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Things to Do in Nice (2026)
Begin your visit with a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais, a 7-kilometer seaside walkway that connects the airport to the old town. Rent a bike or rollerbladeβ¦ π Start at the Promenade
Begin your visit with a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais, a 7-kilometer seaside walkway that connects the airport to the old town. Rent a bike or rollerblade from one of the many rental stands near the beach, or simply walk and watch the sunset over the Baie des Anges. For a quieter stretch, head east toward the port, where the crowds thin out and locals jog with their dogs.
ποΈ Explore Old Town
Get lost in the narrow, colorful streets of Vieux Nice, where the air smells of lavender soap and fresh flowers from the Cours Saleya market. Visit the CathΓ©drale Sainte-RΓ©parate, a baroque gem from the 17th century, and climb the 211 steps to the Colline du ChΓ’teau for panoramic views of the city and sea. The hill is free to enter and open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer.
π¨ Visit the Museums
Art lovers should not miss the MusΓ©e Matisse in the Cimiez neighborhood, housed in a 17th-century villa and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Tuesdays). For modern art, head to the MAMAC (MusΓ©e d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain) on the Promenade des Arts, which features works by Yves Klein and Niki de Saint Phalle. Both museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
π Taste Local Specialties
Sample socca, a chickpea pancake cooked in a wood-fired oven, at Chez RenΓ© on Rue Jules Gilly, where a generous portion costs around 4 euros. For dessert, try a tourte de blettes, a sweet Swiss chard pie, at the patisserie La Boulangerie du Cours on Cours Saleya. Wash it all down with a glass of local Bellet wine, produced just 20 minutes north of the city.
π Day Trip to Villages
Use Nice as a base to explore the perched villages of the French Riviera, such as Γze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Take bus 82 from the Promenade des Arts to Γze Village, a 30-minute ride costing 1.50 euros, and walk the exotic garden for dramatic coastal views. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, famous for its art galleries, is reachable by bus 400 from the Grand ArΓ©nas stop.
ποΈ Shop Like a Local
For a true market experience, visit the Cours Saleya flower and produce market, open Tuesday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Mondays, the same square hosts a lively antiques and flea market. For high-end shopping, walk along Avenue Jean MΓ©decin, where you'll find the Galeries Lafayette and the new Nice Γtoile shopping center, both open until 8 p.m.
π Best Sunset Spots
Watch the sunset from the Colline du ChΓ’teau, where the view over the red-tiled rooftops and the sea is unforgettable. For a more local vibe, grab a drink at the beach bar Le Voilier Plage, located on the Promenade des Anglais, and enjoy the sky turning pink over the water. Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset to secure a good spot, as it gets busy.
π Getting Around
Nice's tramway is the easiest way to travel, with two lines connecting the main sights, the train station, and the airport. A single ticket costs 1.50 euros and is valid for 74 minutes, while a 10-trip carnet is 10 euros. The city is also very walkable, so bring comfortable shoes and be prepared for hills if you venture into the old town or Cimiez.
i'm a sucker for the cimiez neighborhood beyond just the matisse museum, the roman ruins and the monastery garden right next door are free and usually empty, great spot to sit with a book for an hour. also if u're here on a saturday morning, the cours saleya market is chaos but the flower section near the fountain is the best people watching, grab a coffee at the little stand on rue pairolière and just soak it in. one thing nobody mentions: the train from nice to monaco is like 15 minutes and costs less than 5 euros, better than the bus for a day trip if u want the casino views without the hassle. the guide's right about the carnet, u will use it.
the castle hill tip is solid but honestly the best sunset spot is the port. grab a beer at one of the little bars on quai des deux emmanuel and watch the boats, way less crowded than the chateau. also if u're into food, skip the tourist socca spots and hit up lou pilha leva near the opera, it's tiny but the socca is way crispier and locals actually queue there. one thing the guide missed: the free elevator on the east side of the castle hill, saves u the stairs if ur legs are dead from walking the promenade. oh and for bellet wine, the domaine de la source in the hills does tastings for like 10 euros, way better than buying at a shop.
honestly the guide's solid but it's missing the best part of nice, the markets at night. cours saleya turns into a food stall thing in summer, like 7pm onwards, and u can get fresh oysters and a glass of white for like 8 euros, way more fun than a sit-down dinner. also if ur into hiking, skip the villages and take the train to villefranche-sur-mer, it's one stop, and the sentier littoral coastal path from there to cap ferrat is unreal, like 2 hours of cliffs and hidden coves, and u can swim in the little bays nobody else knows about. the train ticket is like 2 euros each way, cheaper than the bus and less crowded.
