Bonjour! Welcome to Nice, a world-renowned travel destination located on the captivating French Riviera coast. Relaxed Mediterranean vibe, azure waters, pastel-colored old town, splendid architecture, striking views, delicious food… Nice is all of these things and even more! It perfectly blends old-world charm, natural beauty, and wealth. No wonder that Nice attracts thousands of travelers each year! For us, there’s something irrevocably special about Nice that just keeps drawing us back, even after 10+ visits! Will you love it too? Let’s find out! Keep reading and discover what to see in Nice, France.
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.
Of course! Nice is an idyllic and colorful city full of interesting places to discover and many 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 the French Riviera.
Nice is a great destination for weekend city breaks, being a home base for longer stays and even for one-day trips. If you want to experience all that Nice has to offer, we recommend staying at least 3 days. But don’t worry if you only have 1 day to spare – that time allows you to see most of the main landmarks and get a good feel of what Nice is all about.
Thanks to a pleasant Mediterranean climate and more than 300 days of sun a year, 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 Nice, France?
Nice Old Town
Nice’s old town (fr. Vieux Nice) is one of the prettiest parts of the town and it definitely should be your number one place to visit during your stay in the city. The historic district is the heartbeat of Nice, 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, Cours Saleya Flower Market, and Place Massena square with the iconic Fountain of the Sun.
In our opinion, it’s best to explore Nice Old Town in the morning hours when there aren’t too many tourists yet and the city starts to slowly come 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 and Place Massena square, you’ll find a colorful and vibrant Cours Saleya Flower Market (fr. Cours Saleya Marché Aux Fleurs). 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 local speciality – 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 to add it to your list of things to do in Nice.
Book now: Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting
Place Massena square
Place Massena is one of the most impressive places in Nice. It’s located right between park 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.
Be sure to look up to be impressed by 7 translucent statues, which are the work of art called “Conversation in Nice”. Also, 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 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, the largest green space in the city. It’s a shallow pool/fountain creating an amazing water mirror, perfect for unforgettable photos. You can also visit Jardin Albert 1er – a beautiful 19th-century public garden on the other side of Place Massena.
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 time in Nice.
Book now: Walking Tour of Old Nice and Castle Hill
Short history of Fontaine du Solei
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 people.
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.
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 belltower 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.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice Old Town
Promenade des Anglais
Strolling along the iconic Promenade des Anglais is another thing to do in Nice and you should do it at least once. 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 two luxurious hotels: Le Negresco and the Palais de la Méditerranée. Behind Le Negresco, you can also find Massena Museum which is a center for French Riviera art and artifacts, including Napoleon’s death mask or items from the Nice Carnaval. To learn more about the museum visit nice.fr website.
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.
Also, be sure to visit Promenade des Anglais again in the evening to watch 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 iconic spot in Nice – 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
Explore local attractions
Beaches in Nice
Cote d’Azur is a real beach paradise and we don’t think anyone needs to be convinced of that. Along the Nice’s coastline, you’ll also find many amazing beaches, both public and private ones. All are perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing dip in clear azure waters. Their cons? Beaches in Nice are made mostly from pebbles and stones.
Most popular beaches in Nice are set alongside Promenade des Anglais, it’s one big stretch from the Castle Hill area up to the airport. The most peaceful and less crowded areas are located further from the center, in the direction of the airport. Almost everywhere you’ll find amenities like toilets, showers, or lifeguards. In some places, you’ll also find sunbeds/umbrellas to rent.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice
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
Ready-to-use itineraries for 1 & 3 days in Nice! 🗺️
Port Lympia
Port Lympia, also known as Port of Nice, is located on the eastern side of Castle Hill. It’s one of the most important ports on the French Riviera, where you’ll find dozens of small colorful fishing boats, recreational boats, and also some yachts.
Be sure to stroll along the port as the boats along with a lovely background of Castle Hill, city and the sea create a really pretty image. For even better views be sure to head to Nice Lighthouse.
Halfway between Port Lympia and the #ILoveNice sign, you can also find a War Memorial built on the cliffs of Castle Hill, dedicated to the Nice citizens killed during World War I.
Book now: Mediterranean Coastal Sightseeing Cruise from Nice
Place Garibaldi square
From Port Lympia it’s just a short walk to Place Garibaldi square. It was built in the 18th century and named after an Italian general/politician. Nowadays it’s a vibrant place full of historical buildings with beautiful facades, a huge central fountain, as well as many restaurants, bars, and shops.
While on Place Garibaldi, we recommend taking a short walk to Rue Bonaparte, another pleasant and vibrant street where besides many restaurants and shops you’ll find a building where Napoleon Bonaparte lived between March and September 1794.
MAMAC art museum
If you love art, you might also be interested in visiting MAMAC – the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum located on an adjoining street to Place Garibaldi. There you’ll find a huge collection of modern art from the 1950s to the present day, including that created by Yves Klein or Andy Warhol. And from its rooftop, you can catch fantastic views over the city! For more information, prices, and opening hours visit mamac-nice.org website.
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
If you fancy a little glimpse of Moscow without leaving Nice, Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral (fr. Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice) will be a great choice! It’s located about 3.5km from the Old Town and can be easily reached by foot, bus, or car.
Nowadays, it’s the largest place of Orthodox worship in Western Europe and the most important building of its kind outside Russia. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in Byzantine style, for the growing Russian community that settled in Nice. It looks truly spectacular from the outside, featuring beautiful green onion domes and magnificent gardens. It’s classified as a Historic Monument. It’s a truly great place to see in Nice.
