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We recommend this article to those planning to visit the Nice and Monaco during their Western Mediterranean cruise, or those interested in the beautiful coastal cityscapes of southern France and Monaco. This article vividly captures the daytime activities in Nice and visits to major attractions in Monaco as part of the 9th day of the cruise itinerary.
Overall Review
On the 9th day of our cruise, we departed from Savona port and toured Nice and Monaco. In Nice, we experienced the beautiful sea colors of Opéra Plage and its vibrant flower market. In Monaco, we visited iconic sites such as the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, and the Monte Carlo Casino. Overall, it was a day filled with beautiful scenery and urban charm, but the sudden downpour and tight schedule left us with some regret for not being able to explore certain places more deeply.
Travel tips
- Notes on Using the Beaches in Nice: There are restrooms near Opéra Plage, but they are paid and may have a strong odor, so please take this into consideration.
- Weather Variables When Visiting Monaco: Monaco can experience sudden rain showers, so it’s advisable to bring an umbrella or be prepared for getting wet.
- When Using Hotels in Genoa: The AC Hotel by Marriott Genoa does not provide slippers, and the floor can be cold, so it’s recommended to bring your own slippers.
Related Areas/Places
Read More from the Original Article
After disembarking the cruise, we took a tour bus for about 3 hours to reach Nice, where our itinerary began at Opéra Plage, notable for its blue sea. The steel obelisk seen from the beach is said to be a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the merger of Nice and France. At Cours Saleya, the outdoor flower market of Nice, we admired the fragrant flowers and intended to buy magnets and gifts from a souvenir shop, but decided against buying soap for fear of it being crushed inside our luggage.
The Fontaine du Soleil, located near the flower market, was crowded with many people, and we even spotted a couple having a wedding photoshoot on the street. Lunch was at L’Ovale, a Francen restaurant. The bread served before the meal was chewy, and the squid salad was characterized by a tangy balsamic dressing. The rosé pasta was a bit rich, but the tiramisu served for dessert was satisfying with its rich and sweet creaminess. We also shared sweet, ripe figs bought by a companion at the market.
Afterward, we took photos with the blue chairs, a symbol of Nice, and then moved on to Monaco. The scenery on the way to Monaco was very beautiful, but upon arrival, a sudden downpour made the tour difficult. Nevertheless, we visited the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Monaco Cathedral, and the Monte Carlo Casino. Unfortunately, we lost a small amount of money at the casino, but since internal photography was prohibited, we took commemorative photos in front of the entrance statue.
After finishing our itinerary in Monaco, we traveled to Genoa for the next day’s activities and stayed at the AC Hotel by Marriott Genoa. For dinner at the hotel, we had a dish that felt like bulgogi pasta, beef steak, and a sweet pudding. We purchased necessary items at the nearby COOP supermarket and conveniently completed our shopping using the self-checkout counters. After dinner, we requested hot water for instant noodles as a late-night snack, but it took a long time to receive it. Experiences with such different cultures and systems compared to Korea can be found in more detail in the original article.
