Promenade des Anglais, Nice

About the Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais runs along the Baie des Anges in Nice for about 7 kilometres, from Nice airport in the west to the Quai des États-Unis by the old town in the east. It's the city's main promenade and one of the most famous seafronts in Europe.

It owes its name to the English. From the late 18th century the English aristocracy wintered in Nice for its mild climate. In the harsh winter of 1820 the English community, funded by the Reverend Lewis Way and the Anglican Holy Trinity church, paid the poor to build a path along the sea. Locals called it the 'English Way', and after Nice joined France in 1860 it became the Promenade des Anglais.

What to see on the promenade

• The Baie des Anges — turquoise water and a pebble beach all along.
• The blue chairs — a symbol of Nice, free to sit in by the sea.
• The Hôtel Negresco — a Belle Époque palace with a pink dome.
• The Jardin Albert I — a garden with fountains by the old town.
• Hotels and villas — façades from around 1900.
• The sunset — the sun sinks into the sea towards the airport.

Sea, beaches and the blue chairs

A pebble beach runs the length of the promenade: large smooth stones instead of sand, with water that deepens quickly and stays strikingly clear. Some beaches are public and free, others private with loungers, umbrellas and restaurants. Swimming season is June to September.

The famous blue chairs line the railing the whole way and have become a symbol of Nice. Sit down, watch the sea and the planes coming in over the bay, all for free. Palms, wide pavements and a cycle lane make the promenade pleasant year-round.

The Negresco and the Belle Époque

Belle Époque hotels and villas built for the wintering aristocracy line the promenade. The best known is the Hôtel Negresco with its pink dome, a symbol of Nice. Queen Victoria and her son Edward VII wintered in Nice, and its soft light and clear air drew painters such as Chagall and Matisse.

In 1931 the renovated promenade was formally opened by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Today it holds casinos, hotels and museums, and since 2021 Nice, as a winter resort of the European aristocracy, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A promenade for sport and strolling

Locals simply call it 'La Prom'. It's loved by runners, cyclists, skaters and families with pushchairs, especially on Sundays. A cycle lane runs along the sea, and bikes and scooters can be hired.

The promenade has seen big sport too: Tour de France stages in 2013 and 2020, and in 2024 the whole race finished here for the first time, instead of on the Champs-Élysées. The Nice Carnival and marathons pass along it as well.

What's nearby

At its eastern end the promenade becomes the Quai des États-Unis by the Jardin Albert I, behind which begins old Nice with the Cours Saleya market and Castle Hill. Place Masséna, the main square, is a 10-minute walk away.

At the western end, near the airport, are quieter beaches and the Parc Phoenix with its glasshouse. Buses run the whole length, and tram T2 runs parallel to the sea, linking the airport with the centre.

Tips for your walk

There's no need to walk all 7 kilometres: the finest stretch is from the Negresco to the old town, about two kilometres. Stroll it at sunset and ride back by tram or bus.

For swimming, bring water shoes for the pebbles and a towel; private beaches rent loungers. The drinking fountains on the promenade are safe.

Keep your belongings close in crowds and don't leave bags unattended on the beach. Cross the cycle lane carefully, as cyclists move fast.

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Nearby and on the way

38

Vieux-Nice

Nice, France

3 h · Free · 41 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Vieux-Nice

How to do it right

• Free to walk.
• Sunset by the sea.
• Shoes for the pebbles.
• Stay off the cycle lane.

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