Escape the ice – why Nice is a nice winter retreat

STORY BY JESSE SHIP 

It’s a little-known fact that the French Riviera (Côte D’Azur) was one of France’s earliest tourism destinations, made popular by Napoleon in the 1800s, and visitors have been savouring the beautiful coast ever since.

On Thursday (Jan. 30), travel professionals, 20 suppliers, 15 media members, five hoteliers, three tourism boards, and the Consul General of France in Toronto, Bertrand Pous, attended the Côte D’Azur France Tourism Board Roadshow on the 43rd floor of the Bisha Hotel

Toronto for a breakfast and networking session powered by freshly-baked croissants and coffee.

Pleasing visitors is not hard thanks to a diversity of amenities the region has to offer, and the luxurious experiences that can be had, extending far beyond the glitzy week-long film festival season.

Gourmet culinary experiences can be had at any time of year among the 90 municipalities along the Riviera.

Winter festivities

While visitors can find mountains, beaches, oceans, fields and valleys, the tourism board’s strategy has always been to promote winter activities like the February Carnival of Nice, the Mimosa Festival, and the Menton Lemon Festival.

But winter is getting an even bigger push with Nice’s official UNESCO designation as a Winter Resort Town of the Riviera since 2021.

Canadian connections

“We are dreaming of a direct flight to Nice during the winter months” said Melanie Paul-Hus, director for Canada of Atout France, the French tourism development agency in Canada, speaking to PAX at the event.

This is, of course, in reference to the popular April to October flight from Montreal offered by Air Canada and Air Transat. Non-direct flights to Paris with Air France-KLM are still fairly painless via with either a quick flight or train ride to Cannes for the scenic route.

The Marseille Provence airport is another potential gateway to Côte D’Azur. It’s a roughly a two-hour commute to the region by car.

Canadian tourists rank 17th in the number of international visitors with over 90,000 stays in the region, and an average of seven nights per visit.

Of those stays, 48,000 stay in hotels and self-catering residences. Visitors can expect to spend roughly 100 € /day (around $150 CAD), so advise clients accordingly.

The region is also known for attracting snowbirds who are looking for alternatives to the southern United Stated. More than 300 vacation homes in the region belong to Canadian citizens or residents, officials say.

Plenty of accommodations with ocean views and walking distance to outdoor markets are available. Not only is Côte D’Azur the most visited region in France after Paris, it also has the second-largest selection of hotels.

The sporting life

During the winter months, hikers, cyclists and golfers can all enjoy their favourite activities in the region without breaking a heavy sweat thanks to the region’s mild climate – and skiing in the Alpes-Maritimes region is only 1.5 hours away.

The diversity of ecosystems helped the region net the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic games, and will feature Nice as the centre for all ice sports.

Nautical sporting events, like the Monaco Yacht Show or Voiles de Saint-Tropez, are in full-swing year-round, and visitors can enjoy self-guided SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Board) tours, diving, snorkeling and other water sports in warmer months.

The cultured life

Of course, the culture is ever-flowing. Highlights for the region in 2025 include the reopening of La Malmaison modern art centre on the iconic Cannes Croisette, with triple the previous exhibition space, the FAMM (Female Artists of Mougins Museum), and the MAMAC (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) in Nice.

Other not to be missed museums for art lovers are the Picasso Museum in Antibes and the March Chagall National Museum, also in Nice.

Lesser known is the underwater eco-museum close to Cannes, off Ile Sainte Marguerite, the first of its kind. It’s free to visit, as long as visitors are appropriately outfitted with snorkeling or diving gear.

Insider trip tips

“Booking over a year ahead is better,” said Paul-Hus.

“And booking in winter is cheaper!” added Claire Behar, managing director, of the Cote D’Azur tourism board. “Being a very popular destination for the French as well, it’s always good to be ahead.”

For travel advisors, it’s best to get the lay of the land before sending clients. For example, Paul-Hus advised: “If you have clients who want to visit in May, well maybe it’s too busy in Cannes, but the region is so varied, maybe they could consider other areas of the cote like Antibes [a resort town between Cannes and Nice].  I think it’s important to master the offer in order to direct clients.”

Knowing the transportation details also makes a difference. “You have the tram that goes from Nice International airport to downtown and then the tram that goes from the airport to the harbour, and there’s the train along the coast, many buses, it’s very easy to visit. Or you can even cycle,” said Behar. 

“The tourism board is able to help make sure you’re booking the right accommodations.”

Nice is also known as a launch point for cruises. Planning a three-day stay, pre-boarding, is also an enjoyable way to decompress after a long intercontinental flight, or to ground yourself post-cruise.

For more information, visit the official tourism website for the Côte d'Azur here.

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