Nice remains a popular location for a second home amongst those wanting to escape the harsh winters of northern Europe. For the British the love affair with Nice began in the second half of the eighteenth century. In those days it was the British aristocracy enjoying the climate and panoramic view along the coast. Today Nice still attracts the super-rich but has much to offer all the way down the price range.
Why a home away from home in Nice?
The reasons why Nice is popular for a second home are:
- Frequent flights including the low cost carriers
- A City that has matched its big ambition to be a premier location in Europe with huge investments in tramways, parks, pedestrianized streets and other improvements
- The beach with safe swimming and very agreeable lifestyle
- Its successfully blend of the ultra-modern with its rich historic heritage
- A steady long term investment in a well regulated property market
Types of properties
The most popular form of home in Nice is the apartment. The area you select for your second home will largely determine the types of apartments and vice versa. Within each area,factors that will affect the price include:
- the surface area of the apartment, which generally gets less the closer to the beach you are
- what sort of view, and if there is any outside area like a balcony or a terrace
- the number of bedrooms
- how modern the kitchen, bathroom(s) and living areas are
Best areas in Nice for the second home
Nice is a large city. Our recommended locations for you to begin your search for a second home are:
Old Town – Nice’s Old Town, or Vieux Nice, is the historic heart of Nice dating back to the 16th century. The colourful narrow winding streets are full of galleries, markets, and boutiques selling everything from clothes to local produce. As evening falls the cafes, bars and restaurants are abuzz with people enjoying themselves or simply watching the world walk by. It is still possible to find properties in Old Nice for under €150,000
Carre d’Or – The Carré d’Or, or “Golden Square”, is full of chic bars and designer stores, and nowhere is more than 5 minutes walk to the beach. It is a very sought after areas in Nice. It contains the most prestigious boutiques; on Rue Paradis designer labels such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel are to be found. A few minutes’ walk will take you to the beach, to the Old Town, the main shopping street.
Place Garibaldi – Place Garibaldi is an outdoor square that lies at the eastern end of Old Town and is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. It is one of the oldest and largest squares in Nice. It has recently been carefully renovated to further accentuate the beauty of the buildings and its outlying landscape. It includes a selection of unique bars, cafes, and shops.
The Port – The Port of Nice is located at the edge of the Old Town and is one of the main harbours for boats that sail across the Mediterranean. It also accommodates private yachts and it is around this part of the port that the most desirable apartments are to be found. A lot of bustle and activity is provided by the comings and goings of those visitors to Nice living on their luxury yachts.
Musicians Quarter – The Musicians quarter is an attractive cluster of streets whose building facades are full of architectural character providing echoes of the “belle époque” years. It is quieter and more residential than the neighbouring Carre d’Or, with less bustle, but still with good restaurants and reasonable walking distance from the beach and promenade. The streets are named after famous composers.
Mont Boron – The hill of Mont Boron offers some of the most spectacular views Nice has to offer. Towering over the port of Nice, it is the gateway to Villefranche and a short hop from there to Monaco. This exclusive residential neighbourhood offers quietness and privacy. However with the view and exclusivity comes distance from the Centre.