Nice Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Nice, France — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Nice

• Promenade des Anglais. Nice's legendary 7-kilometre palm-lined seafront walkway curves along the Baie des Anges, dotted with its iconic blue chairs. Originally financed by the English community in 1824, it remains the city's beating heart — equally at home for dawn joggers and sunset strollers.
• Vieux Nice (Old Town). A labyrinth of narrow ochre-and-terracotta alleyways, Baroque churches, and boisterous Niçoise street life, Vieux Nice feels more Italian than French — a legacy of the Savoy era. The Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and the Église du Gesù anchor a neighbourhood best explored on foot without a map.
• Cours Saleya Flower and Food Market. One of France's 100 most picturesque markets, Cours Saleya bursts with cut flowers, local produce, Niçoise olives, and socca vendors Tuesday through Sunday mornings, then transforms into an antiques market on Mondays. Established in 1861, it sits at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage setting.
• Castle Hill (Colline du Château). A free hilltop park towering above both the Old Town and the Port, Colline du Château rewards the climb (or free elevator ride from Quai des États-Unis) with sweeping panoramic views over the Baie des Anges and Nice's terracotta rooftops. The remains of a medieval castle, waterfalls, and shaded gardens make it the…
• Musée Matisse. Housed in a 17th-century Genoese villa in the leafy Cimiez quarter, the Musée Matisse holds one of the world's largest collections of Henri Matisse's work — from his earliest experiments to his final Jazz cut-outs. Matisse himself lived and died in Nice, and is buried nearby in the monastery garden.
• Musée National Marc Chagall. Inaugurated in 1973 in the presence of the artist himself, this purpose-built national museum houses the world's largest public collection of Chagall's work — including the 17 monumental canvases of his Biblical Message series. The luminous stained-glass windows and mosaics in the concert hall are alone worth the trip.
• Arènes de Cimiez (Roman Ruins). Built in the 2nd century AD as part of Cemenelum, the Roman provincial capital, this small amphitheatre once held 4,000–5,000 spectators and still stages the Nice Jazz Festival each July. Entry to the grounds is free, and the adjacent Archaeological Museum adds Roman baths and artifacts to the visit.
• Palais Lascaris. Nice's finest example of civil Baroque architecture, this 1648 nobleman's palace in the heart of Vieux Nice conceals frescoed grand staircases, silk-hung salons, and an extraordinary collection of antique musical instruments. A mandatory stop for anyone tracing the city's Italian-inflected past.

Best time to visit Nice

May–June or September–October (shoulder seasons). Warm, sunny weather with fewer crowds than peak summer and significantly lower accommodation prices. The sea is still warm enough for swimming in September. July–August are the hottest and most crowded months with gridlocked roads and peak prices

Nice weather by month

Getting to Nice

The Lignes d'Azur tram and bus network covers the whole city cheaply. Tram Line 2 connects Nice Côte d'Azur Airport directly to the city centre and Port in about 30 minutes — validate your ticket each time you board. The Lignes d'Azur app lets you buy and validate tickets on your phone. TER regional trains from Nice-Ville station reach Monaco in about 20 minutes and Cannes in 35 minutes, making effortless Riviera day trips possible without renting a car. Buy tickets at the station or via the SNCF Connect app. Castle Hill is reachable by a free elevator from Quai des États-Unis (eastern end of the Promenade), by stairs, or by a tourist train. The elevator runs daily 7am–10pm (8am–8pm Sundays)

• NCE Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport — 15 min drive
• MRS Marseille Provence Airport — 150 min drive
• GNB Grenoble Alpes-Isère Airport — 180 min drive

Where to stay in Nice

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Vieux Nice (Old Town). Staying inside the Old Town puts you steps from Cours Saleya market, the port, and the best socca stands. The narrow streets are lively well into the evening with restaurants and bars spilling onto terraces, and Castle Hill is a short walk away. Ideal for… Good for: First-time visitors, culture-seekers, foodies.
• Carré d'Or (Golden Square). Nice's most prestigious address, framed by Belle Époque and Haussmannian architecture along the best stretch of the Promenade des Anglais. Luxury hotels, private beach concessions, upscale boutiques, and polished brasseries define the mood. The Negresco… Good for: Luxury travellers, romantics, beach-focused stays.
• Jean-Médecin / City Centre. Nice's modern commercial heart around Avenue Jean Médecin and Place Masséna offers the broadest hotel selection across all price points, excellent tram connectivity to the airport and the port, and proximity to major museums, cinemas, and the Jardin Albert… Good for: Budget-to-mid-range travellers, day-trippers, business visitors.
• Cimiez. A tranquil, upscale residential neighbourhood on the hill north of the centre, built over the site of the Roman city of Cemenelum. Leafy avenues, the Matisse Museum, Roman arenas, and a monastery with Franciscan gardens give Cimiez a serene, villa-hotel… Good for: Art lovers, repeat visitors, those seeking quiet and heritage.
• Gambetta. A relaxed, genuinely residential neighbourhood just west of the Old Town, popular with budget-conscious travellers. Local bakeries, neighbourhood cafés, and a calm pace of life sit a short walk from both the beach and the market, making it one of the… Good for: Budget travellers, long stays, travellers who prefer local over touristic.

