It’s not a regional thing - we moved to France several months ago knowing that the thing people say about the french is summarily untrue. I’ve always found them to be some of the kindest, most genuine & hospitable folks as a culture that I’ve ever experienced. As Expats we have no shortage of tales from local folks helping us out when they had no reason to except that they were being kind and gracious. It’s France
Oh man thank you a lot as a frenchman! I'm tired of this "french are rude/do not speak english/ despise non french" cliché. I personally love when people try to speak broken french and would be more than happy to help someone find their way! (never seen a tourist going to my hometown tho sadly)
Have you noticed the light in February ? Winter is incredible in Nice. That's why painters like Matisse for example, came here to paint and stayed fore a lifetime.
I'm an American who has lived in this region for 15 years and still lives here. (1) Nice is way more friendly than other nearby cities. I live in Antibes, and the service is not as pleasant and accommodating. Antibes has a strong British community due to the boating industry, and I think the French in this area get annoyed with them. Antibes' atmosphere is slightly more sophisticated than Nice's, so the mentality differs. (2) Cannes and Antibes, as well as a 'subsidy' of Antibes (Juan-Les-Pins), do you have some sandy beaches. Not all of them are natural, but they are sandy. (3) If you don't have food allergies, limitations, etc., you can eat for way less than $100 daily, especially if you're on a budget. There are plenty of sandwiches, boulangeries, markets, etc., to get fresh food. (4) As far as Eze is concerned - you went at a good time if you went in February. Beginning in May, Eze is complicated to navigate due to over-tourism. It is a spectacular village, but if you go during peak season, you won't experience the real essence of the village. (5) Regarding Sundays! Since you arrived in February, many stores, restaurants, etc., will be closed for the season and will reopen around Easter. In the summer, Nice is entirely different; I'm always amazed at how different it is compared to the winter months. Even clothes stores are open until late, so it's an entirely different vibe in the summer. Many locals make their money during peak seasons and then close for months in winter. One benefit to coming during the off-season is there are WAY fewer people, so it's easier to navigate, and you actually see the cities at their best. (6) Regarding clothes, the French dress nicely, but many tourists overdress because they think it's "the French Riviera." Locals actually don't think of it the same way tourists do. The French do not leave the house without looking presentable, but it's more of a basic classy look; they don't overdo it, either. It's changed quite a bit since I moved here 15 years ago. Younger people are dressing more casually than they used to. Ok. That was longer than expected, but I wanted to provide insight since I lived in the U.S., too. Thank you for a wonderful video. I love hearing how other Americans view the area; you eloquently explained it. Bravo!
Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this! Definitely helpful to hear and great source of info. Any plans to go back to the US or do you plan to stay in France for the long run? Thanks again and hope to see you in the comment section in the future :)
@@camdendavid Thank you for the reply. Yes, my French husband and I plan to return to the U.S. in 8-10 years, or when both of his parents are deceased. Hopefully, the U.S. will be a bit more settled than it is today! ;-) Continue your wonderful videos. You have nice recaps.
You are a student of life! Thank you for your honest and pleasant demeanor and observations. We are planning a first-time trip to the area in September '25 and are starting to do research. So, your comments are very helpful and appreciated.
This is your first video I've watched -- perhaps because I needed a break from news and current events in the U.S. In any event I really like your tone and pace; engaging, but modest and generous. I felt like I would enjoy talking with you.
Don’t go in the water during the summer. It’s filled with jellyfish! Several members of my tour group and myself were stung badly. I developed an allergic reaction to the sting and my arm swelled up. It almost ruined my trip. Otherwise, I loved Nice and agree with Camden.
As someone who lives in Nice, France, watching this video has shown me how many things I take for granted. Whenever I’m told that I need to go outside and do something, I’m like: ugh, we always walk on the Promenade. Ugh, we always go to la coulee verte. Anyways, this video is very accurate and I’m glad that people are enjoying my hometown!
As a local, I can confirm that the fact places are closed when it says open is a constant issue. Also, finding quality labor is really difficult. Start a business as a plumber and you will be booked instantly. With the pebble beach, a huge plus is being able to casually walk on it, fully dressed and have a drink or meal. It's not messy. Plus the water is very clear. As far as trips, the coast is great but there is also an entire world to be discovered. About 90 minutes away and it looks like Switzerland. Many spots are accessible by bus, some by train. If you are staying more than a few days, check out towns like Valberg or Auron, even in summer. In winter of course, we take day trips to world class ski resorts. Why people are nice here? Mostly because we are used to tourists. In general, locals will be friendly.
We spend the month of March in Nice, and everything you have said is true. Plus, we found some things out that we hadn’t noticed. Here is something you didn’t notice or maybe just didn’t mention. Eyeglasses. Glasses are really a fashion statement in France and especially Nice. There are literally dozens of places to buy the most stylish glasses we have ever seen. We are always telling people how wonderful Nice is. We’ll now link and recommend your video/site.
Camden you figured out what makes nice magical: it’s the sound of the rocks being pulled and tossed. I lived there for two years as a preteen with my mom, and have wanted to move back ever since. Regarding Eze, there are hundreds of little mountain villages within a 1 Hour Dr. from Nice. Each and everyone is unique in a own way. As is more touristy and commercial, but there are many others that I’ve just as wonderful. You should come back and explore again.
Villages like Biot (sea view, roman amphitheater), Valbonne (big old town, inland but lots of buses), and Mougins (Fontmerle:biggest nenuphar pond of Europe), Gourdon (amazing views, waterfalls, canyoning)
I lived in Nice, then Menton between 1995 and 2001. The French Riviera is absolutely stunning. Now I live closer to my aging parents, near Aix-en-Provence. It ain't the French Riviera, but Provence is truly beautiful! You're welcome to drop by anytime!
Just found your channel and really appreciate observations. You seem to approach a location from your senses rather than the typical "tourist tips" from other channels. Those tips have their place but it's really nice to hear how a place feels.
I was in Nice recently and visited Eze, Monaco and Menton and the people that are lucky enough to live there are very fortunate. The entire Mediterranean is beautiful and traveling from the south of France all the way to Viareggeio Italy is amazing. The Italian Riviera is no less beautiful.
Hi ! I'm a local so I wanted to add some more context and observations to your video (which is pretty good by the way) So first the more unpleasant part, I wanted to comment on the fact that you seem to have a pretty rosy view of Nice as a city to live in. Yes, for the most part, Nice can be a pretty good city to live in, but the tourists usually stick to the parts of town that are the richest, and so can get a pretty skewed view of how it really is. My grandma lives in a place that's pretty rough for example. Just a thought. Second, about the gyms. That's a relatively recent thing actually. If you go back like 5 years ago, there weren't that much of them. Don't really know what triggered the hype for them but Nice has always been a place with a lot of older rich people and estheticians are always in high demand here, so maybe as the population is beginning to get younger (but still pretty rich) on average this translates to that ? Your guess is as good as mine. Finally and the most important thing in my opinion, one thing is crucially missing from your trip. The mountains ! We are right at the foot of the Alps, and Nice's back country is in my opinion the best part of the region, not the coast. We are one hour from the Mercantour natural parc and if you have a car it's something not to miss. There are trails in the summer, ski resorts in the winter, gorgeous valleys and lakes, cro magnon paintings, and even a wolf reserve ! Of course as I said it's way better to have a car if you want to explore as public transport is less available for these areas. Anyway, thanks for promoting my city !
Thanks so much for leaving a thoughtful and detailed comment! Great insights here and I enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to exploring more of the mountains during my next visit. Thanks again :)
When I visited Nice for the first time, I spent just three days there. The second time I spent four weeks. And the the third time I am going to spend two months there. My biggest dream is to buy an apartment in Nice.
I visited southern California and south of France within the last few months - south of France beats SoCal in almost every category that I found relevant, it's not even a competition. The only thing that the French Riviera lacks and SoCal has is amusement/water parks.
