Nice in a nutshell

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Author: Andy Heaps

Nice has become a very popular short break destination in recent years. In the middle of the French Riviera it has Monaco only 20 minutes to the East and Cannes only 40 minutes to the west. So, what is the attraction? Nice's old town, Vieux-Nice, has narrow, cobbled streets lined with beautiful medieval buildings is where you will find the majority of Nice nightlife with enough bars and pubs to cater for everyone. By day, the old town's galleries and shops attract a slightly different crowd. Only a short stroll from the beach, Nice has a beach town feel to it with musicians, artists and rollerbladers accommodated at the seafront. At the same time though it has everything you could ever need from a city.

If you like sandy beaches though, you would be better travelling further along the French Riviera. Nice's 'beach' is actually rocks rather than sand. This doesn't stop eager sunbathers trying to catch a few rays though. A very friendly place, attracting a wide variety of people, the beachfront is where most people are found during daylight hours. If catching the rays isn't your thing there are plenty of outdoor cafes in the area, perfect for people watching. For the more cultural, the 'Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain' is also only a short walk away. For the adrenaline junkies, jet skis, water skiing and tubing are just a few examples of the water sports available at the beach.

Nice is the ideal place for a pub crawl. Bars door after door, street after street in Vieux-Nice enable you to hop bar to bar with minimal effort. A more relaxed alternative, avoiding the drunken debauchery, are the trendy restaurants that turn into bars later on in the night. Order bar snacks with your drinks and you have your seat for the night.

With Monaco, the Las Vegas of Europe just down the road, it should come as no surprise when you come across the 'Casino Ruhl'. Open from 08:00 until 04:00 it houses all your typical 'games' and slots. Rules can vary slightly in some games (21, craps for example) so make sure you know how to play the French way before having a flutter.