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Where to live around Nice? 8 towns and villages to discover
- guignethibaud
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
You will surely agree with me that: Nice is a magnificent city where life is good .
On the other hand, its major drawback is the price of real estate .
It's no coincidence that the capital of the French Riviera is regularly cited as the 2nd most expensive city in France … just behind Paris!
So, where should you live around Nice to enjoy its unparalleled quality of life without the exorbitant prices? Villefranche-sur-Mer , Saint-Laurent-du-Var , Colomars … How do these towns on the French Riviera, just a few kilometers from Nice, compare? We'll tell you frankly in this article!
Saint-Laurent-du-Var, for couples and families!
We're heading west of Nice! Destination: Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
Wondering where to live in Nice without having to give up the seaside bars and restaurants? Then Saint-Laurent-du-Var is an excellent choice for you. As for shopping, you'll find plenty to suit your needs in one of the 300 boutiques at the Cap3000 shopping center.
An ideal destination for young professionals and families!
➕ The advantages : optimal location for getting around Nice (10 minutes from Nice by train with 70 round trips per day) and the implementation of tram line 4 which will connect Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer by around 2030, proximity to Nice Côte d'Azur airport, ranking in the top 200 cities where it is good to live (it doesn't sound great when said like that, but out of more than 30,000 municipalities, it's rather a very good score 😉).
➖ The disadvantages : very touristy in high season, heavy urbanization, not all neighborhoods are equal.
Cagnes-sur-Mer, between hills and coastline
This is a very popular destination for people looking for where to live around Nice.
I've named… 🥁
Cagnes-sur-Mer!
With its 50,000 inhabitants, the town offers a setting much appreciated by locals, with the coastline on one side and the surrounding hills on the other. It is also known for its medieval quarter of Haut-de-Cagnes, home to the Grimaldi castle-museum.
Do you work in Nice? You can easily reach the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes from Cagnes-sur-Mer. It's even the ideal location if you work in the Sophia Antipolis technology park!
➕ The advantages : less than 30 minutes by car from Nice and 10 minutes by train (TER) with 60 round trips per day, deployment of tram line 4 within a few years, medieval architecture, the sea and the beaches.
➖ The disadvantages : some neighborhoods are poorly served by public transport.
👨🏼 Thibaud, a property finder at Nyumba, shares his story: I had the pleasure of helping a couple and their soon-to-be-born baby find their perfect home in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Their search? A 4-room apartment with a budget of €400,000. We managed to find a beautiful 97 m² apartment in the Val Fleuri district, on the 4th and top floor, with a small terrace, for €350,000. Challenge accepted!
Are you ready to settle down on the French Riviera, but still searching for that perfect property? At Nyumba, we help you find your haven in Nice and the surrounding area. From property searches and viewings to negotiations, you'll have a single point of contact dedicated to your project, handling every step by your side!
Villefranche-sur-Mer: Nice's neighbor
You can't get any closer to Nice!
Indeed, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a border town, located in the very immediate vicinity of Nice.
As for the atmosphere, you won't feel out of place. This small town boasts charming, colorful facades typical of the French Riviera and offers lovely sandy beaches.
Villefranche is also known for its harbor. Yes, its harbor! A term not commonly used by the average person, but very common among diving and water sports enthusiasts. Simply put, it's a basin over 2 km long opening onto the sea with a very mild microclimate, making it a favorite spot for sunfish and even dolphins. 🐬
➕ Advantages : less than 20 minutes by car from Nice city centre, seaside location, charm of the city and its architecture (citadel, port), ideal location for people who work in Monaco.
➖ The disadvantages : high property prices, lack of dynamism off-season.
👉🏼 Read also: Living in Nice: advantages and disadvantages
Contes, the village perched in the hills above Nice
We included it in this top list because Contes has the advantage of being located less than 30 minutes from Nice.
However, we prefer to be honest with you: it's not our favorite sector! 🫣
Certainly, its old village perched high in the hills is worth a visit! As for living there, the municipality is rather spread out and crossed by a very busy departmental road…
We'll let you form your own opinion!
➕ Advantages : lower property prices than in Nice, geographical location in the hinterland, hiking trails.
➖ The disadvantages : difficult traffic and frequent traffic jams, poorly served by public transport.
Falicon: the quintessential village on the French Riviera!
Now let's move on to our top villages to live in around Nice!
Falicon has all the characteristics of a typical village in the south of France:
A location at the top of a hill, up to 850 meters above sea level.
Beautiful, colorful facades.
Winding cobbled streets.
Ramparts and fortifications.
With only 2,000 inhabitants, you'll love settling down in this village if you're looking for a peaceful and picturesque place to live in the hinterland of Nice!
➕ Advantages : 8 km from Nice and 22 km from Monaco, village of character, medieval architecture, quiet.
➖ The disadvantages : few activities and shops, far from the sea and beaches.
Aspremont and the charm of the Nice hinterland
Still wondering where to live around Nice? Let's continue our journey into the hinterland, all the way to Aspremont!
Aspremont rises to an altitude of 554 meters, offering breathtaking views of the coastline and the Mediterranean Sea. The historic center is built in a circular pattern, with all the houses arranged in a spiral around the village church.
Again, if you want something typical, with stone houses and gardens: you'll be well served!
➕ Advantages : 10 km from Nice and 30 km from Monaco, sublime panoramas with sea views.
➖ The disadvantages : steep terrain, few properties on the market (mainly houses and villas).
Colomars, the quiet residential town
No, you haven't landed in the Grand Est region! 😝
Colomars (quite different from Colmar) is a village in the Alpes-Maritimes, mainly residential.
We are not in a destination saturated with tourists, but rather in a municipality ideal for people who work in Nice and wish to live in a quieter environment.
And if you really miss Nice… you're only a 25-minute drive from the capital of the French Riviera!
➕ Advantages : hilly landscape surrounded by nature amidst olive trees, views of the heights and mountains, several hamlets at more affordable prices, local shops.
➖ The disadvantages : few activities, far from the sea.
Tourrette-Levens, for a house less than 15 km from Nice
Finally, we conclude this overview of the French Riviera communes where life is good with the village of Tourrette-Levens!
It is part of the Nice urban area. You can therefore reach the city in about 40 minutes by bus.
It does, however, boast a castle, a church and 3 museums!
Not bad at all for a village of 4,000 inhabitants, is it?
➕ Advantages : 14 km from Nice, accessible by bus from Nice, essential local shops, school and college.
➖ The disadvantages : distance from the sea and beaches, village mainly residential.
Where to live around Nice? Find the property of your dreams!
Do you want to live near Nice, but are struggling to find a property that meets your specific criteria? Are you located far away and need a trusted contact who can be your eyes and ears on the ground?
My name is Thibaud and as an independent property finder in the Nice area, I know the local property market inside and out, the good deals to be had… and the bad deals to be avoided.
Let's review your property search together!
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