Avenue Jean Médecin

Avenue Jean Médecin runs through the centre of Nice, from the steps of Gare de Nice Ville down to the Fontaine du Soleil, and then it is only a short walk to the Promenade des Anglais and the sea. Locals call it simply "the avenue," and it earns that: it is the street where the city shops, eats and meets, lined with international brands, French boutiques, cafés and bistros under the palm trees of the Centre Ville district.

The tramline T1 runs its whole length, so you can step off the train and be at the beach in minutes. By day the pavements fill with shoppers and people heading to work; after dark the blocks around Place Wilson pick up, with rooftop lounges and small wine bars. Along the way, market stalls sell socca, the crisp chickpea pancake that is the local specialty, and through the year the avenue hosts summer jazz and Christmas markets alike. Hotels cluster here too, from boutique spots with a bohemian feel to places with breakfast in a sunlit lounge, and luggage storage nearby frees you to explore hands-free if you have just arrived or a late departure.

What stays with you is how little distance separates everything: shops, tram, old town and sea all sit within a few minutes of one another. Wheelchair access is reasonable, though not every building has a lift, and expect some street noise at night, because the avenue does not really quiet down. That is the point of it: this is Nice's daily life, all on one street.