A view of an urban landscape with modern buildings, a park with trees, and a hill in the background under a cloudy sky. An orange building facade with green shutters, three flags, and a dark entrance door.
France

Nice: Mediterranean Contrasts

The former Senate building of Nice.
 Nice, France, October 2022

Today, Nice greets me at its best—vibrant, sun-drenched, full of life. What captivates me instantly is the light: a warm, almost golden glow that makes the facades of the old town shine.

A modest queue has formed in front of a small bakery—everyone is waiting for Socca, a crispy chickpea pancake fresh from the wood-fired oven. I join the line but eventually lose patience and move on.

Down at the harbor, boats sway gently on the water. Luxury yachts with gleaming railings sit side by side with small, brightly painted fishing boats. The contrast is striking: champagne glasses clink on the decks of the grand ships, while on the dock a fisherman quietly mends his net.

For the best view of the city, I climb to the rooftop of MAMAC, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. From up here, Nice unfolds before me—the old town glowing in warm colors, the endless blue of the Mediterranean, the green hills in the distance. This city knows how to present itself.

Map of Nice
A coastal view featuring a long promenade, sandy beach, and buildings. The sea glistens in various shades of blue under a cloudy sky.
A narrow alley with colorful buildings leads to an impressive historic church featuring a blue and yellow facade.
The Church of Gesù, or Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur, stands tightly framed by the narrow streets of Old Nice. Built in the 17th century, its Baroque façade, with blue and gold detailing, adds a dramatic contrast to the surrounding pastel buildings. A hidden architectural gem in the heart of Vieux Nice.
Narrow alleyway between tall yellow buildings with windows and hanging laundry. A person stands in the center of the street.
An orange building facade with green shutters, three flags, and a dark entrance door.
The former Senate building of Nice, its worn façade hinting at centuries of political history. Once a seat of local governance, today it stands as a reminder of the city’s past, with the European, French, and Niçois flags still marking its significance.
Colorful umbrellas hang decoratively from the ceiling, creating a vibrant, artistic atmosphere.
Colorful umbrellas hang over a narrow alley lined with cafes and shops, displaying cheerful colors and plants.
Colorful umbrellas hang above the entrance of an Indian restaurant, surrounded by red tables and flowers.
A narrow yellow tower stands between colorful, multi-story buildings. The sky is clear and blue, with windows visible.
A strikingly narrow building in Nice’s Old Town. Sandwiched between traditional pastel facades, this tall, slim structure is a reminder of how every inch of space is used in the tightly packed streets of Vieux Nice.
A man walks alone down a narrow alley, surrounded by colorful buildings and shops.
A small bakery with a yellow facade and red entrance, outdoor tables, with guests waiting in line.
A staple of Nice’s Old Town, Chez Thérésa has been serving up socca for generations. This no-frills spot is famous for its crispy chickpea pancake, a local specialty baked in a wood-fired oven. Customers line up early to get a slice of tradition, served simply on a piece of paper.
Fontaine du Soleil in Nice: Fountain with a central statue, surrounded by water sprays and colorful buildings in the background.
Place Masséna, the heart of Nice. The Fontaine du Soleil dominates the square, with a towering Apollo surrounded by bronze mythological figures.
A bright building facade with green balcony railings, plants, and a table on the terrace under a cloudy sky.
View of a winding promenade with palm trees and historic buildings lining the coast under a cloudy sky.
A row of houses with balconies, window shutters, and a decorative metal fence, surrounded by a paved walkway and greenery.
Gray pebble beaches with a few people relaxing, while city architecture and palm trees are visible in the background.
The iconic shoreline of Nice: the pebbled beach of the Baie des Anges stretches along the Promenade des Anglais, with the city’s hillside apartments stacked behind it.
Waterfront in Nice: A red tram travels along the harbor, surrounded by colorful buildings and yachts.
Nice’s L2 tram glides past Port Lympia, where luxury yachts line the docks against a backdrop of colorful Mediterranean buildings. Opened in 2019, this modern tramway connects the city center with the port, blending contemporary transit with historic charm.
Boats in the Nice harbor: Colorful small boats rest peacefully in the water, surrounded by larger yachts and vibrant buildings in the background.
A large yacht is anchored in the water, while a small boat with two people passes nearby, surrounded by residential buildings.
A tale of two boats in Port Lympia. A small wooden fishing vessel shares the water with "Elements", a 262-foot superyacht available for charter at a staggering $827,000 per week.
A neoclassical building with columns and a statue on the roof, surrounded by pedestrians and palm trees.
The Church of Notre-Dame du Port stands with neoclassical grandeur in Nice’s bustling harbor district. Built in the mid-19th century, its four massive columns and triangular pediment resemble an ancient temple.
Bright church hall with tall columns, wooden pews in rows, and intricate ceiling design. The altar is clearly visible at the end of the aisle.
Inside Notre-Dame du Port, neoclassical symmetry defines the space. Tall Corinthian columns line the nave, supporting a coffered ceiling that adds depth and grandeur. A quiet retreat in the heart of Nice.
A colorful, architecturally ornate building featuring onion domes and golden topped spires. The sky is overcast.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Nice, a striking reminder of the city’s historic ties to Russia. Completed in 1912, its onion domes, intricate brickwork, and gilded details make it one of the most impressive Orthodox churches outside Russia. A piece of imperial history on the French Riviera.
A colorful building with an impressive facade topped by three copper domes.
A colorful historic building with towers, golden domes, and intricate details, surrounded by lush greenery.
MAMAC in Nice: Modern architecture of the museum for modern and contemporary art with an orange bus in the foreground.
MAMAC, Nice’s museum of modern and contemporary art, is a bold mix of glass, concrete, and steel. Opened in 1990, it showcases avant-garde works from Yves Klein to Niki de Saint Phalle.
A man stands in a modern gallery in front of a large red sculpture on a pedestal, with colorful artworks on the right.
A black statue stands on a wooden palette against a yellow wall, surrounded by various framed artworks.
A narrow street with cyclists and pedestrians, lined with buildings with red roofs, leads to a yellow historic building.
Rue Cassini stretches toward the grand façade of the Palais des Congrès. Flanked by pastel-colored buildings with green shutters and terracotta roofs, this street links the historic Old Town to the city’s modern districts.
View through a window with shades overlooking red rooftops and hills in the background.
View from a window with blinds, showing a cityscape and hills in the background.
A view of an urban landscape with modern buildings, a park with trees, and a hill in the background under a cloudy sky.
Nice from the rooftop of the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC). Below, the Promenade du Paillon carves a green path through the city, leading to the Acropolis Convention Center. Classic Mediterranean facades frame the scene, with the hills beyond marking the city’s natural boundary.