Things to do in Nice: top sights and where to go
Nice's headline sights are the Promenade des Anglais along the Baie des Anges, Vieux-Nice with the Cours Saleya market and cathedral, and the Matisse and Chagall museums on Cimiez hill. Within 15–40 minutes by train or bus lie the clifftop village of Èze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat with the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Antibes and Menton on the Italian border. From Nice airport, tram line 2 reaches the centre in about 25 minutes.
Sights
Nice itineraries
Nice travel guide
What to know before you go: neighbourhoods and where to stay, the airport and coastal trains, weather by month, beaches, food, costs and Riviera day trips.
Nice on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 3–4 days, +1–2 days on the coast
- Best time
- May–June and September–October
- Money
- Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airport
- Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), 7 km from the centre
- Transport
- Tram, buses, TER trains along the coast
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Beaches
- Pebbles in town; sand at Juan-les-Pins
- City tax
- Charged per person per night by your hotel
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Museums
- Matisse and Chagall usually close on Tuesday
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1635Sourcei
Wikipedia, Promenade des AnglaisSourcei
Wikipedia, NiceSourcei
Wikipedia, Nice CarnivalThings to do in Nice
Nice's top things to do are a walk along the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges, Vieux-Nice with the Cours Saleya market and cathedral, the view from Castle Hill, and the Matisse and Chagall museums on Cimiez hill. Every place rated by YesGo is in the list above.
| Seafront | Promenade des Anglais | 2–3 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Vieux-Nice, Cours Saleya, Castle Hill | ½ day |
| Cimiez hill | Chagall Museum, Musée Matisse | ½ day |
| East coast | Villefranche, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu | 1 day |
| Above the sea | Èze, Villa Ephrussi | ½ day |
| West coast | Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer | 1 day |
| Hills and border | Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Menton | ½ day each |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready-made 1–3 day and family itineraries.
Nice itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 days
With one day in Nice, do the morning Cours Saleya market, Vieux-Nice, Castle Hill, the Chagall Museum and a sunset walk on the Promenade des Anglais. With two days, add the east coast: Villefranche, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Beaulieu; with three, Antibes and its Picasso Museum and Renoir's house in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
- Day 1 — Vieux-Nice, Castle Hill, Chagall Museum, Promenade des Anglais.
- Day 2 — Villefranche-sur-Mer, Villa Ephrussi, Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
- Day 3 — Cagnes-sur-Mer, Antibes.
- Day 4 — Èze and Menton, or Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Where to stay in Nice
The handiest base is the centre between Place Masséna and the sea: Vieux-Nice and the Promenade are a walk away, and the tram runs to the station and airport. Vieux-Nice is atmospheric but loud at night; the Port quarter is calmer and closer to the east coast; the station area is cheaper and good for train day trips.
| Vieux-Nice | Atmosphere, market, dining | Noisy, stairs |
|---|---|---|
| Centre, Masséna | First visit, central | Pricey by the sea |
| Seafront | Sea views, the beach | Traffic noise |
| Port | Quieter, cafés, near Villefranche | Further from the station |
| Station area | Train day trips | Less pleasant at night |
| Cimiez | Quiet, green, museums | Uphill, needs the bus |
Nice airport to the city centre
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) sits by the sea 7 km west of the centre. From Nice airport to the city centre, tram line 2 is the easiest option, about 25 minutes to Place Masséna and the port; a taxi takes 20–30 minutes. TER trains run along the coast direct to Antibes, Villefranche, Menton and Cannes.
| Tram 2 | Airport — centre, port | ≈ 25 min |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 20–30 min |
| TER train | Nice — Antibes | ≈ 20–30 min |
| TER train | Nice — Menton | ≈ 35–40 min |
| TER train | Nice — Cannes | ≈ 30–40 min |
| TGV train | Nice — Paris | ≈ 5.5–6 h |
Nice weather by month
Nice has mild weather: winter days are around 13–14 °C with almost no frost, and summer reaches 27–28 °C. It's sunny most of the year, with rain mostly in autumn. The sea is warm enough to swim from June to September, warmest in August. The best time to visit Nice for walking is May–June and September–October; February brings the famous carnival.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 13° | 14° | 16° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 25° | 21° | 17° | 14° |
| Night | 5° | 5° | 8° | 10° | 14° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 17° | 14° | 9° | 6° |
| Rain | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: June–July and October–November
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 6 days
Mild, sunny, few tourists.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 5 days
Carnival and Menton's Lemon Festival.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 5 days
Spring, mimosa in bloom.
