NICE

Date: Thursday, October 9

Departure Time:  1:00pm 

Cost:

Option A - With an hour train ride to the Castle: 48 €

Option B - Sightseeing in "Vieux-Nice" (Old Nice) only : 38 €

Children under two are free if they don’t take up a seat on the bus. 

Nicknamed “Nice la Belle,” or “Nice the Beautiful,” the City of Nice came to the attention of the English aristocracy in the late 18th Century.  Over the past 150 hundred years its mild climate, beautiful ocean views and fine restaurants and hotels have attracted tourists and artists from around the world. In 1822, a seven-kilometer (4.3 mile) walkway along the Mediterranean Sea was constructed which became known as the “Promenade des Anglais” (The Promenade of the English) creating a relaxing and unique way of drinking in the beauty of the area.

Given time constraints, our excursion will focus on “Le Vieux Nice,” which is the compact “old town” part of the city.  

Two options are available for this afternoon excursion to Nice:

Option A Includes bus ride to Nice and then a 50-minute ride aboard the electric “petit train touristique de Nice.”  This tourist train ride provides commentary in English and affords an opportunity to get an overview of the city without a lot of walking, while still leaving you with some free time to explore on your own.  

Note: due to train capacity, we will offer two different timed tickets for the train ride (3 pm or 4:30pm) on a first-come, first-served basis.  Depending on which ticket you buy, you may have free time before your train ride or after.

Option B Includes bus ride to Nice ONLY. and  You can enjoy more time to do some sightseeing on your own.  Don’t forget your walking shoes, grab a map, and strike out on your own to visit some highlights of the old town.   

Highlights of Old Nice:

  • Wandering the Old City; its narrow streets and tall, painted structures provide old-world charm punctuated with views of luxury yachts entering the old port
  • Strolling the Promenade des Anglais
  • Visiting Castle Hill (La Colline du Château) to the east of the Old City for beautiful views and a lovely park setting to relax and soak in the ambience
  • Sampling local delicacies in an olive oil or ice cream shop, bakery or restaurant
  • Visiting Place Massena and the Fontaine du Soleil (Sun Fountain)
  • Exploring Cours Saleya with its flower market
  • Visiting Place Rosetti and/or Place St. Francois 
  • Touring the Palais Lascaris (a former aristocrat’s home described as a Baroque Jewel)
  • Shopping for souvenirs

For those interested in art and willing to venture further afield, the Museum of Fine Arts (Beaux Arts) offers an outstanding collection of French and European Art from the 16th to 20th Century, and the Museum of Modern Art has fantastic views of Nice. 

More ideas for your visit can be found at: http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/nice-f-az-ni.htm

Clearly, there is more to see in Nice than one afternoon affords! So, enjoy the train ride and some time on your own, or plan your afternoon visit independently. 

Note:  If you would like to book a guided or specialty walking tour on your own, here is a company which offers small-group specialty tours (i.e. cultural, city overview, foodie) departing from Old Nice:  (insert link here for whatever company we think best fits the bill).