Preface | The Call of the Côte d’Azur: Why Did We Choose Nice?

The starting point of this trip was actually just a casual question one day while chatting with friends: “Want to go somewhere over the holidays?” To our surprise, the idea actually came true, and in the end we decided on a self-drive trip around the south of France, with Nice as our unhesitating first choice.

After deciding to go to Nice, a friend recommended I watch the Japanese reality dating show “Offline Love” on Netflix. The show repeatedly features the streetscapes and coastline of Nice — that stretch of azure sea and the relaxed atmosphere matched the journey we were about to embark on, which deepened my anticipation for this city even more.

Nice is a seaside town in the south of France, with a leisurely pace and a gentle atmosphere — a perfect place to relax and get close to the coast. It’s known as the “Côte d’Azur” (Azure Coast), and the moment you set foot on this land, you’ll understand that the name is no exaggeration at all.

Having been through this trip, I genuinely feel that Nice is a city you can’t help but fall in love with. It has both grace and charm, quietly waiting for you to come and discover its beauty.

Itinerary Overview | A Full 7-Day Route Through Nice and the Côte d’Azur

  • Day 1 | Arriving in Nice: After picking up the car, head into the city and begin the journey
    After landing at Nice Airport, we smoothly picked up the car, drove along the coast into the city, checked into our guesthouse, and got ready for the days of exploration ahead.

  • Day 2 | Two Border Towns: The colorful streets of Menton and the luxury harbor of Monaco
    Heading east, we visited the sunny Italian-French border town of Menton, then went to Monaco in the afternoon to take in the opulent atmosphere of the palace and casino.

  • Day 3 | Cinema and Fragrance: Cannes beach and the Grasse perfume factory
    In the morning we strolled around the Cannes Film Festival palace, then in the afternoon headed up to Grasse to dive into the birthplace of perfume craftsmanship and experience another kind of southern French elegance.

  • Day 4 | Art and Harbor: The hill town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the old port of Antibes
    We explored the quiet art town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, then moved to Antibes in the afternoon to enjoy a leisurely afternoon by the old harbor.

  • Day 5 | The Sky-High Town of Èze and a Walk Along the Nice Coastline
    We visited the eagle’s-nest town of Èze, overlooking the magnificent Mediterranean, then returned to Nice in the afternoon for a leisurely stroll along the Promenade des Anglais.

  • Day 6 | Deep into Nice: Castle Hill, parks, markets, and contemporary art
    No more rushing around — we stayed in Nice to explore the city itself, from overlooking the bay atop Castle Hill to the alleys of the old town and the art museums, feeling the soul of the city.

  • Day 7 | The End of the Journey: Postcards, souvenirs, and ways to say goodbye
    Packing up, returning the car, and carrying memories of the Côte d’Azur to the airport, bringing this southern France trip to a close.

Travel Journal | A Seven-Day Record of Wandering Nice and the Côte d’Azur

Day 1: The story begins at a sun-drenched airport

As soon as we arrived at Nice Airport, we headed to the car rental location. About a five-minute walk from Terminal 2, you can see a building housing several car rental companies. After completing the rental paperwork, we did a basic vehicle inspection, confirmed everything was fine, and officially hit the road, starting to adapt to driving in France.

Like Taiwan, France drives on the right, so the driving logic is similar and it wasn’t too difficult overall. The highway toll booths also accept credit cards. What took some getting used to, though, were the narrow lanes in some parking lots and certain streets in the city — the car’s warning beeps kept going off, so you had to be extra careful when turning and passing other cars.

After dropping off our luggage, we met up at a restaurant in the city of Nice and enjoyed our first authentic French meal of the trip. After dinner, we strolled through the streets of Nice under the night sky and came to the gathering spot often featured in “Offline Love” — the Fountain of the Sun. There weren’t many people here at night, and the night view was quiet and enchanting.

