Nice, an eden for eco-friendly travellers

Nice stands out for its environmentally-friendly approach, offering a unique experience for eco-friendly travellers. Over the years, nature has reclaimed its rightful place on the asphalt. Cycle paths are springing up everywhere. The green revolution is underway!

Nice Côte d’Azur transcends tourist expectations by offering much more than a sunny getaway. The destination is committed to creating unforgettable experiences, combining Mediterranean charm with authenticity. Explore the many parks and gardens, browse the lively markets and discover local produce, enjoy healthy, labelled cuisine, favour short circuits and seasonal produce, immerse yourself, on foot or by bike, in the city’s captivating history and discover a heritage now included on the UNESCO list..

But Nice’s commitment goes beyond the picturesque: eco-responsible initiatives, meetings with local craftsmen and eco-labelled establishments will make your next stay a committed adventure.

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1 – A wide variety of parks and gardens are waiting to be explored 🌳

In Nice, every green space offers a magical escape in the heart of the city.

Let yourself be enchanted by the diversity of local and exotic plants and the heady scent of flowers. With its parks managed ecologically, without the use of pesticides, Nice highlights the diversity of plant species. I highly recommend :

• the Phoenix Floral Park, a botanical paradise that harmoniously combines a themed garden, a lake, a tropical greenhouse and animal areas. Take the opportunity to visit the extraordinary Asian Arts Museum next door.
• the Promenade du Paillon, a vast 12-hectare green corridor in the heart of Nice. A water mirror and children’s playground add to the liveliness of this popular spot for locals and visitors alike. An 8-hectare extension is currently under construction to bring more nature to the city centre, to the delight of young and old alike! (cover photo @OTM NCA / K.Kelagopian).
• The Botanical Garden, which has been awarded the “remarkable garden” label, has a mission to conserve biodiversity and pass on our natural heritage. Covering 3.5 hectares and 40 themed areas, this municipal park boasts more than 3,000 plant species. A must-see!
• Lou Camin Nisssart, a long-distance footpath winding through the hills of Nice, past centuries-old olive groves and offering breathtaking views of the city and the Mediterranean below. It’s a must-do, and can be done at your own pace over the distance of your choice! Make sure you’re wearing suitable footwear.

2 – Cycle lanes to promote soft mobility 🚲

Nice emphasises its commitment to sustainable development by encouraging the use of bicycles. A vast network of cycle paths stretches along the famous Promenade des Anglais and through the historic districts, offering you a captivating opportunity to enjoy an environmentally-friendly tourist experience. Enjoy the city’s heritage treasures and exceptional panoramas on this fun cycling getaway.

Good to know:

Self-service bicycles – including electric-assist bicycles (there’s a station every 300 metres) – are available for hire everywhere. All in all, an ideal way to discover Nice in a new and original way!

Less fun but very practical for getting around Nice : public transport such as trams or electric buses! Keep it in mind!

3 – Attractive boutiques for eco-responsible shopping 🎁

For your souvenir gifts, opt for 100% local shopping or products made from recycled, ethical or eco-responsible materials!

Nice is bursting with craft districts, veritable showcases of creativity and local know-how. Explore these picturesque districts where traditional crafts meet contemporary innovation. Vieux-Nice, for example, with its winding streets, is a treasure trove of artisan workshops. Browse the shops that embrace the zero waste concept. From reducing packaging to promoting bulk products, these shops offer eco-responsible alternatives to satisfy everyday needs.

My small selection of shops

Atelier Collectif Mouche Cousue – 110 rue de Roquebillière, 06300 Nice (by appointment)
This collective offers original hand-sewn creations that are durable, useful and pretty. Favourite fabrics with bold graphics or striking colours, as well as recycled materials, make their way into your everyday objects.

https://collectif-mouche-cousue.com/

Café-Boutique Ici-Là-bas – 37 Rue Droite, 06300 Nice
Boutique promoting ethical, responsible & solidarity-based crafts in Vieux-Nice: zero-waste essentials, jewellery and accessories, interior decoration, bookshop, stationery and children’s corner.
https://www.icilabas.fr/

Artisans du Monde – 5 rue Vernier, 06000 Nice
100% fair trade offer – Local producers such as Les senteurs du Claut are also represented.
http://www.artisansdumondenice.org/

Ici Concept Store – 24 Rue Tonduti de l’Escarène – 06000 Nice
A fashion, interior design and tableware shop, as well as a tea room and living space with an inspiring and enveloping atmosphere.
https://ici-conceptstore.fr/

