Nice City Guide: Identity and Facts
City overview
A practical overview of Nice: city profile, local atmosphere, and what makes it such a strong travel destination on the French Riviera.
An attractive tourist destination
Nice, France's fifth largest city, enjoys an exceptional microclimate that makes it a pleasant place to visit all year round. Its 7.5 km of beaches with turquoise waters, the beauty of its landscapes between the sea and the mountains, and its unique culture make it the most popular tourist destination in France after Paris, with 4 million visitors a year.
Whether you visit in summer for the beach, in spring or autumn for sightseeing and hiking, or in winter for its mild climate and skiing, there is always something new to discover. Its exceptional location on the French Riviera, on the border with Italy and close to Corsica, Monaco, the Mercantour National Park, Provence and the Var, offers an inexhaustible wealth of activities and excursions.
A crossroads of cultures
In addition to these attractions, the city boasts a rich cultural heritage, combining French, Italian and Corsican influences, but above all those of Nice, which is reflected in particular in the existence of a distinctive local cuisine and language.
A deep attachment to local culture
Don't be surprised if people talk about "crossing the border" when leaving the county of Nice, or if they talk about France as if it were another country. This is often meant in a friendly way, and even if some people believe it wholeheartedly, it is only to show the love that the people of Nice have for their land.
A Latin temperament
When travelling on the French Riviera, remember that while you are on holiday, the people of Nice are living and working in their everyday environment. So, a tourist who causes a traffic jam by driving at 30 km/h because they want to admire the scenery without paying attention to the road is likely to irritate the locals, as are visitors who throw paper, cigarettes or other rubbish on the ground or in the water. The simplest recommendation is to remember that you are only passing through.
Finally, it is good to know that people from the south have a fairly direct and demonstrative way of expressing themselves, without this being a form of aggression. And if this shocks you, go to Italy to see what true Latin behaviour is like!
Location and size
- Area: 7,300 ha
- Approximately 347,100 inhabitants
- Located 30 km from the Italian border
Climate
- 2,700 hours of sunshine per year compared to 1,800 for Paris
- 300 days of sunshine per year, high temperatures in summer and mild temperatures in winter
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