Entrance to Saint Nicholas Cathedral is free during opening hours. Inside you’ll also find a museum in the crypt that can be visited for €5 (August 2024). For current prices and opening hours visit sobor.fr website.
Cimiez Neighborhood
A little bit further inland from Nice Old Town and Saint Nicholas Cathedral, you’ll find Cimiez Neighborhood. It’s a fancy, mostly residential area with some great attractions to check out. It’s a great place to escape the buzzing center for a moment.
In Cimiez Neighborhood you’ll find points of interest like:
- Garden of Arenas Cimiez (fr. Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez) – historic site features ruins of a Roman amphitheater and green shaded areas perfect for a relaxing break. Entrance is free during opening hours.
- Cimiez Monastery – monastery dating back to the 9th century featuring gardens once used by monks as their orchard and vegetable garden, and cemetery where you’ll find tombs of Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy. From the monastery gardens you can admire nice views over Nice and its bay. Entrance is free during opening hours.
- Nice Archeology Museum – located on a Roman archeological site featuring statues, coins, and other ancient findings from the area. Entrance is paid – for current prices and opening hours visit musee-archeologie-nice.org website.
- Matisse Museum – a museum located in an elegant 17th-century villa where you can take a look into Matisse’s life. It houses one of the world’s largest collections of Matisse’s works of art like paintings, sketches, sculptures, or stained glass. Entrance is paid – for current prices and opening hours visit musee-matisse-nice.org website.
- Marc Chagall National Museum – the museum is located about 1.5km down the road from the Matisse Museum. It’s dedicated to the work of a famous French artist, featuring a wide collection of his artworks. Entrance is paid – for current prices and opening hours visit musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr website.
It’s best to get to the Cimiez Neighborhood by bus, taxi or car. For timetables, you can check zou.maregionsud.fr or rome2rio.com website.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice
Mont Boron Park
Mont Boron Park (fr. Parc du Mont Boron) will be a great choice if you want to take a breath after intense days full of sightseeing. It’s a peaceful and green park located on higher ground featuring walking trails, great picnic spots, and amazing views over Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. There you’ll also find Fort du Mont Alban – a 16th-century military fortress.
What you won’t find there are restaurants and shops so if you choose this destination be sure to pack everything you might need for your day.
The best way to get to Mont Boron Park is by car, bus no 33, or taxi.
Food in Nice
Nice is a real heaven for food lovers and during your stay, no matter how long, you’ll have an amazing chance to taste it for yourself. No matter what you like, it’s in Nice! 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! Some also recommend Azzurro – feel free to check them out too.
Book now: Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting
Take advantage of guided tours in Nice
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.
The choice of guided tours for day trips from Nice is also really wide – you can for example go on this cool trip and visit medieval villages of the French Riviera or even see the best of the French Riviera on a full-day tour.
For a wide selection and more well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator website.
Explore local attractions
Nice Carnival
If you’ll be visiting Nice around mid-February and the start of March, you can’t miss going to Nice Carnival! It’s the most popular winter event on the Cote d’Azur and one of the world’s renowned carnivals, alongside the ones in Rio De Janeiro and Venice. It’s colorful, vibrant, and super fun and takes place annually for 2 whole weeks!
During that time thousands of people visit the city to experience the event’s electrifying atmosphere and to see dozens of colorful floats decorated under the season’s theme parade moving to the rhythm of festive music.
Each year a different theme is featured. Over the last decades, there have already been themes like: King of Fashion, King of Fools, King of the Mediterranean, King of Gastronomy, King of Pop Culture, or King of Space.
Learn more: Carnaval de Nice, Nice Carnival – Parade of Lights 2024
Nice Christmas Market
Visiting Nice around Christmas? Then be sure to visit its Christmas Market which is the biggest one in the South of France! It takes place in the park Jardin Albert 1er right next to Place Massena. There you’ll find Christmas Village with a huge Ferris wheel, the house of Father Christmas, an ice rink, countless Christmas-y shiny decorations, and of course many vendors selling food and souvenirs.
Also be sure to walk around the beautifully decorated Place Massena square, visit Fontaine Miroir d’Eau for stunning photos of Christmas Tree reflecting in the water, and stroll around Promenade des Anglais where more Christmas lights await.
Discover: Accommodation options in Nice
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 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.
Remember that the Nice train station isn’t located in the very center of the city – it’s about a 25-minute walk from Promenade des Anglais.
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.
What to see 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 after your time in the city, you’ll understand why Nice is nice (yeah, we had to!)! The number of attractions and places to discover is quite long so we’re sure that every traveler will find something perfect for himself. And now, with our guide, you’re ready to explore Nice in the best possible way! Enjoy the city and let yourself be enchanted.
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.
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?
Oh, and we really liked taking part in the Nice Carnival – it was so fun and worth every penny!
Book now: No Diet Club - Unique Local Food in Nice
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Things to do in Nice?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Things to do in Nice:
Where to sleep in Things to do 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.
Palais Ségurane Boutique Hôtel
Palais Ségurane Boutique Hôtel is an elegant and contemporary hotel situated in the vibrant district of Nice, close to the Old Town. The hotel offers stylishly designed rooms, blending modern comfort with traditional French charm, making for a cozy and luxurious stay. Its prime location provides easy access to Nice's popular attractions, such as the Promenade des Anglais and Place Garibaldi.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