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 6 days
Warm, gardens in flower.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 5 days
A great month for walking.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 3 days
Swimming season begins.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 1 days
Hot, busy beaches.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 2 days
The warmest sea.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 17°
- rain 4 days
Late-summer sweet spot.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 6 days
Warm but wetter.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 9°
- rain 8 days
The rainiest month.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 6 days
Mild winter, lights by the sea.
The Nice Carnival takes place in February, with parades of giant figures and the Battle of Flowers along the Promenade des Anglais.
Day trips from Nice
Day trips from Nice along the French Riviera are easy: trains and buses run along the coast every 15–30 minutes. Villefranche is 10 minutes by train, Èze 30 minutes by bus, Antibes 20–30 minutes by train and Menton, on the Italian border, about 40 minutes.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer — a bay, an old town and a beach.
- Èze — a clifftop village and an exotic garden.
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — a coastal path and villas.
- Antibes — the old town, the Picasso Museum and Juan-les-Pins beaches.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence — the artists' village and the Fondation Maeght.
- Menton — lemons, gardens and Jean Cocteau.
What to eat in Nice
Food in Nice leans Italian and Provençal: socca made from chickpea flour, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, pissaladière with onions and anchovies, stuffed vegetables and Swiss chard tart. The Cours Saleya market and the little snack bars of Vieux-Nice are the easiest places to try it all.
- Socca — a hot chickpea-flour pancake with pepper.
- Salade niçoise — tuna, egg, olives and vegetables.
- Pan bagnat — a round roll filled with salade niçoise.
- Pissaladière — onion tart with olives and anchovies.
- Petits farcis — stuffed courgettes, peppers and tomatoes.
- Tourte de blettes — a sweet chard tart with raisins and pine nuts.
Nice attraction prices
Free in Nice: the Promenade des Anglais and town beaches, Vieux-Nice and its market, Castle Hill, the cathedral and the coastal villages. You pay for the Matisse and Chagall museums, the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Villa Kérylos, Èze's exotic garden and the Picasso Museum in Antibes; check prices on the official websites.
| Chagall Museum | 36 | 1 h 15 min | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Villa and gardens ticket |
| Musée Matisse | 34 | 1 h 45 min | Nice museums ticket |
Free — 10 places: Promenade des Anglais, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Vieux-Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Antibes and more.
Tips
- Coastal trains beat driving.
- Bring water shoes: the beaches are pebbly.
- Watch your bag at the market and on the tram.
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Nice?
The Promenade des Anglais, Vieux-Nice and the Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill, and the Matisse and Chagall museums.
How many days do you need in Nice?
3–4 days, plus 1–2 days for trips along the coast.
How do I get from Nice airport to the city centre?
By tram line 2 in about 25 minutes, or by taxi in 20–30 minutes.
What is the weather like in Nice in May?
About 22 °C by day and 14 °C at night; the sea is still cool.
When can you swim in Nice?
From June to September; the sea is warmest in August.
Where is the best area to stay in Nice?
The centre near Place Masséna, Vieux-Nice or the Port quarter.
Are the beaches in Nice sandy?
No, the town beaches are pebbly; sandy ones are at Juan-les-Pins near Antibes.
What food is Nice known for?
Socca, salade niçoise, pan bagnat and pissaladière.
What are the best day trips from Nice?
Èze, Villefranche, Cap Ferrat, Antibes, Menton and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Do I need a visa for Nice?
It depends on your passport; France follows Schengen rules.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1635: Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera
- Wikipedia, Nice; Nice airport climate normals 1991–2020
- Nice airport, Lignes d'Azur and SNCF websites