Independent travel guide to Nice and the French Riviera. New guides, itineraries and field reports on the Old Town and the Promenade des Anglais, day trips to Monaco, Eze and Cannes, boat trips to the Lerins Islands, and hikes along the coastal path towards Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat.https://www.nice-spirit.com/en-ushttps://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/best-sunset-spots-in-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/best-sunset-spots-in-nice/Where I actually watch the sun go down in Nice: Colline du Château, the Promenade des Anglais and Mont Boron, with what each one costs you.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnicesunsetviewpointspromenade-des-anglais2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/best-swimming-spots-and-hidden-coves-near-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/best-swimming-spots-and-hidden-coves-near-nice/Nice's coast is pebbles, not sand. Where I actually swim near the city, what to bring, and how it compares to Villefranche, Antibes and Cannes.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnicebeachesswimmingriviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-nice/Yes — Nice tap water is safe to drink, same as everywhere in France. What I actually do about it as a visitor, and when I still buy a bottle.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTPractical TipsTap WaterNiceMonacoFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/cap-ferrat-coastal-path-walk/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/cap-ferrat-coastal-path-walk/What it's really like to walk the coastal path around Cap-Ferrat, between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on foot and at sea level.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCap-Ferratcoastal pathVillefranche-sur-MerBeaulieu-sur-Mereastern Rivierawalking2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/castle-hill-nice-viewpoint-and-waterfall/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/castle-hill-nice-viewpoint-and-waterfall/No château survives on Castle Hill in Nice — just ruins, a park and a waterfall. Here's the best time to climb for views over the bay and the port.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNiceColline du ChâteauviewpointsBaie des AngesPort Lympia2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/cours-saleya-market-guide/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/cours-saleya-market-guide/When the Cours Saleya is a flower and food market, when it becomes a flea market, and what the square is actually like at each hour.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCours SaleyaVieux-NiceNicemarkets2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/eze-exotic-garden-and-nietzsche-path/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/eze-exotic-garden-and-nietzsche-path/Èze's clifftop garden and the steep Nietzsche path down to Èze-sur-Mer, described honestly: the heat, the grade, the views, and what to carry.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTÈzehikingJardin exotiqueNietzsche pathFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/fondation-maeght-and-the-art-of-saint-paul-de-vence/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/fondation-maeght-and-the-art-of-saint-paul-de-vence/Saint-Paul-de-Vence's ramparts sell art as decor. A 20-minute walk to the Fondation Maeght shows what the village doesn't.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTSaint-Paul-de-VenceFondation MaeghtArtPerched villages2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/french-phrases-for-the-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/french-phrases-for-the-riviera/The French Riviera runs on French, even in Monaco. Here are the phrases that changed my trips, from the Cours Saleya market to a taxi at the airport.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfrench rivieranicelanguageculture2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/is-the-french-riviera-worth-it-in-winter/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/is-the-french-riviera-worth-it-in-winter/I spent a Riviera winter chasing light, empty villages and Carnival — here's what works, what disappoints, and what to skip.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWinterSeasonsNiceFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/matisse-and-chagall-museums-in-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/matisse-and-chagall-museums-in-nice/Two distinct Nice museums, two different stories: the Matisse in Cimiez and the Chagall in town. How I plan a visit to both without rushing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNiceMuseumsMatisseChagallCimiezCulture2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/monaco-without-breaking-the-bank/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/monaco-without-breaking-the-bank/Monaco has a big-spender reputation. Here's what actually costs money there, and what you can see for free in an afternoon.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMonacobudget travelday tripFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/monte-carlo-casino-dress-code-and-visit/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/monte-carlo-casino-dress-code-and-visit/What visiting the Monte-Carlo casino actually requires: age, ID, dress code, and the Monaco quarter it sits in.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMonacoMonte-CarloCasinoDress codeFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/nice-old-town-vieux-nice-walk/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/nice-old-town-vieux-nice-walk/A first-person walk through Vieux-Nice, from the Cours Saleya market to socca stalls and the ruelles behind Place Masséna.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNiceVieux-NiceCours Saleyawalking2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/pebble-beaches-in-nice-what-to-expect/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/pebble-beaches-in-nice-what-to-expect/Nice has no sand. Here's what the pebble beaches along the Promenade des Anglais actually feel like, and where to find sand nearby.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNicebeachesFrench Rivierapractical tips2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/promenade-des-anglais-history-and-walk/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/promenade-des-anglais-history-and-walk/Walking the Promenade des Anglais end to end: its 7km along the Baie des Anges, the 1860 union with France, and how to do it on foot or by bike.