A visit to Nice is a serene experience, especially in the springtime. The city, usually bustling with tourists, is a tranquil haven during this season. My husband Jon and I, frequent travelers to the Cote D’Azur, have recently discovered a gem – the Sheraton Nice Airport Hotel.
This conveniently located hotel, just across the street from the airport, offers a peaceful retreat. It’s a short walk from the Nice Saint-Augustine train station (trains to Monte Carlo and Cannes) and the Grand Arenas tram stop, making it an ideal base for exploring the city and its beaches.
We spent two days at this hotel. On our first day, we took a tram to Nice city center, which is 12 stops from the Sheraton Hotel. The major stop that everyone aims for is Massena, in the center of Nice. From there, we walked to the Old Town, which is one of the highlights of this city. It has narrow streets, numerous markets, churches, quaint restaurants, boutiques, and bars, some of which have water views of the Mediterranean.
After the Old Town, we walked to the Old Port of Nice, also named Port Lympia. Of all the times we were in this city we had never visited the port. It is also a very scenic area and definitely worth visiting. It is a popular port-of-call for major cruise ships on the Mediterranean Sea. It also has yachts, sailboats, and ferry boats. The ferries go to Corsica, Sardinia, and St. Tropez. There is a tram stop named Port Lympia and we took it back to Grand Arenas which was the stop closest to our hotel.
On our final day in Nice, after a 10-year absence, we returned to Eze. It is located approximately five miles to the northeast of Nice and about three miles west of Monaco. We took a train from the Nice St. Augustin station to the Eze-Sur-Mer station; the travel time was about 23 minutes. The Eze-Sur-Mer station is located on the Mediterranean Sea; however, to get to the Village of Eze, it is necessary to either drive to the hilltop or hike up. There is also bus line 83 that travels to the top and takes about 15 minutes. It is a very scenic route, and it’s incredible how the bus endures many hairpin turns. Our bus round-trip was packed, and we had to stand and hold on for our lives.
Eze is a medieval village, about 1,400 feet above sea level, and it has magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea. No cars are allowed within the area, and there is something to see at every turn through narrow cobblestone walkways. Several boutiques, art galleries, and jewelry stores are along the winding walkways. Also, there is the Jardin Botanique D’Eze, best known for its collection of cacti and succulents, as well as its panoramic views. A wonderful way to admire the beautiful views is to go to the Chateau Eza and have a drink on the outdoor terrace.
After taking the train and bus combination to Eze-Sur-Mer, we learned that there is a nonstop bus from Nice to Eze Village (at the top of the mountain), and it was the best way to go. The Nice Bus Station, known as the Gare Vauban, has the number 82 or 112 buses that go directly to Eze and operate frequently, with travel time being about 30 minutes.