Where to eat in Nice

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• La Petite Maison. Vieux Nice (near Cours Saleya) · Provençal French — A Nice institution beloved by politicians, celebrities, and discerning locals since 1990. The kitchen turns out generous Provençal sharing plates…
• Pink Mamma. 20bis Rue de Douai · 4.7★ (51,994 reviews)
• Bocca Mar. 15 Prom. des Anglais · 4.6★ (7,731 reviews)
• The Edge Seafood Restaurant & SkyBar. 302 Harbor Blvd · 4.7★ (6,359 reviews)
• Napoleon House. 500 Chartres St · 4.6★ (7,633 reviews)
• Bocca Nissa. 3 Rue Saint-François de Paule · 4.5★ (5,993 reviews)
• Le Panier. 5 Rue Barillerie · 4.8★ (3,177 reviews)
• Anaheim White House. 887 S Anaheim Blvd · 4.8★ (2,583 reviews)

Cafés, bakeries & casual

• Chez Thérésa. Vieux Nice / Cours Saleya · Niçoise Street Food — The city's most beloved socca stand since 1925, with a wood-fired oven dating to 1867. Paper-thin chickpea pancakes arrive blistered and piping hot,…
• Coffee shop - La Brioche Chaude - CAFÉ. 50 Av. Jean Médecin · 4.8★ (2,251 reviews)
• EDMOND Café CONGRÈS (breakfast | brunch | cakes). 11 bis Rue du Congrès · 4.6★ (2,714 reviews)
• Marinette. 16 Rue Colonna d'Istria · 4.5★ (3,011 reviews)
• Le Kawa - Brunch & Coffee Shop Nice. 23 Rue de Belgique · 4.6★ (2,466 reviews)
• Bakery By Michel Fiori. 19 Bd Raimbaldi · 4.6★ (1,457 reviews)
• HUG Café Nice. 2 Rue de Suisse · 4.6★ (1,387 reviews)
• Pistache - Pâtisserie. 16 Rue Emmanuel Philibert · 4.8★ (956 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Flaveur. City Centre (near Place Masséna) · French Contemporary — Nice's only two-Michelin-star restaurant, run by brothers Gaël and Mickaël Tourteaux. Bold global spices meet hyper-local Mediterranean…
• Le Chantecler. Promenade des Anglais (Hotel Negresco) · French Haute Cuisine — One Michelin star inside Nice's grande dame hotel. MOF chef Virginie Basselot crafts precise seasonal menus sourced from local…
• La Merenda. Vieux Nice (Old Town) · Niçoise Traditional — A 20-seat institution run by former Michelin-starred chef Dominique Le Stanc, who quit haute cuisine to cook honest Niçoise food — socca, daube,…
• Le Canon. Carré d'Or (City Centre) · French Bistro / Natural Wine — Opened in 2014 by Corsican chef Sébastien Perinetti, Le Canon put Nice on the natural-wine map with hundreds of artisanal bottles — Jura…
• Restaurant JAN. Old Port (Port Lympia) · South African–French Fusion — An intimate 20-seat restaurant where chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen — the first South African chef to earn a Michelin star — presents a…
• Onice. Old Port district · French-Italian Fusion — Michelin-starred (2024) and helmed by chefs trained under triple-star chef Colagreco at Mirazur in Menton. The tasting menu blends the precision of…
• Epicentre. Old Port (Port Lympia) · French Fine Dining — Chef Selim M'Nasri earned a Michelin star in its very first year (2025). The spice-forward tasting menus — from a 7-course at €99 to a Grand Menu Chef's…
• Les Sens. 37 Rue Pastorelli · 4.7★ (1,811 reviews)

