Best Things To Do In Nice

Located halfway between Cannes and Monaco and nestled between the Maritime Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the epicentre of the Côte d'Azur and one of the destinations thousands of travellers dream of visiting one day.

It is easy to fall in love with Nice because it has it all. Here, every traveller quickly finds their place. Whether it's exploring its old town and traditional markets, swimming in its crystal clear beaches, hiking in its surroundings or enjoying the local gastronomy, take note of everything you can see and do in Nice during a few days holiday on the famous Côte d'Azur!

1. Walk up and down the Paseo de los Ingleses

The Hotel Negresco from the Paseo de los Ingleses| ©Christina

Talking about the capital of the French Riviera without mentioning the famous Promenade des Anglais is practically impossible as it is one of the main tourist sites to see in Nice.

Located in the heart of the city, this 7-kilometre-long promenade has its origins in the 19th century when aristocratic European families used to travel here to spend a few days relaxing on the Mediterranean coast, so it was common to see many English nobles strolling along this place enjoying the scenery, especially in winter. This is where it got its name.

And although many years have passed since then, the Paseo de los Ingleses is still a beautiful place where tourists and locals come to relax in the middle of nature, walking under the light of the Mediterranean and listening to the placid murmur of the waves in the background.

The Promenade des Anglais is therefore a typical French Riviera sight not to be missed. There are numerous tours of Nice that take you along it and it is a highly recommended way to explore the city.

How to walk along the Promenade des Anglais?

If this is your first time in Nice, I recommend you to walk around the area from the old town of Nice to the Hotel Negresco, passing by the leafy garden of Albert I and the Palais de la Méditerranée. It's very beautiful and you'll be able to take lots of souvenir photos!

However, if you want to walk all the way from the Château hill to Nice airport , I suggest you do the route on roller skates or a bike. There are Vélo Bleu self-service rental stations along the Promenade des Anglais and you'll have a great time.

If you ever need a break, you can always sit in one of the cafés with terraces along the Promenade des Anglais or on the famous "chaise bleue", those little blue chairs that have become an icon in Nice and even have their own sculpture as a tribute.

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2. Explore the old town of Nice

Detail of the Saint Reparata Cathedral| ©*SHERWOOD*

One of the most recommended places to see in Nice during a trip to the Côte d'Azur is the wonderful old town known as "le vieux Nice", a neighbourhood with an Italianate feel, full of narrow streets lined with colourful houses and palaces, lively markets, small baroque churches and lively squares where you can enjoy the vibrant French nightlife.

There is nothing better than spending a day of your holiday exploring this charming area of Nice, which is reminiscent of an old village. Not only in its appearance but also in its way of life, as the old town is still home to many locals who will be seen going about their chores in the neighbourhood.

What to see in the old town of Nice?

Saint Reparata Cathedral: Located on Place Rossetti, this 17th century baroque façade church is inspired by the church of Saint Susanna in Rome. It looks like a simple temple on the outside, but inside the baroque is displayed in all its glory through the stucco and marble. A true work of art in the service of spirituality.
Place Rossetti: A square full of restaurants and cafés where you will find the famous Fenocchio ice cream parlour, one of the best in town.
Place du Palais de Justice: This is where Nice's court of justice is located. The neoclassical architecture of the square gives a unique touch to the old town and is a pleasure to look at. There are many cafés and restaurants in this area where you can relax and have a good time.
Palais Lascaris: This is one of the must-see buildings in Nice. Italian style, it was built in the 17th century and currently houses a permanent exhibition on the history and culture of Nice.
Saint Francis Square: In the morning, the fishmongers set up around the beautiful fountain in the square, filling this area of the old town with hustle and bustle. Highly recommended to get to know the most authentic side of Nice.
Church of St. Martin and St. Augustin: This parish church dates back to the 16th century and is the oldest in Nice. The interior has a beautiful baroque style. As a curiosity, it is said that Giuseppe Garibaldi was baptised here and that even Martin Luther came to say mass here.

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3. Visit the flower market Cours Saleya

Cours Saleya flower market| ©Matt Kieffer

One of the things I recommend you do on a trip to get the pulse of the city you are visiting is to go to any of its markets to stroll around, browse among the stalls and mingle with the locals.

In the case of Nice, don't miss the Cours Saleya open-air market in the heart of the old town. This is the city's main market, where locals flock to buy fresh local produce, although on Mondays it transforms into an interesting antique flea market.

In my opinion, a visit to the Cours Saleya market is one of the best things to do in Nice on a city break. With the bright colours of the exotic fruit and vegetable stalls and the delicious fragrances of the flower stalls, this market has become a major tourist attraction - not for nothing is it known as the Flower Market!

When to visit the market?

