Promenade vs Old Town
The Promenade des Anglais is where the Negresco, Anantara Plaza and Hyatt Regency line up facing the sea — wide balconies, sea views, an easy walk to the airport bus and the tram. The Old Town (Vieux Nice), a five-minute walk inland, trades sea view for atmosphere: narrow ochre streets, the Cours Saleya flower and produce market, socca stalls, and boutique hotels like La Pérouse tucked into the cliff above it. Most travelers pick Promenade for the view and Old Town for the immersion — either puts you within 15 minutes' walk of the other.
Why Nice over Monaco or Cannes as a base
Nice is roughly half the price of Monaco or Cannes for an equivalent room, has the only major Riviera airport on its doorstep, and sits at the geographic centre of the coast — Monaco 30 minutes east, Cannes 45 minutes west, Èze 20 minutes, by car or the cheap coastal train. It's the base that lets you day-trip the whole Riviera without repacking.
“Nice is the Riviera's only real city — and its centrality makes it the smartest single base for a first visit.”
Getting around from Nice
The coastal train (TER) runs Menton–Monaco–Nice–Antibes–Cannes for a few euros each way — the cheapest and often fastest way to day-trip. A rental car helps for Èze and the Caps, where public transport thins out. Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) airport is 20 minutes from the centre by tram or taxi.
