinating Roman Amphitheatre at Cimiez adjacent to the Palace Hotel where Queen Victoria used to stay.

Roman Amphitheatre at Cimiez

Fontaine du Soleil or Apollo Fountain in Place Massena
Back in centre, the most impressive square in Nice is the grandiose red ochre Place Masséna with its controversial Apollo Fountain and its amazing Conversation of Nice, a series of sculptures by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. Go after sunset to watch the ‘conversation’ take place but keep your wits about you as the Ligne d’Azur trams glide silently through the Square!

New Ligne d’Azur tram passing through the Place Masséna
Around Nice
Leave time for at least one trip out of town – you can be in Nice’s Beyond, the amazing mountainous area to the north of the City, in an hour or so. Or, if you prefer to see more of the Riviera, there are plenty of easily accessible attractions to visit along the coast in either direction!

Want to know more? Check out Paul’s latest app, ‘Nice’s Best’, which is available as a free download from either:
or 
Find a Place to Stay in Nice
Booking.com
Please share this with friends and family.
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication Information
Affiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Related Provence Articles
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott ·
Explore ·
Villages Towns and Cities
June 13, 2025
Céreste is an authentic, unspoilt, and charming Provençal village. It is immersed in lavender country, steeped in history, and sits on the foothills of the Grand Luberon. While the region has many fascinating villages, we asked the owner of Mas de Grivet, a beautiful holiday rental home, what makes Céreste ...
Continue Reading
Christine van der Linden ·
Explore ·
Hans Zeegers ·
Provencal Recipes ·
Villages Towns and Cities
June 5, 2025
Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea’s azure waters and Provence’s rolling hills lies Antibes, a gem of the French Riviera that enchants visitors with its irresistible blend of history, art, and culinary traditions. A Journey Through the Centuries As you wander through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the old town, you ...
Continue Reading
Explore ·
Renata Haidle ·
Road Trips South of France
May 9, 2025
Provence has been called many things: a painter’s paradise, perfume capital, land of lavender and light. But what if it were also your open-air racetrack? Ultimate Road Trip in Provence Le Grand Tour Provence, a new luxury road trip by Ultimate Driving Tours, invites you to see this beloved region ...
Continue Reading
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott ·
Explore ·
Guided Holiday Tours
April 30, 2025
The South of France is blessed with sun-drenched landscapes and a rich history. TripUSAFrance invites a small group of travellers to explore this enchanting region on its signature tour in Provence and Occitanie. Embark on a journey through southern France with TripUSAFrance, to a place where the scenery has inspired ...
Continue Reading
Paul Shawcross
Paul Shawcross is a Francophile, a travel writer and a Photographer who first fell in love with France when passing through on the way to Spain way back in 1979.
Paul has revised and written new text for several Michelin Green Guides to the French Regions as well as penning several Thomas Cook Pocket Guides and contributing articles to leading periodicals including Living France and France Magazine. He has authored several apps for smart devices and has a new one for the Dordogne in preparation. Paul is also the European Acquisitions Editor for Bindu Trips , a recently launched travel planning website which features Provence along with many other European destinations
Paul also has a large photo library much of which is hosted by Alamy Images
Further details of Paul’s work can be found here
Visiting Nice? Checkout his Nice's Best Travel App
Discover his PROVENCE'S BEST App with essential trip-planning information and an overview of key destinations so you can decide where to stay.
Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulShawcrossUK (below)
2 Comments
Bella, Bella. I love Nice.
Thank you for reading this article on Nice, we love the city too.