Whenever I’m looking for inspiration for where to travel I head to none other than Pinterest. I currently have a board with all the places I would like to see – most of those being the south of France! So when when it came time for our summer vacay, it was a no-brainer! We were headed to the Cote d’Azur for some breathtaking beaches, sunshine, French cuisine, and adventure. We decided to start our journey in Nice, so that is where I’ll begin.

WHAT WE DID

Soaked up the sun at WIP Beach Club

We knew we wanted a couple of beach days during our vacation, so why not have one right off the bat? Our Airbnb was just steps from Nice beach. The beaches there are pebble beaches and can be uncomfortable to walk on without water shoes. We opted to go to one of the many beach clubs to rent a couple chairs and an umbrella. You can also order food and drinks if you’d like. Yes, this is more expensive, but we were ok with that for our first day.

Hiked Castle Hill for Top-Notch Views

You can either walk up the 200 (ish) steps or take the elevator at the bottom. Unfortunately, this elevator wasn’t open when we went so we took the stairs. Either way, it’s 100% worth it! The views are incredible!

The I LOVE NICE sign is close by as well. Great for a photo-op.

Strolled the Promenade des Anglais

This walkway is roughly 7 km long and runs parallel to the coastline. You’ll see bikers, runners, and walkers just enjoying the scenery and soaking up the sunshine.

Cours Saleya Market

There are many markets in Nice, but this one is located in the Old Town right where we were staying. The market is lined with fresh produce, baked goods, soaps, herbs, etc. It’s the perfect place to go for breakfast or lunch or even for a quick snack. We stopped here often and enjoyed everything we ate!

Explored the Port

I grew up around boats, so whenever I get the opportunity I head towards the seaside to take a look. Head here for great views and a different side of Nice.

Took a Food & Wine Tour

These can be hit or miss, but this tour was definitely a hit! These types of tours can be pricey, but I felt this one was well worth the money for the amount of food you get and the information you learn about the area. We left totally stuffed and even a little tipsy if I’m being honest. And our guide, Nadia, was fantastic!

This place serves wine from these giant containers into whatever bottle you bring. And yes, it was that cheap!

WHERE WE ATE

Le Festival de la Moule – head here for delicious mussels and fries! You get a large pot for a decent price.
Olive & Artichaut – We ate here for dinner and had some amazing food! If they have a pre-set menu, go for it. I recommend making reservations as well since this is a small restaurant.
Le Poco Loco – This is a Mexican restaurant and has yummy tacos and enchiladas. I know it seems silly that we ate here, but we don’t get good tex-mex in Germany so this was a must for us!
Papayou – A tasty Thai restaurant!
Le Locale – This restaurant surprised me. It’s located close to the port and well worth a visit. The pasta was so delicious and same with their entrees. YUM!

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at an AirBnB. It was located in the old town area and is just minutes from the beach! You are steps away from restaurants, bars and the market I mentioned above. It was very clean and had everything we needed. My only complaint is that it’s on the top floor and there is not elevator. A minor thing but something to keep in mind if you have someone who can’t move around very easily.

In total we roughly spent 3 days at the beginning of our trip in Nice. This was the perfect amount of time to spend here. You could do it in 2 days, but 3 days allows you to do it at a slower pace. From Nice, we rented a car and headed for Aix-en-Provence. You can read all about the second part of our trip soon!