A couple of weeks ago, we spent a lovely long weekend pottering around the south of France, using Nice as a base for our trip. It was the first time I’ve used Air BnB and I must say how impressed I was by the whole process – we booked a modest 2 bedroom flat in the centre of Nice (by the Port), at the fraction of the price of a nearby hotel. Our lovely ‘host’ text and emailed us all the info we needed before we arrived and we had a perfect stay in our little apartment – the nice thing about staying in an apartment is that you can play make believe that you live in the city you’re visiting for a few days!
We spent a couple days exploring Nice itself and fell in love with this bustling city on the coast, with it’s sprawling waterfront – the Promenade des Anglais, eclectic restaurants and bars and the sheer quaintness of the Old Town. Even arriving into the airport is brilliant as you feel like you’re landing in the sea.
If you’re visiting Nice for the first time, you should get out and have a wander to explore the stunning headland that falls between the Port of Nice and the Promenade. Here, locals will make you feel guilty as they run and jog past you alongside the most incredible views keeping fit (as you undoubtedly ignore excise and instead head to a beach bar to scoff brie and drink a rose spritzer instead!) A much better plan in my opinion…
There are many beach clubs that line the pebbled beachfront – we loved the Castel Plage (having a link to our home island parish of Castel in Guernsey but also for the cheap prices) but there are many to choose from if you fancy slightly more luxurious surroundings as you sunbathe and get into full holiday mode.
Evenings in Nice were our favourites – that moment when you’re just heading out for cocktail pre-dinner, when the light is just hazy enough to still feel like daytime, but the excitement of evening is on the horizon. Strolling along the buzzing promenade with the view of the Le Negresco hotel in the distance really did feel like being in an F.Scott Fitzgerald novel.
One night we strolled into the Old Town (my favourite part of the city) and stumbled across a gorgeously authentic French restaurant, where tables were nestled under trees with fairy lights hanging over the square. We scoffed steak tartares, lasagnas and charcuterie as we got through a few bottles of wine, gossiping and planning our next day of exploring the coast (and where we’d be able to pick up a cheeky gelato post-dinner!).
More adventures along the Cote D’Azur tomorrow – but I can’t recommend a little trip to Nice enough. It’s a perfect city to use as a base for further road tripping but also a lovely town for a few days. You can easily fly from the UK with budget airlines and BA for as little as £60 return. Enjoy!
LMNH x
That looks utterly wonderful and so instagram friendly 😉
Can’t wait for part II !! I imagine the food & vino was as delicious as all those beautiful views too xx