Nice
Nice is one of the most important cities in France, and definitely one of the most visited on the French Riviera. While it may not have the top real estate of Monaco or the sandy beaches of Cannes, Nice can offer culture, cuisine and more to those who choose to visit it.
The Old Town
The Old Town (la Vielle Ville in French) is what distinguishes Nice from the rest of the riviera. Unlike some of the other seaside towns, Nice has a true old city that, with its architecture and cobbled pedestrian roads, is similar to some parts of other major French cities like Paris. The Old Town is filled with boutiques, restaurants and cafes that cater to tourists.
The Promenade des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais is probably the most famous street in Nice. The "English Promenade" runs along the shore, so you can look out on the bright blue Mediterranean. Since Nice's beach is covered with stones as opposed to sand, the Promenade des Anglais can be a beautiful way to see the sea without having to sit on the rocky shore.
Museums
Nice is also famous for its museums. Many artists, especially those in the Impressionist period and the periods directly before and after, came down to Southern France to seek inspiration. As a result, a museum devoted to Matisse is a centerpiece of the Nice art scene with an incredible collection of the artist's work. Nice also offers a museum devoted to Marc Chagall, a contemporary art museum and a fine arts museum.
Cuisine
Many tourists head down south in search of dishes like bouillabaisse, the traditional tomato and fish stew from Marseille. While you can most definitely find versions of this stew in Nice, the traditional dishes of the area are also excellent and most definitely worth trying. One of the most famous is, of course, salade nicoise, which is often featured on French-American restaurant menus. The traditional salad features tuna, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes and olives. A sandwich that combines similar flavors is the pan bagnat, which means bathed bread in the Nicois dialect. The sandwich is served on a round bread that is hollowed and literally bathed in fresh, local olive oil before the same ingredients from the salade are stacked within. Also worth trying is pissaladiere, which is a Nicois-style pizza composed of caramelized onions, anchovies and Nicois olives atop a focaccia-style crust.
Fete des Fous
If your plans to visit Nice coincide with this festival, you're in luck: every February, while native Nicois are still bundled against the cold, the fete des fous (festival of the crazy people) commences. A parade goes through the city center featuring all sorts of floats, and everyone from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent buys bombes of silly string off the street, which they use to attack each other in a fun-filled celebration of craziness. Visit on the weekends in order to be with the crowds and get the full effect of the atmosphere.