As we walked along, we also discovered the old town’s clock tower, which often appears as a transition shot in the show. Lit up at night, this clock tower had a particularly special atmosphere, completely different from how it looks during the day in the show, giving us an added sense of pilgrimage as “Offline Love” fans.

Day 2: Basking in the sun at Menton, touching luxury in Monaco

Menton is a sunny town famous for its lemons. What greets your eyes are rows of warm orange-yellow buildings that make you slow your pace the moment you step in. The most iconic photo spot in town is undoubtedly the Escaliers — shooting upward, the layers of orange-yellow steps and buildings weave together into a gentle Mediterranean painting, and many travelers stop here to admire it.

On the other side is the azure coast and the striking MENTON landmark letters. Looking up from the seaside, the landmark and the colorful buildings behind it form another kind of visual beauty. Lemon-themed products can be seen everywhere in town, and we also sampled the local specialty limoncello. The liquor is on the sweet side and a bit cloying on its own, but mixed with sparkling water or ice it becomes much more refreshing. The lemons here are especially large and richly fragrant — probably because the southern French sun is just that abundant.

Menton is near the Italian border, so we drove to the border to take photos along the way. In a single day we set foot in three countries — France, Italy, and Monaco — which was quite memorable.

In the afternoon we headed to Monaco. At that time the area was preparing to host the F1 Grand Prix, and the streets had already begun setting up the track facilities, which got us excited. I drove and experienced the legendary hairpin turn — although you can’t speed, those several consecutive turns were still very impressive.

Next we came to the famous Casino Square. Since entering the casino required an additional ticket, we didn’t go in. But the scene outside the square was already spectacular enough, packed with red Ferraris, silver Rolls-Royces, and Lamborghinis — a check-in mecca for everyone.

Back at the guesthouse, we welcomed the day’s lavish feast: a BBQ. Because the guesthouse had a grill, we prepared steak, lamb chops, and fresh local fruits and vegetables, cooking and chatting at the same time, paired with a bit of the limoncello we bought in Menton during the day. This dinner wasn’t just delicious — it was one of the happiest moments of the trip.

Day 3 | From Red Carpet to Flower Fields: The sea breeze of Cannes and the fragrance of Grasse

The weather changed dramatically this day, as if setting a little test for our itinerary. We drove toward Cannes, but a downpour started along the way — so heavy that at one point we couldn’t see the cars ahead, and the blurred visibility made us uneasy.

After arriving in Cannes, the weather gradually cleared up, and we found a restaurant to sit down for lunch. This meal once again left me with a great impression of French cuisine, especially the truffle pasta — the rich aroma and smooth texture were simply captivating, and highly recommended.

It happened to be the Cannes Film Festival that day, so the streets were much livelier than usual. We first browsed a few souvenir shops and wanted to try our luck at spotting stars near the red carpet. We heard that Scarlett Johansson was attending that day, but the red carpet area was fenced off, and with the crowds it was hard to see through, so most people could only soak in the atmosphere from a distance. After staying for a while, we left early to head to Grasse.

Grasse is a hill town famous for perfume, and it’s also one of the scenes that appeared in “Offline Love.” On this trip, I was especially looking forward to the perfume-blending workshop. In front of each participant’s seat were all kinds of raw materials — nearly a hundred varieties — and we sniffed and selected from top notes to middle notes to base notes in order. Finally, a professional perfumer helped us with the proportions to complete a bottle of personalized fragrance.

The blending process was very interesting, but my sense of smell got a bit fatigued toward the end. The perfumer suggested we first smell our own wrists to “reset” our noses a little before continuing to choose. With so many raw materials, the selection process could be a bit difficult for the indecisive, but for me, this actually made the whole experience more memorable.

The final step of the experience was naming the perfume we had blended. Looking at this bottle of fragrance that belonged to me, I fell into indecision again, agonizing for quite a while. I didn’t know whether to give it a romantic name, a name with a French flair, or simply a little code that only I understand. This simple step felt especially meaningful to me. After all, this bottle of perfume isn’t just a combination of scents — it’s a distillation of the memories of this journey.