If you want to avoid the crowds, my advice is to go to Cours Saleya early in the morning so you can enjoy the market in all its splendour, mingle with the locals and smell the roses, lilies, geraniums and carnations more intensely. This way you can avoid the rush hour crowds and take all the pictures you want in peace and quiet.

However, we must not forget that this space on Rue Cours Saleya is not only a tourist attraction but also a real market, so I recommend you go with a little money in your pocket because you will end up biting at some of the stalls. I, for example, took home some delicious little boxes of macarons.

When the Cours Saleya market starts to fill up, you can take the opportunity to have a drink at one of the café terraces in the square.

Here are some interesting facts about the Cours Saleya market!

If you're visiting the city in summer, another of the best things to do in Nice is to attend the Cours Saleya night market, which takes place from Tuesday to Sunday from 6 PM on Cours Saleya. It's perfect for summer evenings and you can always browse the craft stalls while strolling through the old town.
And I'll end with a curious coincidence: the French painter Henri Matisse, the leading exponent of Fauvism, lived at number 1 on Cours Saleya.

4. Sink your teeth into the food of Nice!

One of the things I enjoy most on any trip is sampling the local food. Considering we're in France, there's no doubt that if you like to eat and consider yourself a foodie, you'll have a great time in Nice.

The Côte d'Azur is the ideal place to enjoy life's little pleasures, also when it comes to gastronomy.

Nice's cuisine is traditional Mediterranean with Italian influences and the street food is so good that you could feed yourself during your stay, although there are also some great restaurants in the centre of town where you can sit down for a quiet meal.

There are many delicious dishes that come out of the kitchen, but here are five that are not to be missed, and if you pair them with a Provençal rosé wine, all the better.

What are the must-try dishes in Nice?

Nice salad: it is prepared with fresh raw vegetables (tomatoes, green and red peppers, sometimes cucumber, celery sticks and raw baby artichokes), pickled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, anchovies and sometimes tuna, onion, garlic and Nice olives (small black olives), drizzled with olive oil and flavoured with fresh basil.
Bagnat bread: This is the traditional Nice sandwich made with the ingredients of the Nice salad. Perfect for eating in the street while sunbathing or on the way to the next stop on the tourist route.
Pissaladière: This is a typical Nice pastry from the French Riviera, very similar to Italian pizza but without tomato. It has onion confit, a paste of sardines and anchovies called pissalat and black olives for garnish. Very good!
Socca: It is often confused with crêpes but it is actually a kind of bread baked with chickpea flour, olive oil and black pepper, very typical of the southwest of France. I recommend eating it freshly baked and hot because it is much tastier.
Farcis: It is a very tasty dish baked with vegetables stuffed with minced meat and baked in the oven. It can be served hot or cold.

5. Take a tour of Nice on the tourist train

Enjoy Nice on board the tourist train.| ©Elliott Brown

If you're travelling with your family, one of the most fun things to do in Nice is to ride the little tourist train- the kids love it! It's also a great way to get to know some of the most touristy places in the city without them getting tired of walking, and in the case of Nice it's really worth it.

You'll have a great time with the kids as the train takes you through the Promenade des Anglais, the old town, the lively Flower Market, the Place Masséna, the Baie des Anges or the Château Hill, among many other places.

The Nice sightseeing train runs all year round and has audio guides in several languages describing the sites visited. The tour lasts about an hour and when it reaches the Château Hill it stops for about 15 minutes so that passengers can get off and enjoy the panoramic views of the city while taking some pictures of the scenery.

Useful information

Where to take it? The Nice tourist train departs every 30 minutes from the Promenade des Anglais, in front of the Albert I garden.
Opening hours? In low season it runs from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 5 PM. In high season it operates from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 6 PM.
Languages?: Audio guides for the Nice sightseeing train are available in German, English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
Price?: The ticket for the "City Centre" circuit costs 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children from 4 to 12 years old. On the other hand, the ticket for the upper circuit "Castle" costs 12 euros for adults and 6 euros for children from 4 to 12 years old. Children under the age of three are free.

6. Come to the port of Nice

One of the oldest places to see in Nice on the Côte d'Azur that I liked the most is its harbour, also known as Port Lympia.

Located in the heart of the city and built in the 18th century on the shores of the Mediterranean, it is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places you will find here during your getaway as it is in a strategic enclave of Nice surrounded by colourful historical buildings and monuments such as the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-du-Port.

The port of Nice is also home to many of the typical yachts and sailboats that have made the Côte d'Azur world famous.

7. Climb the Château hill, Nice's most impressive viewpoint

View of Nice from the Château Hill| ©Arno Smit

Very close to the port of Nice is the best viewpoint in the city, from where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Promenade des Anglais, the old town, the Baie des Anges, the mountains and the beaches of the city. .