I never understand the whole "French are rude" thing. They're proud of their culture and country. If you're respectful, they'll be nice to you and if you're disrepectful, they're going to respond in kind. Funny how American tourists call drawing boundaries "rude." Maybe they're too used to being catered to and pampered like they're at Disney World or something. I remember being in Nice a couple years ago and walking around the markets. A cruise ship full of tourists docked and they all just spilled into the market area like rats. Stomping around, talking loud, yapping at all the vendors in English without even trying to be polite to them. To me, THAT is being rude. The lack of self awareness in people is crazy.
If I may give some advice to tourists : You should always first ask if it is ok to speak to someone in English when being in a non-English speaking country, even if you are sure that they do. It makes a big difference. I am always a little pissed when someone turns up at my working place and starts speaking English right away. At least give me a few seconds to switch from one language to the other. When I am a tourist abroad I am doing it myself,( "Excuse me, may I ask you something in English ?") because I do not want to annoy people.
We live in Nice and find it a combination of Miami in some parts by SOBE, NYC with its density and even Los Angeles with the mountains and beautiful homes around them . Yes, its true the locals are very friendly. We lived in Bordeaux for about 8 months prior and loved that city too BUT tired of the grey , cold rain that happened this last winter. BDX locals were less open to meeting new people. Here in Nice they always smile easily.
We visited Nice (from the US) for the first time last September. The area made such an impression that I’m writing this from our house in Mougins…we moved here 2 months ago.
HI! I'm Belgian and live in NYC. My brother and parents live in Nice. So I go visit them every year for 3 weeks to a month for the Christmas break. I've done this for 10+ years now. None of your observations surprised me. Except one. You mentioned seeing so many gyms. That made me laugh. I must not be very observant but I don't think I ever stumbled on one. I am sure I must have but I never noticed. I will pay more attention next time around!
Belgian here as well, living in Germany. My number of visits over the last 30 years must be at least 30. I love walking around and I have in a lot of different areas. I honestly wouldn't know of a gym from the top of my head. Love the city though. 5 minutes after leaving the airport I am already feeling fantastic. In recent years I have my bike with me and am pleasantly surprised that a lot of bike lanes have been created.
Love Nice! I’ve been there twice for longer stays to explore the Riviera. You are correct that using public transportation is very easy within Nice (streetcars and buses). The main train station is a little crowded and confusing - just leave plenty of time to get tickets and find the right track. There is a lot of culture in Nice - great art museums (Chagall, Matisse). The food is excellent and quite different than other areas of France - lighter, a lot of Italian influence, lots of fruits and vegetables. We were there in mid September - still beach weather. The beach clubs can be a fun but pricey day. It’s great to rent a chair and umbrella, bring some food and drinks - or enjoy seaside restaurant service.
We just came back from there and I had 2 uncomfortable instances with restaurant people. But it was crowded due to Tour de France and therefore excusable, Im sure it is stressful. And I think Americans are more difficult to deal with than the French. Europeans in general have "Old World " manners. When we checked into every hotel we went in (5 total in Italy and France), there was a gift waiting in the room that you would never see in America such as a bottle of wine, or a plate of cookies or pastry! At one hotel, the checkin process took place sitting at a large table and sipping Prosecco or coffee. We as Americans should look at how WE behave and did we somehow deserve the response we got from them.
As for the closed restaurants and stores if you were there in February that isn’t surprising. I’m sure Nice is seasonal. I live in a beach town in the Florida panhandle and we have the same issues. Late times in summer. Early times in the shoulder season and closed days during the winter.
The algorithm brought me here..... we've had an apartment in central Nice for about seven years, but only part time (the rest of the time, we're in the US). I think if you are in the winter, you may see shorter hours, fewer events (other than Carnival and Noel) and clearly tourists than in the summer months. However, the small supermarket near us is open until 10 pm on Sundays (you kind of have to know the ones that are open later, the larger ones are open until 7 or 8 pm). Even the beaches are different, in the spring Nice brings new pebbles (yes, intentionally adding new rocks) to groom the beaches while Cannes and others may bring in sand. (Beaches tend to be sandy from west of Antibes). The interesting comment about the gyms never struck me until now, but there are quite a number of small and mid-size gyms in the center.
Hello from South France, David, 🌴🌞 Tourism has truly become a major problem in France, whether in Paris or in the big cities. But, the worst is for these small villages that have become impassable during the high season. Of course, it brings money to the state coffers and to the merchants. But it completely distorts the spirit of these small towns and villages, which were already magnificent before tourists from all over the world came to invade them. Thus, it has only gotten worse over the last twenty years with the proliferation of vlogs that have hundreds of thousands, even millions, of views. I thoroughly understand that people, wherever they come from, want to see these superb places that they have discovered thanks to these videos. I'm in total osmosis with their enthusiasm. It's natural. However, I feel sorry for the locals who live there year-round and can no longer peacefully walk their streets, sit on their packed terraces or spend a quiet afternoon in their garden without a parade of tourists passing by all day long. That some of them take pictures of their house and sometimes even try to enter it (I've seen this several times in vlogs) to take a picture of a fountain or film the whole place. I lived for forty years in Paris, where I was born, seven years in Orléans, and now 10 years in Perpignan, all very touristy places. Over the years, this effect has radically increased. However, in big cities, it's a little more bearable (although currently, it has really become a problem, especially in Paris). Unfortunately, there will come a close time when we'll have to limit the number of people who can access these places if we want to protect them. Peace, folks. ☮👈😎
I appreciate you taking the time to share this perspective. I see and hear this more and more. I hope we can find a better balance in the future. Much love :)
Good morning. I am French and I wanted to add a little note regarding stores closed on Sundays. it is a question of religion, because Sunday is the Lord's day and when the French must go to church. It sometimes happens that some businesses are open on Sunday morning, until 12 p.m. thank you for this video, the French love America and Americans.
This was a very confirming / validating video for me and I'm returning to France and going to Nice after not having been there for about 30 years. As one who is allergic to smoke, I'm wondering if there has been a big improvement in the number of people or restaurants that allow public smoking? Given your remarks about the plentiful number of gyms, I would imagine that there's more health awareness now than 30 years ago and hopefully less smoking? Very well done thank you so much 😊
I didn't notice a ton of smoking (compared to other European cities). Definitely a good chance that it's been improved with the health awareness! I hope you have a wonderful visit! Thanks for the support :)
For a number of years, smoking has been prohibited inside restaurants in France. However, it is still permitted in the outdoor seating areas. Even in the cooler months when the outdoor seating may be enclosed to keep out the weather, smoking is still permitted! Just want to let you know so you are aware if you have allergies to smoke.
@@JL-st5sbI also heard that when you rent beach chairs people next to you on the beach are allowed to smoke and you can't do anything about it. Here in New York, the beaches in Long Island do not permit smoking..you rarely see smoking at all.
Smoking is pretty much banned almost everywhere here in Montreal (plus it's really expensive), so it was quite unexpected to see smoking everywhere, including the restaurant patios in Nice this past September.
Thank you for your honesty on Nice. My wife and I will be there in about a month. Lucky you having the opportunity to travel to a different country every month. I have been to Paris twice and loved it, so I’m curious what the differences will be. I love the French and make every effort to speak some of the language even though I probably butcher it too. I know they appreciate the effort and always were there to help/correct. It’s all about respect.
Great video Camden. As a long term resident of France, I gotta say quite a bit of your comments (gyms everywhere, can't hop around restaurants, everyone is in shape, Sundays) seem very American. Remember that European cities like Nice are extremely densely populated. So you may see 10 gyms but in that 10-block radius you have tens of thousands of people. The gyms are probably small too. As for hopping around restaurants, again... same thing. Yes, you might see a lot but the you have an immense amount of people in a very small radius. So the demand will be higher, especially in a super touristy place like Nice. I agree with you on the random closing of restaurants but most are small businesses that don't have a PR agency to update their Google or Instagram pages. A small annoyance. Finally Nice isn't Montecarlo which is the image you seem to describe. It's a city, not a beach resort. All in good spirit, you did a great job and I wish you more happy travels :-) ps eat every last French baked good because no matter what border you cross, you will immediately regret not eating more LOL
hey, cool video, i live in Nice for 15 years and never realized that the clicking of the rocks at the beach has a valuable sound effect .. tanx for bringing this data i never processed ! you forgot though one very very big pro for rocky beach : you dont get to fight wtih sand everywhere in your belongings :-) ... you got it right also with the amount of time one should spend in the area (not in the summer, too crowded humide and hot) , locals in general retreat in the mountains (Auron, Isola 2000, St Martin Vesubie etc..) Nice people, just like monaco (original people) are people of the mountains, not from the sea .. so nearby mountains are the real deal. try to visit them one day ! best
There are places nearby with sand. Villefranche-sur-Mer is sand/very fine pebble and Juan-les-Pins has sand. It's nice though, to splash out on a private beach with a sunbed.
It’s not just Nice as we experienced the same in Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Aix-en-Provence. I think businesses are not as concerned about making money as we are in the US. Also, we love Nice and have decided to retire in France. We love the French culture and how they care more about the quality of life over profit.
As a local, we're kind of used to this, to the fact that the opening hours on google maps are not always reliable... but there's also a telephone number, this is old tech maybe, but more reliable :)
I'm a Nice citizen. Born and raised So I can give some insight. 1) service is rude only in Paris. The rest of France is more than fine 2) only tourists go to the beach in Nice. We go to Beaulieu/Ville franche or Cagnes sur mer where is not sand but close. 3 )transportation is fine. Parking is expensive 4) yeah only big supermarket are open on Sunday all day, some only on morning. It's because of French laws on employment. 5) BREAD IS LIFE 🤣 6) I didn't realize we had a lot of gyms 🤣🤣 7) children have everything in Nice : great education, the Carnaval, sea, nature, playgrounds, culture... 8) in summer, it's difficult for us locals to walk in the old city because of the tourists just being in the middle or walking slow 😅 it does drive me nuts but I'm the first to help tourists in need 9) February is the busiest winter month of tourists because of the Carnaval. 3rd Carnaval in the world with Rio and Venise 10) Nice is a way if life 😊 11) we have the 1st airport out of Paris. With direct transportation (tramway) to the city center Glad you enjoyed your stay with us!
Back from a trip to Nice & i really loved it but... @5) only whitebread... no real bread (ryebread, sourdough bread, etc.) @7) I'm from Vienna & we have on every second corner a park &/or a playground ... Nice has far to less for 300000+ citiziens & tourists!!!
I’m currently visiting Villefranche-sur-mer (about 3 miles /10 min) from Nice. I have not once experienced any unpleasantries from anyone here (or in Nice). Each individual I’ve met has been very kind and friendly. It seems good manners are important to the French - that much is evident. Camden is not joking about hair salons. I lost count how many of them I came across (I’ve visited Nice three times this week) while strolling the streets. My only real complaint is the cigarette smoking. It does not matter that you are sitting right next to them while eating a meal. You will be smoking (secondhand) and inhaling their cigarette smoke without a say. And it’s quite gross. They don’t have nonsmoking rules as we do in America, specifically, in California where I reside. My allergies flared up by day 3. Setting aside the cig smoke issue, the French Riviera is magical and unforgettable. For any SF Bay Area folks, the climate is very similar to a hot summer day (or those Indian summers we get in Oct). So if you’re wondering whether or not you should visit Southern France - do it! You will not regret it.
Living right near Nice on a semi-permanent basis so not a local of many years duration but not really a tourist either. First off your ability to present your observations and opinions in a manner that is polite, respectful, all while saying - "Hey this is what I saw you might see something completely different" is very much off the charts. I'd go so far as to say you have a real gift for that - hits just the right note for a video like this. I think the one thing I would take issue with is the grocery stores closing either all day on a Sunday or early on a Sunday. Sure, if you just arrive on that day you can be caught up short, but aside from that you just plan around it and there is no problem whatsoever. So I'd phrase that as a "thing to be aware of" rather than a "negative" or a "con". In general French culture is different than the US - people say in the US we live to work and in France one works to live. That formulation might be a little too facile but it is roughly the idea - you really get the vibe that people don't want to work 60 hours a week and it's really a bit hard to find fault with that. Oh and the schools - based on what I've seen in France and what I've seen on French news (which I watch a LOT) - naw the schools aren't that nice looking. You probably just saw a few upscale ones. And based on the news there are quite a few issues now in French schools. I once had an apartment in Paris overlooking a primary school (really overlooking it's playground and the school itself) and it really was nothing special. I have a strong suspicion that the "average" school in the US would beat (in appearance) the "average" school in France. As far as kids go - what I've noticed in all of France are how devoted French parents are to their kids. I love, love, love the idea of one (it's usually one) parent walking their kid(s) to the local school. And I think they come and get them at the end of the day too. But that's just one thing. My sense is that kids are really in many ways the focal point of so many families - maybe that's why they go around smiling all the time! Tend to agree about how people focus on appearance, dress etc. Probably a lot more than the US. Your point about not walking to go somewhere but just walking to walk - that's 100% true - so much so there's even a word in the French language to describe that - flâner. Finally yeah the healthier vibe here - this has really hit home for me - between the amount of walking (where I live there are a lot of hills) and the focus on fresh quote-unquote "Mediterranean" foods - that is my most unexpected upside surprise. For these sorts of things to take effect you need to be immersed in the lifestyle for a while (i.e. not as a tourist) but I think that it's a very real thing. Walk five miles a day, don't eat all the processed crap that we seem to fall back on in the US and you *will* notice a difference. Again, sincere complements on your style and your approach - you really strike just the right note on what really could be a sensitive topic but you handle it with just the right tone.
Wow - what a thoughtful and thorough comment! Tough to express just how much I appreciate you taking the time to outline all this and sharing your perspective. Totally fair critiques and really enjoyed reading through all this. It's comments like this that make these videos so meaningful to make. Couldn't agree more on your final note about the lifestyle around walking and cutting out the processed food. Hope to see you in the comment section in future videos. Much love :)
We do have sandy beaches along the coast like cannes, jusn kes pins, golde juan et ak. Personally I dont like Nice beach but the colour of the sea is incredible comparable to the Caribbean A really excellent n accurate review. 13 yrs here on the riviera.
As a local I would like to add on some things... 1st - You mentioned a lot the beaches, but Nice is based on a region called "Maritim Alps", which makes it for an very good skii spot. In fact you could have taken a Public bus to Isola, Valgerg or Auron un thé morning and back in the end of the day for 12€ both ways. (Just to add that the public transportation system is very good). And those stations are located in the Mercantour National Park, which has beautiful lakes, mountains, hikes, animals, etc. I'm kinda sad that people focus a lot in the beach part of Nice, and forget the amazing mountains. 2nd - True, the airport is a nice experience, but it is not at all a small airport. In fact it is the 3rd of France, just after the two of Paris. That makes the city connected to the whole Europe, and even America, Asia and Africa. 3rd - Although Nice is a city that in fact receives plenty of Tourists during Summer, it is not at all overwhelming comparing to other places. I lived in Malta before and there is mass tourism, with so many excursions, buses, etc. Same in Palma which I visited a few weeks ago. Nice is far from it. The tourist profile here is a bit different.
@@camdendavid yes I did! I had been in the area, but not Nice, mANY times before for work! Nice and area is a great place to have as a base to live and explore Europe!
First of all, the French never talk about "French riviera" ;) It’s a name only strangers use. The French always talk about "la Côte d'Azur" (the Azur Coast), which includes the french mediterranean coast, from the city of Marseille to the italian border. The "French riviera" refers to a small part of this coast, at the extreme east (the most rich), which goes from the cities of Saint-Tropez to Menton, including Antibes, Nice, cannes, Monaco. It’s probably the most expensive area in France, after Paris. Especially in summer. There are many tourists, French and foreign, who come here in the summer for holidays. But, it’s like everywhere. There are very touristic things, almost "scams", very exênsive, and there are other things much more affordable. Only you have to know, and as tourists come only a few days, they do not have time to discover. Often the best restaurants are in small streets poorly indicated, not on the big squares where everyone goes ;) Yes it is true, sunday is really a "dead day" in France. Almost everything is closed. Tourists must to know. It's a legacy. Historically, sunday is the "day of God", where the French went to church in the morning, then met for a large family meal during four hours lol, and rest all the afternoon. So there is no work. Just home or family. And... you know... "trade and maximal profit law" have failed to break this old tradition ;) So on sunday, everything is closed, but also a little on monday. Many people who work on saturday want two days weekend... so they do not work on monday. And yes, the beaches in this area of Nice are rocky. They are not natural beaches. If you want beautiful sandy beaches, then you have to make an hour drive to the west, in the area next door, towards the city of Toulon. It is often a joke between the French living in the department of Var (Toulon), and those living in the department of Maritime Alps (Nice): "your rocky beaches sucks"... ;) Except the overseas territories, we often say that the most beautiful French beaches are in the Var department, around the city of Toulon. The climate is what makes this region so attractive. This unique Mediterranean climate, found in very few places in the world. Northern Mediterranean, a small part of Australian southern coast, and the Californian coast. That’s all. Hence the smiliarity between the French Riviera and California that many people notice. Nice City has this advantage of being one of those places in the world where mountains flows into the sea. So you're on pretty French mediterranean coast, but in thirty minutes you leave the city to the north, and you are in the mountains, on the French Alps, with the first ski resorts and all mountain activities (skiing, cycling, treck, hiking, canoyning...). So if you like sport, or just beautiful nature, it's a perfect spot. It's completely different in winter. In summer the population is multiplied by ten on all the "Azur Coast" ;)
Thanks so much for taking the time to share all this! I really enjoy learning from comments like this and think the extra effort goes a long way in helping educate this community. It's truly appreciated and I hope to see you in the comment section in future videos. Much love :)
But he's not speaking French, he's speaking English, and English speakers have been calling this area the French Riviera for 200 years - longer than the term Côte d'Azur has existed in French - so it's not 'wrong'. It was the British, especially, who helped Nice become a famous holiday resort. They called it that because the Italian coast to the east is called the Italian Riviera, or in Italian, Riviera ligure.
Local here, Nice is is only part of France since 150'ish years and you know this is short by european standards so this is why you didn't see a cold culture there as it's more Italian. The surge in number of gyms is rather recent, there were not that many ten years ago so this is probably due to a population shift. The same can't be said for the amount of hairdressers. The glass is just because clients loves windows as the natural light and the outside scenery in here is often enjoyable, the less artificial lights the better if the region could afford it. You made me laugh with the rolling pebbles remark as I knew Nice was not the only beach to have some of those but I never knew the sound was that much unique. Traveling there on one of the worst month of the year is still a shame but at least you've perpetrated an extinct English/Russian tradition of settling there during winter. Locals don't leave in the summer as the rest of the planet is a downgrade from here, they would rather travel during winter or fall.
I just returned from two weeks in southern France- Nice, Toulon, Hyeres and Le Seyne sur mer. I agree it can be more affordable utilizing free activities. I’m not sure if we made it to less touristy eating establishments in Nice, but even so, felt restaurants just are not as expensive. Of course we didn’t go to Michelin star venues! I must not have been paying attention to the gyms, but was aware of hair salons being a big thing. Being from south Louisiana, I am thinking the better quality food and walking a lot more would increase my physical fitness for sure (hope to retire around there). The $100 per day you mention could possibly include a monthly rate in Air BnB or no?
There were some days where $100 covered lodging + everything else. And you're correct -- we had a monthly rate on the Airbnb. You can definitely spend A TON if you wanted though haha. Hoping you had a great visit and that you get the opportunity to retire there! Much love :)
We found it to be pretty easy (we went through Airbnb). I imagine it was easier for us because it wasn't peak tourism season. But I definitely think you could find something. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions :)
Good question (and sorry for not clarifying in the video). Yes, I meant apart from lodging. Although there were some days where $100 covered lodging + everything else. It could be done for under $100 if you're picking up food at the markets and not paying for a train ticket to visit a nearby town
That's not true. It is just as bad in the north, especially in Post Offices where they can be "exceptionally closed" with no explanation of why or when they will be open again.
So many gyms in Nice and yet not one gym between nice and monaco which is highly frustrating, typical French impracticality anyway what does one expect 🙄
![Nice, France. Best Neighborhoods? Pros & Cons to [Carré d’Or]. Retire to French Riviera!🇫🇷](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vRbgTBB9JzU/mqdefault.jpg)
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It’s not a regional thing - we moved to France several months ago knowing that the thing people say about the french is summarily untrue. I’ve always found them to be some of the kindest, most genuine & hospitable folks as a culture that I’ve ever experienced. As Expats we have no shortage of tales from local folks helping us out when they had no reason to except that they were being kind and gracious. It’s France
Oh man thank you a lot as a frenchman! I'm tired of this "french are rude/do not speak english/ despise non french" cliché. I personally love when people try to speak broken french and would be more than happy to help someone find their way! (never seen a tourist going to my hometown tho sadly)
How did you locate a long term rental or did you purchase property?
@@axo_lolt4083- where is this no tourist place?
@@jodiehebert8285 Drôme :)
@@axo_lolt4083 - I will look it up! Thanks! 😊
Have you noticed the light in February ? Winter is incredible in Nice. That's why painters like Matisse for example, came here to paint and stayed fore a lifetime.
Never even thought about that! Thanks for pointing that out :)
I'm an American who has lived in this region for 15 years and still lives here. (1) Nice is way more friendly than other nearby cities. I live in Antibes, and the service is not as pleasant and accommodating. Antibes has a strong British community due to the boating industry, and I think the French in this area get annoyed with them. Antibes' atmosphere is slightly more sophisticated than Nice's, so the mentality differs. (2) Cannes and Antibes, as well as a 'subsidy' of Antibes (Juan-Les-Pins), do you have some sandy beaches. Not all of them are natural, but they are sandy. (3) If you don't have food allergies, limitations, etc., you can eat for way less than $100 daily, especially if you're on a budget. There are plenty of sandwiches, boulangeries, markets, etc., to get fresh food. (4) As far as Eze is concerned - you went at a good time if you went in February. Beginning in May, Eze is complicated to navigate due to over-tourism. It is a spectacular village, but if you go during peak season, you won't experience the real essence of the village. (5) Regarding Sundays! Since you arrived in February, many stores, restaurants, etc., will be closed for the season and will reopen around Easter. In the summer, Nice is entirely different; I'm always amazed at how different it is compared to the winter months. Even clothes stores are open until late, so it's an entirely different vibe in the summer. Many locals make their money during peak seasons and then close for months in winter. One benefit to coming during the off-season is there are WAY fewer people, so it's easier to navigate, and you actually see the cities at their best. (6) Regarding clothes, the French dress nicely, but many tourists overdress because they think it's "the French Riviera." Locals actually don't think of it the same way tourists do. The French do not leave the house without looking presentable, but it's more of a basic classy look; they don't overdo it, either. It's changed quite a bit since I moved here 15 years ago. Younger people are dressing more casually than they used to. Ok. That was longer than expected, but I wanted to provide insight since I lived in the U.S., too. Thank you for a wonderful video. I love hearing how other Americans view the area; you eloquently explained it. Bravo!
Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this! Definitely helpful to hear and great source of info. Any plans to go back to the US or do you plan to stay in France for the long run? Thanks again and hope to see you in the comment section in the future :)
@@camdendavid Thank you for the reply. Yes, my French husband and I plan to return to the U.S. in 8-10 years, or when both of his parents are deceased. Hopefully, the U.S. will be a bit more settled than it is today! ;-) Continue your wonderful videos. You have nice recaps.
Any problems with homelessness, immigration and insecurity?
You are a student of life! Thank you for your honest and pleasant demeanor and observations. We are planning a first-time trip to the area in September '25 and are starting to do research. So, your comments are very helpful and appreciated.
I appreciate the kind words and hope you have a great time! Let me know if any questions pop up before your trip :)
This is your first video I've watched -- perhaps because I needed a break from news and current events in the U.S. In any event I really like your tone and pace; engaging, but modest and generous. I felt like I would enjoy talking with you.
I appreciate the kind words and support. Welcome to our little community :)
Don’t go in the water during the summer. It’s filled with jellyfish! Several members of my tour group and myself were stung badly. I developed an allergic reaction to the sting and my arm swelled up. It almost ruined my trip. Otherwise, I loved Nice and agree with Camden.
As someone who lives in Nice, France, watching this video has shown me how many things I take for granted. Whenever I’m told that I need to go outside and do something, I’m like: ugh, we always walk on the Promenade. Ugh, we always go to la coulee verte. Anyways, this video is very accurate and I’m glad that people are enjoying my hometown!
As a local, I can confirm that the fact places are closed when it says open is a constant issue. Also, finding quality labor is really difficult. Start a business as a plumber and you will be booked instantly.
With the pebble beach, a huge plus is being able to casually walk on it, fully dressed and have a drink or meal. It's not messy. Plus the water is very clear.
As far as trips, the coast is great but there is also an entire world to be discovered. About 90 minutes away and it looks like Switzerland. Many spots are accessible by bus, some by train. If you are staying more than a few days, check out towns like Valberg or Auron, even in summer. In winter of course, we take day trips to world class ski resorts.
Why people are nice here? Mostly because we are used to tourists. In general, locals will be friendly.
Thanks for this!
Thanks for the information. It's Very Helpful!
We spend the month of March in Nice, and everything you have said is true. Plus, we found some things out that we hadn’t noticed. Here is something you didn’t notice or maybe just didn’t mention. Eyeglasses. Glasses are really a fashion statement in France and especially Nice. There are literally dozens of places to buy the most stylish glasses we have ever seen. We are always telling people how wonderful Nice is. We’ll now link and recommend your video/site.
Much appreciated! And yes, that's a great point haha. Hope you had a great time
Camden you figured out what makes nice magical: it’s the sound of the rocks being pulled and tossed. I lived there for two years as a preteen with my mom, and have wanted to move back ever since.
Regarding Eze, there are hundreds of little mountain villages within a 1 Hour Dr. from Nice. Each and everyone is unique in a own way. As is more touristy and commercial, but there are many others that I’ve just as wonderful. You should come back and explore again.
I'll certainly be back! Do you have a favorite little mountain village that you'd recommend?
@@camdendavid I'm going there in a month and staying for a month, I sure would like to know too.
Villages like Biot (sea view, roman amphitheater), Valbonne (big old town, inland but lots of buses), and Mougins (Fontmerle:biggest nenuphar pond of Europe), Gourdon (amazing views, waterfalls, canyoning)
@@isabelle3365 Thank you. Going there soon.
I lived in Nice, then Menton between 1995 and 2001. The French Riviera is absolutely stunning. Now I live closer to my aging parents, near Aix-en-Provence. It ain't the French Riviera, but Provence is truly beautiful! You're welcome to drop by anytime!
Looking forward to doing that in the near future!
@@camdendavid Ditto, mon ami ! 😉
Just found your channel and really appreciate observations. You seem to approach a location from your senses rather than the typical "tourist tips" from other channels. Those tips have their place but it's really nice to hear how a place feels.
I appreciate the kind words. Welcome to the community :)
I lived in Cannes then Mougins for 12 years. Was the best time of my life. 🇫🇷
Even in Paris sometimes a shop is closed but the owner is just having a coffee with the shop owner on the other side of the road.
I was in Nice recently and visited Eze, Monaco and Menton and the people that are lucky enough to live there are very fortunate. The entire Mediterranean is beautiful and traveling from the south of France all the way to Viareggeio Italy is amazing. The Italian Riviera is no less beautiful.
Hope you had a great time!
Thanks, Camden. I really appreciate your thoughts on Nice. I'm planning a trip there next year. 🤓
Hi !
I'm a local so I wanted to add some more context and observations to your video (which is pretty good by the way)
So first the more unpleasant part, I wanted to comment on the fact that you seem to have a pretty rosy view of Nice as a city to live in. Yes, for the most part, Nice can be a pretty good city to live in, but the tourists usually stick to the parts of town that are the richest, and so can get a pretty skewed view of how it really is. My grandma lives in a place that's pretty rough for example. Just a thought.
Second, about the gyms. That's a relatively recent thing actually. If you go back like 5 years ago, there weren't that much of them. Don't really know what triggered the hype for them but Nice has always been a place with a lot of older rich people and estheticians are always in high demand here, so maybe as the population is beginning to get younger (but still pretty rich) on average this translates to that ? Your guess is as good as mine.
Finally and the most important thing in my opinion, one thing is crucially missing from your trip. The mountains !
We are right at the foot of the Alps, and Nice's back country is in my opinion the best part of the region, not the coast. We are one hour from the Mercantour natural parc and if you have a car it's something not to miss. There are trails in the summer, ski resorts in the winter, gorgeous valleys and lakes, cro magnon paintings, and even a wolf reserve !
Of course as I said it's way better to have a car if you want to explore as public transport is less available for these areas.
Anyway, thanks for promoting my city !
Thanks so much for leaving a thoughtful and detailed comment! Great insights here and I enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to exploring more of the mountains during my next visit. Thanks again :)
When I visited Nice for the first time, I spent just three days there. The second time I spent four weeks. And the the third time I am going to spend two months there. My biggest dream is to buy an apartment in Nice.
My fingers are crossed for you :)
Thank you for the above tips on Nice. I look forward for my two weeks holiday in early Sept.
I hope you have a great time!
I visited southern California and south of France within the last few months - south of France beats SoCal in almost every category that I found relevant, it's not even a competition. The only thing that the French Riviera lacks and SoCal has is amusement/water parks.
There is a water park near Antibes on the French Riviera, called Aquasplash....
There's one of Europes biggest water park called AquaLand in Frejus.
Thank you for the wonderful video on Nice. It’s an incredible city and I agree with all of your points. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate the support :)
I never understand the whole "French are rude" thing. They're proud of their culture and country. If you're respectful, they'll be nice to you and if you're disrepectful, they're going to respond in kind. Funny how American tourists call drawing boundaries "rude." Maybe they're too used to being catered to and pampered like they're at Disney World or something.
I remember being in Nice a couple years ago and walking around the markets. A cruise ship full of tourists docked and they all just spilled into the market area like rats. Stomping around, talking loud, yapping at all the vendors in English without even trying to be polite to them. To me, THAT is being rude. The lack of self awareness in people is crazy.
If I may give some advice to tourists : You should always first ask if it is ok to speak to someone in English when being in a non-English speaking country, even if you are sure that they do. It makes a big difference. I am always a little pissed when someone turns up at my working place and starts speaking English right away. At least give me a few seconds to switch from one language to the other. When I am a tourist abroad I am doing it myself,( "Excuse me, may I ask you something in English ?") because I do not want to annoy people.
“Donald Trump Syndrome” 🤮
Oui! The singing beach rocks. I love this also 😍
Such a beautiful sound :)
Very much appreciated your presentation…not critical or judging. Your personal opinions were presented in a very restful manner. Thank you.
I appreciate the kind words
We live in Nice and find it a combination of Miami in some parts by SOBE, NYC with its density and even Los Angeles with the mountains and beautiful homes around them . Yes, its true the locals are very friendly. We lived in Bordeaux for about 8 months prior and loved that city too BUT tired of the grey , cold rain that happened this last winter. BDX locals were less open to meeting new people. Here in Nice they always smile easily.
We visited Nice (from the US) for the first time last September. The area made such an impression that I’m writing this from our house in Mougins…we moved here 2 months ago.
Love to hear that! I'm assuming you're loving it?
@@camdendavid Absolutely loving it, no regrets.
HI! I'm Belgian and live in NYC. My brother and parents live in Nice. So I go visit them every year for 3 weeks to a month for the Christmas break. I've done this for 10+ years now. None of your observations surprised me. Except one. You mentioned seeing so many gyms. That made me laugh. I must not be very observant but I don't think I ever stumbled on one. I am sure I must have but I never noticed. I will pay more attention next time around!
Hahah you'll have to let me know after your next visit :) Hope all is well in NYC!
Belgian here as well, living in Germany. My number of visits over the last 30 years must be at least 30. I love walking around and I have in a lot of different areas. I honestly wouldn't know of a gym from the top of my head. Love the city though. 5 minutes after leaving the airport I am already feeling fantastic. In recent years I have my bike with me and am pleasantly surprised that a lot of bike lanes have been created.
Love Nice! I’ve been there twice for longer stays to explore the Riviera. You are correct that using public transportation is very easy within Nice (streetcars and buses). The main train station is a little crowded and confusing - just leave plenty of time to get tickets and find the right track. There is a lot of culture in Nice - great art museums (Chagall, Matisse). The food is excellent and quite different than other areas of France - lighter, a lot of Italian influence, lots of fruits and vegetables. We were there in mid September - still beach weather. The beach clubs can be a fun but pricey day. It’s great to rent a chair and umbrella, bring some food and drinks - or enjoy seaside restaurant service.
Thanks for sharing all this! Hope you have the opportunity to visit again soon :)
We just came back from there and I had 2 uncomfortable instances with restaurant people. But it was crowded due to Tour de France and therefore excusable, Im sure it is stressful. And I think Americans are more difficult to deal with than the French. Europeans in general have "Old World " manners. When we checked into every hotel we went in (5 total in Italy and France), there was a gift waiting in the room that you would never see in America such as a bottle of wine, or a plate of cookies or pastry! At one hotel, the checkin process took place sitting at a large table and sipping Prosecco or coffee. We as Americans should look at how WE behave and did we somehow deserve the response we got from them.
Appreciate you sharing your experience!
As for the closed restaurants and stores if you were there in February that isn’t surprising. I’m sure Nice is seasonal. I live in a beach town in the Florida panhandle and we have the same issues. Late times in summer. Early times in the shoulder season and closed days during the winter.
I agree with everything you said! Everyone was nice and it was more affordable than expected . Loved Nice❤
The algorithm brought me here..... we've had an apartment in central Nice for about seven years, but only part time (the rest of the time, we're in the US). I think if you are in the winter, you may see shorter hours, fewer events (other than Carnival and Noel) and clearly tourists than in the summer months. However, the small supermarket near us is open until 10 pm on Sundays (you kind of have to know the ones that are open later, the larger ones are open until 7 or 8 pm). Even the beaches are different, in the spring Nice brings new pebbles (yes, intentionally adding new rocks) to groom the beaches while Cannes and others may bring in sand. (Beaches tend to be sandy from west of Antibes). The interesting comment about the gyms never struck me until now, but there are quite a number of small and mid-size gyms in the center.
Thanks for sharing all this and welcome to the channel! Where in the US are you from?
@@camdendavid Thank you. I'm from California.
Hello from South France, David, 🌴🌞
Tourism has truly become a major problem in France, whether in Paris or in the big cities.
But, the worst is for these small villages that have become impassable during the high season.
Of course, it brings money to the state coffers and to the merchants.
But it completely distorts the spirit of these small towns and villages, which were already magnificent before tourists from all over the world came to invade them.
Thus, it has only gotten worse over the last twenty years with the proliferation of vlogs that have hundreds of thousands, even millions, of views.
I thoroughly understand that people, wherever they come from, want to see these superb places that they have discovered thanks to these videos. I'm in total osmosis with their enthusiasm. It's natural.
However, I feel sorry for the locals who live there year-round and can no longer peacefully walk their streets, sit on their packed terraces or spend a quiet afternoon in their garden without a parade of tourists passing by all day long. That some of them take pictures of their house and sometimes even try to enter it (I've seen this several times in vlogs) to take a picture of a fountain or film the whole place.
I lived for forty years in Paris, where I was born, seven years in Orléans, and now 10 years in Perpignan, all very touristy places.
Over the years, this effect has radically increased.
However, in big cities, it's a little more bearable (although currently, it has really become a problem, especially in Paris).
Unfortunately, there will come a close time when we'll have to limit the number of people who can access these places if we want to protect them.
Peace, folks. ☮👈😎
I appreciate you taking the time to share this perspective. I see and hear this more and more. I hope we can find a better balance in the future. Much love :)
I can only imagine how uncomfortable it is for locals to have their local town become a magnet for masses of tourists.
“10 European Cities Destroyed by Overtourism” This video was posted there's one week. And Paris is on this 10 top list.
Good morning. I am French and I wanted to add a little note regarding stores closed on Sundays. it is a question of religion, because Sunday is the Lord's day and when the French must go to church. It sometimes happens that some businesses are open on Sunday morning, until 12 p.m. thank you for this video, the French love America and Americans.
Much love :)
Few people go to church nowadays but Sunday is still regarded as a day for resting and socializing.
When the French "must go to church". Very few go!
This was a very confirming / validating video for me and I'm returning to France and going to Nice after not having been there for about 30 years. As one who is allergic to smoke, I'm wondering if there has been a big improvement in the number of people or restaurants that allow public smoking? Given your remarks about the plentiful number of gyms, I would imagine that there's more health awareness now than 30 years ago and hopefully less smoking? Very well done thank you so much 😊
I didn't notice a ton of smoking (compared to other European cities). Definitely a good chance that it's been improved with the health awareness! I hope you have a wonderful visit! Thanks for the support :)
For a number of years, smoking has been prohibited inside restaurants in France. However, it is still permitted in the outdoor seating areas. Even in the cooler months when the outdoor seating may be enclosed to keep out the weather, smoking is still permitted! Just want to let you know so you are aware if you have allergies to smoke.
@@JL-st5sbI also heard that when you rent beach chairs people next to you on the beach are allowed to smoke and you can't do anything about it. Here in New York, the beaches in Long Island do not permit smoking..you rarely see smoking at all.
Smoking is pretty much banned almost everywhere here in Montreal (plus it's really expensive), so it was quite unexpected to see smoking everywhere, including the restaurant patios in Nice this past September.
Thank you for your honesty on Nice. My wife and I will be there in about a month. Lucky you having the opportunity to travel to a different country every month. I have been to Paris twice and loved it, so I’m curious what the differences will be. I love the French and make every effort to speak some of the language even though I probably butcher it too. I know they appreciate the effort and always were there to help/correct. It’s all about respect.
I hope you have a wonderful visit! You'll definitely notice some differences compared to Paris but I'm sure you'll love it :)
Great video Camden. As a long term resident of France, I gotta say quite a bit of your comments (gyms everywhere, can't hop around restaurants, everyone is in shape, Sundays) seem very American. Remember that European cities like Nice are extremely densely populated. So you may see 10 gyms but in that 10-block radius you have tens of thousands of people. The gyms are probably small too. As for hopping around restaurants, again... same thing. Yes, you might see a lot but the you have an immense amount of people in a very small radius. So the demand will be higher, especially in a super touristy place like Nice. I agree with you on the random closing of restaurants but most are small businesses that don't have a PR agency to update their Google or Instagram pages. A small annoyance. Finally Nice isn't Montecarlo which is the image you seem to describe. It's a city, not a beach resort. All in good spirit, you did a great job and I wish you more happy travels :-) ps eat every last French baked good because no matter what border you cross, you will immediately regret not eating more LOL
Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this! And totally agree on your last point... I miss those baked good every day haha
Thank you for the videos you posted about Nice.
