| I love reading travel guides travel guides about Nice and the Cote d'Azur. I have a copy, though not always the latest editions like the ones on the left, of all of the books on this page and I've still plenty more to add to this list when I get around to it. All the books have been useful in different ways and collectively build up a good picture of Nice. It is difficult to recommend just one. I quite like the smaller guides to take with me, like the 'Top 10' series and definitely the pop-out map. The others I leave at home or maybe take one for the journey. Some of the best guides to Nice can only be bought in Nice. See the bottom of this page for more information. It's a good idea to read a little about Nice before a trip especially if you only have a few days. That way, as well as having some idea of what to expect, you can make the most of your time enjoying Nice rather than wondering where to go next or if you've missed the best bits. Clicking on any of the books to the left will take you straight to that particular book in the online bookshop, Amazon.co.uk. Don't forget to order a free practical guide and map to Nice through the tourist office web site: www.nicetourisme.com Another idea is to compile your own guide to Nice by printing off any tips that you like the look of in www.virtualtourist.com. There is a feature on the site which allows you to assemble all your tips together into a virtual guide book to print off and take with you. (September 2004, 2007) If you are browsing the travel guides in bookshops and are wondering which to choose then you may find the following tips will help you decide which book is most current - useful to check on newer editions of the same book. Check the guide books for: Reference to the Naval Museum on the Chateau Hill - this has been closed for several years. There should be a reference to the new Palais de la Mediterrane - now a gleaming new Hotel, Restaurant, Casino and apartment block. It has been completely restored and open for a couple of years The famous Chocolatier 'Auer' in rue Francois de Paule has not had a coffee shop at the back for many years. 'L'Ane Rouge' the famous restaurant on Nice Port has now re-opened. It has been closed the last couple of years. The '70's' bar on the other side of the Port is closed but a new bar and restaurant is now in its place. (Don't be too hard on guide books that still mention the 70's - Sensory has only been open since September/October 2004 and has changed hands again in 2006, now called Bluemoon and again in 2007)) The Open Top Bus tours should get a mention in up-to-date guide books- they are in their third year now. Most guides just mention the 'Little Tourist Train' tours. There hasn't been a Marks & Spencer in Nice for several years. Laura Ashley on rue de France has also closed down. The guide books should not still be listing these shops. (2007) Throw away in disgust any guide book that refers to the bus network in NIce as 'Sunbus' rather than lignedazur. The new lignedazur moved from its old offices in Jean Jaures to 3 Place Massena in 2007. Newer guide books should reflect this. The tramway is now in place(November 2007) Good guide books will already have the route marked on city plans in advance. |
| Read all about Nice |
| All about Nice |
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| High Season in Nice: How One French Riviera Town Has Seduced Travellers for Two Thousand Years Robert Kanigel July 2003 £6.39 |
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| The Rough Guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur (Rough Guides) Neville Walker June 2007 £9.09 |
| Buying a Home in France David Hampshire Dec 2006 £12.95 |
| Top 10 Provence & the Cote D'Azur (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides) Robin Gauldie, Anthony Peregrine Jan 2008 £5.41 |
| Provence & Cote D'Azur (Eyewitness Travel Guides) Roger Williams Jan 2006 £9.09 |
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| When in France, Do as the French Do: The Clued-in Guide to French Life, Language and Culture Ross Steele July 2002 £6.49 |
| Nice Europe pop-out maps (new edition) March 2006 £3.99 |
| Book prices are liable to change; please check when you are through to Amazon.co.uk |
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| Provence: The Collected Traveller Barrie Kerper (Editor) March 2001 £8.12 |
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| Culture Shock! France - A Guide to Customs and Etiquette Sally Adamson Taylor December 1991 £9.99 |
| The books on the left are not stocked by Amazon - they can be found in most of the bookshops and some newsagents (Tabacs) in Nice, in English versions. The main publisher of Nice guides in Nice is Gilletta. It looks as though books may be ordered directly from the site but I have never tried to order any; I just buy the guides when I'm in Nice. The 'Relais' newsagents shop at Nice airport is a good source for these guides (there are several available) and also stocks the English editions. |
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| Strolling through Old Nice A 'Heritage' book published by Gilletta, Nice Matin, Authors: Catherine Ungar and Marcelle Viale More information about this guide and others from the Gilletta website which also indicates which guides are available in English. 7.50 euros |
| Guide Nice Another Gilletta, Nice Matin publication , Author: Martine Freynet about 12 euros NB a new edition for 2004 is now out - I have a copy and it has been updated properly. Again, more information to e found at the Gilletta website. (20 euros) |
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| lonely planet: Provence & the Cote d'Azur Nicola Williams April 2007 £9.09 |
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| nice & you 03 A soft-back, A4-sized book about 240 pages, described as a 'City guide for the urban explorer' that accompanies the (now defunct) www.nice&you.com website. In French and English, mostly adverts, but the photography is beautiful. 12 euros. A new and similar website is being contructed so perhaps another book may be produced: www.niceandyou.net |
| One of the great pleasures in life - reading on the beach The daughter reading the fifth Harry Potter, Bamboo Plage, Nice, August 2004 |
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| in association with Amazon.co.uk |
| Guide books about Nice |
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| Landscapes of Eastern Provence: Cote d'Azur to the Alps John Underwood, Pat Underwood April 2002 £6.99 |
