Bonjour! Welcome to Nice, a brightly shining jewel of the French Riviera. Relaxed Mediterranean vibe, colorful old town, impressive architecture, mesmerizing turquoise waters, striking views, delicious food, 300+ days of sun – Nice is all of these things and more! It holds a special place in our hearts and even after 10+ visits, we can’t get enough of it! Without a doubt, there’s something irrevocably special about Nice. It just keeps drawing us back. Keep reading and discover how to spend one day in Nice, France. And believe us, Nice deserves at least one full day of your time.
Interesting fact. Nice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! All thanks to its history, beauty, architecture, and natural areas. The listed area includes the entire coastline – from the Promenade des Anglais to the foot of Mont Boron, the historic old town, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, and the Cimiez neighborhood.
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Nice, France FAQ
Nice is located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It’s the second-largest city on the French Mediterranean coast, after Marseille. Nice is located only about 30km from the French–Italian border. It’s also a perfect home base for exploring more places on the French Riviera.
Yes, yes, and yes! Nice is an idyllic and colorful city on the French Riviera full of interesting places to discover and a huge number of various things to do. It will keep you entertained for hours, no matter what kind of traveler you are. Simply speaking, Nice is a must-visit on Cote d’Azur!
One day in Nice is enough to see most of the main landmarks and get a good feel of what this city is all about. But it’s definitely not enough to see all that Nice offers. So if you want to experience it more, we recommend staying at least 3 days in Nice.
Thanks to a pleasant Mediterranean climate, Nice is great to visit any time of the year. If you prefer smaller crowds and lower temperatures (15-20°C), choose any month in the lower season. If high temperatures (around 30°C) don’t bother you and you want to spend time on the beach – visit during the high season, from June to September.
It’s pronounced [nis]. Still don’t know how to read it? Here’s a YouTube video where you can listen to correct pronunciation.
What to see in one day in Nice, France?
Nice Old Town
Without a doubt, Nice’s old town (fr. Vieux Nice) is one of the prettiest parts of the town and seeing it can’t be missed during your one day in the city. The historic district is the heartbeat of the city, beating nonstop and fast.
Old town area is fairly small and there’s no better way to discover it than just getting lost in a maze of its streets and slowly exploring every corner. Cobblestone streets filled with quaint colorful houses, historical landmarks, religious buildings, vibrant markets, boutique and craft shops, restaurants, cafes… Wherever you turn, you’ll find something interesting among the streets of Nice old town.
Among the Nice old town streets, you’ll find points of interest like Place Rossetti square with Nice Cathedral, and Cours Saleya Flower Market.
In our opinion, it’s best to explore Nice Old Town in the morning hours when there aren’t too many tourists yet and when the city comes to life.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice Old Town
Cours Saleya Flower Market
In Nice old town, and just a few steps from Promenade des Anglais, a colorful and vibrant Cours Saleya Flower Market (fr. Cours Saleya Marché Aux Fleurs) is waiting for you. It’s the most popular market in Nice, which is also considered one of the most exceptional markets in France!
Cours Saleya is an outdoor market where you’ll find a wide variety of products like flowers, fruits, vegetables, cosmetics, local specialties, or various artisan products. The area is also lined with many cafes, restaurants, and small shops. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs from Cote d’Azur.
The market is also a great place to try the local specialty – socca, a chickpea flour pancake cooked over an open fire.
Cours Saleya is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 1pm. It’s closed on Mondays when it hosts an antique market. It’s a really great place, be sure not to miss it during your one day in Nice.
Book now: Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill
Planning to extend your stay in Nice? 🤩
Nice Cathedral
Right in the heart of a Nice old town, on vibrant Place Rossetti square, you’ll find Nice Cathedral (fr. Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice). It was built in the 17th century, the bell tower was added in the 18th century, and side chapels in the 20th century. Cathedral is an impressive example of Baroque architecture, both from the outside and inside. Entrance is free during opening hours.
Cathedral is located among many restaurant terraces and might be quite hard to spot at first so keep your eyes wide open.
Promenade des Anglais
Strolling along the iconic Promenade des Anglais is another must thing to do during your one day in Nice. It’s a 7km long and wide elegant avenue that runs along the enchanting azur waters of Baie des Anges bay. It’s a perfect place for a long or short walk peppered with amazing views of the sea on one side and elegant buildings on the other. Don’t forget to take a good look at Le Negresco and the Palais de la Méditerranée luxurious hotels.
While on Promenade des Anglais be sure to sit for a moment on one of many blue chairs, enjoying the vibe and views over the Mediterranean. Also, don’t omit the huge, blue iron chair sculpture located near Jardin Albert 1er garden. Niçoise blue chairs became an unofficial symbol of the city.
