Issue 52 / What You Can Do With 48 Hours In The South Of France

by Vallisa Chauhan

What You Can Do With 48 Hours In The South Of France

Jun 03, 2016

The South of France is refreshingly different from the hustle and bustle of Paris. Lined with beaches and mountains, it's the perfect place to take in the natural beauty of this iconic coast.

^{Nice, France

Photo Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk}

Find a hotel situated on the main strip of Nice. This will ensure you get a nice beach view when you wake up in the morning and food on tap as there are so many bars and restaurants nearby. It is best to hire a car to get around easier. The roads are easy to work out with a Sat Nav or a local map.

Day 1

7 a.m.

Grab some breakfast early as you have a full day ahead of sightseeing.You can do this either at your hotel or at one of many restaurants or cafes along the sea strip.

8 a.m.

You are ready for day one of your trip and this will take you up to Monaco, the land of the Grand Prix, to start. It is around a 30-minute drive from Nice. Make sure to take in the beauty of the roads.

^{Monaco

Photo Credit: www.worthavenueyachts.com}

8:30 a.m.

There are many ways to get around Monaco and it is so small you can actually walk, but that could be a problem for your feet. Monaco also happens to have a number of public elevators that can take you around so if this is your choice of travel then park the car up and head towards Monaco Ville.

Start by heading to the Oceanographic Museum which is one of the largest and oldest Aquarium's in Europe. Directly in front is a road called Avenue St Martin here you will find the Azur Express train. During this 30-minute train ride you will discover a lot.

^{Oceanographic Museum

Photo Credit: www.flickr.com}

9:30 a.m.

Located on the Rock at the Place de la Visitation is the Museum of the Chapel of Visitation which holds a remarkable collection of art. A visit inside the chapel lasts around 30 minutes.

10:30 a.m.

Take a walk towards the St. Nicholas Cathedral. This is also the burial site of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. It is a peaceful spot to take a little stroll thought the cathedral and sit for a rest.

^{St. Nicholas Cathedral

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com}

11:00 a.m.

Head back up towards the Princely Palace where you can tour inside for around 40 minutes and head back outside in time to catch the changing of the guards at 11:55.

12 p.m.

Stroll around the Old Town of Monaco Ville and find a nice restaurant to hang out and have lunch.

1:30 p.m.

After lunch, head towards the Oceanographic Museum again and this time go inside and discover the amazing fish. If walking, be prepared it can be quite strenuous and you may want to stop at the Monte Carlo Story to rest and listen to the history. Inside the museum you will also discover the baby shark petting pool.

3:30 p.m.

Head towards the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Monte Carlo Casino made famous in James Bond.

^{Monte Carlo Casino

Photo Credit: www.10best.com}

4:30 p.m.

Head back down towards the port via Boulevard Albert 1 which happens to be part of the Formula 1 route where many famous race car drivers have driven. As you get to the port head towards one of the Catamarans to check out he coastline before grabbing some dinner along the port and heading back.

Day 2

9 a.m.

Yesterday was a long day so take your time waking up today and start by having a good breakfast.

10 a.m.

Stroll towards the Old Town either through the promenade or through the park. In the old town you'll see traditional buildings and maze-like streets, tourist shops, markets etc. On the other side of the old town is castle hill, which you can walk up or catch a lift on the promenade. Up here you have the scenic views of the city, the coast, the harbor and the park, some old roman ruins and a waterfall.

^{Old Town Nice

Photo Credit: www.oneikathetraveller.com}

1 p.m.

Grab some lunch either along the promenade where there are a number of restaurants or in the Old Town.

2 p.m.

Head towards Cannes. It's a half an hour drive and you can take a stroll down the Crossiette which is where the famous Cannes Film Festival takes place. Grab an ice cream to keep you cool. If you head to the road behind the Crossiette you will find Rue de Antibes where you can find rows of shops, whether you're window shopping or looking to spend some money this is the place to go.

4 p.m.

You have already managed to see two towns in one day why not make it three. The place to head is Mougins, which is located in the heights of Cannes This picturesque village is surrounded by forests and village shops. It is a nice little town up in the hills to walk around and take a sneak peak through the art shops. This is also the place to make sure you have diner as the setting is both beautiful and romantic.

^{Mougins

Photo Credit: www.theguardian.com}

^{Main Image Photo Credit: www.pinterest.com}

Vallisa Chauhan

Author

Vallisa Chauhan (@vallisachauhan) presents the Flagship breakfast show on Lyca Radio 1458. She has scripted and produced a full feature film called "Those 4 Walls" and is currently working on other projects. She loves travel and movies and tries to fit in both as much as she can.