NICE

Nice Cote D'Azur airport is located at the Eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais, in effect making it a very centrally situated airport. It doesn't interfere with the town or the beach because the runways are out to sea and run parallel to the coastline.

A simple case of 'the lay of the land'. The Promenade des Anglais is the main boulevard of the city which runs along the coastline. It's name arises from it's popularity with English visitors, who instigated the construction of it, during the early 1800's when Englishmen of any note 'took their Winters' in Nice. It was the English who first made the Riviera popular as a holiday destination, but as a winter retreat rather than the summer favourite that it is today.

The trademark palm trees that line the Promenade des Anglais were in fact a gift to the French commune as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation from the English. The Promenade is a focal point for Nicoise people too, providing a playground for everyone.

The population of Nice is approximately 342,000 people. It is a vibrant, dynamic city in it's own right. However you do notice a significant swell in numbers during the summer months when visiting tourists push the population to 500,000 or more.

With more and more people visiting each year it can put a strain on the city but the surrounding area is so beautiful and so well serviced by public transport that there are plenty of locations to cope with the overspill. To many, a holiday rental outside the busy city is a preferable option.

The nearest big town to Nice is Marseille. With a population of 807,071 people it is significantly bigger although not as pretty. Cannes and Antibes are much closer while, in the opposite, direction you have Monaco and Menton. There are plenty of places to visit and explore to suit everyones interests.