Port Lympia - A charming port on the French Riviera
The French Riviera has numerous small towns and fishing communities with alluring tranquility to entice you to stay longer than you originally planned. These towns and villages offer the aroma of freshly prepared French cuisine calling you by names you didn’t even know you had, and views of the Mediterranean Sea you wish you could take back home with you.
Port Lympia is a part of Nice that exemplifies this allure. It’s relatively small compared to other ports on the French Riviera like Port Hercules in Monaco and Antibes’ Port Vauban d’Antibes, but the charm is as good as any other.
You won’t see a collection of mega yachts here but that’s a plus as the area is more suitable for a day of relaxation away from the crowds of tourists in other parts of the Nice. Its small fishing village vibe is apparent with the collection of fishing boats on the east side of the port and the colorful mango yellow, pink, and light red buildings around the port.
Sandwiched between Parc De La Colline Du Chateau (Castle Hill Park) and the residential neighborhoods west of Mont Boron, the port has a long history and has featured in movies such as Killers (2010) starring Katherine Heigl and Aston Kutcher, which also featured some other gems of the French Riviera.
Port Lympia has been a part of Nice since the mid-18th century. The then Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel III, initiated the project in 1750, and the port was opened in 1752. After France annexed Nice, the port was upgraded to what’s visible today. Now, Ferries destined for Corsica and Sardinia start their journey from Port Lympia, and you’ll often see cruise ships docked at the port.
If a ferry ride is part of your itinerary, you’ll be happy to note that the port has a 4-level underground parking facility. It has a capacity of 382 parking spaces for tourists (including ten spaces reserved for people with disabilities and 40 spaces for electric cars).
You won’t hear much about Jardin Place Guynemer, a small park on Rue de Foresta overlooking the port. It has a statue of Charles-Felix de Savoie (the last male-line member of the House of Savoy), and it’s a wonderful quiet spot where you can spend a few hours just enjoying the tranquility of the port. The park is so tiny you could easily miss it while walking by, so you need to look out for it.
Landmarks and Attractions
Beyond the views of the Bay of Angels, other interesting attractions around the port include Les Puces de Nice, a small antique market where you can browse through paintings, small furniture, and custom jewelry. You might just find something interesting to take home as a souvenir.
Other places worth looking out for include the 19th-century church with massive Corinthian columns at the entrance, Église Notre-Dame du Port de Nice on Place Ile-de-Beauté, just north of the port. It is flanked by two colorful neo-classical buildings each housing local businesses, including some of the eateries frequently associated with the area.
Place Ile-de-Beauté is also a great place to relax as you watch the trams go by. A little further north from here is Rue Bonaparte, where Napoleon resided in the late 18th century.
South of the port, you have a breakwater with the Phare de Nice lighthouse at the end of it. Forgive me, but I couldn’t stop staring at the bay and the lighthouse. It’s hard to describe how an old lighthouse can be so beautiful, but perhaps I’ve been drinking too much Mediterranean Kool-Aid.
Across the street from the port on the west side is the gigantic 32-meter war memorial Monument aux Morts de Rauba-Capeù, built to remember the citizens of Nice who lost their lives during World War I. I found it a little strange that there was no one at the memorial during our visit, but that may have something to do with the fact that it was early spring.
Around the corner west of the monument, you’ll find the east end of Promenade des Anglais, but before you leave the port area, be sure to visit Parc De La Colline Du Chateau at the top of the hill. If you’re not in the mood for walking up a steep elevation, there’s an elevator to take you to the top for some of the most incredible views you can find in Nice. The best spot for this is Point de vue Colline du Chateau, just west of the lawn in the park.