Book now: Provencal Food Walking Tour with Tastings in Nice
From the promenade you can also easily access the beaches. Just follow the stairs down and you’ll end up on a rocky beach. Feel free to take off your shoes and dip your feet in cold water for a nice refreshment.
If the time allows, we also recommend visiting Promenade des Anglais again in the evening and watching a magical sunset. Sit on a blue chair, bench, or on the beach and enjoy the moment. It’s absolutely magical!
#ILoveNice Sign
At the eastern end of Promenade des Anglais, right under Castle Hill, you’ll find another Nice attraction – the famous giant #ILoveNice sign. It’s a perfect place for taking an iconic photo or a selfie, but also for admiring magnificent views over the beaches, promenade, and the city.
We’ve already seen 4 different signs during our visits so it looks like you’ll never know what sign will be waiting for you during your visit!
Book now: Nice City Segway Sightseeing Tour
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Castle Hill
One of the best things to do in Nice is to admire it from above. And one of the best places to do that is from Castle Hill (fr. Colline du Château) which proudly overlooks the city from a 92m a.s.l. It got its name thanks to the military fortress that stood there for a few centuries, until the early 18th century, carefully watching over Baie des Anges bay. The castle is long gone, but don’t worry – Castle Hill has a lot of amazing things to offer still.
After a short climb or a quick elevator lift, one of the best views over Nice and its surroundings awaits. Azure waters, mountains, city, port… Truly spectacular! You’ll find the best views from the Bellanda Tower observation deck and a viewpoint near the Children’s Playground.
Other places you can’t miss on Castle Hill are the artificial waterfall and Cemetery of the Colline du Château built over the castle featuring graves of notable people and great views.
How to get to Castle Hill? You have three options here. You can climb the stairs or take a free lift – both can be found right next to the #IloveNice sign and Hôtel Suisse. Or take a pleasant walk up to Castle Cemetery from Nice Old Town (entrance on Rue Rossetti). We recommend going up one way and down the other.
Colline du Château is open daily from 8:30am to 6 or 8pm, depending on the season. Entrance is free.
Interesting fact. Every day at noon sharp (except July 14th) you can hear an explosion in the old town area coming from Castle Hill. But don’t be scared! It’s a firework commemorating the city’s midday cannon tradition dating from the 1860s when the wife of a British officer couldn’t remember going back home for lunch. So to summon her, he installed a small cannon and had it fired at noon. Nowadays, you hear that, you know it’s dinner time!
Book now: Castle Hill and Nice Old Town - Guided Cultural Walking Tour
Place Massena square
Place Massena is one of the most impressive places in Nice. It’s located right between Jardin Albert I and the Old Town, and just a few steps from Promenade des Anglais. Place Massena is a 19th-century square lined with neoclassical buildings, cafes, and restaurants. Its most characteristic point is Fontaine du Soleil, the Fountain of the Sun, with a bronze sculpture of the Greek god Apollo surrounded by statues representing 5 planets – Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Saturn.
Be sure to look up to be impressed by 7 translucent statues, which are the work of art called “Conversation in Nice”. If you can, visit the square again at night when the sculptures are randomly illuminated with bright colors, giving the impression that they are talking to each other. Oh, and also look down to admire a floor with a distinctive black and white checkerboard pattern.
While on the square be sure to also visit nearby Fontaine Miroir d’Eau, located along Promenade du Paillon. It’s a shallow pool/fountain creating an amazing water mirror, perfect for unforgettable photos.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice Old Town
Place Massena hosts many public events, like the colorful Nice Carnival, the military parade on Bastille Day, and many concerts. It’s a place that simply can’t be missed during your one day in Nice.
Interesting fact. When Fontaine du Soleil was unveiled in 1956 many people weren’t too impressed. Apollo not only had a crown of 4 horses (which combined with a popular ad at the time of the Renault 4CV, gave him the nickname “the four horsepower statue”) but he also had his manhood rather too large according to some disgusted woman. The sculptor chiseled it down but as a result… Apollo went from being a seriously large Greek god to being called ‘The Virgin’! Even despite all the “improvements”, the statue was banished from Place Massena in the 1970s. Fortunately, Apollo regained his rightful place in the square in 2011.
Book now: Old Nice and Castle Hill Walking Tour
Food in Nice
Nice is a real heaven for food lovers. No matter what you like, it’s there! From typical French/Mediterranean dishes to a wide choice of international cuisine. We already tried several restaurants and none of them disappointed. But we recommend checking out some options and reviews earlier – just not to fall into some tourist trap with bad food. You’ll find some of our restaurant recommendations lower in the post – all checked by us.
