Nice, France: travel guide
Pebble beaches, ochre old town and the blue sweep of the Riviera
The jewel of the Côte d'Azur — a sun-drenched city where the French Riviera's blue sea meets Baroque architecture and Italy's culinary shadow.
About Nice
Nice sits on a wide bay of the Mediterranean, its curve of pebble beach traced by the Promenade des Anglais. Behind it, the old town of Vieux-Nice is a maze of ochre and terracotta façades, flower stalls and small restaurants where socca, a chickpea pancake, is a local staple.
Things to do in Nice include climbing to the castle hill for views over the bay, wandering the Cours Saleya market and taking short trains along the coast to Monaco, Èze and Cannes. The food leans on olive oil, fresh fish and herbs, with a clear Italian influence.
The Riviera is at its best from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is warm enough for swimming and the light is at its most golden.
- Country
- France
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Nearest airport
- NCE
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nice
Monaco Day Trip Casino
principality · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nice to Monaco — Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince's Palace, the Cathedral with Grace Kelly's tomb, the Oceanographic Museum, and the F1 street circuit.
Promenade des Anglais
seafront promenade · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Nice's iconic 7 km seafront promenade stretching from the airport to Castle Hill, flanked by Belle Époque luxury hotels, pebble beaches and palm trees. Created by the British community in 1822.
Vieux-Nice (Old Town)
old town · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A labyrinth of narrow Baroque streets, ochre and terracotta palazzos and the Cours Saleya — one of the finest outdoor food markets in France. Vieux-Nice reflects 400 years of Italian rule. The morning market (Tue–Sun) converts to…
Cours Saleya Market Nice
flower-market · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Cours Saleya — the legendary daily flower and food market in Nice's old town, with the Provençal produce, the spectacular socca (chickpea pancake) stalls, and the historic morning market since 1860.
Place Masséna Nice
main-square · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Place Masséna — the central square of Nice with the spectacular red ochre buildings, the Apollo Fountain, the Promenade du Paillon park, and the iconic Yvaral crouching men sculpture.
Castle Hill Colline du Château
hilltop-park · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Colline du Château — the dramatic park where the medieval castle once stood, with the spectacular panoramic views of the Promenade des Anglais and the Mediterranean.
Vieux Nice Walking Tour
old-town-walk · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A walking tour of Vieux Nice — the medieval maze of narrow streets, the colourful Italianate buildings, Place Rossetti with the famous Fenocchio ice cream, the heart of Nice gastronomy.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence Day Trip
artists-village · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence — the medieval hilltop village famous as a haven for artists (Picasso, Matisse, Chagall), with the Fondation Maeght and picturesque cobblestone lanes.
Èze Village Day Trip
medieval-village · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip to Èze — the spectacular medieval village perched 429m above the Mediterranean, with the Jardin Exotique cactus garden and the dramatic clifftop setting.
Colline du Château Nice
hilltop park · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A forested park rising 92 m above the seafront with 360° views over the Baie des Anges, Vieux-Nice rooftops and the Alps. The medieval castle was demolished by Louis XIV in 1706; the park that replaced it is one of the finest Riviera…
Antibes Picasso Museum
picasso-museum · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip to Antibes — with the spectacular Musée Picasso in Château Grimaldi (where Picasso painted for 6 months in 1946), historic ramparts, and the largest yacht harbour in Europe.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
natural-harbour · 4.7 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Villefranche-sur-Mer — the spectacular natural deep-water harbour with the colourful Italian-style fishing village, the medieval Citadelle Saint-Elme, and Jean Cocteau's Chapel of Saint Pierre.
Things to do
- Old Nice Food Walking Tour — Socca & Local Tastings Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 53 per person
- Sea Kayaking in the Calanques near Villefranche Activity · 4 h · from EUR 61 per person
Day trips and tours
- Monaco Half-Day Tour from Nice 5 h · from EUR 44
- French Riviera Tour — Eze, Monaco, Menton 9 h · from EUR 59
Where to stay in Nice
- Vieux-Nice & Promenade des Anglais about EUR 175 per night
Stay in the Old Town for the authentic Nice experience — market mornings, socca snacks, pastel-painted piazzas — with the famous Promenade a short stroll away.
- Cimiez & Uptown Nice about EUR 130 per night
Residential hill neighbourhood preferred by longer-stay visitors — home to the Matisse and Chagall museums, a Roman amphitheatre and quieter streets above the tourist fray.
Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée 5-star · EUR 380 to EUR 1,800 per night
- Villa Saint-Exupéry Beach Hostel 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 85 per night
- Hotel Windsor Nice 3-star · EUR 110 to EUR 195 per night
Where to eat
- Chez René Socca nicois, street_food · about EUR 5 per person
- Café Marché Cours Saleya nicois, cafe, provencal · about EUR 20 per person
- La Merenda nicois, french · about EUR 35 per person
- Le Chantecler — Hôtel Negresco french, provencal, fine_dining · about EUR 130 per person
Getting to Nice
Airport: Nice (NCE)
Getting around
- Tram
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Promenade Pickpocket Teams
Promenade des Anglais, Nice Carnival and Jazz Festival crowds
Thieves work in pairs — one distracts (bumping, pointing, asking questions) while the other lifts wallets from beach bags or back pockets.
How to avoid it: Use a front-pocket wallet or money belt. Never leave bags unattended on the pebble beach.
Fake Charity Clipboard Collection
Nice airport arrivals, Place Masséna, Vieux-Nice
People holding clipboards claim to raise funds for deaf children or disabled people. Money goes to criminal networks, not charities.
How to avoid it: Decline all clipboard approaches. Donate only to registered charities at official points of sale.
More in France
Frequently asked questions about Nice
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nice?
- The highest-rated places in our Nice guide are Saint-Paul-de-Vence Day Trip, Colline du Château Nice, Monaco Day Trip Casino, Vieux-Nice (Old Town), Cours Saleya Market Nice.
- Where should I stay in Nice?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nice: Vieux-Nice & Promenade des Anglais, Cimiez & Uptown Nice.
- How do I get around Nice?
- Ways to get around Nice covered in our guide: Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Nice?
- Scams reported to us for Nice include Promenade Pickpocket Teams; Fake Charity Clipboard Collection. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Nice?
- The nearest airport to Nice has the code NCE.