You can climb to the top of Castle Hill (the highest point in the city) on the tourist train, in the free art deco lift or on foot. I recommend you take the stairs if you can because you can pass by the Bellanda Tower observation deck, which has a beautiful view over the Bay of Angels.

I love this place because once you are up there gazing at the beautiful scenery, you discover before your very eyes why this French region is called the Côte d'Azur. It was a magnificent experience to see at our feet that indigo sea in all its immensity shimmering in the Mediterranean light.

At the top of the Château hill there is also a park where you can visit the ruins of an old military fortress, a historical cemetery and a beautiful artificial waterfall.

I find it a very pleasant place for a stroll or a romantic picnic in the shade of the trees. If you're travelling with your family, this is a great place to visit in Nice with children, as you can let them play outside for a while in one of the playgrounds in the Château Park while you take a break.

Isabel's Traveler Tip

Climb to the top of the Château Hill in the late afternoon to enjoy the most beautiful sunset in Nice. Simply spectacular!

8. Stroll around Place Masséna, Nice's most beautiful square

Fontaine du Soleil, Masséna Square| ©Jorge Láscar

Another of the must-see places in Nice that I liked the most was the Place Masséna, the largest and most famous square in the city which is located very close to the Promenade des Anglais in the heart of the city.

It is a place that attracts a lot of attention because it is surrounded by old historic buildings with a very particular geometric style floor. There is also a beautiful sculptural fountain called "fontaine du Soleil" in the centre of which is a colossal statue dedicated to the god Apollo.

Here you can take lots of photographs, do some shopping or even have a drink on one of the terraces of the picturesque cafés that fill the Place Masséna while you enjoy the lively atmosphere and watch one of the street shows that are regularly held there.

Whether it's during the day or at night, I recommend spending some time in Masséna Square because it's a very busy place that you can't miss.

9. Visit the museums of Nice

In addition to its beautiful scenery, casual lifestyle and monuments, the capital of the Côte d'Azur has a wide range of interesting cultural offerings in several museums dedicated to art, history and local traditions.

During a getaway, a cultural visit is always on the agenda, and if it's a rainy day, even more so. That's why I recommend that you set aside some time to visit some of the many museums to see in Nice - these are the must-sees!

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC): Located near Place Garibaldi, this is one of the most beautiful museums in Nice. Here you will see works belonging to the minimalist, Nice school, conceptual art or pop art trends. From its terrace there are great views of the city and the port.
Matisse Museum: Located in the Cimiez district, in the Villa des Arenes, is this museum dedicated to the work of the French painter Henri Matisse, who lived in Nice for more than thirty years. On its walls you can see some of his most important works from his beginnings to his final period.
Musée National Marc Chagall: This museum is made up of the works on the Bible that the artist donated to the French state in the 1970s. Highly recommended if you like surrealist art and neoprimitivism. You will find it on Doctor Ménard Avenue in the Cimiez district.
Nice Archaeological Museum: In this museum you can learn about the city's past from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. It has very interesting collections on ceramics, numismatics, jewellery, glass and sculpture. It is located in the Arenas de Cimiez park.
Palais Lascaris: This is one of the most beautiful museums to visit in Nice. It houses a permanent exhibition on the history and culture of Nice as well as a collection of musical instruments, some of them very peculiar! It is located in the old town at 15 Rue Droite.

Isabel's Traveler Tip

Get the Nice Museum Pass if you plan to visit many museums in the city.

10. Excursions to Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo from Nice

With its mild climate, elegant buildings, monuments, delicious cuisine and beautiful beaches, Nice is the jewel of south-eastern France and a destination that attracts thousands of travellers from all over the world.

However, in my experience, one of the greatest pleasures of travelling in Provence and the Côte d'Azur is exploring the amazing variety of landscapes beyond the capital of the French Riviera. That's why I recommend you set aside some time on your holiday in Nice to take a half-day trip to Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo.

I remember it being one of the most enjoyable experiences of the trip! You will visit the medieval village of Eze, the Fragonard perfume factory, Monaco and the luxurious neighbourhood of Monte Carlo. If you want to know more about this activity, take a look at the post How to visit Monaco and Eze from Nice and this one about the best excursions and places to visit in French Provence.

Other getaways from Nice

Here is a list of other suggestions of excursions you may be interested in doing on your trip to Nice:

As you can see, Nice is a destination with a great variety of activities and plans to do no matter what time of the year you go. To organise your trip well and not miss anything in the capital of the French Riviera I recommend you to consult our travel guides in which I tell you what to see and do in Nice in 3 days and this one about what to see and do in Nice in 7 days. Finally, if you are travelling in December and want to find out what activities the city has to offer at this time of year, here is a list of 10 things to do and things to do in Nice at Christmas.