Thank you for visiting my blog. I’m RiRi, a Japanese blogger who runs a blog centered around travel and lifestyle, capturing photos and videos along the way.
I share my experiences, impressions, and recommendations to help those who are traveling to France for the first time.
Late April in Cannes: Temperature 12°C/10°C, Rain
Cannes had been enjoying a streak of clear skies, but it started to rain around the time I was checking out of the hotel. On this day, I’ll be traveling by train from Cannes to Nice. I’m glad I brought an umbrella.
In this post, I’ll be sharing information about the train journey to Nice, as well as details about Nice and its hotels.
・Cote d’Azur/ Nice
・About Nice
Nice, the central city of the Côte d’Azur in southern France, is about a 30-minute journey from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the Gare de Nice-Ville station via the French National Railway (SNCF). It is recommended as a base for traveling in the Côte d’Azur.
Like Cannes, which was featured in the previous article, Nice is a beautiful city located along the Mediterranean coast. The average annual temperature in Nice is around 15°C. The best season to visit is from mid-April to October, when you can enjoy the warm Mediterranean climate, blue sea, and beautiful beaches.
You can also travel from Paris by plane or train. Please refer to the following article for information on transportation options.
Additionally, the city has a well-developed bus and tram system, making it easy to explore the area efficiently.
・By TER from Cannes to Nice
This is Cannes Station (Gare de Cannes).
It was raining, but I walked from the hotel with my suitcase in one hand and an umbrella in the other.
There were ticket machines, but I couldn’t figure out how to use them, so I ended up buying my ticket at the ticket counter.
The machines support English, but not Japanese.
There are two types of ticket machines, but I couldn’t tell if they were new or old models. Instead of spending time figuring it out, it might be better to buy tickets directly.
I took the TGV from Paris, but from Cannes to Nice, I’ll be traveling on the TER operated by the French National Railway (SNCF).
The fare is €8.40, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
When I was struggling with my luggage on the stairs, a man helped me carry it to the platform. He wasn’t even a station staff member, just a kind stranger! I was very grateful.
The train arrived quite late. It wasn’t the car in the upper right of the photo, but depending on the model, there can be a significant step and the entrance can be quite narrow when boarding. Lifting a heavy suitcase can be very difficult, so please be careful.
The interior was quintessentially European! The red curtains and the retro atmosphere made it feel like I was in a movie.
The train stops at Antibes along the way, where there is also a Picasso Museum. It might be nice to stop by and visit.
It’s a station in Nice. There are two stations close to the Côte d’Azur Airport: Nice Saint-Augustin and Nice-Ville. Be careful not to get off at the wrong station along the way.
・Arrived at Nice station.
I have arrived at Nice station, but unfortunately, it’s raining. As the rain gets heavier, I will use BOLT to get to the hotel.
BOLT is also available on the Côte d’Azur, so make sure to have the app installed beforehand. BOLT has been very helpful during this trip to France.
・Strolling through the streets of Nice
Since there is some time before hotel check-in, I decided to leave my luggage at the hotel and explore the city despite the rain.
The main attractions in Nice include:
- Promenade des Anglais
- The Old Town (Vieux Nice)
- Matisse Museum
- Chagall Museum
Compared to Cannes, the city of Nice feels more spacious. Due to the rain, I will walk around the area near the hotel.
Walking around from the back of the hotel, I found trams running through the area. Even in the rain, there’s a certain charm to it, but I had been looking forward to the clear skies of the Côte d’Azur.
The trams in Nice are powered by electricity and consist of three lines, providing access to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.
Nice is close to Italy, so there are plenty of Italian restaurants throughout the city. I decided to have lunch at an Italian cafe.
Cheers to my solo trip in Nice with focaccia and white wine!
The waiter was a friendly and handsome Italian guy with a great physique!
Italian cuisine is familiar to me personally, so even if the menu was in French, terms like “pizza” and “panini” were easy to understand.
Nice is represented by the 5-star luxury hotel, Le Negresco. The hotel’s website showcases its opulence, especially in its rooms, each uniquely designed, making it a desirable place to stay.
Similar to Cannes, along the coastline, you’ll find a row of high-end hotels like Hyatt and Marriott.
・HOTEL ASTON LA SCALA ★★★★ Convenient location for city walking
HOTEL ASTON LA SCALA 12 Av. Félix Faure, 06000 Nice, France
It’s the hotel where I stayed.
The hotel I stayed at in Nice, HOTEL ASTON LA SCALA, is a 4-star hotel located in a prime area near Place Masséna, the city center of Nice, and about a 5-minute walk from the beach.
I only stayed in Nice for a day, but I chose this hotel because I wanted to relax in a slightly larger room with a bathtub in France.
When I stayed there in late April, the pool wasn’t open yet, and the rooftop lounge bar and pool were available from mid-May.
I had reserved a deluxe room with a terrace, but the room was as spacious as a penthouse, so I wondered if I had been upgraded.
The view from the sixth-floor room was fantastic, and I had a comfortable stay thanks to the large terrace surrounding the room, which offered a great view of the city of Nice.
When I checked in, it was still raining a bit, but the next day, the weather cleared up completely, and I was greeted with a beautifully sunny view!
In front of the hotel is Promenade du Paillon, a park with fountains that periodically spray water from the ground. The water reflects beautifully off the ground, creating a stunning effect. At night, the fountains are illuminated, making the scene particularly enchanting.
It was a luxurious space for a solo stay. The windows were double-glazed and could be opened and closed electronically.
There are even more luxurious hotels along the beach, but this hotel’s location is also excellent. Keep it in mind as a reference when staying in Nice.
In the evening, I ate an éclair that I had bought during the day. €3.50 each—quite a price.
The France series is coming to an end, but next time, stay tuned for “The Miraculous View After the Rain.”