This activity is great for families or couples to do together — sampling scents while exchanging thoughts, you also get to know each other’s preferences better. During the experience, we even ran into a Japanese TV crew filming the perfume-blending process. We thought they were shooting “Offline Love” season two, but later learned they were interviewing about this activity. It seems the show really has sparked many people’s interest in making perfume.

Day 4 | From an Art Town to a Seaside Old Port: Feeling the stillness and motion of southern France in one day

Walking into Saint-Paul-de-Vence feels like traveling through time. This medieval hill town preserves ancient stone walls and winding paths, and each little house hides a gallery, sculpture, or art installation — like a mini art museum quietly unfolding. Although it’s hailed as the most artistic town in southern France, to me the atmosphere was gentle and reserved — perhaps too peaceful, so I didn’t leave with very deep impressions. But for people who enjoy quietly looking at paintings, wandering alleys, and admiring stone architecture, they would surely love it here.

In the afternoon, we drove to Antibes, and the atmosphere instantly shifted. As soon as we reached the seaside, a leisurely scene unfolded before us. Many people on the beach were enjoying the sunbathing unique to southern France — some sprawled on towels napping, some holding books, and others jumping into the sea to cool off. The whole city was breathing.

We walked along the shore to Antibes’s famous landmark — the White Giant. This sculpture is a seated white hollow figure, facing the sea, looking from afar as if it’s thinking, or guarding this harbor. This scene reminded me of the moment in “Attack on Titan” when Eren first sees the ocean — that scene suddenly flashed through my mind, creating an inexplicable sense of fun where reality and fiction intertwined.

In Antibes, we didn’t plan too much — we just quietly walked, sat down, felt the breeze, and watched the sea. Compared to the tranquility of the hill town, the relaxation here truly lets you empty your mind. Travel doesn’t need a sightseeing spot at every moment; sometimes, doing nothing at all is the most wonderful arrangement.

Day 5 | From Gazing Down from the Clouds to Walking Beside the Waves, Through the Most Moving Strip of Southern France

Èze is a town nestled in the mountains. That day we bought tickets to enter the town’s botanical garden. It’s called a botanical garden, but I think many travelers, like me, weren’t really there for the plants — but to climb to the heights and admire the magnificent scenery of the entire hill town interwoven with the Mediterranean. Standing at the highest point looking out, the red-tiled roofs extended to the edge of the cliff, and beyond that was a vast expanse of deep blue — a view so open it took your breath away.

In the afternoon we returned to Nice, the weather so good it was almost like a painting. This area is especially photogenic during the day, and I particularly recommend the streetscape around Place Masséna. The buildings with their alternating red brick and yellow-green stood out brilliantly under the azure sky, perfectly showcasing Nice’s unique Mediterranean color aesthetic. Every casual snapshot looks like a scenic postcard, and walking along such streets, your steps slow down without you realizing.

Along the way we passed Maison Margaux, the spot where the cast members in “Offline Love” exchanged letters. Seeing the familiar scene with my own eyes made me inexplicably excited, as if I too had become part of the show, weaving through the street corners and alleys they had once walked.

It’s a bit funny, but I imitated the Netflix crew’s camera movements and filmed myself passing by Maison Margaux, as if I were really a new cast member of an episode. Although that moment was just a brief passing, there was an indescribable thrill and immersion to it!

Next we headed to the Côte d’Azur. Planes occasionally streaked across the sky overhead, while the ocean before us was an unbelievable blue — clear and translucent like crystal, with the sunlight sprinkling across the surface, sparkling into countless points of silvery-white light.

We casually found a corner to sit down, lay on the beach to sunbathe, felt the sea breeze, stepped on the waves, and even played a little game of throwing stones, carefree like children. In that moment, it felt like returning to some innocent, simple time, where all you need is sunlight, waves, and laughter to feel content.

Here you can lazily spend an entire afternoon, doing nothing at all, just quietly feeling the blue of the sea, the sound of the sea, and that sense of freedom that has finally relaxed within you.

