Nice
Nice
Nice, France, fuses old-world decadence with modern urban energy. Stroll along the waterfront Promenade des Anglais, following in the footsteps of Victorian and Russian aristos who flocked to Nice for the sunshine. Artists Matisse and Chagall also trod these paths, and both have museums dedicated to them here. Foodies should come for Nice's wonderful markets and some of the best restaurants on the French Riviera.
Nice - Travel Eurostar
For the smoothest, most stress-free route to Nice, hop on the Eurostar from London's spectacular St Pancras International. It's easy to reach Nice with Eurostar; simply change at Paris and travel on to Nice with our partner, TGV.
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Hello to 186mph
From St Pancras International, our home in the heart of London, the high-speed Eurostar will whisk you to Paris Gare du Nord in a mere 2h 15.
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Change at Paris Gare du Nord
From Paris Gare du Nord, take the RER high-speed commuter train line D (or a taxi) to Paris Gare de Lyon for frequent connecting trains. The typical journey time of 8h 50 from London allows time for you to change in Paris, but this is intended as guidance only. We'll give you more precise times when you book your ticket. Alternatively you can travel via Lille, subject to availability, which typically takes 9h 50.
Before you go, find out more about reaching our London station and what to expect when you get there.
Alternatively you might like to check out our other UK stations:
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Ebbsfleet International
Located just a few minutes from Junction 2 of the M25 and the Bluewater shopping centre, this stunning new station in Kent is easily accessible for people all over the South East.
Journey times from Ebbsfleet International are approximately 10 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Ashford International, Kent
We're also still running services to and from our other trusty Kent station, Ashford International. For full details check our timetables.
Journey times from Ashford International are approximately 30 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Paris Gare du Nord
Eurostar's clean and modern end destination in the heart of Paris is one of Europe's busiest stations.
Nice-Ville Station
Nice-Ville Station, with its splendid Louis XIII atmosphere, used to be a little out of the way, although the city has since grown to surround it. Watch out for diversions as the centre of Nice is renovated for its new tramway, however. The first tramline is working and is the quickest way to get to the seafront and the main Place Messena (from the station take in the direction of Pont Michel). Alternatively, take bus 7 or 23, or grab a taxi; it will take you about 20 minutes to get to the Promenade des Anglais.
Tread Lightly
Read about our environmental initiative here, and in the meantime here's a way for you to Tread Lightly yourself when you arrive in Nice.
At Nice station, you can save the planet and hire a conventional or electric bicycle from Holiday Bikes (23 rue de Belgique, +33 (0) 4 93 16 01 62, www.holiday-bikes.com). Or join the public transport network and take an electric tram or a bus (all run on gas). If you've got heavy bags, you can always hop in a taxi.
Connecting trains to the Continent from across the UK
We've joined forces with 9 train companies across the UK to bring High Speed Europe to people all over the country. Travel from your regional station all the way to your continental destination on just one fare. Click here to find out more.
Eurostar Tips
These are our absolute favourites. If you'd like to share your Nice tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Really Nice art
Feast your eyes on baroque beauties, from the 17th-century Cathédrale de Sainte-Réparate, to the Chapelle de la Miséricorde. Neo-classical styles cluster in western Nice. Pay a visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the former home of a Russian princess. For avant-garde art, the MAMAC Modern and Contemporary Art Museum and the Anatole Jakovsky Naive Art Museum beckon. And there's more: head to the hilly Cimiez district for the intimate Musée Chagall. From there, it's a short walk past Roman ruins to the flashy Musée Henri Matisse.
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C'est fou! Carnival in Nice
Can't make it to Rio this year? Nice's Carnival, held every February, dates back to the Middle Ages and is the city's most celebrated event. Plunge into the corso, or procession, of flashy floats, farandoles and grosses têtes (giant heads made out of papier-mâché) making their way along the Promenade des Anglais. During the Bataille des Fleurs (flower battle), expect to be bombarded with daisies, showered with lilies and assailed by mimosas.
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Wine and dine
Check out the restaurants clustered along and around Cours Saleya. Opt for lip-smacking Mediterranean dishes drizzled in unusual olive oils at Oliviera on rue Collet. Feeling flush? Splash out at Michelin-starred restaurants – from Chez Juni in the Palais de la Réserve to Keisuke Matsushima behind the Promenade des Anglais. Nice is the only city in France with its very own AOC vineyard. Sample white, red and rosé wines, grown on the hills of Bellet or take Provençal cooking lessons at Les Petits Farcis.
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Day trips from Nice
Near Nice, you'll find lovely Menton, famous for its February citrus festival; sophisticated Monaco with its casinos; Grasse, known for flowers and perfumes; and showbiz Cannes. Hill-top Saint-Paul-de-Vence boasts the Fondation Maeght, dedicated to Chagall, Matisse and Miró. There’s also a Matisse-designed chapel up the road in Vence, and a chapel decorated by Cocteau in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Or nip over the nearby border to practise your Italian.
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Scents and sensibilities: Markets in Nice
Find scent and colour at the Flower Market, held Tuesday to Sunday at Cours Saleya in Old Nice. The bright yellow Mimosa bloom is Nice's best-known flower. Fancy a picnic? Stock up on fresh fruit and veg at the Fruit and Vegetable Market, also at Cours Saleya. It's open daily until 12.30pm, except on Monday when the Brocantes (Antiques Market) sprouts up under the striped awnings. In summer, buy handmade jewellery at the Arts and Crafts Market lining the Cours every evening. A vibrant Fish Market is held at Place Saint-François Tuesday to Sunday mornings.
Your Tips
These are your insider tips. If you'd like to share your Nice tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Cimiez cool
It's worth going up to Cimiez if you're fed up with the beach. There's an impressive archaeological museum up there. Chagall and Matisse also have museums there. Francis Wheatley, Fulham
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Clap your hands
The opera in Nice is world class. We caught an unforgettable Don Pasquale there. Our tickets were €40 each, really a lot cheaper than going in London. David and Shanna MacKenzie, Kent
Where: Opéra de Nice, 4-6 rue Saint-François-de-Paule, 6000 Nice, +33 (0) 4 92 17 40 00
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from £280
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