It has been a while since our last travel guide (and a while since my last travels!) so I thought it was time to a) travel again, although I’m staying in France this time and b) share one of my trips with you, and what better place to start than with what to do and see in Nice on the French Riviera?
What to do and see in Nice – the jewel of the French Riviera
With all-year round warm weather, stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, a gorgeous old town, colorful local markets, delicious mediterranean food and mesmerizing views, Nice is a must-visit destination in the South of France, and here are my top tips for what to do and see in Nice.
Getting around the centre of Nice is straightforward, as there is a great public transport system, but you can also rent bikes, and you can easily walk around most attractions in the City Centre.
Here are a few ideas for what to do and see in Nice
Stroll along the iconic Promenade des Anglais
It was during the Belle Epoque period (from the 1870s to the First World War) that Nice started evolving into the stunningly beautiful luxury resort it is today.
During this ‘Golden Age’, (literally translated as ‘Beautiful Age’), Nice became a ‘Winter resort’ for the rich and the aristocracy, due to its temperate climate.
‘The ‘Promenade des Anglais’ was built by the wealthy English aristocracy who came to spend the Winter in Nice and it takes its name from these English (Anglais) tourists, who would ‘promenade’ along the sea-front with their parasols.
They liked to wander along the seafront, and yet, they wanted to avoid spoiling their long, elegant dresses and their delicate silk shoes and so they built a walkway.
The Promenade des Anglais (the English Walk) is one of the most famous roads in France. It starts at Nice airport in the east and extends all the way around to the headland at Castle Hill in the west.
Stop off at the Hotel Negresco and admire the Belle Epoque Architecture
If 7km seems a bit of a challenge then I recommend you at least walk the part that goes from the old town to the Negresco hotel, passing through the Jardins Albert 1er and the Palais de la Méditerranée.
The Negresco hotel, with its iconic pink dome, perches majestically on the Promenade des Anglais, and I recommend dropping in for a coffee or a cocktail. The Rotonde brasserie is currently open but the Chantecler restaurant doesn’t reopen until December.
Visit the Old Town
Take some time to wander around the narrow streets of the ‘Old Town’, stop to taste some of the local delicacies and savour the incredible atmosphere.
The narrow alleys, colorful houses, and cobblestone streets are a treat to explore, and as well as the the touristy souvenir shops, you’ll also find shops selling leather goods, hand-crafted jewellery, local Provencal products, including soaps, perfumes, lavender sachets, local cheeses, fresh bread and wine.
There are also a large number of bars and restaurants here, so you can enjoy the local Mediterranean and Niçoise food in picturesque surroundings.
You should also visit the Place Masséna, which is the main square of the city and strategically located between Old Nice and the newer parts of the city, at the crossroads of several main boulevards and just a two minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais.
Wander around the flower market
The main markets take place in the “Cours Saleya”, a beautiful pedestrian square in the heart of the Old Town, which is home to the “Marché aux Fleurs” (Flower Market) a large flower and food market, every day from Tuesday to Sunday.
It’s a lovely market to walk through and admire the beautiful flower displays, and in the shade of pretty striped awnings, you can see hundreds of brightly coloured flowers, and breathe in the delightful fragrances from the multicolored geraniums, orchids, pansies, fuschias and dahlias, as well as more exotic plants.
Visit the Musée Matisse or the Museum of Modern Art
Nice is also home to many museums, including the Massena Museum, the ‘Musee Matisse’, The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, called MAMAC, The Museum of Art and History and The Palais Lascaris, in the Old Town, with its collection of musical instruments
Climb up Castle Hill for a Panoramic View over the town
If you’ve seen photos of Nice, then you’ve almost certainly seen pictures from the “Colline du Château”. It’s called “Castle Hill”, as there was once a medieval castle situated here, but it was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1706.
It is well worth the trip to the top, as it offers glorious, panoramic views over the city.
On your walk up you will pass some beautiful views, such as the iconic waterfall and the Bellanda Tower viewpoint with stunning views over the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges).
Once you reach the top, make sure to take in the 360° panoramas, then you can relax in the lovely castle park, and there’s also a kids playground with a huge rope climbing tree, slides and climbing frames.
Chill on the beach
One of the reasons to visit Nice is its all year round warm weather. It’s blessed with an amazing Mediterranean climate, which means mild, short winters, and long, warm summers.
It has, on average, 300 days of sunshine per year and very few days of rain, which means most activities take place outdoors.
The only drawback (for me) is that beaches in Nice are pebbly beaches, which can be a little uncomfortable (although some people prefer pebbly beaches as you don’t get ‘sandy’).
If, like me, you prefer comfort, I would recommend paying for a lounger at one of Nice’s private beaches, which you will find all along the Promenade des Anglais.
Alternatively, you can head off to Villefranche-sur-Mer or Menton for a more sandy beach with great restaurants and shops close by.
Try some of the local delicacies
Unsurprisingly, Mediterranean food is the heart of the food culture in Nice and the French Riviera, and is fresh, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
Nice has a selection of local dishes, some of which I’m sure you have already heard of, and others which I urge you to try when you visit Nice!
Some of the key local specialities include:
- Salade niçoise: The great classic of Nice, comprising tuna, salad, tomatoes, other raw vegetables, green beans, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs and olives
- Farcis Niçoise: The word ‘Farci’ means stuffed, and this dish is made from vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchinis and mushrooms- all stuffed with breadcrumbs and ground meats. And I definitely recommend giving it a try! It’s delicious!
- Socca is a traditional local fast food: a sort of pancake, made from chickpea flour, olive oil, and water and cooked in copper pans over a very high heat. It’s a really delicious street food and at about 3€ a slice, there’s no reason not to enjoy it!