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNicePromenade des AnglaisBaie des Angeswalkinghistory2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/sainte-marguerite-island-and-the-man-in-the-iron-mask/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/sainte-marguerite-island-and-the-man-in-the-iron-mask/What's left of the Man in the Iron Mask legend on Sainte-Marguerite, and whether Fort Royal is worth the boat from Cannes on its own.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCannesLérins IslandsFort RoyalMan in the Iron Mask2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/socca-and-nicois-street-food/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/socca-and-nicois-street-food/What niçois street food really is beyond socca: pissaladière, petits farcis, tourte de blettes and pan bagnat in Vieux-Nice.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNicestreet foodsoccaVieux-Nicefood guide2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/the-train-des-pignes-scenic-railway/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/the-train-des-pignes-scenic-railway/I rode the mountain train from Nice into the Roya valley toward Tende - gorges, perched villages, and a way into the Vallée des Merveilles.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTransportRoya ValleyTendeMercantour2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/tipping-and-restaurant-etiquette-on-the-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/tipping-and-restaurant-etiquette-on-the-riviera/Service is included on every bill on the Riviera. Here is what that actually changes about tipping, ordering, and what to wear where.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTtippingrestaurant etiquettedress codefrench rivierapractical tipshttps://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/ventimiglia-friday-market-from-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/ventimiglia-friday-market-from-nice/Why the Friday market in Ventimiglia, just over the Italian border, is worth the hour-long train from Nice, and how I plan that one day.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTVentimigliaItalian RivieraMarketsDay trips2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/villa-ephrussi-de-rothschild-visit-guide/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/villa-ephrussi-de-rothschild-visit-guide/A first-person case for the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild's rooms and nine gardens, the one true must-see on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTVilla Ephrussi de RothschildSaint-Jean-Cap-FerratVillefranche-sur-MerEastern Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/visiting-the-perfume-houses-of-grasse/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/visiting-the-perfume-houses-of-grasse/Grasse isn't a museum, it's a nose workout. What the free factory tours cover, what the paid workshops add, and when to go.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrasseperfumeFragonardGalimardMolinardUNESCOday trips2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/what-is-a-real-salade-nicoise/https://www.nice-spirit.com/blog/what-is-a-real-salade-nicoise/Salade niçoise sparks real arguments in Nice. Here's why locals defend it, why menus stray, and why I won't hand you a fake recipe.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTsalade niçoisenice foodvieux-niceprovençal cuisine2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/accessible-nice-guide/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/accessible-nice-guide/What's flat, step-free or hard work in Nice: the Promenade, the tram, Colline du Château and the pebble beaches, honestly assessed.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNiceaccessibilitylimited mobilitywheelchair travelFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-bike-and-scooter-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-bike-and-scooter-tours/How to explore Antibes and Juan-les-Pins by bike, e-bike, scooter or golf cart, without a car, and what to expect on the ground.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAntibesJuan-les-Pinscyclinge-bikescooterwestern RivieraFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-boat-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-boat-tours/Boat tours from Antibes: Cap d'Antibes coastline, Port Vauban departures, snorkeling and paddle add-ons. What to expect, prices, and timing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAntibesboat toursCap d'AntibessnorkelingCôte d'Azur2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-day-trip-from-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-day-trip-from-nice/A day trip to Antibes and Juan-les-Pins by train from Nice: ramparts, the Picasso museum, Fort Carré, Cap d'Antibes coastal path and sand beaches.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAntibesJuan-les-Pinsday tripPicasso museumFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-food-and-market-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-food-and-market-tours/A practical guide to food tours and market visits in Antibes: the Provençal market, tastings, the old town and Port Vauban.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAntibesfood toursmarketProvençal marketFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-old-town-walking-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/antibes-old-town-walking-tours/A walking guide to Antibes old town: ramparts, the Picasso museum in the Château Grimaldi, Fort Carré, Port Vauban and the Provençal market.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAntibesold townwalking tourMusée PicassoFort Carré2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-beaches-in-nice-and-the-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-beaches-in-nice-and-the-riviera/Nice's beaches are pebbles, not sand. Where to actually find sand, public vs private costs, and when the sea is warm enough to swim.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNicebeachesFrench Rivieraplanning2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-museums-in-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-museums-in-nice/Nice's best museums, from the Matisse and Chagall collections to Cimiez's Roman ruins — what each one shows and why it's worth the detour.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnicemuseumsmatissechagallcimiezart2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-perched-villages-of-the-french-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-perched-villages-of-the-french-riviera/Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Èze, Vence, Grasse, Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Gourdon compared, so you can pick two or three without the crowds ruining it.