# 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. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/nice ## Ready itineraries - [One day in Nice: a walking route](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/in-1-day.md): The Cours Saleya market and Vieux-Nice lanes, the cathedral and socca, a sunset stroll on the Promenade des Anglais and Chagall's Bible paintings, in order. - [Nice in 2 days: day by day](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/in-2-days.md): Vieux-Nice, the Promenade and the Chagall Museum, then Villefranche's bay, the pink villa with nine gardens on Cap Ferrat and Beaulieu's Greek Villa Kérylos. - [Nice in 3 days: day by day](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/in-3-days.md): The old town and Promenade, Villefranche's bay with the Ephrussi and Kérylos villas, then Antibes and its Picasso Museum and Renoir's house in Cagnes. - [Nice with kids: a day plan](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/with-kids.md): Market fruit and socca in the old town, Castle Hill's waterfall and playground, blue chairs on the Promenade and a calm beach in Villefranche's bay. ## All 13 places with the YesGo score - [Promenade des Anglais](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/promenade-des-anglais.md): YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · Free. The Promenade des Anglais is Nice's main street and a symbol of the Riviera: a broad boulevard about 7 kilometres long along the Baie des… - [Villefranche-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villefranche-sur-mer.md): YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small resort town on one of the loveliest bays of the Riviera, just east of Nice. The colourful houses of its… - [Èze](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/eze.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Èze is a medieval village on a rock 427 metres above the sea between Nice and Monaco, one of the most picturesque spots on the Riviera… - [Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-jean-cap-ferrat.md): YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a green peninsula on the Riviera between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, one of the most expensive… - [Vieux-Nice](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/vieux-nice.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free. Vieux-Nice is the city's historic centre between the seafront and Castle Hill. It's a maze of narrow lanes, tall red and yellow ochre… - [Beaulieu-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/beaulieu-sur-mer.md): YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a small resort between Nice and Monaco, 10 minutes by train from Nice. Its name means 'beautiful place by the sea': it… - [Chagall Museum](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-chagall.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Ticket. The Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice is a museum the artist shaped himself, in his lifetime. Its treasure is the Biblical Message… - [Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villa-ephrussi-de-rothschild.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Villa and gardens ticket. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a pink Italianate palace on the isthmus of the Cap Ferrat peninsula, with views of two bays at once… - [Saint-Paul-de-Vence](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-paul-de-vence.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Free. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, 25 kilometres from Nice. It sits on a hill behind stone… - [Antibes](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/antibes.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free. Antibes is a resort town between Nice and Cannes, 20 minutes by train from Nice. Its old town sits right above the sea behind stone walls… - [Menton](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/menton.md): YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free. Menton is a resort town right on France's border with Italy, 35 minutes by train from Nice. It's called the 'Pearl of France': the… - [Musée Matisse](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-matisse.md): YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Nice museums ticket. The Musée Matisse is one of the world's largest museums of Henri Matisse, on Cimiez hill in the north of Nice. It fills a red 17th-century… - [Cagnes-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/cagnes-sur-mer.md): YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free. Cagnes-sur-Mer is a seaside town 15 minutes by train from Nice, where the painter Auguste Renoir spent his last eleven years. His Les… ## 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. ## Trip essentials - How long: 3–4 days, +1–2 days on the coast - Best time: May–June and September–October - Entry: Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts - Money: Euro; contactless almost everywhere - Airport: Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), 7 km from the centre - Transport: Tram, buses, TER trains along the coast - Beaches: Pebbles in town; sand at Juan-les-Pins - City tax: Charged per person per night by your hotel - Museums: Matisse and Chagall usually close on Tuesday - Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer ## Key facts - **2021** — Nice joined the UNESCO list as a Riviera resort (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1635) - **7 km** — length of the Promenade des Anglais (source: Wikipedia, Promenade des Anglais) - **1860** — Nice became part of France (source: Wikipedia, Nice) - **1294** — first record of the Nice Carnival (source: Wikipedia, Nice Carnival) ## Things 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. | Area | What to see | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Seafront** | [Promenade des Anglais](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/promenade-des-anglais) | 2–3 hours | | **Old town** | [Vieux-Nice](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/vieux-nice), Cours Saleya, Castle Hill | ½ day | | **Cimiez hill** | [Chagall Museum](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-chagall), [Musée Matisse](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-matisse) | ½ day | | **East coast** | [Villefranche](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villefranche-sur-mer), [Cap Ferrat](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-jean-cap-ferrat), [Beaulieu](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/beaulieu-sur-mer) | 1 day | | **Above the sea** | [Èze](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/eze), [Villa Ephrussi](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villa-ephrussi-de-rothschild) | ½ day | | **West coast** | [Antibes](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/antibes), [Cagnes-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/cagnes-sur-mer) | 1 day | | **Hills and border** | [Saint-Paul-de-Vence](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-paul-de-vence), [Menton](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/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. | Area | Best for | Bear in mind | | --- | --- | --- | | **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. | How | From — to | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **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. - **January in Nice**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 6. Mild, sunny, few tourists. - **February in Nice**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 5. Carnival and Menton's Lemon Festival. - **March in Nice**: day ≈ 16°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 5. Spring, mimosa in bloom. - **April in Nice**: day ≈ 18°C, night ≈ 10°C, rainy days: 6. Warm, gardens in flower. - **May in Nice**: day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 5. A great month for walking. - **June in Nice** (best time): day ≈ 25°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 3. Swimming season begins. - **July in Nice** (best time): day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 20°C, rainy days: 1. Hot, busy beaches. - **August in Nice**: day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 20°C, rainy days: 2. The warmest sea. - **September in Nice**: day ≈ 25°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 4. Late-summer sweet spot. - **October in Nice** (best time): day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 6. Warm but wetter. - **November in Nice** (best time): day ≈ 17°C, night ≈ 9°C, rainy days: 8. The rainiest month. - **December in Nice**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 6°C, rainy days: 6. 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. - [Promenade des Anglais](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/promenade-des-anglais) — Free - [Villefranche-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villefranche-sur-mer) — Free - [Èze](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/eze) — Free - [Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-jean-cap-ferrat) — Free - [Vieux-Nice](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/vieux-nice) — Free - [Beaulieu-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/beaulieu-sur-mer) — Free - [Chagall Museum](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-chagall) — Ticket - [Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/villa-ephrussi-de-rothschild) — Villa and gardens ticket - [Saint-Paul-de-Vence](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/saint-paul-de-vence) — Free - [Antibes](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/antibes) — Free - [Menton](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/menton) — Free - [Musée Matisse](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/musee-matisse) — Nice museums ticket - [Cagnes-sur-Mer](https://yesgo.io/france/nice/cagnes-sur-mer) — Free ## Tips - Coastal trains beat driving. - Bring water shoes: the beaches are pebbly. - Watch your bag at the market and on the tram. ## Questions ### 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 - 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 Facts checked: 12.11.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.