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Out of hours
Out of hours
When the work is done, our 'Out of Hours' section helps you to relax and unwind. Discover more about the cities hosting cancer conferences; not just where to stay and how to get around, but informed pointers on where to eat, where to drink and what to see. You can also find special offers on wine, books and accommodation.
Nice
Nice plays host to the European Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Congress (EMCCC) 2010 in March. The city on the French Riviera, famous for its waterfront, has something to offer everyone.
Getting there
By plane
Nice Airport is one of the busiest in France and has frequent daily flights to Paris, and direct to most major cities in Europe. The airport is located at the western end of Nice.
The best and most reliable way to get from the Airport to central Nice or the Nice Ville train station is the airport express buses. Take the 98 to the Nice bus station (Gare Routiere) or take the 99 to the Nice main railway station (Gare Nice Ville SNCF). Routes 98 and 99 cost just €4 and are accessible from both T1 and T2. They run every 30 minutes.
By train
Nice is connected to the rest of France via the SNCF train network. A direct TGV train from Paris to Nice takes about 6 hours, fare for an adult is about €100. The train arrives in Nice at the central station, "Gare Nice Ville". Trenitalia trains connect Nice to Italian cities like Milan, Genoa, Rome and Venice.
By car
The A8 autoroute is the easiest way to access Nice either from the west (Cannes, Aix-en-Provence) or from Italy. From the east take exit 50 and follow the signs for the Promenade des Anglais which takes you into Nice and is a lovely drive along the coast. Coming from the west take exit 55 and follow the signs for 'Nice centre'.
Things to see and do
The Colline du Chateau overlooking the Baie des Anges and harbour offers a spectacular vantage point overlooking the city. Not much is left of its ruined castle besides crumbling walls. Climbing up the stairs to reach the platforms 90 metres above Nice is well worth the view. There is also a lift which will take you three quarters of the way up.
Museums
Nice is also known for several museums, entry to most of which is free. Some of the most famous are in Cimiez, the older, upper part of the city:
Museum of Asian Art - Indian, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and world art in great architecture on a lake free entrance.
Parc Phoenix – Shows 2500 different plants in botanical garden and tropical glass house.
Musee et Site Archeologiques de Cimiez - The ruins of the Gallo-Roman settlement in Cimiez, plus a museum.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - Four connected towers feature modern and contemporary artists and their sculptures, paintings, and conceptual installations. Its open-air roof terraces offer one of the best panoramas of the city.
The old town (Vieux Nice) beneath the hill is a maze of streets and alleys, with many picturesque houses, boutiques and home to the daily flower and fruit market of the Cours Saleya.
Beaches
The beaches of Nice consist entirely of large flat stones. A few private beaches have added a
layer of sand, but the free public beaches are a stony experience. Showers are provided on all public beaches and there is a beach volleyball area that is netted off with white sand.
Other beaches exist in other towns close by, such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Antibes and Cannes, which are sandier.
Views
For views of Nice the best vantage point is the heights of Mont Boron. From the derelict old Fort and the nearby villa of Sir Elton John there are fine views over the city to the mountains and east over Villefranche and Cap Ferat.
Also close by is the magnificent Villa ile de France, of the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, straddling the magnificent peninsula of St Jean Cap Ferrat in the so-called Golden Triangle of Villefranche, Beaulieu and Cap Ferrat.
Eating
"Socca", a chickpea flat bread, is a local specialty, as is a tuna fish sandwich called "Pan Bagnat." Other specialties include Soupe de Poisson (Fish Soup, made with chili aioli, croutons, and grated cheese), Salade Nicoise (made with tuna), and Tourtes aux Blettes (sweet tarts made with Savoy cabbage, raisins, nuts, and powdered sugar). Check out the daily market in the Vieux Nice for fresh, local produce.
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