Nice Basics

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Photo: Erin and John RogersNice skyline always a delightful mix of styles

Nice has its own language - Nissart. Hello is 'Bouangiou'
Like every major tourist city Nice also has pickpockets, especially near the train station
Restaurant and hotel bills normally include a service charge
Nice is an excellent centre for trips to Cannes, Antibes, Monaco and inland

Despite it's glamorous beaches, promenade, hotels and restaurants, Nice is a large city with similar problems to many sizeable Mediterranean cities - pickpockets, drugs and a fair bit of organised crime.

Watch out for your belongings when on the Nice beach and be careful around the railway station area.

Don't panic though, violent crime is far less likely in Nice than in most north European cities. Be sensible, and you're unlikely to have any problems.

Nice history

Nice, France, has been settled for around 400,000 years but became known as Nikaia around 400 BC, when it was a Greek trading post. The Romans settled above the modern Nice city at Cimiez, or Cemenelum, where the Roman ruins can be visited today. It's a pleasant 30min uphill walk or short bus trip from the resort.

Except for a few interruptions, Nice stayed under the Italian House of Savoy until 1860 when it was agreed that the citizens would vote to decide on their future. The plebiscite resulted in an overwhelming vote to become part of France.

The English brought prosperity to Nice in Victorian times when it became a favourite winter retreat for the English aristocracy. Nice even has a statue to the English Queen Victoria. English residents built houses and churches and a walkway by the sea - still called the Promenade des Anglais.

Thanks to the English Victorians, Nice became the first French city to have a tourist-based economy and it can be claimed that the modern tourist industry was born in Nice.

Modern Nice

Today, Nice is an important cultural centre and the fifth largest city in France. It has a substantial university, an exhibition and conference centre, industry and major museums.

With its huge hotel industry, tourism is still the key activity and Nice remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in France.

Demand for good holiday accommodation in Nice has never been higher. Get Ready Rentals offer a range of Nice apartments to match your taste and budget.

Language

Hello/Goodbye Bonjour/Au revoir
Please/Thanks S'il vous plaît/Merci
Yes/No Oui/Non
1 un/une 2 deux 3 trois 4 quatre 5 cinque

French is spoken widely, although a local Nice dialect is often heard. English and Italian are also spoken but a few words of French will always be appreciated in Nice restaurants and cafes.

Nice telephones

To telephone a Nice number dial from the UK dial 00 33 followed by the local number omitting the initial 0. To call the UK from Nice dial 00 44 followed by the number required leaving out the initial 0.

Money and tipping

Nice restaurant and hotel bills normally include a service charge - often identified on the bill as Service compris - so there's no need to leave an additional tip unless you particularly wish to. Nice taxi drivers are normally tipped at around 10%. The euro is the local currency. There are many ATMs in Nice and a wide range of banks.