Things to Visit in Nice: Riviera, Markets, and Old Town
Explore Nice from the Promenade des Anglais to the hilltop castle park. Covers the old town, Matisse and Chagall museums, beach culture, French Riviera food, and day trips to Monaco and Eze.
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Promenade and Waterfront
Walk the Promenade des Anglais
The iconic 7-km seafront boulevard stretches from the airport to the old town. Walk, bike, or rollerblade along it. The famous blue chairs (chaises bleues) are free to sit in. Go early morning for a peaceful walk or at sunset for the best light on the Baie des Anges.
Spend time on the beach
Nice's beaches are pebble (not sand), so bring a towel to lie on or rent a lounger at a private beach club (15-25 EUR/day). The water is clean and warm from June to September. Public beaches are free and interspersed between private sections. Water shoes help on the rocks.
Climb to Castle Hill (Colline du Chateau)
The hilltop park above the old town has panoramic views of Nice, the port, and the coastline. Take the free elevator from Quai des Etats-Unis or climb the 213 steps. The castle is gone (destroyed in 1706) but the gardens, waterfall, and viewpoints remain. Allow 1 hour for the walk and views.
Watch sunset from the Rauba Capeu viewpoint
The cliffside road between the port and old town has a curved terrace with unobstructed sunset views over the Baie des Anges. Less crowded than Castle Hill and arguably a better angle. Bring a bottle of local rose.
Vieux Nice (Old Town)
Wander the narrow streets of Vieux Nice
Nice's old town is a maze of narrow streets painted in ochre, red, and yellow with laundry hanging between buildings. Baroque churches, local shops, and restaurants fill every corner. Rue du Pont Vieux and Rue de la Prefectures are pedestrianized and full of life.
Visit the Cours Saleya market
The old town's main square hosts a flower market (Tuesday to Sunday), a food market (mornings), and an antiques market (Mondays). The flower market is the most famous and photogenic. Produce vendors sell Nicois olives, socca flour, dried herbs, and lavender. Go before 10 AM for the best selection.
Eat socca (chickpea flatbread) at the market
Socca is Nice's signature street food: a thin, crispy chickpea flour pancake baked in a wood-fired oven. Served hot on paper, seasoned with black pepper. Costs 3-5 EUR for a generous portion. The stalls around Cours Saleya and Rue Pairoliere make it fresh.
Visit the Nice Cathedral (Sainte-Reparate)
A 17th-century baroque cathedral on Place Rossetti with an ornate interior. Free entry. The square outside has gelato shops and cafe terraces. The cathedral is smaller than you might expect but the painted ceiling is beautiful.
Try a pan bagnat (Nicois tuna sandwich)
A round bread roll soaked in olive oil and filled with tuna, hard-boiled egg, olives, anchovies, and vegetables. Essentially a salade Nicoise in sandwich form. The city even has an official recipe to protect the traditional version. Available at bakeries and market stalls for 5-8 EUR.
Museums and Culture
Visit the Matisse Museum
A collection of works spanning Henri Matisse's entire career, housed in a 17th-century Genoese villa in the Cimiez neighborhood. The nearby Roman ruins and olive grove make the walk up worthwhile. Free entry. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
Tour the Marc Chagall National Museum
The largest public collection of Chagall's work, built specifically to house his Biblical Message series. The stained glass windows in the auditorium are spectacular. Located in Cimiez, a 15-minute bus ride from the center. Entry is about 10 EUR.
Visit MAMAC (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
Four interconnected towers in the center of Nice with works by Yves Klein (who was born here), Niki de Saint Phalle, and Andy Warhol. The rooftop terrace has great city views. Free entry. The museum sits between the old town and the train station.
Explore the Cimiez neighborhood and Roman ruins
The hilltop neighborhood has the Matisse Museum, Chagall Museum, a Franciscan monastery with gardens, and well-preserved Roman baths and amphitheater. The Nice Jazz Festival happens in the Cimiez gardens each July. Less touristy than the waterfront.
