A Vibrant City of Colours by Douglas Scott

Nice is one of the bigger French cities and its one of the largest on the Mediterranean. It is a very busy location with Frances second biggest airport namely Nice Cote d Azur International. It is perfectly situated to explore the rest of the Cote d Azur. It is within easy distance of the rural villages of the province and just a stones throw away from Cannes and Monaco.

Divided into the well preserved district of Vieux Nice, which lies to the east, below the hill of Le Chateau, the modern city centre, the beaches and port and finally the enchanting and stimulating Cimiez district, a northern suburb. The beachfront is famous for its Promenade d Anglais along which lie swaying palms and extravagant hotels. The city is overflowing with bustling markets, friendly boutiques, sumptuous restaurants and cafes, and boasts numerous museums, relics and architectural treasures.

It is a vibrant city of colours. The deep azure blue of the Mediterranean, the terrocottas of the old towns Provencal houses and the bright reds, yellows and purples of hibiscus and mimosa.

There are has more banks, galleries and museums than anywhere else outside Paris. The local currency in France is the euro.

The transport system in Nice is made up, primarily, of buses and taxis.

If visiting art galleries and museums, try to do a little prep before you go so you know what youre looking at. Also be selective about visits to churches and palaces, if you try to explore too many you can become a little overwhelmed.

Known as the capital of the Cote d Azur, Nice is lively with non stop nightlife, great bars, restaurants and entertainment.

It has an excellent selection of places to eat and drink with the menus reflecting the abundance of fresh regional produce. In particular some excellent seafood restaurants. The Italian influence is also strong, with many menus featuring pasta. Restaurants are obliged by law to post their menu prices outside. Purely vegetarian restaurants are hard to find but most restaurants will be able to provide vegetarian dishes of some sort.

Bursting with boutiques and markets, making shopping for anything from designer to trendy home ware, wines and oils or antique books, an absolute pleasure.

Although the weather is at its best in June when the mistral has subsided, early summer and early autumn are probably the best time to visit. The weather is still delightfully warm but the city is less crowded.

The summer months or the high season can be a little overcrowded with a general increase in prices of up to thirty percent. Hotels, restaurants and museums usually close around November time.

Author Resource: Douglas Scott works for The Rental Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Villa Rental Site

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