You're welcome :)
hey, cool video, i live in Nice for 15 years and never realized that the clicking of the rocks at the beach has a valuable sound effect .. tanx for bringing this data i never processed ! you forgot though one very very big pro for rocky beach : you dont get to fight wtih sand everywhere in your belongings :-) ... you got it right also with the amount of time one should spend in the area (not in the summer, too crowded humide and hot) , locals in general retreat in the mountains (Auron, Isola 2000, St Martin Vesubie etc..) Nice people, just like monaco (original people) are people of the mountains, not from the sea .. so nearby mountains are the real deal. try to visit them one day ! best
Thanks for taking the time to share all this! And you’re soooo right on the sand battle 😂
There are places nearby with sand. Villefranche-sur-Mer is sand/very fine pebble and Juan-les-Pins has sand. It's nice though, to splash out on a private beach with a sunbed.
Cannes has sand but does the public beach there have a restroom?
Just got back from six weeks in France and experienced the Google opening hours thing multiple times. Very frustrating, I agree!
Sorry to hear you experienced that too haha
It’s not just Nice as we experienced the same in Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Aix-en-Provence. I think businesses are not as concerned about making money as we are in the US. Also, we love Nice and have decided to retire in France. We love the French culture and how they care more about the quality of life over profit.
As a local, we're kind of used to this, to the fact that the opening hours on google maps are not always reliable... but there's also a telephone number, this is old tech maybe, but more reliable :)
i love your videos!
I'm a Nice citizen. Born and raised So I can give some insight.
1) service is rude only in Paris. The rest of France is more than fine
2) only tourists go to the beach in Nice. We go to Beaulieu/Ville franche or Cagnes sur mer where is not sand but close.
3 )transportation is fine. Parking is expensive
4) yeah only big supermarket are open on Sunday all day, some only on morning. It's because of French laws on employment.
5) BREAD IS LIFE 🤣
6) I didn't realize we had a lot of gyms 🤣🤣
7) children have everything in Nice : great education, the Carnaval, sea, nature, playgrounds, culture...
8) in summer, it's difficult for us locals to walk in the old city because of the tourists just being in the middle or walking slow 😅 it does drive me nuts but I'm the first to help tourists in need
9) February is the busiest winter month of tourists because of the Carnaval. 3rd Carnaval in the world with Rio and Venise
10) Nice is a way if life 😊
11) we have the 1st airport out of Paris. With direct transportation (tramway) to the city center
Glad you enjoyed your stay with us!
Thanks for sharing all this! Much love :)
Is Nice crowded in October and November?
@@denisewalsh6586 It might be one of the less crowded months of the year (with December) and still nice weather in October :)
Back from a trip to Nice & i really loved it but...
@5) only whitebread... no real bread (ryebread, sourdough bread, etc.)
@7) I'm from Vienna & we have on every second corner a park &/or a playground ... Nice has far to less for 300000+ citiziens & tourists!!!
I’m currently visiting Villefranche-sur-mer (about 3 miles /10 min) from Nice. I have not once experienced any unpleasantries from anyone here (or in Nice). Each individual I’ve met has been very kind and friendly. It seems good manners are important to the French - that much is evident.
Camden is not joking about hair salons. I lost count how many of them I came across (I’ve visited Nice three times this week) while strolling the streets.
My only real complaint is the cigarette smoking. It does not matter that you are sitting right next to them while eating a meal. You will be smoking (secondhand) and inhaling their cigarette smoke without a say. And it’s quite gross. They don’t have nonsmoking rules as we do in America, specifically, in California where I reside. My allergies flared up by day 3.
Setting aside the cig smoke issue, the French Riviera is magical and unforgettable. For any SF Bay Area folks, the climate is very similar to a hot summer day (or those Indian summers we get in Oct).
So if you’re wondering whether or not you should visit Southern France - do it! You will not regret it.
Great information! How difficult you find your monthly rental? Love to do this too!
We experienced the rock tumbling surf sounds in Mexico when we were there for the eclipse. I absolutely love it! Cool that it happens in Nice!!!
Eclipse + that sound?! That must have been an incredible experience!
I am a Niçois born in Nice xD
The French Riviera is my home region
Living right near Nice on a semi-permanent basis so not a local of many years duration but not really a tourist either.
First off your ability to present your observations and opinions in a manner that is polite, respectful, all while saying - "Hey this is what I saw you might see something completely different" is very much off the charts. I'd go so far as to say you have a real gift for that - hits just the right note for a video like this.
I think the one thing I would take issue with is the grocery stores closing either all day on a Sunday or early on a Sunday. Sure, if you just arrive on that day you can be caught up short, but aside from that you just plan around it and there is no problem whatsoever. So I'd phrase that as a "thing to be aware of" rather than a "negative" or a "con". In general French culture is different than the US - people say in the US we live to work and in France one works to live. That formulation might be a little too facile but it is roughly the idea - you really get the vibe that people don't want to work 60 hours a week and it's really a bit hard to find fault with that.
Oh and the schools - based on what I've seen in France and what I've seen on French news (which I watch a LOT) - naw the schools aren't that nice looking. You probably just saw a few upscale ones. And based on the news there are quite a few issues now in French schools. I once had an apartment in Paris overlooking a primary school (really overlooking it's playground and the school itself) and it really was nothing special. I have a strong suspicion that the "average" school in the US would beat (in appearance) the "average" school in France.
As far as kids go - what I've noticed in all of France are how devoted French parents are to their kids. I love, love, love the idea of one (it's usually one) parent walking their kid(s) to the local school. And I think they come and get them at the end of the day too. But that's just one thing. My sense is that kids are really in many ways the focal point of so many families - maybe that's why they go around smiling all the time!
Tend to agree about how people focus on appearance, dress etc. Probably a lot more than the US.
Your point about not walking to go somewhere but just walking to walk - that's 100% true - so much so there's even a word in the French language to describe that - flâner.
Finally yeah the healthier vibe here - this has really hit home for me - between the amount of walking (where I live there are a lot of hills) and the focus on fresh quote-unquote "Mediterranean" foods - that is my most unexpected upside surprise. For these sorts of things to take effect you need to be immersed in the lifestyle for a while (i.e. not as a tourist) but I think that it's a very real thing. Walk five miles a day, don't eat all the processed crap that we seem to fall back on in the US and you *will* notice a difference.
Again, sincere complements on your style and your approach - you really strike just the right note on what really could be a sensitive topic but you handle it with just the right tone.
Wow - what a thoughtful and thorough comment! Tough to express just how much I appreciate you taking the time to outline all this and sharing your perspective. Totally fair critiques and really enjoyed reading through all this. It's comments like this that make these videos so meaningful to make. Couldn't agree more on your final note about the lifestyle around walking and cutting out the processed food. Hope to see you in the comment section in future videos. Much love :)
We do have sandy beaches along the coast like cannes, jusn kes pins, golde juan et ak. Personally I dont like Nice beach but the colour of the sea is incredible comparable to the Caribbean
A really excellent n accurate review.
13 yrs here on the riviera.
As a local I would like to add on some things...
1st - You mentioned a lot the beaches, but Nice is based on a region called "Maritim Alps", which makes it for an very good skii spot. In fact you could have taken a Public bus to Isola, Valgerg or Auron un thé morning and back in the end of the day for 12€ both ways. (Just to add that the public transportation system is very good). And those stations are located in the Mercantour National Park, which has beautiful lakes, mountains, hikes, animals, etc. I'm kinda sad that people focus a lot in the beach part of Nice, and forget the amazing mountains.
2nd - True, the airport is a nice experience, but it is not at all a small airport. In fact it is the 3rd of France, just after the two of Paris. That makes the city connected to the whole Europe, and even America, Asia and Africa.
