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I considered myself to be well traveled throughout Europe, but there is just something about the French Riviera that breathes celebrity sightings, yachts, high-class dining and hotels, and very wealthy people. It is somewhere I had always wanted to go to situate myself in this life for just a few days and see how it felt, so Kelly and I made it happen alongside our trip to Gstaad, Switzerland! Nice sits right on the Mediterranean Sea at the foot of the Alps, just a short train ride away to several other cities that are well known. After staying a few nights in Paris, we took the train to Nice and stayed right on the sea in the Hotel Negresco, which is a legendary hotel that opened its doors in 1913. http://www.hotel-negresco-nice.com/en/hotel (More on the hotel in another blog post!) The town of Nice is quite walkable, with a promenade that spans down the coast and is directly adjacent to the beach.
Nice-Where the sky meets the sea 
View of the promenade from our window 
A cafe on the beach for a glass of wine!
On one of our first days, we decided to take a walking food tour, which ended up being a highlight of the trip. We learned about the history of the city, as well as the food that is unique to the area-places you would never think to try. Pro-tip: in doing any walking tours, typically you are in a small group which allows for a more intimate connection to the city, and you get a decent lay of the land very quickly. Our guide took us to a farmers market to sample different coffee cakes and fruit, and to indulge our senses with the freshest produce, olives, cheese, and flowers. The town was bustling with local chefs collecting their ingredients for the day. We stopped at the most memorable chocolatier shop where the fabrication of fine chocolates and candied fruit has been passed down since 1820! https://www.fruits-confits.com Our last few stops included a local cheesemonger and olive oil shop where we bought ingredients to accompany our purchases from the farmers market and ended with quite the feast! Even though walking food tours are typically 3-4 hours, you sample a great deal of food, and it can sub as one or two of your meals for the day!
Walking around Nice 
Candied Fruit 
Chocolatier in Old Town Nice 
The process of making candied fruit 
Produce at the farmer’s market
A must-do while staying in Nice is taking the train or a tour to Eze and Monaco. Eze is a medieval village that clings impressively to the mountainside of the Mediterranean Sea, between St. Jean Cap Ferrat and Monaco, with spectacular views of the coastline of the Cote d-Azur. There are no cars allowed in the precinct, so you can imagine how quaint a village has to be without the sounds of engines bustling through traffic. Eze is special in many ways, but you realize just how unique it is with the narrow corridors and original stone flooring being well preserved for the few lucky people who get to live here. Monaco is actually the second smallest country in the world, behind Vatican City, and is the world’s smallest Monarchy. Monaco is where the famed Monte-Carlo Casino resides and is known for the extravagant display of wealth. Unfortunately, Kelly and I did not go into the casino since we were not dressed appropriately (yes-there is a dress code), but we were able to witness the dozens of expensive cars and hundreds of super-yachts that you only see in movies! Fun fact: Monaco has no income tax and over 30% of the residing population are millionaires! Here is a link to the tour we took: https://www.viator.com/tours/Nice/Monaco-and-Eze-Small-Group-Half-Day-Trip-from-Nice/d478-2356NCE06
Medieval Town of Eze 
Eze 
The famed Monte-Carlo 
One of the many beautiful views 
Monaco 
View of the Yachts in Monaco
Although Kelly and I are not at the super-yacht caliber yet, we still wanted to experience the French Riviera from the sea. One evening, we had a private cruiser take us on a sunset tour along the Cote d’Azur to view the incredible architecture alongside the cliffs. It was a spectacular way to drink a bottle of champagne and live amongst the yachts, while getting lost in the amazing sunset ahead. Nice is such a great city to visit to dive into a world of European luxury. Since the French Riviera has much more to offer than our time allotted, I think we will definitely make another trip in the future! https://www.viator.com/tours/Nice/Boat-Tour-on-the-Cote-dAzur-Nice-Monaco-or-Nice-Cannes/d478-170509P1