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfrench rivieraperched villagessaint-paul-de-venceezegrasse2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-nice/Compare summer, winter, and the shoulder seasons on the French Riviera to pick the right dates for your Nice trip.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbest time to visit NiceFrench Riviera seasonsNice weatherwhen to visit Nice2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-viewpoints-on-the-french-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/best-viewpoints-on-the-french-riviera/Where to see the Riviera from above: Nice's Colline du Château, Mont Boron, the Grande Corniche, Èze and Gourdon, with access and timing notes.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTviewpointsfrench rivieraniceezeplanning2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-bike-and-vintage-car-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-bike-and-vintage-car-tours/How to see Cannes and the Corniche d'Or by e-bike, vintage bus or sidecar, with real routes, prices and when to skip the walking version.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCannese-bike toursvintage car toursCorniche d'OrEsterel2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-boat-tours-and-yacht-cruises/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-boat-tours-and-yacht-cruises/Boat options from Cannes port to Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat: crossing times, prices, crowds, and what you actually see.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCannesBoat toursLérins IslandsSainte-MargueriteSaint-HonoratFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-day-trip-from-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-day-trip-from-nice/Plan a day trip from Nice to Cannes: the Croisette, Le Suquet, the Forville market and the Palais des Festivals, with real travel times.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTcannesday tripfrench rivieranice2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-film-festival-for-visitors/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-film-festival-for-visitors/Should you visit Cannes during the Film Festival? Closures, prices, crowds and honest advice for non-accredited visitors, in May.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTcannesfilm-festivalseasonal2026mayfrench-rivierahttps://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-food-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-food-tours/Cannes food tours built around Forville market, the Croisette and Le Suquet, with real prices, timing and what's worth booking.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCannesfood toursForville marketLe SuquetProvence2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-helicopter-and-scenic-flights/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-helicopter-and-scenic-flights/What a helicopter flight from Cannes actually shows you, how it differs from a boat trip, and what to know before booking.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCanneshelicopterscenic flightsEsterelÎles de Lérins2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-perfume-workshops/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-perfume-workshops/Perfume workshops sold from Cannes actually take place in Grasse. Here's how the day trip works, what it costs, and which house to pick.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTperfumegrassecannesday-tripsfragonard2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-photo-shoots/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-photo-shoots/Where to photograph Cannes — La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals and Le Suquet — with the best light and how to avoid the crowds.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCannesphotographyLa CroisetteLe SuquetFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-walking-tours/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-walking-tours/How to walk Cannes on your own: La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals, Le Suquet and Marché Forville, with real distances and timing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCanneswalking toursLa CroisetteLe Suquet2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-water-sports/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/cannes-water-sports/Kayak, paddle, jet ski, parasailing and towed buoys off Cannes' beaches — real prices, launch spots and how the sea compares to nearby Nice.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTCanneswater sportskayakjet skiparasailingFrench Riviera2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/common-scams-in-nice-and-on-the-riviera/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/common-scams-in-nice-and-on-the-riviera/The real mechanisms behind Riviera pickpocketing, crowd scams and overpriced plages, with concrete ways to avoid each one.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTnicesafetypickpocketsscamsfrench rivieraplanning2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/day-trips-from-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/day-trips-from-nice/Compare day trips from Nice by real travel time, from a two-hour Èze visit to a full day on the road to Saint-Tropez or the Verdon gorge.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTday tripsNiceFrench RivieraMonacoSaint-TropezVerdon gorge2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/driving-and-parking-in-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/driving-and-parking-in-nice/Traffic, tight parking and a low-emission zone make a car a burden in Nice. Here's why the tram and the seafront path work better.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTNicetransportdrivingparkingtram2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/esterel-coast-boat-trips/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/esterel-coast-boat-trips/Boat trips along the Estérel's red volcanic cliffs, between Mandelieu and Saint-Raphaël — how they differ from a Lérins Islands crossing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEstérelboat tripsSaint-RaphaëlFréjusCorniche d'Orvar-coast2026https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/esterel-day-trip-from-nice/https://www.nice-spirit.com/guides/esterel-day-trip-from-nice/Day trips from Nice to the Estérel's red cliffs, Saint-Raphaël and Fréjus: boat rides, photo stops, coves, and honest travel-time estimates.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEsterelSaint-RaphaelFrejusday trips from NiceFrench Riviera2026