Guide to Nice, France

The capital of the Riviera and the fifth largest city in France, Nice deserves its shiny reputation. The sun and the sea and the laid - back, affable Nicious cover a multitude of sins. The medieval maze of the old town, the Italianate facades of modern Nice and the rich, exuberant, fin-de-siecle residences that made the city one of Europe's most fashionable winter retreats. It has also preserved the atmosphere of the ancient past, when the Romans ruled the region from there, and earlier still, when the Greeks founded the city. In recent history, Russian and English aristocrats first built their mansions in Nice. Today, it is the rentiers and retired people of various nationalities, whose dividends and pensions give the city its startlingly high ratio per capita income to economic activity.
The easiest way to tour Nice is to take the Train Touristique de Nice which departs from the Jardin Albert - 1er. The forty - minute transit past many of Nice's sites is a pure experience. With departures every 30 to 60 minutes, the train operates daily from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm in April, May and September, and until 7pm in June - August). There is no service between mid-November and mid-December and during most of January. This only ?6 per person ride will reload you with positive emotions. There is higher density of museums in Nice, compared to many French cities. In case you decide to ignore the beach and spend your time in visiting some of the most respected museums in the south of France, you can buy from the local tourist office a Carte Passe - Musee, costing only ?15 for 3 days or ?25 for 7 days. It allows you admission into the largest seven museums. You should know that there are no reductions for students or children. This pass is sold at any of the largest museums.
Apart from the beauty of the town itself and the picturesque surroundings, Nice provides exciting night life, quality places to stay in, many sites and hearty people. In addition, its bus and train connections make it by far the best starting point for visiting the rest of the Riviera.
Any tourist should be informed about the unexpected surprises and shortcomings (if it can be called so) of the city. It is one of the most dubious destinations of the Riviera. Be aware about your valuables - the town is a pickpocket's paradise. Very often the traffic is rather busy, miniature poodles seem to be mandatory and everywhere, phones are always vandalized and the lovers of the sea sand will be deeply disappointed, because the beach is cobbled. And yet Nice still manages to be a delightful destination.