Wakey – 30 Rue Barla, 06300 Nice
Vegan, ecological, 100% natural, 100% French cosmetics.
https://www.wakey-cosmetiques.com/

Bérénice & Églantine – 35 Rue Pairolière, 06000 Nice
Boutique in Vieux-Nice. Natural, organic, local cosmetics, no animal testing.
https://bereniceeteglantine.fr

La Fraperie – 27 rue Lamartine, 06000 Nice
Boutique selling quality second-hand vintage clothing in Vieux-Nice.
La Fraperie

4 – 4 – Gastronomy with a label that pays tribute to local produce 👨‍🍳

Based on vegetables and fresh produce, Nice cuisine is healthy, sunny and light. Olive oil is used in all the dishes, as are aromatic plants such as basil, garlic, thyme and rosemary… Enhanced and protected by the “Cuisine Nissarde, respecting tradition” label, Nice gastronomy is now part of France’s intangible cultural heritage.

Start your discovery of Nice’s cuisine with a visit to its markets. Classed as one of France’s exceptional markets, the Cours Saleya market in the old town is a real treat for the senses. Here you can sample specialities on the go, such as socca (a chickpea flour pancake to be eaten as soon as it comes off the wood fire), pissaladière (a kind of onion tart cooked with pissalat), delicious stuffed vegetables, pan bagnat (a generous sandwich that is the pride of Nice) and tourte de blettes (a sweet tart made with Nice chard and pine nuts). The Libération market, north of Nice, is also a magical place where you can find local produce and organic produce.

Enjoy all the diversity of local cuisine in a small bistro, a grand table or on the terrace, with a view of the port or Old Nice and an excellent Bellet wine, produced in the hills of Nice under the PDO (protected designation of origin)!

5 – 5 – Unforgettable experiences and encounters

🐬 A trip out at sea with the SOS Grand Bleu association 🐬

For 33 years, SOS Grand Bleu has been taking concrete action to protect the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean. It has won a number of victories, including a total ban on driftnets at European Union level, a ban on tuna fishing, and the prevention of four dolphinarium projects…
The association organises day trips out to sea aboard a pretty wooden sailing boat. Leaving from the port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, set off to discover the exceptional marine heritage of the Pelagos sanctuary ! Seven species of cetacean are regular visitors to this sanctuary, including between 1,000 and 3,000 fin whales, as well as around 25,000 blue and white dolphins… Keep your eyes peeled!

🐝 A rooftop visit to meet the bees at the Hôtel Florence Nice 🐝

In Nice Côte d’Azur, more than 140 establishments have a Green label (Green Globe, Clé Verte or European Ecolabel) or are committed to inclusive tourism, meeting the new demands of travellers: use of renewable energy, selective sorting of waste, use of environmentally-friendly cleaning products and limiting water wastage…

A hotel committed to respecting the environment, theHôtel Florence Nice was the first 3* hotel to be awarded the European Ecolabel, in 2012. Its roof is home to 3 beehives and thousands of bees that produce an average of 40 kg of honey a year! This delicious harvest not only reinforces the hotel’s ‘green’ image, but also offers visitors a unique experience. Let your honey tasting be a symbol of tourism that combines pleasure and respect for the environment!

🫒 A visit to Domaine Lessatini on the theme of olives 🫒

Deeply rooted in local agricultural history, the olive is considered a veritable treasure in Nice. Olive trees are very common in the hills around Nice, and adorn many private gardens. For over 80 years, Domaine Lessatini has been perpetuating the PDO olive-growing tradition, cultivating hundreds of centuries-old olive trees. The result is extra virgin olive oil, olive paste, tapenade and table olives with an authentic taste. Immerse yourself in the captivating history of this family-run farm during a guided tour, and meet the passionate producers! There’s also a small shop where you can extend the pleasure and pack a little bit of Nice in your suitcase…

🎨 A workshop to make the most of your artistic talents! 🎨

What fun it is to make your own gifts to share (or not) with your loved ones! Explore a variety of captivating workshops for everyone: compose surprising bouquets, fashion your own terrarium, learn the magic of ceramic modelling, create enchanting scented candles, explore the secrets of marquetry, or make your own meditation cushion or unique leather belt. Let your desires guide you. Like our talented craftsmen, you too can be a creator of emotions!

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