A three-day low cost trip to the French Riviera: discovering Nice, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Menton. Ready to be conquered by the home of perfumes?
My sister and I decide to leave for a on the road by car. We design on the spot 3 days on the French Riviera discovering the home of perfumes: Nice, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Menton.
Low cost accommodation on the French Riviera
Fortunately, despite the last minute search, we manage to book a accommodation for € 22 per person per night, which from the photos and descriptions seemed very nice, but arriving at the place was nothing short of wonderful. The property was part of the Residence Villa Serafina located in the St Roch area of Nice, very convenient for the metro. A divinely furnished studio apartment, very clean and with a small balcony where you can have breakfast that took you back to a French film of the past.
What to do in the evening in Nice
The first evening in Nice, to settle in and understand how to orient ourselves, we head towards the area frequented by young people: Cours Saleya, a street parallel to the Promenade des Englais, where the famous resides during the day Flower market. Here you will find a series of places where you can drink colorful cocktails and listen to very pleasant music.
1. A day in Nice
The next morning we head towards the historic center of Nice, where there are many shops full of colorful spices, rotisseries with rotisseries and fish specialties.
I highly recommend visiting the Basilica de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption: really beautiful, with free access and the cost of the audio guide of only 1 €.
Then a visit to the Flower market. An unmissable show, exhilarating scents and bright colors, a succession of florists' banquets.
Unfortunately, in the afternoon the rain surprised us: we managed to go the Promenade des Englaise and then we took refuge in the very famous Fragonard perfumery. Here, recommended by a very competent salesman, we have found, at a very advantageous price, an eau de toilette suitable for each of us.
Before returning to the apartment, with a little difficulty in terms of road signs, we identify the imposing one Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas. A unique building, in perfect condition. The exterior of the building with its changing colors is nothing short of spectacular. The interior can be visited and, luckily for us, obviously remaining secluded, we were able to participate in a celebratory rite.
Low cost dining in Nice
For dinner we went to Le Clocher restaurant in the Old Town area. We ate a really affordable tourist menu in Nice: the Socca and the Pissaladiere, a single dish and a dessert each for € 13, generous and very tasty portions.
2. Saint-Paul-de-Vence: medieval town
Packed up we leave Nice to discover Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a pedestrian and medieval town perched on the mountain north of Nice, with a breathtaking view.
Within the walls it is possible to carry out guided tours of churches and art galleries, alternating with very particular craft shops, typical French confectionery shops and historic oil mills.
Typical of the visit of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the ancient cemetery of the fortress, the only burial place, where it is possible to view very particular tombs not only of the city, but also of important historical figures dating back to the mid-800th century.
3. A visit to Menton
The last stop of our trip is Menton: a very lively seaside town, full of shops where it is possible to consume lemon-based drinks for a few euros, a typical crop of the area.
Menton is very close to the Italian border and from a landscape point of view it is very similar to the Genoese coast, in fact it develops on very narrow and quite steep streets. At the top there is a very old bell tower from which you can admire the depth of the crystalline sea.
We could not return to Italy without tasting the typical egg and tuna baguette, relaxed on the beach. For this we recommend one of the bakeries on Promenade du Soleil.