3rd - Although Nice is a city that in fact receives plenty of Tourists during Summer, it is not at all overwhelming comparing to other places. I lived in Malta before and there is mass tourism, with so many excursions, buses, etc. Same in Palma which I visited a few weeks ago. Nice is far from it. The tourist profile here is a bit different.
Thanks so much for this!
Would you recommend going in late September or October - particularly the villages like Eze? Or better in May?
Hmmm, I haven't been outside of February. But my guess is May and October would be ideal with the weather
I was in Nce for a month, May 2023. Nice to compare views
Hope you enjoyed it!
@@camdendavid yes I did! I had been in the area, but not Nice, mANY times before for work! Nice and area is a great place to have as a base to live and explore Europe!
You know, tourists are always welcome in France when they don't act like we owe them anything, or that we couldn't live without them.
On the riviera at least - it’s true the French can not live without tourists . Even if they hate foreigners they need them for sure 😂
First of all, the French never talk about "French riviera" ;)
It’s a name only strangers use. The French always talk about "la Côte d'Azur" (the Azur Coast), which includes the french mediterranean coast, from the city of Marseille to the italian border.
The "French riviera" refers to a small part of this coast, at the extreme east (the most rich), which goes from the cities of Saint-Tropez to Menton, including Antibes, Nice, cannes, Monaco.
It’s probably the most expensive area in France, after Paris. Especially in summer. There are many tourists, French and foreign, who come here in the summer for holidays.
But, it’s like everywhere. There are very touristic things, almost "scams", very exênsive, and there are other things much more affordable. Only you have to know, and as tourists come only a few days, they do not have time to discover.
Often the best restaurants are in small streets poorly indicated, not on the big squares where everyone goes ;)
Yes it is true, sunday is really a "dead day" in France. Almost everything is closed. Tourists must to know.
It's a legacy.
Historically, sunday is the "day of God", where the French went to church in the morning, then met for a large family meal during four hours lol, and rest all the afternoon.
So there is no work. Just home or family. And... you know... "trade and maximal profit law" have failed to break this old tradition ;)
So on sunday, everything is closed, but also a little on monday.
Many people who work on saturday want two days weekend... so they do not work on monday.
And yes, the beaches in this area of Nice are rocky. They are not natural beaches.
If you want beautiful sandy beaches, then you have to make an hour drive to the west, in the area next door, towards the city of Toulon.
It is often a joke between the French living in the department of Var (Toulon), and those living in the department of Maritime Alps (Nice): "your rocky beaches sucks"... ;)
Except the overseas territories, we often say that the most beautiful French beaches are in the Var department, around the city of Toulon.
The climate is what makes this region so attractive.
This unique Mediterranean climate, found in very few places in the world. Northern Mediterranean, a small part of Australian southern coast, and the Californian coast. That’s all.
Hence the smiliarity between the French Riviera and California that many people notice.
Nice City has this advantage of being one of those places in the world where mountains flows into the sea.
So you're on pretty French mediterranean coast, but in thirty minutes you leave the city to the north, and you are in the mountains, on the French Alps, with the first ski resorts and all mountain activities (skiing, cycling, treck, hiking, canoyning...).
So if you like sport, or just beautiful nature, it's a perfect spot.
It's completely different in winter. In summer the population is multiplied by ten on all the "Azur Coast" ;)
Thanks so much for taking the time to share all this! I really enjoy learning from comments like this and think the extra effort goes a long way in helping educate this community. It's truly appreciated and I hope to see you in the comment section in future videos. Much love :)
But he's not speaking French, he's speaking English, and English speakers have been calling this area the French Riviera for 200 years - longer than the term Côte d'Azur has existed in French - so it's not 'wrong'. It was the British, especially, who helped Nice become a famous holiday resort. They called it that because the Italian coast to the east is called the Italian Riviera, or in Italian, Riviera ligure.
Local here, Nice is is only part of France since 150'ish years and you know this is short by european standards so this is why you didn't see a cold culture there as it's more Italian.
The surge in number of gyms is rather recent, there were not that many ten years ago so this is probably due to a population shift. The same can't be said for the amount of hairdressers.
The glass is just because clients loves windows as the natural light and the outside scenery in here is often enjoyable, the less artificial lights the better if the region could afford it.
You made me laugh with the rolling pebbles remark as I knew Nice was not the only beach to have some of those but I never knew the sound was that much unique.
Traveling there on one of the worst month of the year is still a shame but at least you've perpetrated an extinct English/Russian tradition of settling there during winter.
Locals don't leave in the summer as the rest of the planet is a downgrade from here, they would rather travel during winter or fall.
Thanks for taking the time to share all this!
I just returned from two weeks in southern France- Nice, Toulon, Hyeres and Le Seyne sur mer. I agree it can be more affordable utilizing free activities. I’m not sure if we made it to less touristy eating establishments in Nice, but even so, felt restaurants just are not as expensive. Of course we didn’t go to Michelin star venues! I must not have been paying attention to the gyms, but was aware of hair salons being a big thing. Being from south Louisiana, I am thinking the better quality food and walking a lot more would increase my physical fitness for sure (hope to retire around there). The $100 per day you mention could possibly include a monthly rate in Air BnB or no?
There were some days where $100 covered lodging + everything else. And you're correct -- we had a monthly rate on the Airbnb. You can definitely spend A TON if you wanted though haha. Hoping you had a great visit and that you get the opportunity to retire there! Much love :)
Nice is more laid back than Paris and Canne is a dead city when there is not the film festival. That's why it is cheaper.
Nice is stunning and a lot to offer culturally. However i found the people colder than most in France and somewhat expensive but less so than Paris
What time of year were you visiting?
@camdendavid i used to go there a lot but out of peak season in spring or late summer/autumn, a fan of Nice but not the Niçois!
If it's called Nice it better be good 😏
We found it to be pretty easy (we went through Airbnb). I imagine it was easier for us because it wasn't peak tourism season. But I definitely think you could find something. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions :)
They always say Nice is nice.
It certainly is
When you said $100 a day was more than enough, you mean apart from your lodging expense right?
Good question (and sorry for not clarifying in the video). Yes, I meant apart from lodging. Although there were some days where $100 covered lodging + everything else. It could be done for under $100 if you're picking up food at the markets and not paying for a train ticket to visit a nearby town
Two weeks in Nice for holidays is enough. To live here - no, no, no.
Nice is nice ...
Very nice
First! Premier!
Children are happy because there're 4 days of school in France.
would be great if you had timestamps
Doing that for all future videos!
About the things not being open when they say they are : It's more of a thing in southern France.
We tend to be more serious further north.
That's not true. It is just as bad in the north, especially in Post Offices where they can be "exceptionally closed" with no explanation of why or when they will be open again.
Can you please time stamp, I can't sit through a 20 min ramble session. :)
Will do :)
You can live on $30 a day in Nice. Just saying.
Definitely doable! There were days where we were spending under $30 (outside of accommodation)
Nice-conceptions 😂
One negative in Nice is the roads are very narrow and the trip I took to Monaco was an adventure and dangerous.
Fair observation
Shhh don’t talk about NICE airport we don’t want it turning into Charles de Gaulle airport lol
Hahahahaha
De Gaulle airport is a logistical nightmare
So many gyms in Nice and yet not one gym between nice and monaco which is highly frustrating, typical French impracticality anyway what does one expect 🙄
Hmmm, didn't realize that!
Are you being nasty ? ! ... NO picture of Nice ... just bla-bla-bla ? !
Hahah this video format won't have pics. But my other video on Nice has lots :)
Geez. Show photos, not just your face endlessly talking. I can't watch anymore.
Hahaha sorry! This series is meant to be unfiltered/unedited. I have another video on Nice with lots of photos and videos :)
i love your videos!
I appreciate that! Hope to see you around in the comment section :)
@@camdendavid i will be here!