Awake to the sun filtering through the shutters, open them to the fresh smell of baguettes and the sounds of the cafés readying the day.
The sun shines all day on our long balcony overlooking pedestrianised Rue Massena at the heart of Nice's best restaurants and chic shops. The stroll to the famous Ruhl Plage beach and club is only 250 metres.
This smart, 35 square metre apartment, high up on the 3rd floor has a serene Master 200cm double bed room that sleeps two and a 180cm living room sofa-bed for another two family/friends. There is a lift after an initial short flight of 12 steps.
There are two air-conditioners / heating units. Sony TV with DVD films. Mini HiFi with dock for iPod. Free WiFi is available in several cafés nearby. Kitchen is well equipped. As one of our guests said 'All that you need and nothing that you don't'.
Access from 4pm with easy and helpful key collection and a warm welcome from English-speaking Vincent.
A very special place to relax and enjoy the Riviera. You can see that the calendar books up quickly...if you see a week or two that you want, don't delay, don't miss the chance of a special experience in the chicest part of Nice!
Nice things to do - Around 28 Rue Massena:
· Bakery under Hotel Felix – fresh baguettes at 7, 9 & 11 am and then at 2, 4 & 6pm
· Newspapers – from the kiosk in Place Grimaldi, pretend you’re a citizen with a Nice Matin!
· Food, Drink & Supplies – out front door, 100m on right for all the basics in the shops in Rue Maccarini
· Fine Shopping – out front door, 300m on left Galleries Lafayette, Ave Jean Medecin as well as Rue Massena
· Restaurants & Cafes – they can all be brilliant so just be bold!
· Wifi – free WiFi is available nearby. Hagen Daz cafe toward Place Massena has free hot spot without code.
· Beach – public beaches or super luxurious private beach loungers (~€20/day at Ruhl Plage)
· Radio – Riviera Radio 106.5FM laid back expat music station based in Monaco
· Rooftop cocktails – Hotel Aston (overlooking the new Paillon redevelopment and the old town) and Le Meridien (near) or Radisson (far) Hotels have really superior sunset views
· Market – Cours Saleya for flowers & general foods (except Mondays when it’s a flea-market!)
· Galleries – lots of bright art studios in the dark streets of the old town. New Musee Massena (by Negresco Hotel) is a gem.
Nice things to do - Old Town & City:
· Eat local specialty socca (chickpea pancake) washed down with rosé, in the old town near to Place Garibaldi
· Ice cream – Fenochhio’s in Cathedral square has more flavours than you’d believe!
· Port – gorgeous super yachts and simple fishing boats beside loads of restaurants
· Nice Chateau – on the hill between the old town and the port, a steep walk
· Trams – €1 or can be used on extension of €1 bus ticket (e.g. from Villefranche via Riquier walk past Carrefour and then take the tram back to Place Massena)
· Museums – free on the first Sunday of the month – we highly recommend: Musee des Beaux Arts (Duffy), Musee Massena (local history) and a stiff walk up to the Musee Matisse (always free) and Chagal (great garden restaurant). Plenty of others!
· Roman ruins – the Roman Spa besides the Musee Matisse in Cimiez is free and fascinating
· Churches – all fabulous, the Russian Cathedral has a small entrance charge
· Open top bus tour - €20 but valid for many trips around the sites over 48 hours
Nice things to do - Further afield:
· Haut de Cagnes – bus 94 west to Bourdet then free shuttle to Place de Chateau & lunch at Le Jimmy
· St Paul de Vence – bus 400 to this iconic, beautiful hilltop village.
· Vence - Matisse’s chapel is magnificent, short walk from the centre
· Antibes – bus 200 for a great old town, markets & huge marina or just carry on to Cannes
· Mougins near Cannes – another outstanding hilltop village, super glamorous with restaurants to match (600 bus from Cannes station)
· Grasse – bus 500, haven’t done this yet but there is promising countryside all the way
· Isle de Marguerite off Cannes - a fast ferry service from Nice port (or carry on to Cannes & St Tropez)
· St Tropez – by boat but also via great train / slow bus through St Raphael or by helicopter if you’ve won the Lotto!
· Villefranche – a spectacular 5m / 8km walk around the Cap de Nice, dine and return by bus from the port to Riquier (see map) then use the same ticket to jump on a tram back to Place Massena
· Bealieu & Cap Ferrat – 100 bus to Beaulieu, walk the beachside path to St Jean on Cap Ferrat, then carry on around St Hospice for the most beautiful walk in France (we think!). Get the 81 bus back to Nice from St Jean Cap Ferrat.
· Eze – get bus map from the box on top of our fridge!
