Off to Paris on Wednesday for 6 days and then getting the TGV to Nice for another week 🙂

Any tips, suggestions of things to do?

Lots of things to do in Paris I expect but wondering if we should branch out when in Nice and visit Monaco, Cannes etc?

If anybody’s been recently would love to hear any suggestions…

We found walking place to place in Paris was great, you see so much more and find some nice streets as you move between attractions.

There is loads to see, can’t miss the Eifel Tower.

I would love to go back there.

Nice is stunning, you can easily spend a few days walking around the city. The old town has a nice charm to it in the evening. We found a few good places to eat there, not sure there are many bad places to be honest,
some over priced but then its a tourist destination so you sort of expect that. We werent being cheap but had big lunches and it was really hot so didnt eat that much. The restaurants on the Promenade Anglais are a bit pricey but the beach side terraces are quite nice for a posh night out!. We had breakfast out most mornings just soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the nice relaxed start to the day, 5-7 euros will get you a few pastries and a coffee from pretty much anywhere. Everyone seems to buy an ice cream or waffles and wander round on warm summer evenings.

The Promendade des Anglais is miles long and just hugs the coastline so you can walk for ages back towards the airport and the view doesnt change! When we were there they were rebuilding the Promenade du Pallion but I think its finished now and should look nice.

Arm yourself with a map and the walk over to Villefranche is worthwhile too, another beautiful little town. Get the train/bus back!

Get the train to Monaco too and just wander round, its a fascinating place and well worth the trip. There are a few pavement cafes overlooking Plage Neptune which are surprisingly cheap btw. Then just walk around the grand prix track and make car noises when you see some red and white kerbing. Wander round the harbour too and pick a yacht. There isnt that much in Monte Carlo at all, its basically the casino and the bank but a day in Monaco is an experience. Wealth like you just wouldnt believe. I like cars a lot but I got bored when I saw the seventh Lamborari in the first ten minutes of being there

A day in Antibes or Cannes is nice too, lovely scenic train journeys hugging the coast and some nice bits in each.

The old town in Nice is lovely. Loads of excellent cafes, bars and restaurants. You must go to Fennochio’s ice cream shop too – it takes up an entire side of a square and has every flavor known to man, plus several hundred other ones!

Monaco is an easy day trip on the train from Nice and worth a trip, if only to see how the rich and famous live (and have an expensive coffee in Casino Square whilst watching the supercars go round and round.

Perfect, thanks guys- it looks like we might be partying it up a bit in Paris and then relaxing in Nice which all sounds good.

In Paris, see if you can make time for http://www.leclosbourguignon.com/

A true Parisian great, not haute cuisine, just good food in a very authentic French family setting.

sit on the steps of montmartre at dusk.. definately bucket list stuff

Nice – take the little train that goes up into the Alps. Leaves from Gare de Provence.

Paris – walk by Canal St Martin from Villette to Bastille.

Get a 3 sim. We are in Madrid and being able to navigate with our phones ,look stuff up and not worry about the cost has been a godsend.

If you’re going to do museums & galleries in Paris, check out which day they’re all free (used to be one day a month I think last time we were there). Don’t go that day unless you’re prepared to queue. Musee d’Orsay is spectacular (building as well as exhibits). Do one of the boat trips as well. They’re good fun. Climb the steps to Montmartre. Just stroll around. Coffees and beers are quite pricey if you sit outside and have table service in touristy squares and the likes. Metro is easy to negotiate if you need to go a bit of a distance.

Paris, have a wander around Montmatre. It gets slated for being touristy, but it’s a lovely looking area

Musee d’Orsay is really nice, I prefer it to the Louvre, which is huge

I’ve only spent a few days in Nice, but make sure you have a look at the new fountains on the Promenade du Paillon. Beautiful part of the city

as above, Nice is errr..nice but also use the train to get to Monaco.

Also a massive open air market in Ventimiglia (sp?) which is in Italy but only a couple of stops further on the same train and you can cross an extra country off on your ‘done’ list.

(P.S. make sure you go on market day).

Nice – as above.

I’d avoid Monaco and head to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Visit the Villa Rothschild. If you hire a car, you can then drive up to one of the Corniches (Grande Corniche has to die* for views.

I’d also head the other way. I used to dislike Cannes, but after a holiday there last year my opinion changed. Great fun, even if you aren’t a Russian playboy. Beyond that Theoule sur Mer is one of my favourite places – lovely small beach and nice places to eat. Antibes is nice too.

Obviously there’s Grasse up in the hills (once you’ve been through British ex-pat heaven/hell (depending on your POV) in Valbonne. And beautiful hill villages like Cabris.

Can you tell I love it down there?

*Ask Grace Kelly.