By Emily Bahar
When one thinks of France, the first images that come to mind are probably of croissants, the Eiffel Tower, and the Mona Lisa. While these are definitely worth your time, there’s so much more in France than just the capital of Paris. Nice, a city in the south of the country, combines both outstanding beauty and entertainment. There’s so many options for places to go, but I will take you on a perfect 24 hours to spend in Nice.
Before you start exploring, you should head over to the Garden Café at Boulevard Gambetta for some breakfast. There’s a variety of options on the menu such as crepes, avocado toast, and salads. You can enjoy your meal with a side of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee. My personal go-to is avocado toast with a cappuccino. You have the option to sit inside the cozy cafe with warming chairs or manger dehors (“eat outside”) in a pleasant setting.
Spending the morning taking in a cultural experience, you could book a reservation at the Musée Des Beaux Arts De Nice, which is only a 14-minute walk from the cafe. The price of the tickets are reasonable as an individual ticket costs 10 euros, while if you are attending the museum with over 10 people, it’s a reduced rate of eight euros. This museum showcases paintings and sculptures by famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin. The museum includes a wide variety of artistic styles such as modernism and impressionism. Despite my lack of artistic knowledge, I’ve come to appreciate the color contrasts and brush strokes that bring together the pieces. Additionally, the simplicity of the sculptures is illuminated by the room lights that highlight special features of a piece.
It’s a 30-minute walk from the museum to the historical Place Masséna, so I would recommend calling an uber to the next stop where you have the opportunity to eat and shop. This area was built in the 19th century by Joseph Vernier. He dedicated this plaza to the military commander André Masséna, who was one of the greatest figures in both the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Besides the historical significance, this square includes large shopping centers for foods, clothes, and souvenirs. Furthermore, the striking colors of yellow and red painted on the building walls will make entering irresistible. Here you can come across shops that are not located in the U.S. like Bershka, an iconic clothing boutique.
You can also find restaurants that are not offered anywhere else in the world. For lunch, I always stop by Jean Medecin to eat at my personal favorite, Ballanger, a delicious restaurant that contains desserts such as crépes, waffles, and pancakes with filling milkshakes. Not only will you be impressed with the amount of food options, but the scenery will be tempting with appetizing pastel pink walls, alongside vibrant waitresses who are fashionably dressed up in matching white aprons and pink skirts.
After lunch, La Plage de Flots Bleus is the perfect location since it’s only a few steps away. Before heading home, you can’t miss out on the sound of the waves crashing into the rocks and watching the sunset at La Plage de Flots Bleus. This beach is all rocky and has both private and public beaches that are spread out so that there isn’t an overwhelming number of people in one area. If rocky beaches aren’t your preference, then you can enjoy the magnificent blue waves that reflect the sun from the large pathway into the beach.
Right down the road, you will find a convenient restaurant Pinocchio to have a filling dinner. They have a wide menu of tasty options like burgers, salads, and pasta. I would especially recommend the tagliatelle pasta with bolognese sauce.
You won’t be able to witness everything Nice has to offer in these 24 hours, but this itinerary will guide you to make the most of your trip.
Cover Photo: Lonely planet
Garden Café Photo: Tripadvisor
Photos of Musée Des Beaux Arts De Nice, Ballanger Lunch, and Pinocchio Dinner : Emily Bahar
Place Masséna Photo: City Xee
La Plage de Flots Bleus Photo: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourisme