My Trip to Nice, France – Football, Beaches & a Touch of Monaco

Watching PSG Live in Nice

The highlight for me was watching OGC Nice play against Paris Saint-Germain. PSG had both Mbappé and Neymar(left picture) in their squad at the time — two future Hall of Fame footballers. Seeing them live, right in front of me, was surreal. The game ended 3–0 with Neymar scoring twice, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electric. We had almost pitch-side seats, and at one point Mbappé came over to take a throw-in literally 2–3 meters away from us. Unreal.

Exploring Nice

The next day was all about exploring the city. Nice is beautiful — walking through its streets, soaking in the Mediterranean vibes, and taking a swim in the turquoise water was perfect. The beach is a stone beach rather than sand, which we actually enjoyed since it meant no sand sticking everywhere.

We also went up to Castle Hill (Colline du Château), which offers an absolutely gorgeous panoramic view over the French Riviera. It’s an easy climb and totally worth it — a must-see if you’re in Nice.

Day Trip to Monaco

On the third day, we took the train to Monaco, which is only one station away from Nice. If you’re in Nice, it’s a mandatory excursion in my opinion. I had heard that Monaco was rich, but seeing it in person blew my mind. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, and Bentleys were everywhere — and the yachts in the harbor were even more insane. Some kind of yacht event had just wrapped up, so the harbor was still full of massive luxury boats.

For lunch, we decided to go all out… at McDonald’s. But this wasn’t any ordinary McDonald’s — it had three levels, a terrace view over the harbor, the yachts, and even the Prince’s castle. Probably the fanciest McDonald’s I’ll ever eat at.

After more exploring, we visited the Casino de Monte-Carlo, one of the most iconic casinos in the world. The luxury cars parked outside gave us an idea of what kind of people usually go there. We were just six 18-year-old guys in shorts and t-shirts, definitely feeling a bit out of place, but we had fun playing a few slot machines. A surreal experience.

Of course, on the way back, we realized our friend had accidentally booked train tickets for the wrong day… but luckily we still made it back to Nice with only some extra stress (and some scolding for him).

Food in Nice

Apart from our “luxurious” McDonald’s in Monaco, we enjoyed some incredible food: duck with mashed potatoes, pasta, croissants, and of course, baguettes. French food in Nice was as good as you’d expect.

Final Thoughts

Nice is a bit on the pricier side, but it’s worth every euro. Between the football, the Mediterranean beaches, Castle Hill, and the easy access to Monaco, it makes for a perfect getaway. If you’re a football fan, I highly recommend watching OGC Nice play and then celebrating with some duck and wine afterwards.