What to do in Nice: discover Garibaldi Square
Garibaldi Square is one of the most amazing tourist spots to discover during your stay in Nice. In this square – which is sunny all year long – reigns a special atmosphere that perfectly represents the quality of life in Nice. Among its restaurants, bars and other shops placed under the benevolent gaze of the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, this place is one of the favorite places of the people of Nice and is essential to fully discover the city.
A place full of sun and surprises in the center of Nice
The “Place Garibaldi” is the oldest square of Nice. Famous for its yellow pediments with green shutters and arcades, its facades are a mix of relief sculptures and very realistic trompe-l'œil paintings! Concentrate your look a few seconds on the walls to realize it and have fun distinguishing the true from the false, astonishment guaranteed!
By staying at the Best Western Plus Hotel Masséna Nice, it will be very easy for you to reach Garibaldi Square. It takes 10 minutes on foot via the promenade du Paillon, or 8 minutes with the tram that drops you off at the Garibaldi stop.
At the heart of the Nice vibes
Garibaldi Square is the ideal place to immerse yourself in the life of Nice. This is where inhabitants of Nice of all generations and tourists from around the world have coffee or enjoy a good meal in one of the restaurants. Among the good places in Garibaldi Square: the Café Saint Paul, which offers Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, and is perfect for both a coffee break and a meal. For seafood lovers, the Café de Turin offers a wide choice of fresh and quality products. In the evening, Garibaldi Square remains as lively as it is during the day. Many inhabitants of Nice go out here to have a drink on the terrace, before they continue the party in the Old-town of Nice.
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
From Garibaldi Square, turn to the North-West to see the "MoMA" of Nice, easily recognizable by its particular structure. A few steps from the “Place Garibaldi”, take the time to visit this museum to discover the temporary and permanent collections of contemporary artists who have marked the art since the 1950s. The collections of Yves Klein and Niki de Saint Phalle are the more remarkable. On the top floor of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art you also have a magnificent view of the entire Garibaldi Square and over the roofs of the city of Nice.
Garibaldi, an emblematic figure of Nice
If the oldest place in Nice bears the name of “Garibaldi”, it is not by fortuity. Giuseppe Garibaldi is a character very much appreciated by the inhabitants of Nice. In the center of the square stands a colossal statue of him. Installed since 1891 as a sign of homage but also of identification with the Nice adventurer (he was a sailor, soldier, deputy), his look is symbolically turned towards Italy, his homeland of heart.
Garibaldi Square is therefore one of the musts of Nice, as much for its beauty, its atmosphere, its artistic and cultural side. The Best Western Plus Hotel Massena, located in the center of Nice, is the ideal resort to visit this emblematic place, among so many other places and surprises that the city of Nice has for you!