After a nice dinner head for a dessert – traditional Italian ice cream! There is quite a wide choice of ice cream shops in Nice but one name deserves the most attention – Fenocchio. It’s an iconic place located in the Old Town. You can find them in 2 locations – one on Place Rossetti near the Cathedral and the second on Rue de la Poissonnerie located closer to the promenade (which we recommend as it’s usually less crowded). The choice of ice cream flavors is huge so get ready for that!
Book now: Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting
Take advantage of guided tours
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. In Nice you can for example take part in this amazing Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill. If you’re a foodie this Food and Wine Old Town Guided Walking Tour might be a great choice for you.
For a wide selection and more well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator website.
How to get to Nice, France?
Nice is located about 30km from Menton or Cannes, 25km from Antibes, 20km from Monaco, and 10km from Eze or Villefranche-sur-Mer. The most convenient way to get to the town is by train or car.
Airports near Nice
The closest airport to Nice is located right in Nice, only about 7km away from the center. From the airport, you can get to the city center by tram, bus or taxi. You can check available connections on rome2rio.com website.
Where to park in Nice?
In Nice you can leave your car in one of many paid parking lots located all over the town. We can recommend Parking Sulzer located just a few steps from Place Massena and Promenade des Anglais – good prices and an amazing location.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Nice by train
You can easily get to Nice by train from many nearby places like Antibes, Menton, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grasse, or Villefranche-sur-Mer. To learn more about train connections that interest you visit sncf.com or rome2rio.com website.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
To Nice by bus
You can also reach Nice by bus from many places on the French Riviera. For example, a trip from Monaco will take about 40min (€3), 45min from Cannes (€5-8), and 1h20min from Menton (€3). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Nice
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Le Val Fleuri, Camping de La Laune or Camping La Ferme Riola might interest you. They are located near Nice.
Explore local attractions
What to see in one day in Nice, France – Summing up
Nice is a dazzling city full of character, isn’t it? It’s colorful, charming, positive, and very tasty. And we’re sure that even after only one day you’ll understand why Nice is nice (sorry, we had to!)! Now, with our guide, you’re ready to explore Nice in the best possible way. We showed you the minimum, the most important landmarks that can be seen in just a few hours. Enjoy your one day in Nice, the jewel of Cote d’Azur.
Pss. Do you have more time to spare or are already planning your second trip to Nice? Awesome! Be sure to check out our post with all great things to do in Nice!
Our video from Nice
Our opinion about Nice
We love Nice. We’ve already visited it a couple of times and we don’t plan to stop! Each year we spend a couple of weeks on the French Riviera and we always end up popping up to Nice once or twice. We’re not huge fans of big, loud cities but there is something really attractive and hypnotizing about Nice for us.
We’ve already visited Nice in each possible season and we can say that there’s no time when this city is quiet. Although, surprisingly, we found it the most empty during the summer months – but probably only because the temperature is so high that most people just prefer to lie on the beach than sightseeing.
During our first visit, we managed to see all the places mentioned in the post in about 7 hours. So it’s totally doable, we tested it on ourselves.
What do we like about Nice? Well… Probably everything except too many people! Relaxed vibe, delicious food, magnificent views, turquoise Mediterranean waters, charming old town, impressive architecture… And of course amazing weather all year round! What’s not to love?
Book now: Nice: Grand Tour by Segway
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in One day in Nice?
Here are your best, high-rated options in One day in Nice:
Where to sleep in One day in Nice?
Albert 1er
Albert 1er is a charming hotel situated in the heart of Nice, offering panoramic views of the sea and the iconic Promenade des Anglais. This comfortable and welcoming hotel is conveniently located near the old town, shops, and beaches, making it ideal for exploring the city's highlights. With elegantly styled rooms, modern amenities, and attentive service, Albert 1er provides a delightful stay in one of the most beautiful areas of Nice.
Hotel Byakko
Hotel Byakko is a modern and stylish hotel located in the heart of Nice, just a short walk from the city's main attractions and public transportation. The hotel offers comfortable rooms with contemporary décor, providing a relaxing atmosphere for guests. With its rooftop terrace offering panoramic views and a friendly ambiance, this hotel is perfect choice for travelers looking to explore the beauty of Nice.
Villa Otero
Villa Otero is a charming boutique hotel located near Nice train station, offering elegant Belle Époque-style decor. The hotel features beautifully designed rooms with modern amenities and a warm, welcoming ambiance. With its central location, Villa Otero provides easy access to Nice's major attractions, including the Promenade des Anglais and the train station.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
