© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
Place de l'Ile-de-Beaute
Also known as the Port de Nice or Port Lympia
Sitting on the waterfront and overlooking the port of Nice, this square is surrounded by Neo-Classical buildings and the church of Notre-Dame du Port. Also known as Place du Port, you can sit and watch the boats come and go or take a ferry to Corsica; Port Lympia is France's main sea connection with Corsica.
You can book short cruises along the coastline at Quai Lunel, or enquire at one of the many dive shops about doing a SCUBA or snorkel trip - there is plenty of marine life to see in the clear warm waters of the Mediterranean.
The port is surrounded on three sides by long roads lined with bars, restaurants and shops. Quai Cassini on the east, Quai des Docks on the west and Place Ile-de-Beauté joining the two at the head of the port; Place Ile-de-Beauté is the busiest area with various lanes of traffic and bus routes all jostling for space. The restaurants here are well-established and always seem quite busy but if you prefer somewhere a little quieter then head alongside the port on Quai des Docks for more chilled-out surroundings.
Some of our favourite seafood restaurants are along this quiet stretch but if you just fancy a couple of drinks as the sun goes down then you can grab a table outside the ever-popular Ma Nolans Irish bar. The port is quite magical at sunset, there are often strange cloud formations streaked through with fiery orange-pink light and the lamp posts around the port change colour like Chinese lanterns.
The port holds an annual festival each September when food stalls line the harbour, stages are erected at various points and street entertainers weave in and out of the throngs of people who come to enjoy this free celebration. You can try all sorts of tasty treats from local producers and dance the night away to some fantastic live bands - stick around until after dark for the spectacular firework display that lights up the water.
Visitor comments
- "Constructed in the Italian style with an arcaded ground floor with trompe l'oeil window frames over an ochre facade, the Place Ile de Beaute was constructed in the 1780's along the north side of the port of Nice. In fact this port was excavated only in the late 18th century, because before that fishing boats were simply pulled up on the shoreline in Nice. The collection of colourful fishing boats (pointu) and luxury yachts that line the U shaped harbour are studies in contrast. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at a side walk cafe beside the port watching the busy scene as the massive ferry from Corsica unloaded its cargo of passengers and vehicles." - Trip Advisor
- "The port is real, alive and working, as is the whole of Nice anyway. You can see two types of boat here, the modern super yacht gin palaces on two sides of the port and the ancient clinker-built Pointou,(Pointou means a point at both ends). They all are seaworthy , motorised, and good to see, especially when their owners work on them, 'on the beach.' There are some good restaurants around the port offering fresh seafood, moules mariniere is generally particularly good.
Look out also for the Corsican ferry arriving and departing and any cruise liner trying to dock, it's like putting a quart into a pint pot." - Trip Advisor - "This is a place to let your imagination take hold & dream. It is enough to just stroll along and wonder at the style and scale of the boats. Take time also to look up and see the city stretching away to the mountains." - Trip Advisor