A 7-Day Nice Plan

1. Day 1 — Riviera Arrival & Promenade. Start your first morning with a leisurely walk along the Promenade des Anglais, the iconic 7-kilometre seafront boulevard, pausing to take in the sweep of the Baie des Anges and the pastel-coloured Belle Époque façades. Grab a café crème and a croissant at one of the terrace cafés…
2. Day 2 — Morning Market & Old Town Deep Dive. Arrive at Cours Saleya Flower and Food Market by 9 a.m. when stalls are at their most vibrant — piles of lavender, roses, olives, fresh cheese and charcuterie fill the square. Shop for picnic supplies or simply soak in the Niçois market culture. Spend the afternoon…
3. Day 3 — Heights, History & Harbour Views. Take the free elevator or the scenic staircase up to Castle Hill (Colline du Château) first thing to enjoy panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops of Vieux Nice, the glittering bay, and the port below. Explore the ruined castle walls, the waterfall feature, and the…
4. Day 4 — Art & the Cimiez Hills. Head up to the elegant hilltop neighbourhood of Cimiez to visit the Musée Matisse, housed in a 17th-century Genoese villa surrounded by olive-tree gardens. The collection spans Henri Matisse's full career and includes paintings, drawings, paper cut-outs and personal belongings. Walk…
5. Day 5 — French Riviera by Rail. Board a train from Nice-Ville station westward to Antibes — a 25-minute ride to a walled old town with the excellent Musée Picasso, a bustling covered market (Marché Provençal), and sandy beaches. Explore the ramparts and the old port before a seafood lunch. Continue or return via Èze,…
6. Day 6 — Beach, Markets & Carnival Spirit. Spend a relaxed morning on the pebble beaches off the Promenade des Anglais — several private beach clubs (Castel Plage, Hi Beach) rent sun loungers, or stake out space on the free public sections. The calm Mediterranean water is ideal for a swim. In February, the Nice…
7. Day 7 — Monaco Glamour & Farewell Riviera. Take the 25-minute train to Monaco-Monte Carlo for a morning of glamour: walk the Formula 1 circuit streets, admire the Belle Époque Casino de Monte-Carlo (exterior free; interior opens at 10 a.m.), and stroll up to the Palais Princier on the Rock of Monaco for the daily…

Events & festivals in Nice

• Nice Carnival (Carnaval de Nice) (February–early March (exact dates vary by Christian calendar; 2026 edition: 11 February – 1 March)). One of the world's largest carnivals, first documented in 1294. Features elaborate papier-mâché floats, flower-battle parades along the Promenade du Paillon, masked balls, and a closing fireworks/burning ceremony.…
• Nice Jazz Fest (formerly Nice Jazz Festival) (July (2026 edition: 23–26 July)). Annual outdoor jazz festival held in the gardens between Place Masséna and the seafront, with two stages. Founded in 1948, making it one of the world's oldest jazz festivals; running continuously since 1974. Features…
• Bastille Day Commemoration (14 July) (14 July (annual)). France's National Day is observed in Nice with a morning military parade along the Promenade des Anglais and an evening drone light show and beam-of-light ceremony in remembrance of the 2016 attack victims. Traditional…

Top-rated tours & activities in Nice

• Private Luxury Boat Tour on an Exclusive Day-Cruiser Nice/Monaco — 5.0★ (133 reviews)
• Monaco - Monte Carlo - Eze Village- Small Group - Half Day Tour - — 5.0★ (90 reviews)
• Monaco & Èze — 5.0★ (42 reviews)
• Nice Electric Scooter Rental - High range — 5.0★ (36 reviews)
• Private Wine Tour of the vineyards on the French Riviera — 5.0★ (18 reviews)
• Alpine Mercantour Lakes hiking French Riviera — 5.0★ (17 reviews)
• Eze Electric Bike Tour from Nice — 5.0★ (12 reviews)
• Monaco - Monte Carlo - Eze Village - Private HALF Day Tour — 5.0★ (75 reviews)

Nice travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Nice?

May–June or September–October (shoulder seasons).

What are the top things to do in Nice?

Top experiences include Promenade des Anglais, Vieux Nice (Old Town), Cours Saleya Flower and Food Market, Castle Hill (Colline du Château), Musée Matisse.

Which airport is closest to Nice?

Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport (NCE) is the nearest, about 15 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Nice?

Popular areas to base yourself include Vieux Nice (Old Town), Carré d'Or (Golden Square), Jean-Médecin / City Centre, Cimiez.

How do I get around Nice?

The Lignes d'Azur tram and bus network covers the whole city cheaply.