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Entertainment
Guide to Events, Entertainment and Nightlife in Nice

If you're planning on making a proper night of it in Nice make sure you've packed your finery, it is strictly dress to impress. If you don't fancy indulging in any of the offered entertainment simply choose a café and play people watching while soaking up Nice's rarefied ambience.

Music

The Opéra de Nice auditorium (see details below) is the home of the Nice Philharmonic orchestra and is the place for classical performances through the year. A full programme of domestic performances is usually complemented with international standard orchestras visiting the city.

Check local listings for what's on when you visit or call the information line on Tel: + 33 (0)4-9217-4000.

Nice comes alive for its yearly jazz festival, held each July in the park in Cimiez. Recent guests have included Jimmy Cliff and Kool and the Gang. Several of the bars in Nice old town such as Wayne's and Johnny's feature live acts several times a week. It's often enough to sit in a café to catch passing musicians wielding double basses, guitars and even pianos on wheels. The Tourist Information office has details on the regular concerts on the Colline du Château above Nice, at one of several theatres or at one of Nice's many art gallery exhibition rooms.

Reggae, pop and rock concerts as well as ballet, musicals and classical performances take place at the Nikaia arena (Tel:+33 (0)4-9229-3129) with the football stadium also playing host to some modern music events during the close football season. The Tourist Information offices around town, as well as the branches of Fnac and Virgin on Avenue Jean Médecin, act as booking agents for most events.

Theatre

The highly respected Théâtre de Nice on Promenade des Arts (Tel: +33 (0)4-9313-9090) features a solid variety of performances, occasionally from touring English companies, for about EUR10 to EUR30.

Nice old town is home to countless tiny theatre houses, many with the odd English-language show. Wander around the streets to discover them, or pick up many of the paper flyers thrust around before events. Street theatre in town involves Brazilian capoirera displays, mini-plays and dance.

Opera

The Opéra de Nice, 4 Rue St-François-de-Paule (Tel: +33 (0)4-9217-4000) is a grand old building dating from the late-19th century. A full programme of opera (in season) is presented, with the real heavyweights of the great operas dominating the schedule. Ticket prices range greatly from just EUR6 up to EUR100 but you will struggle to get the best seats at short notice, especially for the traditional favourites such as Carmen.

Cinema

Many cinemas on the Côte d'Azur have version originale showings (signified by the letters VO next to the production). The Mercury (Place Garibaldi. Tel: +33 (0)4-9355-3781) and the Rialto (4 Rue de Rivoli. Tel: +33 (0)4-9388-0841) show the vast majority Nice's best English-language films.

Gambling

The moneyed nature of the Riviera has long led to it being associated with playboy lifestyles, just one facet of which are the gambling tables of the Monte Carlo Casino (Place du Casino, Monaco. Tel: +377 9216-2000). If you're curious to get a taste of what's going on down the coast at not quite so high-rolling prices, try Nice's own Casino Ruhl (1 Promenade des Anglais. Tel: +33 (0)4-9703-1222). Unless you're really pushing the boat out it is best to avoid the restaurant, but the cabaret can be amusing. Dress smartly and take a passport to get in. Open 10h00 until dawn.

Sports

Nice's football squad play at the Stade du Ray in the St Maurice district of town, some 2km north of Nice-Ville rail station. Despite lounging in the second division for several years, a spring of new talent now places the club as one of the leading teams in France's top league. Matches take place every other Saturday and cost around EUR12 for a ticket. Buses 1, 2 or 5 run to the stadium.

Swimming feels like the national pastime on Nice beach on a sunny Sunday. In cooler weather locals use the trendy town centre Canal Form pool (1 Rue Andrioli. Tel: +33 (0)4-9396-9654), the public Jean Médecin pool (178 Rue de France. Tel: +33 (0)4-9386-2401) or the Piscine St François (13 Place St François. Tel: +33 (0)4-9313-9142) in Nice old town.

Volleyball, boules and snorkelling are all doable on the beach. Visitors can also try scuba diving at Nice Diving (14 Quai des Docks. Tel: +33 (0)4-9389-4244) or other watersports at Aigle Nautique (50 Blvd Franck Pilatte. Tel: +33 (0)4-9356-7799).

Nightlife

The centre of Nice is relatively small and the selection of bars is large so you'll never have to look far for evening entertainment, but don't expect too much dance music: in Nice the nightlife is as refined as the daytime activities.

If you're keen to go clubbing your best bet is around the Cours Saleya, which really comes alive in the summer especially. In season you can take your pick from a range of bars, clubs and discos around here. Favourite haunts include Thor, a bar with clientele as Scandinavian as its name. Although rather touristy, and not exactly French it's a lively enough joint and boasts one of the best beer selections in the city. For something a little more upmarket, head for Cimiez, Nice's most exclusive residential area. Cedac de Cimiez holds twice-monthly live jazz concerts and is one of the most chic places to be seen on any night. 49 Ave de la Marne. Tel: +33 (0)4-9353-8595.

Cours Saleya is certainly expat and tourist heaven for nightlife, but if you'd rather something with a more local flavour wander down to the Rue de l'Abbaye. This is where the Niçoises themselves choose to spend their evenings, and with a range of small intimate bars and clubs (plus prices that don't require you to have a stiff drink afterwards). The Bulldog Pub Pompei is probably the best place to meet locals and enjoy a great night out. Open until the early hours it becomes quite raucous towards the end of the evening.

Special Events

February
Nice comes alive in February for France's most famous carnival, the Carnival on the Riviera. The whole town is decorated for 21 days. There are parades, floats, marching bands and street music. The carnival's highpoint takes place on Shrove Tuesday, with a huge parade of giant papier mache characters when the "Carnival King" is taken to the beach and set alight at sea. A massive firework display brings the main festivities to a close, although there is a flower procession the following day. Tickets should be obtained from the tourist office as early as possible as the event is always over-subscribed. Tel: +33 (0)4-9214-4649.

May
La Fete des Mai takes place every Sunday throughout the month and dates back to when citizens of Nice honoured the Earth Goddess and coming of spring, cutting down a pine tree and setting it up within the Temple decorating it with garlands and flowers. This tradition has continued through the ages and now adapted to contemporary life is celebrated in the gardens of the Arenes de Cimiez. Nicoise specialities to taste, and performances of local folk tales, local bands and dancing can be enjoyed by everyone.

July
The Nice Jazz Festival has returned to Nice each year since the 1940s, attracting top acts from the purists to the experimental. For the children there is a Lego village. Call the tourist office for full details, Tel: +33 (0)4-9214-4649.

December
Feeling brave? Then head for Ruhl Beach, where scores of locals take to the chilly waters for the Festive Bathe. If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, make your way to Place Masséna for the Christmas Village. Each year, there are tents selling gifts, food, local crafts and specialities from different countries each year to provide Nice with a truly international Christmas experience.

 

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