Travel to Nice: Never too early to plan your spring getaway

By: Betsy Ross

We may be wrapping up our travel plans for getting to grandma’s house for the holidays, but it doesn’t hurt to look down the road to plan a spring trip. If you’re searching for something a little more exotic, but still affordable, think about a flight to the French Riviera, where temperatures are moderate in the spring and the crowds haven’t quite made it to the beach.

Delta Air Lines gives travelers from this area a couple of options to get there: Take the direct to Paris’ Charles DeGaulle Airport then fly from CDG to Nice, or head to JFK and fly directly to Nice from New York. (if you’re really adventurous, fly to CDG, then take the train from Paris to Nice—it’s comfortable, offers drinks and snacks, and gives you a 5+hour ride in the French countryside to enjoy).

Nice is a great starting point for your trip with a number of hotel options right on the water. On our trip we stayed at the Hotel LaPerouse, a boutique hotel across the street from the beach with welcome amenities (pool, free breakfast) and within walking distance of shopping, sightseeing and nightlife.

Your first reference of Nice, of course, might be the truck bombing in 2016 along the Promenade des Anglais, the main walkway along the Mediterranean that took dozens of lives. It was, and still is, a popular destination for walkers, joggers and skateboarders, but now you’re as likely to see squads of armed police walking the Promenade as you are a mom with a baby stroller.

In spring, the beach won’t be as crowded, and neither will the streets. Cross the street from the beach and head northeast toward the Vieux Nice (Old Town) and you’ll be delighted to discover open air markets, arts and crafts booths, and delightful restaurants offering sidewalk dining. If you want touristy t-shirts, you can find them there, or if you’re looking for ceramic pieces, original artwork or a unique gift to take home, this is an excellent place to discover a one of a kind as well.

Festivals seem to pop up on a regular basis in Nice—when we were there, they were having their version of “Taste of Nice” with bites from area restaurants, a gourmet chef’s corner, music and entertainment just off the Promenade by the main Port de Nice.

If you’re into spectator sports, Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium was the site of early Women’s World Cup rounds in 2019. About a half hour north of the shoreline, it’s in an industrial area where, when we were there, an Ikea was being built. Home of soccer’s OGC Nice and rugby union club Toulon, the stadium complex also includes a restaurant called Memphis. That in and of itself isn’t memorable—what WAS memorable was the Big Boy statue out front. (Not OUR Big Boy, but Big Boy nonetheless)

As for dining, it’s everything you would expect from the French. Fresh pasta and seafood are the headliners, and of course, the wine selection is extensive. Some of the best meals we found were at small, family owned restaurants in the area around the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, a historical stop all its own. Fire destroyed the original building in the late 1800s, but it was rebuilt and reopened in February 1885 with a performance of Aida. It’s the principal home of the Opera, Ballet Nice Méditerrannée and the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Monte Carlo casino

With Nice as your home base, it’s less than an hour’s drive west to Cannes, a spectacular spot even without the film festival going on, or headed the other direction, about 30 minutes to Monte Carlo, both must-see destinations on your tour of the Mediterranean coast. (travel tip—you won’t get a visa stamp when you cross the border into Monaco—if you want your passport stamped to show off to your friends, you need to go to the Office du Tourisme of Monaco, just around the corner from the Monte Carlo casino)

Booking early enough in the spring (typical shoulder season of mid-March to April) will let you take advantage of lower rates for hotels and restaurants, before prices go up during the typical tourist season. In April, temperatures go from 15° to 20°C (around 60° to 68°F) and on average the wettest month isn’t until October. High school French isn’t so hot? Don’t worry, everyone scuffs by on rudimentary English. 

So let the spring break crowds fight for a place on the amusement park ride and head instead to the French Riviera, more affordable and easier to get to than you might imagine. You’ll have better vacation photos, as well!