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Guide to Nice, France
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Nice
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NiceWhether youre a beachnik or a history buff, Nice is well suited for your hearts desire. Its location on the southern coast of France along the Mediterranean allows it beautiful weather and warm, clear water. Before the French populated the area, Nice was inhabited by ancient civilization, and there are the remnants and reminders to prove it. With the magical splendor of Cote dAzur just a stones throw away, and a roughly-equidistant location from Cannes and Monaco, Nice is almost like a travel hub with a few goodies of its own. Many, though, come to Nice expecting peace and quiet among the sands and a casual stroll along the citys streets. Not so. If youre expecting that kind of atmosphere, youre in for a surprise; its got the forthrightness of typical French city with a twist of history and a splash of waterside fun.
When to go:
Oddly enough, Nice is the most crowded when its at its hottest (July-August). The streets are clogged with econoboxes, and vacationers take up much of the space on the coast. The months before this period, however, are ideal. Both May and June are the most pleasant months out of the year. Its not too hot, the breezes are just right, and humidity is relatively low. Otherwise, the rest of the year is fairly normal spring and autumn are warm, if a bit chilly, and winter iswell, cold enough to bring a bit of snow along with it.
Getting there and around:
Nices flight centre is conveniently close to the city. Aeroport International Nice-Cote dAzur is just 6km (3.7mi) away, and handles quite a large number of carriers for its size. More flight from Paris arrive here than from anyplace else, but wherever you may be in the world, youll get to Nice with relative ease. A bus service connects fliers to the citys main train station.
Getting around the city is a breeze if youre not in Nice during high-season. In fact, renting a car is a completely plausible way of getting around. Doing so will not only allow you to see the entire city at your own pace, but you can also hop on over to the neighboring abode of Cote dAzur. If you feel like leaving the travel up to the citys public transit system, use SunBus service. Most of the buses in the city are run by the organization, and you can obtain weekly unlimited passes.
Attractions:
Cimiez might be where all of the wealthy residents in Nice rest their heads, but its also the area where ruins remain of the ancient city of Cemenelum. Youll find an archaeological museum in Cimiez as well as an excavation site which you can traverse, allowing you to see the amphitheatre and public baths that were populated thousands of years ago. Behind the site is a beautiful olive grove where a jazz festival is held in the summer. Walk further through Cimiez and youll come upon a monastery, which may not look like much, but a short stroll to a plateau of sorts will allow you to see an unparalleled view of the city.
Nice is known for its history, but there is a place reserved for the here and now, and that is the Musee dArt Moderne et dArt Contemporain. The structure is adorned with beautiful architectural touches, and the four towers that are home to famed canvases are connected via glass walkways. A walk up to the top will bring you to a beautiful rooftop garden, which is especially welcoming (albeit a bit crowded) on warm, sunny days.
Nice is also home to museums dedicated to two notable French artists, Henri Matisse, and Marc Chagall. Musee Matisse not only holds some of the mans finest work, but also has a number of items (furniture, paintbrushes, etc) from his home and workplace. Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall follows the same idea, but is focused heavily on his most famous series of paintings, the Biblical Message Cycle a collection of 17 pieces representative (in the artists view, of course) of the Old Testament.
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