Your property in Nice
Prospective buyers looking for property in Nice will find lavish apartments in stunning buildings overlooking the famous Promenade des Anglais, while traditional stone villas with uninterrupted sea views are on offer on the outskirts of town.
Modern apartments in traditional buildings can be found along the streets of the Carré d’Or, Place Garibaldi and close to the port, while the tall buildings in Vieux Nice take inspiration from the city’s Italian influences.
The most prestigious homes are usually found outside the city centre in areas such as Cimiez, which provide spectacular views across the bay, while Mont Boron has superb villas with large gardens.
Inside Nice
The coastal city of Nice, which is drenched in nearly year-round sunshine, offers a relaxed style of living with its long stretch of golden sand shadowed by the joyful Promenade des Anglais.
The old town, Vieux Nice, is packed with boutiques and delis, while its restaurants and bars serve up the specialities of the area, commonly involving seafood and local delicacies, such as Salad Niçoise.
Nice has a vibrant art scene, with various famous artists, including Henri Matisse, having made their home here in the past, while the city also boasts large green spaces, such as Parc du Mont Boron, with wild expanses within easy reach.
Landscape
Located on the Baie des Anges and just 20 miles from the Italian border, Nice benefits from an extremely pleasant climate.
The city is not strenuous to traverse on foot, with large flat expanses such as along the Promenade des Anglais, but has steep hills, including the one known as Le Château, where a castle once stood.
Beyond the centre of the city, the landscape turns hilly and mountainous the further into the Alpes-Maritimes département you go.
Education
For families considering relocating to Nice, the city’s International School of Nice is a private institution offering education from pre-school through to 19 years of age.
Further afield, Valbonne, Mougins and Antibes all offer international schools.
In terms of further education, the Côte d'Azur University - considered among the top 20 in France - includes several member institutions, such as the prestigious University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.
Activities and Entertainment
Nice is a perfect city to explore, whether it’s wandering along the Promenade des Anglais, soaking up the vibe of the eateries and independent shops of Vieux Nice, or taking in its numerous historical sites.
Fantastic historic architecture in the form of The Notre Dame Monastery in Cimiez, to Le Régina (which has hosted Queen Victoria and Henri Matisse) and the 20th Century Hôtel Negresco, help chart the city through the ages, while the city’s traditional markets in Cours Saleya come to life with food, flowers, and antiques stalls.
The surrounding hills of the city also offer plenty of opportunities for escapism, with the observatory on the summit of Mont Gros and the Colline du Château, which provides picturesque views across the city, both being true adventures.
Art and Culture
Few French cities outside Paris have as much clout when it comes to art as Nice, with several famous artists having made their home here.
Among its many museums and galleries are the Musée Matisse, which houses an exceptional collection of the artist’s work, the Musée National Marc Chagall, dedicated to the painter, and the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, which hosts a collection of European and America works.
Music features heavily in Nice’s cultural offering too, with the city’s Jazz Festival packing in performances across six nights, while concerts are also held at the Fête du Château event at the Colline du Château, and in various nearby villages as part of the local government-organised Les Soirées Estivales.
Food and Drink
Fresh Mediterranean produce and abundant seafood combine to ensure excellent cuisine in Nice, with the city being home to some world-renowned dishes.
Classic light bites such as Salad Niçoise, pissaladière tart topped with onion, anchovies and olives, and street-food favourite socca, a crusty chickpea pancake are just as popular as more hearty meals such as slow-cooked beef daube Niçoise, vegetable-stuffed ratatouille (which originated in Nice) and bean-filled soupe au pistou.
Its location in the Côtes de Provence wine region means the town benefits from some excellent wines, most notably its exceptional rosé wines, which make up about 80 per cent of the regions output and are made predominantly from the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut varieties. However, the small Bellet Appellation vineyard, the only one in Nice, is well-known for its excellent red wines using mainly local varieties.
Accessibility
Nice is excellently served by air, with the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport being the third busiest in the country. Nearby Cannes has a small private airport serving light aircraft and helicopters.
The city’s Nice-Ville train station is served by the country’s high-speed network, with trains to Paris reaching the capital in less than 9 hours.
In terms of roads, the major A8 road traverses the Côte d’Azur from Nice to Aix-en-Provence, connecting onto other major autoroutes for onward travel to other cities and regions, while moorings can be booked for yachts and cruisers in Nice Port.