On the Greenacres observatory, we track areas that buyers are most interested in. Nice is currently in the top spot for “most visited town”. Since last year, it has moved up on place. The average property in Nice is priced at €401,052. Today, we’re going to look at what makes Nice a dreamy retirement destination.
A sun-kissed retirement
Fancy retiring to Nice?
You probably don’t want to spend your retirement trapped indoors looking at the rain out of the window. For sun-seekers, Nice enjoys 2,500 hours of sunshine a year (that’s a 1,000 more than London). From May to October, you can anticipate temperatures in the 20s, with that peaking during July and August at 27 degrees. Fortunately, the sea breeze takes the edge off the heat too.
In 2021, Nice was recognised by UNSECO as the “Winter Resort of the French Rivera”, so you can be reassured that the town does not shut down outside of the summer months, as is true of some seaside towns.
Enjoying Nice
Retiring to Nice, you’ll have plenty of things to get up to, but it’s also perfect for sitting at an outdoor café and taking your time over a coffee and croissant. If you adore time at the beach, you’ll find a choice of charming ones, from the large, family-friendly Ruhl Beach to smaller, lesser-known ones.
The town is also ideal for exploring on foot. You can walk along the famous, lively Promenade des Anglais or the charming Old Town. You can check out grand Baroque churches and Belle Époque buildings.
For those after an active retirement, there’s plenty of opportunity for sailing, swimming and golfing.
Easy trips back home
If you are nervous about retiring abroad and missing out on life back home, you can get back home easily. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is the third busiest in France, and you can fly to 121 destinations from there. To the UK, the flight takes just two hours and five minutes. If you prefer the leisurely route, you can take the train, which takes around twelve hours on average.
Bond with other expats
You certainly won’t be the first international buyer to retire to Nice. The city has a large expat population, and you’ll find lots of friendly faces to lend a helping hand as you adjust. French language classes will be a great place to find them.
A high standard of healthcare
Retiring overseas, you want to feel confident that there is a strong healthcare system to take care of you. Luckily, you can anticipate that in France. In 2021, the World Health Organisation cited France as the best healthcare provider in the world. If you are a UK national, then you can apply for an S1 card, which will enable you to access the French healthcare system as a French citizen would. For the greatest peace of mind, may also want to be covered by private healthcare.
Find your dream home
Nice has an exciting, varied property market. You might like to retire to a snazzy, polished new-build penthouse overlooking the sea. Or you might prefer a charming villa in the hills. Plus, you can see your money go further a little way away from the sea.
Discover beautiful properties in Nice just waiting for a new owner.
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