Nice & The Côte d’Azur by First Class Rail – Summer

With its wide sweeping bay and golden sands, the sun-drenched city of Nice is an idyllic summer retreat. Bask in the glorious summer sun and admire the spectacular mountainous scenery, which gives way to wonderfully stylish Belle Epoque architecture.

Take a gentle stroll through the Old Town, a honeycomb of narrow streets dotted with lovely Baroque churches,  lively squares and stylish boutiques and restaurants, before making your way down to the celebrated ‘Promenade des Anglais’, offering panoramic views across the Mediterranean.

4 night holiday by First Class rail staying in a double room at Hotel Le Grimaldi (4 star – featured itinerary) from £795* per person or in a double room at the Nice Riviera (4 star) from £825* per person or in a double room at the Splendid Hotel (4 star) from £845* per person or in a double room at the Hotel La Pérouse (4 star) from £895* per person or upgrade to a superior sea view double room at the Hotel La Pérouse (4 star) from £1,050* per person or in a double room at the Palais de la Méditerranée (5 star) from £1,150* per person or upgrade to a partial sea view double room at the Palais de la Méditerranée (5 star) from £1,225* per person or upgrade to a sea view double room at the Palais de la Méditerranée (5 star) from £1,375* per person (based on 2 people travelling together).

Add an overnight stay in a 4 star hotel in Paris from £60 per person, per night.

*Prices based on a September departure. Summer: June to September

Day 1 – London to Nice

Savour the start of your holiday as you enter the spectacularly restored London St Pancras International station. On a sunny day you can admire the beams of light passing through the majestic curved glass roof.  Make your way to the Eurostar check-in and then relax before boarding the train for the start of your journey to Paris.  Enjoy the light meal and drinks served at your Standard Premier Class (Eurostar’s 1st class for leisure travellers) seat as your train travels through the passing English countryside and into France at speeds of up to 300km/h.

As you arrive into the Gare du Nord your taxi transfer will whisk you across the city to the Gare de Lyon for the onward journey by high-speed TGV service south through France to Nice on the Côte d’Azur.  As you travel south enjoy the changing scenery as you pass between the foothills of the Provence-Alps towards the Côte d’Azur and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.  On arrival in Nice you make your own way on foot or by taxi to the comfortable and highly-rated Hotel Le Grimaldi (4 star), ideally located close to the beach and Promenade des Anglais.

Days 2, 3 and 4 – Nice and the Côte d’Azur

Take time to plan your three full days on the Mediterranean.  Soak up the ambience of Nice by meandering through the Cours Saleya with its famous farmers’, fresh flower and antique markets, before taking a stroll into the Old Town, with its smart shops and stylish boutiques.  To sample a different side of Nice, walk east along the Promenade des Anglais and take the lift or stairs up to the château, a collection of ruins which commands a glorious view across Nice and the stunning coastline.  For a cultural twist you could take the time to visit the Matisse and Chagall museums or the imposing Russian Orthodox Cathedral – a national monument and a landmark of the architectural landscape of Nice.  After you have taken the time to explore Nice you might decide to venture further afield on the Côte d’Azur, where you can be spoilt by the choice of attractive coastal towns such as Cannes, Monte Carlo and St. Tropez.

Day 5 – Nice to London

After a leisurely breakfast make your way back to Nice railway station for the return journey by TGV via Paris.  Bid farewell to the French Riviera in the comfort of your 1st Class seat as your train travels north through France to Paris. where a private taxi takes you across the capital to connect with the Eurostar service to London.  Reminisce about the wonderful memories of Nice as you enjoy your light meal and drinks, before arriving in London St. Pancras for the final stage of your trip home.