Nice, France
Shore Excursion and Port Reviews

Downtown Nice and its Beautiful Coastline

Nice, France Port Information
Tom Ogg

Entry Requirements
Language and Currency
What is Nice Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Nice, France Port Reviews

Entry Requirements

A passport is required, but no visa is required for stays less than 90 days.

Language and Currency

The official language of France is French, but some English is spoken in many tourist areas. The official currency of France is the euro. Dollars are rarely accepted, other than at some souvenir shops and other high profile tourist locations. Even there, euros may be demanded. The best way to obtain euros is by using your ATM card at one of the plentiful ATM machines. Credit Cards (Amex, VISA, MasterCard) are widely accepted, but Traveler's Checks are rarely tendered.

What is Nice like?

Nice's Fabulous Beaches Seem to Go Forever

Nice is one of the major cities in the Cote d' Azur and sits right in the heart of the French Riviera. While not as sophisticated as many of the surrounding towns, Nice offers an excellent experience for its visitors. Its beaches are world class and its sights well worth exploring.

What is the weather like?

Nice enjoys perfect Mediterranean weather with warm temperatures during the day and temperate nights. Expect summer highs to range in the 70s and 80s.

Where does the ship dock?

Celebrity's Millennium Anchored in Villefranche, France

Smaller ships dock right near downtown Nice. It is quite possible to walk into Nice to enjoy the beach, shopping and general sightseeing. Larger ships anchor in nearby Villefranche, tender into the wharf there and then either take the train (See the Special Report on Taking the Train to Nice) or the bus to Nice, which is some 3 miles away.

Where is the shopping?

Shopping in the Designer District of Nice

Nice has excellent shopping. The Ave Jean Médecin, running from the Place Massena up through the center of the city has many of the city's main shopping and department stores. Halfway up the street is a large mall known as the he Nice Etoile that offers floors of shops and boutiques. The Rue de France pedestrian shopping street runs from the end of the Place Massena, (runs parallel to the beach). This area is full of shops, designer clothing boutiques, restaurants and the proverbial French cafés with outdoor terraces.

Nice Historic District Shopping

You will also find a number of stores and boutiques in the Old Town area offering many collectibles, crafts and souvenirs.

What is there to buy?

This Says it All, Nice Has Wonderful Shopping

There is a wealth of shopping to be had for clothing, leather products, jewelry, French wines, beach wear, crafts, antiques, art and lots more.

A Shop Specifically For the Sophisticated Yachter

I even found a shop that specialized in yachting wear for men and women only. There are many shops in the historic district that featuer one-of-a-kind items that I doubt you could find anywhere else.

What is there to do?

The Public Marketplace in Nice's Historic District

Visiting Nice for the day can be spent shopping in its wonderful shopping streets, visiting the Old Section of town, enjoying a wonderful lunch at one of the many French sidewalk cafes, or visiting the local produce, fish and open air markets is wonderful.

Shopping in Nice's Historic District

Exploring the historic district is fascinating and offers one a glimpse into the past. The open air markets and shops seem to be everywhere.

The Promenade des Anglais

Taking a walk along the Promenade des Anglais (the beachfront promenade that runs the entire length of Nice) or just simply hitting the beach for a great tan.

An Oceanside Salt Water Swimming Pool

There is an excellent museum in Nice, the Musée de Beaux Arts that features many paintings from famous artists and a visit to the Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe St. Nicholas a Nice (the cathedral) is well worth the time it takes to see the fabulous structure. Beyond Nice lies some of the most beautiful treasures on the Cote d'Azur.

Site of the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France

Cannes is the home to the famous Cannes Film Festival and is one of the most chic resorts on the French Riviera.

One of the Public Beaches Along the Promenade de la Croisette

If you visit Cannes, be sure to walk along the Promenade de la Croisette, which runs along the beachfront. It is lined with shops, boutiques, cafes and is simply delightful.

Cannes Shopping Street

Cannes offers excellent shopping for designer labels, beachwear and other collectibles.

Monte Carlo's Grand Casino

Also, if you are calling on Nice and not on Monaco, a visit to Monte Carlo is well worth the time. Monaco is a separate country and is one of the richest in the world. While only less than a square mile in size, Monte Carlo is simply bulging with yachts, Ferraris, jewelry stores and everything else one can spend money on.

Downtown Monte Carlo (Silversea in Port)

Taking a walk through downtown Monte Carlo's shopping area and then by the marina on the way to the casino is like taking a walk in an adult fantasyland. The square in front oft6he casino is breathtaking and the gardens up the hill afford on a fabulous view of the best of Monaco.

The Narrow Walkways in Eze

If you do visit Monte Carlo (see the Monte Carlo Port Review) from Nice, take the coast road to Monte Carlo and then return on the high road and plan a stop in Eze. Eze is a walled medieval village dating back to the 12th century that resides on the very top of a mountain looking over the Mediterranean Sea far below. It it totally enclosed by rock walls and it has been resurrected and turned into a quaint village offering tourists a look into its history. Eze has narrow cobbled pathways that meander throughout the village and there are numerous shops selling everything of interest to visitors. There are some excellent restaurants near the top part of Exe and more just below its entrance near the road. There are also a couple of perfumeries located close to Eze.

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

Nice's Historic District

Yes, I would say that taking a walk on Nice's Promenade des Anglais or Cannes' Promenade de la Croisette are "don't miss" activities. I would also give exploring Nice's historic district the same rating.

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

There are a ton of them in this area. Simply try one of the sidewalk cafes and you are sure to have an excellent meal.

Nice, France Special Reports

Nice, France by Train, On Your Own

Nice, France Port Reviews
(Click on the Review you are Interested in Reading)

Nancy Norris; Great Overview of the French Riviera

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