Day 6 | From Mountaintop Views to Street Markets, Feeling the Slow Life of Nice

This day, I continued searching the alleys of Nice for those familiar scenes. Walking along, I came to the church where the cast members in the show once met. The church stood quietly at the street corner, and I stopped to enjoy the solemnity and serenity unique to this European church, also feeling the extension of the emotions from the show.

Next I headed to Castle Hill Park, which is also a scene where the cast often gathered in the show. The first stop was Bellanda Tower, where standing on the platform you can take in the entire Nice coastline. If you still have the energy, it’s worth walking a bit further up to reach the highest point of Castle Hill Park, from where you can more clearly overlook the entire city: the old town and the new district interwoven, with the endless azure coast alongside — a magnificent view.

There’s also a small waterfall hidden on the hill. If the weather is hot, it’s worth getting close to feel the coolness brought by the mist — an unexpected yet just-right little surprise. Of course, don’t miss the colorful NICE landmark at the foot of the hill. Interestingly, the colors I saw this time were a bit different from the version in the show — it seems this landmark is periodically redesigned and repainted, so every traveler who visits can take a one-of-a-kind memory.

This walking route eventually connects to the famous Promenade des Anglais. Strolling slowly along the coast, watching the azure sea view and the flowers blooming by the roadside, you really can forget the time. When you get tired, don’t forget to find a restaurant to sit down, have a glass of wine paired with a French dish — in such scenery and rhythm, any meal tastes especially delicious.

Day 7 | The Scenery Stays in My Eyes, the Story Stays in My Heart

On the last day of the trip, my friends and I went together to the spice shop that appeared in the show. The TV on the wall was playing clips of the show, instantly transporting us into the familiar scene. The shop had a rich variety of spices, each with its own distinctive aroma, and the owner was very warm, carefully introducing the uses and pairings of each one. I picked two scents I especially liked, one of which was the memorable truffle spice — just smelling it whetted the appetite, and you can sprinkle it on dishes to add flavor once home. We also happily told the staff that we came on a pilgrimage because of the show, and they were very pleased to hear it.

During these few days of travel, cooking together with friends became the most anticipated little thing each day. France’s ingredients are fresh and delicious, and the huge French supermarkets always kept us browsing with delight. We cooked many tasty dishes, including pan-seared duck breast, baby squid stir-fried with olive oil and garlic, ravioli, and salmon green salad, paired with 1664 beer — every meal was like hosting a small dinner party.

Before heading to the airport, we picked out a few postcards for ourselves, wrote down the memories and blessings of these days, dropped them in the mailbox, and sent them to our future selves — and to friends who haven’t been here yet. Perhaps one day, they too, like us, will write their own stories in the sea breeze of Nice.

Afterword | The Trip Is Over, but the Scenery Keeps Spreading in My Heart

Honestly, after finishing “Offline Love,” I had an added filter over Nice in my heart. That chair is where a certain cast member once cried; the Fountain of the Sun is the scene where everyone often gathered; and Maison Margaux carries every heartbeat of them writing down their feelings and waiting for replies.

Stepping into those scenes, I was no longer unfamiliar with these spots — instead, there was an added sense of excitement. Sometimes it’s like chasing celebrities: when you discover with your own eyes that that corner, that wall, that doorway really exist in reality, a quiet yet indescribable emotion always wells up in your heart.

Of course, beyond the show’s filter, Nice itself is already moving enough. The beauty of the Côte d’Azur far exceeds imagination. The sea surface shimmers with silver waves under the sunlight, the air carries a free, slow rhythm, and walking along the shore really makes you fall in love with the ocean without realizing it.

This trip also involved so much delicious food, from French cuisine to every dish cooked by friends’ own hands — all of them are our own taste memories. And what moved me most were the friends who traveled with me, helping each other, planning together, laughing together, getting lost together, and together saying, “This place is so beautiful.”