| The Sunday Times 26.4.04 Article by Vincent Crump on walking weekends in Europe, including three good walks from Nice. (You will need to register first) For more details or to buy (£6.99) the book mentioned in the article, please click on the book: |
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| Cadogan Guides: Cote d'Azur Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls April 2004 £7.69 |
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| The French Riviera - A Literary Guide for Travellers (hard cover, paperback version also available) Ted Jones January 2004 £12.00 (reviewed in The Sunday Times 27.6.04) - excellent read |
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| The Riviera, the Rise and Rise of the Cote d'Azur: Jim Ring June 2004 £12.59 |
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| Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be wrong: What makes the French so French Jean-Benoit Nadeau, Julie Barlow April 2004 £6.99 |
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| Vacances: Provence and the Cote d'Azur: Barzilai, Bezard, Cantavenera et al April 2000 £7.69 |
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| Cote d'Azur (Landmark Visitors Guide) Richard Sale March 2000 £5.20 |
| This book on the left is a delightful guide to a weekend in Nice. It is only available in French at the moment but it is quite easy to read as it is very factual with plenty of maps, illustrations and photographs - very similar style to the Dorling Kindersley 'Top 10' guides. I bought my copy from the 'Relais' newsagent's shop in the departure lounge of Nice Airport Terminal 2, for 10,75 euros. You can also order it through the French Amazon on-line bookstore, www.amazon.fr. The Routard guide to Nice 2006/2007 is produced annually and is an indispensable part of life Nicoise. It is in French but as it is a directory of the best restaurants, shops and general guide to things to do and see, it is quite easy to understand with basic French and has a good map and all the necessary location and contact details. Speaking the French Language If you can speak French, even the preliminary courtesies, it is much appreciated in shops and restaurants and Nice. One good tip is to always say Bonjour Madame or Monsieur upon entering ANY shop, you will be considered a complete peasant if you don't and even part-peasant if you only say Bonjour, forgetting the Madames/Monsieur bit. The husband and I have been struggling to improve our French over the last couple of years. We both have O-level French from about 300 years ago. We can make ourselves understood but it takes a few weeks to tune into the replies! In my opinion, telephone calls to France are the real test. I've put some of Michael Tomas' French Language Guides on the left. They have been very useful and the biggest advantage is that they are purely auditory, no writing or reading, just repeating and listening to the CD. This makes it great for use in the car, especially if you have one of those pause buttons/volume controls integral with the steering wheel. Try watching some French films with English sub-titles like 'Amelie' and 'Le Placard'. It all helps to get used to the sound of French. Many DVDs have a language option and a subtitle option so you can have a play around. |
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| French with Michael Thomas Complete Course CD Michael Thomas April 2002 £48.99 |
| Click here to search Amazon.co.uk directly for books about the Cote d'Azur and the French Riviera. |
| Click here to search Amazon directly for books about the Cote d'Azur and the French Riviera |
| The Sunday Times 27th June 2004 (requires registration) In the Travel Book section, Miranda Seymour reviews: (Click here for review) 'The French Riviera - a Literary Guide for Travellers' by Ted Jones. and 'Riviera, the rise and rise of the Cote D'Azur' by Jim Ring. Ted Jones' book in particular is highly praised and can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk for £12. Please click on the book below for more details:- |
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| The French Riviera - A Literary Guide for Travellers (hard cover) Ted Jones January 2004 £12.00 anexcellent and informative read Paperback version also available |
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| new edition 2004 |
| November 2000 edition |
| For additional guides to Nice not stocked by Amazon: |
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| French Language Builder CD Michael Thomas August 2001 £14.00 |
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| Michael Thomas Advanced French CD Michael Thomas September 2004 £50.00 |
| Un Grand weekend a Nice et ses environs Published by Hachette May 2004 10,21 euros |
| Nice 2006/2007 guide de Routard Edited by Hachette March 2006 9,50 euros |
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| Eating out en Francais SMH Collin (Editor) January 2004 £5.59 Handy, pocket-sized paperback guide to food and wine terms and phrases in English and French. Useful and interesting with an additional section on French cheese and wine. |
| walk & eat NICE (Sunflower books) John Underwood, Pat Underwood Jan 2008 £8.99 |
| CITYSPOTS NICE (Thomas Cook publishing) Feb 2006 £4.79 |
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| One of the great pleasures in life - reading on the beach The daughter absorbed in yet another book on the pebble beaches of Nice, July 2007. |
| Nice Berlitz Pocket Map, June 2007 £3.79 The above popout map is my usual recommendation. However, Amazon have been out of stock so here is a new kid on the block to try... |
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| walk & eat NICE (Sunflower books, Jan 2008) £8.99 New Jan 2008 edition I really recommend this book if you intend to explore beyond Nice without the bother and hassle of driving and parking. Fourteen interesting walks planned around public transport. Recommended cafes and restaurants en route plus recipes to try at home.. Complementary website keeps the information updated. To see more recommended books on Nice and the Cote d'Azur, please click here |
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| for 2008 |
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| The daughter ploughs through yet another book on the public beach of 'Opera', Nice, July 2006. |
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