Nice is one of the most expensive cities in France. It is also one of the cheapest towns along the Côte d'Azur. Context, as they say, is everything. Restaurants, shopping and hotel prices are all surprisingly reasonable for an area notorious for glitz and glamour. There are some real deals in Nice. And you know how much we love deals.
Expect to Spend: Nice
Hotel Rates
Our hotel listings average out to €70 to €85 a night, depending on amenity level, location, and season. By doing your homework, you can score a budget-friendly double room for under €50. Check out our listings, and avoid staying in Nice the week of the Cannes Film Festival (late May), during the annual Jazz Fest (July), during the Grand Prix Monaco (May) and over the 10-day Carnival celebration (coincides with Mardi Gras in mid-to-late February), when rates explode.
A Quick Note About High and Low Season
Nice is a resort town, so at certain points during the year, it's downright quiet. Some hotels and hostels even shut their doors during the low season of tourist travel here. But, the properties that remain open offer drastically reduced rates. Consider traveling to Nice in low season (January through March and November and December, excluding holidays and Carnival). The high season is considered April through October.
Restaurant Prices
Cafés and food-stands along the beach are expensive. Pricey gourmet establishments line rue Massena, and these offer nothing cheaper than mediocre pizzas for €15. Cheapos are better off heading for avenue Jean Medecin. Brasseries and panini vendors make up some of the gems hidden among the tourist traps.
Picking up fresh produce, cured olives and other local delicacies at one of the open-air markets is a great way to explore local cuisine. The market at Cours Saleya is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. until 5:30 p.m and Sunday from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. It features a delightful flower selection. On Mondays, the market offers antiques from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The produce market on Marché de la Lib&eactue;ration is open from on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday and on Sunday from 6 a.m. until 12:30 p.m Both markets are located in Old Nice.
About the author: Tom Meyers is the Editor in Chief of EuroCheapo.com.
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