Guide to Nice, France

The capital of the Riviera and the fifth-largest city in France, Nice deserves its impressive reputation, being full of sun, the sea and the laid-back, affable Nicious. The Medieval maze of the old town, the Italianate facades of modern Nice and the rich, exuberant, fin-de-siecle residences that have made the city one of Europe's most fashionable winter retreats. It has also preserved the atmosphere of the ancient past, when the Romans ruled the region, and earlier still, when the Greeks founded the city. In recent history, Russian and English aristocrats first built thei r mansions in Nice. Today, it is the rentiers and retired people of various nationalities whose dividends and pensions give the city its startlingly high ratio of per-capita income to economic activity.

The easiest way to tour Nice is to take the Train Touristique de Nice, which departs from the Jardin Albert - 1er. The forty-minute transit past many of Nice's main sites is quite an experience. With departures every 30 to 60 minutes, the train operates daily from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm in April, May and September, and until 7pm from June to August). There is no service between mid-November and mid-December, and also during most of January.

There is a high density of museums in Nice when compared to many other French cities. In case you decide to ignore the beach and spend your time visiting some of the most respected museums in the south of France, you can buy from the local tourist office a Carte Passe - Musee, costing only 15 Euros for 3 days or 25 Euros for 7 days. It allows you admission into the seven largest museums. You should know that there are no discounts for students or children. This pass is sold at any of the largest museums, as well.

Apart from the beauty of the town itself and the picturesque surroundings, Nice provides exciting night life, quality places to stay in, many opportunities for sightseeing and plenty of hearty people. In addition, its bus and train connections make it by far the best starting point for visiting the rest of the Riviera.

Every tourist should be informed about the unexpected surprises and shortcomings (if they could be referred to as such) of Nice. It is one of the most dubious destinations of the Riviera. Always be aware of your valuables, as the town is a pickpocket's paradise. Very often, traffic is rather busy, miniature poodles seem to be ubiquitous, phones are always vandalized and lovers of beach sand will be deeply disappointed because the beach is cobbled. And yet, Nice still manages to be a delightful destination.