Hostel Smith in Nice

zuletzt aktualisiert am 05.01.2010

The hostel welcomes you with a dormitory for 10-12 people or a separate private room for two people sharing. There are showers, a kitchen with cooking facilities and a large flat screen TV, free lockers and WiFi access as well as tea, coffee and chocolate included in the price.

The hostel is just off Place Rossetti, one of the main squares in the old town where you can sit and have a leisurely coffee or glass of local Provencale wine while taking in the colorful Mediterranean sights.

The Square is home to the Cathedrale Ste Reparate dating back to the 17th Century which is a hub of activity in the summer months with regular concerts and festivals. The Musee Lascaris is just opposite our hostel and the famous “Cours Saleya”, Nice’s main square and flower market is 2 minutes walk away and is brimming with the best bars, cafes and restaurants – a perfect place to people-watch and make the most of France’s café society!

The beaches which are just across the square, next to the Cours Saleya, offer all the water sports you could want with diving, par ascending, Jet Ski and scuba diving all on offer. You have an excellent selection of public or paying private beaches.

We are on hand to offer you advice about places to visit in Nice or indeed in other nearby towns such as Cannes, Monaco or Antibes and will be happy to advise you on the best tourist attractions, bars and restaurants in the area.

Nice is France’s fifth biggest city and the “capital” of the French Riviera. It's a glorious place, famous throughout the world for its stunning natural beauty, glamour, cuisine and its jet set visitors.

Much of Nicois life revolves around the historic Old Town where our hostel is situated. The Chateau hill next to the Old Town is where Nice began back in Antiquity and you can take the lift (or walk the hill if you’re feeling up to it) up to the “Chateau” area to get a fantastic view of the city and the beautiful Mediterranean Port. Up at the top is a great place for a picnic too!

If you visit during Carnival time, the “Promenade des Anglais” will be thronged with visitors watching the floats go by as the beautiful girls throw flowers during the “Battle of the flowers” – a great atmosphere and a perfect time to be in Nice. The fireworks display on the final day of Carnival when the king is burnt out at sea is truly a sight to behold.

The Port is about 10 min walk from the hostel and you can have a drink or a meal in one of the many cool bars and restaurants while watching the millionaire’s super yachts cruise past the small local fishing boats.

Cimiez is another area of Nice which is just next to the centre where you can visit the Roman baths, amphitheatre and the Chagall and Matisse museums. If you are in Nice in July, the famous Cimiez Jazz Festival must not be missed. It takes place in these Ancient gardens and musicians from all over the world come to play in the olive groves.

While you’re in Nice, you should take a bus to visit some other nearby sights – Cannes is obviously a top choice so that you can soak up the starry atmosphere and is best to visit in May during the film festival for true Hollywood glamour. You can stop off in beautiful Antibes on the way and admire the walled town with its ramparts and do include a visit to the Provencal market and the Picasso museum. The super yachts in Antibes harbor on the International Quay are worth a stop off too for a glimpse into the life of the mega rich.

Monaco is on everyone’s TO DO list!! The famous Casino can be visited if you have your passport and are dressed correctly. You can take the train or the bus to Monaco and walk around the Grand Prix track or go and see the changing of the guards every day at 12 in the Palace. It is here at the Chapel that Grace Kelly is buried. This is the home of the super rich so be prepared for glamour galore... and prices to match...

Villefranche Sur Mer is one of the most beautiful coastal villages and is just next to Nice. Further on is Beaulieu which has the very interesting Villa “Kerylos” to visit, it is an exact reproduction of an ancient Greek villa.

St Jean Cap Ferrat is where some of the richest people in the world live– it is in fact some of the most expensive land in the world! The Villa and Gardens Ephrussi de Rothschild are on this peninsula and the villa is surrounded by nine beautiful gardens - French, Spanish, and Japanese. Furniture dating from the XVIII century fills the stunning villa and there is also a fabulous collection of China.

Eze sur Mer has an exotic garden in the ruins of a fortress 429 m above sea level. Exceptional views and a beautiful village with lots of arty shops.

Juan Les Pins is a fabulous small town on the beach which is THE place to go clubbing and shopping in the summer months (it pretty much closes in the winter) - it is open very late at night in summer with lots of clubs and bars for young people

St Paul de Vence is a charming artists village a little further inland which you shouldn’t miss either!

Wegbeschreibung

Once you are in Place Rossetti (see the map) stand with your back to the Cathedral and walk up the hill which is called Rue Rossetti. You will see Rue Droite on your left. We are at number 20 which is a building on your right.

-Direction from the train station- Gare SNCF: Turn left out of the station and walk down to Nice’s main shopping avenue, Avenue Jean Medecin. You will see the tram stop there. Get a ticket (costs 1 Euro) and take the tram line number 1 (direction Pont Michel) the stop called “Cathedrale Vieille Ville” which is 4 stops away from the station. Get off the tramway and enter the old town down down Rue Centrale, walk for a moment until you see a grocery store on the corner then turn left into Rue de la Loge. Two streets on the right is Rue Droite and Hostel Smith at number 20 is opposite the Museum Palais Lascaris. (2 minutes walk from the tramway)

Directions from airport: Bus n°98 will take you to the Terminus Gare Routière. Walk out onto the Old Town side of the station.Cross the tramway’s lines and go to the stop called “Cathedrale Vieille Ville” and then follow the instructions above.

A taxi from the airport will cost you between 25 and 30 euros.