Food and Drink
Eat salade Nicoise the proper way
In Nice, the real salade Nicoise never contains cooked vegetables: raw tomatoes, peppers, radishes, spring onions, hard-boiled egg, olives, anchovies (not tuna), and olive oil. No lettuce, no potatoes, no green beans. Locals are serious about this. Order it at a traditional restaurant in the old town.
Try pissaladiere (onion and anchovy tart)
A Nicois flatbread topped with slow-cooked onions, anchovies, and black olives. Sold in bakeries and at the Cours Saleya market. Think of it as Nice's version of pizza. Costs 3-5 EUR for a generous slice. Best warm from the oven.
Drink rose wine with a view
The Cote d'Azur runs on rose, especially from nearby Provence vineyards. Order a glass (5-8 EUR) at any restaurant with a sea view or terrace. The local wines from Bellet (grown within Nice's city limits) are rare and worth trying if you spot them on a menu.
Get gelato on Place Rossetti
The square in front of the cathedral has multiple gelaterias. Flavors like lavender, fig, and rose are regional specialties. Two scoops in a cone cost 4-6 EUR. The square fills with people eating gelato on the cathedral steps every evening.
Have dinner in the port area (Le Port)
The restaurants around Nice's old port serve fresh fish at more reasonable prices than the Promenade tourist strip. Grilled catch of the day with ratatouille is a classic order. The antiques market runs here on Saturday mornings.
Day Trips Along the Riviera
Day trip to Monaco and Monte Carlo
The principality is 20 minutes by train or bus from Nice. The Casino de Monte Carlo, Prince's Palace, Oceanographic Museum, and the Grand Prix circuit are the draws. Entry to the casino requires a passport and smart dress (jacket for men in the main rooms). Free to walk the circuit and palace square.
Visit the hilltop village of Eze
A medieval village perched 400 meters above the sea between Nice and Monaco. The Jardin Exotique at the top has cactus gardens and panoramic views. The Nietzsche Path hikes from the coast up to the village (steep, 1.5 hours). Reachable by bus 82 from Nice in 30 minutes.
Explore Antibes and the Picasso Museum
A 25-minute train ride from Nice. The old town has a Provencal market, Cap d'Antibes has coastal walking paths, and the Picasso Museum occupies the Chateau Grimaldi where Picasso worked in 1946. The covered market (Marche Provencal) is one of the best on the Riviera.
Visit Villefranche-sur-Mer
A tiny port town 10 minutes east of Nice by train with one of the most beautiful natural harbors on the coast. The pastel-colored waterfront, the Citadel, and the Chapelle Saint-Pierre (decorated by Jean Cocteau) are the highlights. Popular cruise ship stop, so go early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Nice?
2-3 days covers the old town, beach, museums, and one day trip. With 4-5 days, you can visit Monaco, Eze, and Antibes at a relaxed pace. Nice works well as a base for exploring the entire Cote d'Azur by train.
When is the best time to visit Nice?
May-June and September have warm weather (22-27C), fewer crowds than peak summer, and reasonable prices. July-August is hot (30C+), packed, and hotel prices double. The Nice Carnival (February) is the biggest winter event. Winter (November-March) is mild (10-15C) with lots of sunshine but many beach restaurants close.
Are Nice's beaches sandy or rocky?
Rocky (pebble). The entire Nice waterfront is smooth pebble beaches, not sand. This surprises many visitors. Bring a thick towel, a beach mat, or rent a lounger from a private beach club. The upside: the water is clearer than sandy beaches and the pebbles dry faster.
How do you get from Nice airport to the city center?
The cheapest option is tram line 2 (1.70 EUR, runs every 6-10 minutes, 25 minutes to the center). Airport buses cost more. Taxis to the center run about 25-35 EUR (fixed rates apply). The airport is only 6 km from the old town.