I was looking for a warm place to enjoy street photography, relax at the beach, and eat good food. Then I found Nice, France, and spent five days in heaven there.
Heaven is a bit exaggerated, but I loved it there. Even in November, the sun is out most of the time, and you get by wearing a sweater. In some moments, even a T-shirt is plenty. The food is excellent, and the people are so… (I’m so sorry) Nice.
Table of contents
Day 1: Arriving at Nice
The first half of the day was filled with traveling from Antwerp to Brussels Airport to Nice Airport to Nice city center. I quickly checked into the hotel, dropped my luggage, and headed out with my camera.
Then, I strolled around Nice to get a feel of the vibe and layout. I also got lost at the Colline du Château for a bit. Then it was time for dinner at Lavomatique and ending my day.




Day 2: Street photography and the photo museum
After a good night’s sleep at the Le Petit Trianon Hotel, I ate a small breakfast at Maison Kayser. Then, I walked around the Promenade des Anglais to the Les Baumettes neighborhood, back via the Gambetta and Thiers, and further to Jean-Médecin and the Square Head.
From there, I went to the Museum of Photography Charles Nègre, where Vivian Mayer‘s exhibition was displayed. I love her work, so I was happy to see large prints of it again. I also bought books about it.
I then returned to the Gambetta neighborhood for lunch at the Garden Cafe. I didn’t track my steps, but I’m sure it was more than the recommended 10,000. After more strolling, I took a short break at the hotel, letting my feet rest while I edited some photos.
After that, I went out for a quick burger at Smash Me.






Day 3: A day to Monaco by train
From Nice, there is a regular train ride to Monaco. And the ride doesn’t take too much time and is pretty cheap. So if you’re in Nice, Monaco might be a fun little extra. Especially if you count the countries you visited.
First, I had coffee and a cookie at the Le Country Store in Nice, followed by a short stroll to the train station.
Once in Monaco, I started roaming around. First, I went to the old town, which has a beautiful cathedral you can visit for free. At the Prince’s Palace, the guards change at 11:55, which I learned by chance when I happened upon it.
Close by, I found the restaurant Le Pinocchio. They serve a good pasta carbonara and tiramisu with pistachio.
Then, I roamed the streets some more, going from Old Town to Monte Carlo and back to the train station. However, I first stopped for fantastic ice cream at Rossi La Botega.
Back in Nice, I stopped at Musee Massena and called it a day.





Day 4: Rainy days are perfect for museums
While going to Edmond Cafe for breakfast, I noticed the weather changing. The sun started to disappear and hide behind the clouds. Luckily, I only needed my sweater.
After breakfast, I strolled through various neighborhoods to the Henri Matisse Museums. Though you can go by public transport quickly, I like walking around, this way you see more. I enjoyed some time at the museum and then returned to the city center. But not without the necessary detours and roaming.
I bought lunch at the market from Chez Thérésa. Then, I continued to roam around, hiding from the weather for a moment at the Terra Amata museum and La Claque for coffee.
As it began to rain, I stopped by my hotel to get my coat, which I had hoped I would not use. Through the rain, I made my way to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice. They have some lovely paintings there. With night setting in, the rain still pouring, and seeing a painting by Monet, I decided to head out and practice my ICM street photography again.
Satisfied with my day, I headed for the hotel and had a good night’s sleep.



Day 5
All good things come to an end. On the last day in Nice, it was sunny again. I headed out to Maison Karlie for a morning coffee and some madeleines. I was lucky to enjoy a good sunny photo walk before I collected my stuff at the hotel and left for the airport.





5 Street photography lessons I learned in Nice
Five days in Nice makes for five lessons. That number is a coincidence, but it does sound good.
The first lesson is…
1. Talent isn’t enough
You need to promote your work, too. Vivian Maier’s work is impressive, but she lived a reasonably anonymous life. We only know about her because some guy found her negatives and thought they were worth showing.
Making good photos isn’t enough. You need to show them to people.
2. I reframed my mindset to “I can’t YET.”
When seeing someone else’s work, I often thought, “I can’t do this”. Not rarely followed by “and I never will.” With recent progress in my work and walking around Nice, it suddenly clicked for me. I can’t do it YET.
3. Don’t always push too hard.
I was on holiday. Yes, the idea was to make street photos. But the idea was also to relax. So, there was no point in chasing photos and exhausting myself. So, I allowed myself to take it slow and hunt less.
4. Take breaks
I used to think photographers went all day and only stopped for 15 minutes to inhale a sandwich somewhere. That idea is ridiculous. Street photographers can undoubtedly walk around all day, but it’s with regular breaks.
For inspiration, you can stop in a coffee shop, read a book at the beach, or visit a museum.
5. Get a hotel in the city center
I know it might be silly. You can save money getting one further out, but a central hotel is worth it. You’re closer to your room whenever you need anything like batteries, a coat, or a book.
If you’re done with coffee, museums, and walking, you can also go to your room and rest for a minute.
Places to eat in Nice, France
Of course, food was also important on this trip. In Nice, there was plenty of good food. I mentioned some already, but I want to highlight them again because I can recommend them.


Places to eat dinner in Nice
- Lavomatique is a food-sharing place, though sitting alone is okay. They make delicious smaller dishes so that you can try several. All are made with local ingredients.
- Smash Me: To be honest, this was just a random smash burger stall near my hotel. But I enjoyed it enough to recommend it.
- Mamma Roma Gioffredo: Another random place I visited—the pizza and tiramisu were more than okay. But the person at the counter was very friendly.
Places to have lunch and/or breakfast in Nice
- Garden Cafe: Plenty of choices in this all-day brunch place
- Edmond Cafe: One of those rare places where the place is very Instagram-worthy, but the food is good too!
Places to have a coffee break in Nice, France
- Le Country Store: A small and cute coffee place with great coffee! Also, try the cookies.
- La Claque: Great coffee in the cozy small streets of Nice
- Maison Karlie: Delicious madeleines and great coffee.
Museums to visit and inspire you in Nice, France
Visiting museums in Nice is also a recommended experience. Many museums are free for locals, but you can also do a good deal as a tourist. They offer a 4-day pass for only 15 euros. You can buy the pass at any of the participating museums.
- Museum of Photography Charles Nègre: It’s not too big but perfect for one exhibition. They also made a well-thought-out collection and used the spaces very well to exhibit it per category.
- Musee Henri Matisse: Slightly underwhelming, but still a good showcase of the great artist’s life.
- Musee Beaux Arts: The interior of the building is beautiful, and some outstanding work is on display. It is a must-see for anyone who is even slightly interested in art.
Let me know what places you enjoyed in Nice in the comments below!
A really comprehensive coverage of your time there, Fred, with some very interesting photos, too. And this is particularly interesting for me because Nice is on my list for a future visit, and I had no idea that you could get so easily to Monaco by train. So thank you very much for this post!
It’s nice to hear that. Thank you for the comment! And yes Monaco is only 20-30 minutes away by train, so an easy combination visit.