One of the major benefits of finding a vacation rental in Nice or planning a trip to Nice while staying in a villa in Provence is that the city basically has everything in one place. Looking for a pretty Old Town with great daily markets? Nice has that. Looking for charming little boutiques, elegant bars, cute cafes, and excellent restaurants? Nice has those too. Are you interested in being able to readily explore the Côte d'Azur? Nice makes for an ideal base that is readily connected to other key destinations in the area by bus and scenic train routes along the coast. Do you want to see brilliant art, visit stunning architectural gems, wander beautiful gardens, or attend vibrant performances? Well, the city is a cultural hub that can offer all of those things and more. And, last but not least, Nice is also fronted by a beach that is only a short walk from the city centre. Boasting excellent weather and elegant Mediterranean vibes, this city beach is ideal for those who want to spend days wandering about and enjoying all of the cosmopolitan delights that the city has to offer and then stroll down to the strand to cool off with a dip in the water or spend some time lying around and working on their tan. The best of both worlds, this incredible seafront in Nice allows holidayers in the area to enjoy a city break and seaside getaway in one – sounds pretty good to us!
This beautiful pebble beach in Nice runs along the Baie des Anges and is backed by the Promenade des Anglais, a 7km long promenade that hugs the coastline. Both the beach itself and the promenade are major attractions in the city, drawing all sorts of visitors for all sorts of reasons from locals to tourists to do everything from busking, to going for evening strolls and watching the sun set, to stretching out on loungers on the strand, to skating or jogging along the promenade, to setting up an easel and painting the views. It is, therefore, a hub of activity and excitement. However, there are also some stretches that can become a little more peaceful at different times, depending on when you visit. If you are looking to take in sea views and fresh air or to enjoy a variety of different activities and outdoor pursuits it is an absolute must and is truly an integral part of the city that no visitor who has found a holiday rental in Nice should miss out on.
This whole beautifully developed and established pleasure area and the great boon it is to the city can trace its origins to the 18th century. In this period, Nice became a popular winter destination among the English aristocracy, who were looking to avoid the poor weather conditions and the damp and cold back home and to benefit from the milder climate of the South of France instead. “Taking sea air,” was considered particularly beneficial for one’s health and these English guests wished to be able to stroll along by the sea. However, the existing coastline was irregular and not well-equipped for those looking to enjoy such outings. Deciding something needed to be done about it, the Reverend Lewis Way and members of Holy Trinity Anglican Church funded the construction of a walkway and the influx of beggars who had been brought to the city by the especially harsh winter further north in France in 1820 were hired and put to work building it. The city was delighted at the idea of such a pleasant promenade and further financed the project and increased the scope of it. First called the Camin deis Anglés (the English Way) in the native dialect of the city, it was then renamed the Promenade des Anglais after the annexation of Nice by France in 1860.
In the many years since the construction of the Promenade des Anglais, the beach front has been further enhanced with various additions. Dotted along the strand, one can find both free beaches that can be accessed readily and boast some amenities (such as bathrooms, showers, and storage lockers – very useful as pickpockets are common and keeping an eye on your valuables all day can be taxing) as well as the beach clubs that now proliferate. These beach clubs are private paid sections of the beach operated by different companies and businesses and have more creature comforts and additional services (such as bars and restaurants, sun loungers, and parasols) for those looking for a more luxurious seaside experience. Plage Carras, to the far end of the promenade, close to the Nice Côte d'Azur airport, meanwhile, is a section of beach that is equipped with various facilities for any visitors with special needs or mobility issues including lifeguards who are on hand to help people in and out of the water and specially adapted beach buggies to do the job. Furthermore, there is a useful flag and float system in place along the whole length of the bay, that allows users to immediately tell if swimming conditions are safe: yellow floats in the water clearly demarcate the areas for swimmers and boats, blue flags point out the cleanest stretches, yellow flags advise against swimming at all at certain times, orange flags warn that there are either dangerous currents or stinging jellyfish in the water, and green flags mark areas where lifeguards are on duty during the summer months. Finally, there are different water sports facilities along the strand. Many of the private beaches have canoes and paddle boats that are available to rent but Glisse Evasion, between Blue Beach and Plage Neptune, is where you can try a variety of different water sports including jet skiing, parasailing, wake-boarding, inflatable boat rides, and more. For those on holiday in Provence who have come to Nice and are after a dose of adventure and excitement, it is a must!
Along the length of the Promenade del Anglais and the seafront, furthermore, you’ll find a lot of the city’s more interesting tourist attractions: the Massena Museum in a beautiful old villa with a stunning garden; the Museum of Fine Arts; Bernar Venet’s large metal sculptural scene called Neuf Lignes Obliques made up of nine massive poles growing from the ground and merging together at the top; the Nice Opera House with a miniature of the Stature of Liberty right in front; Sabine Géraudie’s giant iron sculpture called La Chaise de SAB, a tribute to the city’s famous blue beach chairs; Roller Station, who rent out skates, scooters, and bikes so you can join in with the locals zooming about the place; and endless bars, restaurants, and more.
So, it is without a doubt an absolute must that anyone who browses our vacation rentals in Nice or our holiday rentals in Provence and then ends up spending any time in the area at all must set aside some time during their stay to make their way to the lovely, slightly chaotic, historic, iconic seafront of Nice, whether they plan on sprawling out on the beach for a whole day or they just want to go for a wee stroll to take it all in for themselves. One of the most famous thoroughfares in all of France, it is a place for fun, sun, excitement, wonderful views, and fond memories.