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Destinations / France

Nice

Riviera promenade, old town and azure sea

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Plan your trip to NiceSee the top 10
348,000Population
1.0 millionMetro area
FrenchLanguage
EURCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$170-280Typical day

Nice is the Riviera's main city, with a pebbly beach, the famous Promenade des Anglais and a colourful old town. It is a great base for Monaco, Eze and Antibes. Art lovers come for Matisse and Chagall.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A 7 km seafront promenade with blue chairs. Locals jog, cycle and stroll here.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk at sunrise or sunset.
    See on the map

  2. The old town of narrow lanes, Baroque churches and ochre buildings. Small bars and shops fill it.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Try socca at a stall.
    See on the map

  3. A park on a hill above the old town with the best views of the bay. There is a waterfall.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free; free lift too.

    Tip. Take the lift up and walk down.
    See on the map

  4. A daily flower and produce market. On Mondays it becomes an antiques market.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go in the morning.
    See on the map

  5. A tiny glamorous principality with the casino and palace. The harbour is full of yachts.

    Full dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Train fare.

    Tip. Train about 20 to 25 minutes.
    See on the map

  6. Medieval hilltop village with an exotic garden. Views reach the sea.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Garden fee.

    Tip. Bus about 30 minutes.
    See on the map

  7. Museum in a villa in Cimiez on the artist's work. It holds his paintings and cutouts.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Paid entry.

    Tip. Combine with Roman ruins nearby.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. Museum built for Chagall's biblical series. The stained glass is lovely.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Adult ticket, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Short walk from the station.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. Grand square with red buildings and a fountain. Statues on poles light up at night.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Come back after dark.
    See on the map

  10. Onion-domed cathedral built in 1912. It is a surprising sight.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $4-8Cost
    noBook ahead

    Small entrance fee; 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Dress modestly.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Nice in three days

City day, museums day, then Monaco and Eze.

  1. Promenade des Anglais1.5 hours · Free
  2. Vieux Nice2 hours · Free
  3. Cours Saleya Market1 hour · Free
  4. Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau)1 hour · Free
  5. MonacoFull day
  6. EzeHalf day
  7. Matisse Museum1.5 hours
  8. Marc Chagall National Museum1.5 hours · about $10-15
  9. Place Massena30 minutes · Free
  10. Russian Orthodox Cathedral45 minutes · about $4-8
Beyond the city

Day trips

Antibes

Old town and Picasso museum.

14 mi · Train, about 25 minutes

Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Hilltop art village.

12 mi · Bus, about 45 minutes

Cannes

Seaside town known for its film festival, with a pleasant old quarter.

20 mi · Regional train, about 40 minutes each way

Menton

Warm, quiet town near the Italian border with lemon gardens.

19 mi · Regional train, about 35 minutes each way

Grasse

Perfume capital with factory visits and a pretty old centre.

25 mi · Bus or train and bus, about 1h each way

Monaco (Monte Carlo)

Sovereign principality featuring the Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince's Palace, and luxury superyacht marinas.

12 mi · Direct TER regional coastal train from Nice-Ville in just 20 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: May to June and September to October. Warm sea without peak crowds.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

53°F
Typical daily high
Average51°F
Rain2.2 in
About7 rainy days
Sun strength1.8 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Feb

Nice Carnival

February to March

Parades of large floats and flower battles along the seafront.

Feb

Menton Lemon Festival

February to March

A nearby town hosts giant citrus sculptures; easy by train.

May

Cannes Film Festival

May

Held in Cannes, a short train ride away, and it fills hotels along the coast.

Jul

Nice Jazz Festival

July

Concerts in the Cimiez gardens and other venues.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

France is at US State Department Level 2 (increased caution) for terrorism and unrest; Nice is generally safe, with pickpockets on beaches and trams.

5/5
Walkability

Flat, compact and lovely to walk along the sea.

4/5
Public transport

Trams and buses are cheap and frequent; tram line 2 reaches the airport.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Vieux Nice

$$$

Best for: couples, first-timers

Old town lanes near the beach.

2. Carre d'Or

$$$$

Best for: luxury

Upscale shopping streets near the Promenade.

3. Port Lympia

$$$

Best for: food, couples

Harbour restaurants and quieter streets.

4. Jean Medecin

$$

Best for: budget

Near the station and trams.

5. Port and Garibaldi

$$

Best for: budget, couples

Quieter streets, good bars and a short walk to the old town.

6. Near Nice Ville station

$

Best for: budget, rail travellers

Cheaper hotels and hostels with easy trains and trams.

Getting there and around

Main airportNice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE), 4 mi from the center
To the centerTram line 2 runs straight to the centre in about 30 minutes, or a taxi takes 15 to 25 minutes.
Around townWalk and use trams; trains and buses reach Monaco and Antibes cheaply.
Ride appsUber, Bolt, Heetch
Taste it

What to eat

Socca

Chickpea pancake from a wood oven.

Salade nicoise

The local classic.

Pissaladiere

Onion and anchovy tart.

Pan bagnat

A salad sandwich in a round roll, perfect for a beach lunch.

Farcis

Stuffed vegetables, a local home-style dish.

Good to know

PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingService is included; round up or leave 5 to 10 percent for good service.
PaymentsCards and contactless are widely accepted.
EtiquetteSay bonjour when entering shops. Cover shoulders in churches.
  • Beaches are pebbly, bring water shoes.
  • Many museums close on Mondays or Tuesdays.
  • Trains to Monaco take under 30 minutes.
  • Cours Saleya flower market closes on Mondays.
  • Beaches are mostly pebble, so water shoes help.
  • Many private beach clubs charge for loungers, while public beach areas are free.
  • Museums are often closed on Mondays or Tuesdays, so check the day.
  • Watch bags on trams and at the railway station.

A short history

Greeks from Marseille founded Nikaia around 350 BC. For centuries the city belonged to the House of Savoy and then Piedmont-Sardinia. It became French in 1860. British aristocrats wintering here in the 19th century gave the Promenade des Anglais its name.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Nice