What Is So Special About Nice, France? A Walkable City That Knows How to Slow You Down
Nice is the kind of place that makes you drop your pace without meaning to.
You land, you walk out, and suddenly the light feels softer. The sea bluer. You don’t rush here—you drift.
🚶 Getting There
The Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is shockingly close to the city—about 15 minutes by bus or tram. If you’re coming from Paris, Marseille, or nearby towns, SNCF trains drop you near the promenade. I arrived by car along the A8 and stopped more than I planned—those Mediterranean cliffs have a way of distracting you.
🌊 What to See (and Not Rush Through)
Promenade des Anglais:
The perfect first stop. One long stretch by the sea where nothing is expected of you. Walk. Sit. Watch locals rollerblade past.
Vieux Nice (Old Town):
A mess of colorful buildings and market stalls. We bought fresh fruit, tried a plate of Socca, and wandered with sticky fingers and a camera in hand.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château):
Worth the steps. From the top, the rooftops lean toward the bay in perfect harmony. It’s the kind of view that makes you quiet without telling you to be.
🥗 What to Eat
Lunch was Salade Niçoise, eaten slowly under a sun umbrella, with a view of the water. Later, we found a small bistro near the old town and ordered bouillabaisse and grilled shrimp—local, simple, perfect. For dessert: a lemon tart and a slice of Tropezienne cake shared over espresso.
🧳 What I Carried
I had only a lightweight expandable backpack—the kind that stretches to fit an extra sweater or a market snack but never weighs you down. Mine’s a 20L waterproof daypack, good for city walking, beach detours, and not overthinking what to bring.
🎒 Backpack featured in this trip:
Lightweight Expandable Waterproof Backpack – 20L Flexible Storage A daypack built for coastal walks, city stairs, and lemon tart detours. Folds small, holds big, and never slows you down.