- Pissaladière: So, this is a sort of pizza, but without tomatoes and cheese. It’s an open tart/pizza base, topped with caramelized onions, olives and anchovies. It’s also available without anchovies.
- Pan-bagnat: this is essentially a salad niçoise served on a large country roll.
Drop into the “Gare du Sud”, the old train station which has been renovated and converted into a food hall, housing a number of restaurants and food stalls. There are also small galleries and shops with local products and clothing. it reopened on June 2nd, but check their site for the latest updates.
Day Trips
Nice is centrally placed along the Côte d’Azur, and good transport links make it easy to explore neighbouring towns, such as Menton, Monaco, Antibes and Cannes, or across the Italian border to San Remo.
There are many day trips to choose from, but here are a few of my recommendations:
- Menton: This is a smaller town, very close to the Italian border, with a pretty port, a charming Old Town and a great selection of restaurants along the sea-front.
- Eze village: This small village perched above the sea is one of the most beautiful villages in France, and the exotic gardens are well worth a visit.
- The Villa Ephrussi :the winter residence of the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, with its spectacular gardens and incredible views..
- Cannes: The city where the famous film festival takes place every year. Don’t miss the famous “Croisette”!
- The Principality of Monaco: Monaco is famous for its luxury lifestyle, make sure to visit the Palace, the Monte-Carlo casino, the Harbour and the exotic gardens.
Where to stay
The Hotel WindsoR, Nice
The Hotel WindsoR is situated just behind the Promenade des Anglais and is an oasis of calm right in the centre of Nice.
This four star belle époque hotel (built in the 19th Century) is just a stone’s throw from the historic centre of Nice, from the beach and from the renowned ‘Promenade des Anglais’.
If you’re looking for an oasis of calm in the centre of Nice and close to all the main attractions, then this is the place for you. To find out more about the Hotel WindsoR, you can have a look here.
Other hotels you might want to consider when you visit Nice are shown below.
The Hotel Westminster
If you prefer to be right on the sea-front, then The 4 star Hotel Westminster is set on the Promenade des Anglais and is perfectly located for exploring the city.
The hotel style is an eclectic blend of old and new, with the snazzy seafront lounge and recently renovated Le Duc restaurant giving way to Belle Epoque moulded ceilings and frescoes in the Reception rooms.
The Hotel Aston La Scala
The Hotel Aston La Scala is also a 4 star hotel, located in the heart of Nice, and just 200m from Place Massena.
The rooftop pool is a particular highlight, with beautiful views of Nice’s Old Town and the sea.
Have a look below for some more places to stay in Nice.
Booking.com
With its ease of accessibility, the wonderful culture and the incredible day trips that you can make from a base in Nice, you will soon see that Nice has everything you need for the perfect stay.
I hope you enjoyed this feature about What to do and see in Nice, and I will be back soon with more style, lifestyle and travel inspiration and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog below to make sure you never miss a post,
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With love,
I never visited this part of France yet but I hope one day I’ll visit Nice. It seems beautiful there, really different from where I’m from in France.
xx
Margot
It is really beautiful, Margot! One of the things I love about France is how varied the countryside is xo
Such a detailed guide to Nice. France is so beautiful, isn’t it….and you presented Nice so well. I didn’t know about the waterfall. The photo of you in a maxi dress under the waterfalls is wonderful. You look very pretty and happy in all of these.
Thank you so much Ivana! I loved my trip to Nice 🙂
What a beautiful city! Such versatility and great sights 🙂
It’s a very beautiful city and there is a lot to see and do 🙂
Nice is such a beautiful city and I would like to visit is one day.
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Yes, it really is a beautiful city 🙂
I’ve been to Paris and would love to go back and see other parts of France. Nice looks absolutely amazing! I’m pinning to reference later!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I’m sure you will love Nice, Jill! I hope you get to visit one day 🙂
I love Nice. This is such a lovely guide. I have had the salad nicoise and loved it. x
So glad you liked the guide! My favourite food was the farcis niçoise! xo
Wow! It’s so beautiful there! I’ve always wanted to visit Nice!
It’s definitely worth a visit Rach xoxo
Nica is such an amazing city. Thank you for your travel guide and sharing all of these gorgeous photos. I hope so that I will visit it one day.
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So glad you liked the post! Nice is definitely worth a visit x
This place is so beautiful! I would love to visit someday! Lovely Post!
Allurerage
Thetrendybride
So glad you liked the post xo
Gosh, what a fabulous tour you gave us Julia!! I love the history of why the walkway was built!!!
And the architecture is so interesting!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Glad you enjoyed the virtual visit, Jodie! xoxo
Nice looks amazing! I need to add this to my bucket list!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
It’s definitely worth visiting, Kathrine! I hope we will be able to travel again soon xoxo
Julia,
What a fabulous post this is you took me in a virtual trip to Nice. It’s such an picturesque place full of colours, history and I especially loved the 7km walk and the flower walk. You are fortunate to have living in such a beautiful place.
Thank you Hasin! I’m so glad you liked the post! xo
Wow Nice seems to be very complete. It has a lot of things to do and see. I would love to visit the flower market, beach, and the old town.
Hope you have a great week ahead!
Nice is well worth a visit, and the old town is a great place to eat too xo
Wow! Nice has a lot to offer. Hope you had a fun trip. Amazing pictures!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks Lovely! Nice is well worth a visit xoxo
It looks so beautiful. We meant to go to Nice and a few other cities in May but because of COVID it was postponed to end of July and then again to 2021. Hopefully I will get to go to France next year. xx
Elegant Duchess xx
https://www.elegantduchess.com/
I hope you will get to come to France next year! Travel has been so difficult this year 🙁
What a beautiful place to visit! Love all of your photos!
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you Ashley! 🙂