Our hottest tips

You don’t need to go far in order to enjoy the view over the Bay of Angels and the harbour in Nice. On one side of the mountain top where the castle (Le Château) is situated, you can take in the view along the Promenade des Anglais all the way to Cap d’Antibes. From the other side of the mountain you can see out through the pine trees towards the harbour and Boron mountain, where Elton John lives.

Cours Saleya is the pedestrian street in Vieux-Nice (Old Nice) – we recommend leaving your car at home. The chance to improve your suntan is included in the price on the cafe terraces, which are ideal for catching a few extra rays. Further east, on the other side of the castle, is the harbour. It’s worth a visit with its colourful house fronts and pointed, typically southern French fishing boats.

A stone’s throw from the traditional architecture of Vieux-Nice and the harbour is the majestic museum for modern and contemporary art (Marmac). The cubic facade, cut in marble from Carrare, is an indirect reference to the brand new library, Bibliliothèque Louis Nucéra, which has been nicknamed “the square head” due to its architecture, and was designed by the Nice artist Sacha Sosno.

You can’t miss the Bodeguita del Havana. The gigantic, Cuban peso note with Che Guevara on is a sure sign that you’re in the right place. Once inside you can hit the dance floor downstairs and upstairs you can eat snacks and read the messages left on the walls by previous visitors.

A speciality from Nice that can’t be found outside of the Var region is socca, a type of pancake made from chick-pea puree and prepared in a large flat pan, heated over a wood fire. It’s a simple dish, crispy and tasty, but it needs an expert to make it. One such expert can be found at Chez Pipo, behind the church at the harbour. Here you’re guaranteed a really good socca in suitably rustic and charming surroundings.

Nissart is the local way of saying nicois, in other words something typically from Nice. Like, for example, pissaladière (onion, olive and anchovy pie), Salade Nicoise, stuffed vegetables and onion pie. There’s no better way to discover the wonderful local cuisine than visiting a really tradition restaurant in the heart of Viuex-Nice. Don’t expect tourist-oriented service or elegance, but tasty, value-for-money food.