A Very Nice Weekend Getaway!

A perfect weekend giveaway, just an hour from Barcelona. Immerse yourself into the beauty of the French coast side. Indulge in croissants, walk through farmer’s markets filled with fresh produce and say “Bonjour” to Nice.

I took a one-night trip to Nice, France during my month in Barcelona. A quick 1-hour flight on Vueling Airlines at 6 a.m. from Barcelona Airport got me to the Nice Côte d'Azur airport by 8. Even the airport is stunning with not a speck of dirt or dust lining the shiny airport.

Seeing a gorgeous sunrise from the plane was a great start to the trip.

A Sunday morning in Nice is quietly eerie. Sundays are an important day for rest in Europe, but especially in France. The most popular shopping street, Avenue Jean-Médecin, was silent. We checked into Hostel Villa Saint Exupery Beach, a very social hostel for young people interested in a great in-hostel happy hour bar and wanting a fun time.

The streets were empty, but our hostel was lively when all of Nice wasn't.

Some people love Nice and the hostel so much they stayed there, like bartender Cam Scott. She travels around Europe frequently from her home country of Scotland but liked her visit to Nice so she came to work there for a few months.

“I like working at this place [the hostel] because I meet people from all around the world, and Nice is a great place because it gives me everything I’d ever need from a big city without feeling like a big city. I might not ever leave!” she said.

From my trip, the town does give the perfect happy medium between a big city and a small town.

Breakfast was enjoyed at Pain & Cie. A very common French breakfast of smoked salmon, soft-boiled eggs, and a basket of crusty French bread accompanied my espresso.

Fresh baked goods were showcased in the window.

After eating, we walked through a Farmer’s Market with tons of tents. The market is located just a block from the ocean, so on a sunny day the salty breezes accompany your market browsing, There were a lot of shops for produce. Fresh vegetables and fruits are appreciated much more in Europe than in America. There were stands filled with blooming flowers. You can smell these stands from meters away, as the aroma of freshly cut flowers is something you can’t miss. There are some bakers too who set up stands. French baked goods are a different form of art that is a must for a trip to Nice.

The market had a wide variety of colorful offerings.

The food and flower market is located at Cours Saleya and is open every day except Monday. There’s an antique market that replaces it every Monday, where you can find an assortment of antique furniture, vintage clothing, and many hidden treasures.

At this point in the afternoon, a coastal rain shower came down. Nice is beautiful even during the rain though. It brings a nice rhythmic sound and earthy smell to walking around. All I needed was an umbrella and hat to protect me from getting wet, and I loved the vibe the rain brought, especially walking through the oldest parts of Nice in Vieille Ville.

Even though it was raining, the buildings brought a lot of color and charm to the landscape of Nice.

We escaped the drizzle for a bit into Mamma Mia for Aperol spritzes, which are the perfect summer drink no matter if it’s raining or shining. This was a perfect location to people watch, as the large patio with many tables was a perfect place to relax and let the weather clear up.

An Aperol spritz and mojito were enjoyed on the patio at Mamma Mia.

By 2 pm, the sun started to shine and Avenue Jean-Médecin was packed with pedestrians. What was once a ghost town in the morning became a hotspot for shoppers. Big-name stores like Zara, H&M, Pull&Bear, and more lined the avenue. It feels a bit touristy, but this is a great street to shop.

Zara on Avenue Jean-Médecin had a very French feel to it with the balcony's classy design.

In Place Masséna, street performers will entertain you. I spent some time watching an Elvis impersonator sing and dance to classic hits. You can stop into Monop’, grab a sandwich and find a spot on a bench to watch performers. There are also many dine-in restaurants lining the black and white tiled square.

Nice lights up at night and becomes even more beautiful than during the day. Our walk to dinner gave many lovely sights. Seeing the lit-up streets lined with people dining was a very pleasant sight.

The night sky made our walk to dinner very picturesque.

“The French coastal towns are exceedingly underrated,” said Catherine Wismar, a Texas A&M senior studying abroad in Cannes. “Cannes is a 45-minute train ride from Nice, but both towns remind me of each other. Nice is better for shopping and is more lively since there are more restaurants, bars, and overall things to do. People just think to visit Paris on a trip to France, but Nice is so worth the trip.”

Catherine and other students in her program had the opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival, as seen in this image taken from the event.

We had a very traditional French dinner at Le Rina’s. A bottle of white wine came first to celebrate our trip. Next, we indulged in escargot. This hors d'oeuvre is a very common French dish. It is snails cooked in a delicious pesto and butter sauce. Next came another popular dish from French cuisine: moules frites, or mussels with fries. The mussels were cooked to perfection in a buttery sauce. The French fries were warm and crispy. The restaurant specializes in pizza as well, so we enjoyed a prosciutto and burrata pizza. This pizza might not fit the French cuisine category, but it was delicious!

This dinner is one I will never forget, filled with delicious food, fun, and friends!

That evening, we enjoyed a walk along the Promenade des Anglais. This street extends for 7knm along the Mediterranean Sea and is home to many beautiful hotels, casinos, landmarks, and restaurants. Try to stop inside the famous Hotel Negresco or get a drink at their classy, ambient lobby bar.

The Hotel West-End and Hotel Negresco are two of many beautiful hotels on this Avenue.

On the same promenade, we stopped into Movida for tasty drinks and to overlook the ocean on their second-floor balcony. A nightcap was had and dancing was done at Waynes, where a mix of French locals and tourists all came together for a great Sunday evening with live music and a lot of fun.

The next morning, we stepped inside a cafe for croissants and coffee before hopping on a hop-on-hop-off tour bus. The open-air double-decker brought the most stunning views of the French beachside. You can see the ocean from almost the entire tour, and mega-yachts and cruise ships coast by on the French Riviera. The tour has 16 stops around the city and one ticket lets you get on and off whenever you please. This is a great way to see an entire city. The audio tour also gives a lot of information on what you’re seeing as well.

The tour takes you to Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small mountainous town on the French Riviera. Local vendors come to sell goods like jewelry and art every day. There are many restaurants right on the water. I highly recommend Lou Bantry. I tried their Pastrouille salad, unknowing of any of the ingredients inside. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the salad was topped with different appetizer-type foods. This is a great choice for someone wanting to try lots of different types of food on one salad.

This day brought many beautiful sights and delicious eats.

After walking around the town for a bit longer, we hopped back on the bus and headed back to the airport. A short 36-hour trip gave me a great taste for Nice. I highly recommend doing a weekend trip to this beautiful destination. There's so much more I would have done if I had the time. The Marc Chagall Museum, Masséna Museum, and Monastère Notre-Dame will all be on my to-do list if I ever find myself in Nice again. You won’t regret seeing the picturesque Mediterranean beaches and mountains, so if you get the chance to go to this lovely part of France, take it!