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Nice Carnival & The French Riviera

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6 days From £999 £949 per person
4.6 stars(19 reviews)
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Immerse yourself in the vibrancy of Nice Carnival

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Save up to £100pp on selected Europe 2024 holidays when you book by 31st October 2023.

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Win a River Cruise

Book your Europe or British Isles holiday by midnight Wed 18th October and be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a free Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens river cruise for two, with our sister company Great Rail journeys.

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Mobility Rating 2

2024 Tour code: 24PNE

About the tour

Immerse yourself in the vibrancy of Nice Carnival

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – London & Nice

Your holiday begins in London, as you meet your Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras. You take the Eurostar to Paris, where you join the local TGV service to Nice, your base for the next five nights.

Nice is one of France's most popular and cosmopolitan holiday destinations, with famous shingle beaches, a pleasant Mediterranean climate and a naturally beautiful location on the spectacular French Riviera. The city is also famous for its vibrant carnival, which takes place each year during the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras - a final chance to indulge in merriment before lent.

Day 2 – Nice

You enjoy a fascinating guided tour of Nice this morning. First, you travel by coach to Masséna Square, Nice's main square, and the ideal place to begin your explorations.

This historic market square is lined with palm trees and surrounded by red ochre buildings. You continue to the historic Old Town. Simultaneously relaxed and atmospheric, Nice's 'Old Quarter' is a jumble of alleyways that wind between dwellings and other buildings which date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Here, you see the Opera House, the colourful flower market, and Nice's striking cathedral. You also visit the Castle hilltop, where you can take in stunning, panoramic views across the Old Town and famous Promenade des Anglais.

This afternoon you are free to explore the city at your own pace.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Day 3 – Nice Carnival

Today, you are free to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the city. Tonight, a highlight of your holiday awaits as you travel by tram to the city's Masséna Square. Here, you experience this evening's carnival extravaganza, the Parade of Lights, from your reserved grandstand seats. Sit back and relax, admiring the innovative floats, adorned with meticulously arranged flowers, and talented performers in colourful costume, as they wend their way through the illuminated streets. Over 1,000 dancers, actors and performers take part, with processions taking place through the streets, making this truly an unforgettable experience and an explosion of colour and vitality.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Nice

You are free on to discover Nice further. You could visit Musee Matisse, a museum that houses a collection of artworks bequeathed to the city by the celebrated French artist, Henri Matisse.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – Monte Carlo & Monaco

Travel by coach to the tiny Principality of Monaco, the world's second-smallest city-state after Vatican City. Despite its small size, Monaco still manages to cram a wealth of culture, entertainment, history and glamour into its remarkably picturesque two-square-kilometre area.

You enjoy a guided tour, first heading to the district of Monte Carlo, famous for hosting the prestigious Grand Prix. Here, you visit the Casino of Monte Carlo, an iconic casino with striking, palm tree-lined fountains. You also visit the magnificent Cathédrale de Monaco, as well as the Prince's Palace, where you witness the Change of the Guards.

You return to Nice in the evening for dinner at your hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Nice & London

Bidding goodbye to Nice, board the train to Paris where you join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that the order of your itinerary may vary dependent on your departure date. Please call for details.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Hotel Locarno, Nice

Hotel Locarno, Nice

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Eurostar
The TGV

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Reviews

4.6 stars4.6 / 5 · 19 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (12)
  2. 4 stars
    (7)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

S Cox

4 stars

Submitted 6/Mar

Fantastic guide Deborah. Crowded hotel with enclosed space for breakfast. Last meal in hotel in the restaurant bore no resemblance to first meal in back room. No choice! Wine offered very very late bread came at end of first course. Did not enjoy it. Horrible smell throughout hotel one morning.

Collected by Trustpilot

Grace Main

4 stars

Submitted 5/Mar

Carnival is a wonderful experience.

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WILLIAM BROWN

5 stars

Submitted 28/Feb

Amazing carnival and good visit to Monte Carlo. Good weather for the time of year.

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A Whitehouse

4 stars

Submitted 28/Feb

Excellent choice of place. Nice is central to lots of spots to the east and the west. Good location for covering the Côte d’Azur.

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Peter Denham

4 stars

Submitted 28/Feb

Carnival & Nice very enjoyable

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brian buck

4 stars

Submitted 24/Feb

The holiday did not get off to the best of starts, as the train from Paris got delayed and we were very tired by the time we got to Nice and then had to make our own arrangements for some supper at about 8.45 p.m. However, both Nice and the carnival did not disappoint and the hotel's location was very convenient for sightseeing. We were well looked after by our tour manager (Raquel - a fluent French speaker) who worked hard to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. A word of advice for future visitors - pack some thermal underwear, as it can get a trifle chilly sitting in the stands watching the parade at night!

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