3 Days in Nice: Itinerary 2026
Start your first day in Vieux Nice, the historic heart. Begin at Cours Saleya market (open 6am-1pm, closed Mondays) for flowers and local produce. Visit the Palais Lascaris (15β¦ πΊοΈ Day 1: Old Town
Start your first day in Vieux Nice, the historic heart. Begin at Cours Saleya market (open 6am-1pm, closed Mondays) for flowers and local produce. Visit the Palais Lascaris (15 Rue Droite, open 10am-6pm, β¬5) and the CathΓ©drale Sainte-RΓ©parate. End with a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais and a sunset at Castle Hill (free, 30-minute climb).
π Day 2: Cimiez and Food
Spend the morning in the Cimiez neighborhood, home to the MusΓ©e Matisse (164 Avenue des ArΓ¨nes, open 10am-6pm, β¬10) and the Russian Orthodox Cathedral (17 Boulevard du TsarΓ©vitch, open 9am-6pm, β¬5). For lunch, try the socca at Chez RenΓ© (12 Rue Jules Gilly, β¬6). In the afternoon, explore the Marc Chagall National Museum (36 Avenue Docteur MΓ©nard, open 10am-5pm, β¬10).
π Day 3: Day Trip to Monaco
Take the train from Nice Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo (20 minutes, β¬4.10 each way, every 15 minutes). Visit the Prince's Palace (open 10am-6pm, β¬8) and the Oceanographic Museum (Avenue Saint-Martin, open 10am-7pm, β¬16). Walk through the Casino gardens and return to Nice by early evening. Alternatively, take the bus 100 (β¬1.50, 45 minutes) for a scenic coastal ride.
π Getting Around
Nice's tram line 1 runs from the airport to the city center, with a single ticket costing β¬1.70 and valid for 74 minutes. The bus network (Lignes d'Azur) covers all neighborhoods, and a 10-trip pass costs β¬10. For Castle Hill, use the free elevator from the Quai des Γtats-Unis. Walking is often fastest in the compact Old Town.
π° Budget Tips
Save money by buying a Nice CΓ΄te d'Azur City Pass (β¬26 for 24 hours, β¬38 for 48 hours), which includes museums and public transport. Eat like a local at the Cours Saleya market for lunch, where a slice of socca costs β¬3. Avoid restaurants on the Promenade des Anglais, which are overpriced. Tap water is free at public fountains.
π Evening Strolls
For a memorable evening, walk along the Promenade des Anglais at sunset, then head to the Port of Nice for a quiet drink. The Colline du ChÒteau offers panoramic views, and it's open until 8pm in summer. For nightlife, the Place du Pin area has lively bars, while the Opéra de Nice (4 Rue Saint-François de Paule) hosts performances from September to June.
π Local Specialties
Try the local specialty, socca, a chickpea pancake best eaten hot from a street vendor. For dessert, taste the fruit confits from the Confiserie Florian (14 Quai Papacino, open 10am-7pm). Don't miss the olive oil at the Moulin Γ Huile d'Olive (10 Rue du ChΓ’teau, open 9am-7pm). Pair your meal with a glass of Bellet wine, produced just outside Nice.
fwiw the day 1 itinerary is good but you're missing one of my favorite spots, the MusΓ©e d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, right by the tram stop on Place Garibaldi. it's like 10 euros and the rooftop terrace has a killer view over the port and the old town, way less crowded than castle hill. plus the permanent collection is free on the first sunday of the month, so if you're there then, swap it in.
also for the socca at chez rené, go before noon or expect a line, it's a tiny place and the locals grab it for a mid-morning snack. and if you're not feeling chickpea pancakes, the same street has a few spots doing pissaladière, the onion tart, which is just as classic and easier to eat on the go.
Solid plan overall, and the day trip to Monaco is a good call. One thing I'd tweak: on Day 2, after the Matisse museum, walk down Boulevard de Cimiez instead of taking the tram back. It's a gentle downhill through old residential streets with some gorgeous Belle Γpoque villas, and you'll end up right near the Russian cathedral. Stops at the little bakery on Avenue de Brancolar for a pain aux raisins are a habit of mine.
For the evening stroll, skip the Port for drinks and go a bit further to the Place Γle de BeautΓ©. It's where the locals actually hang out, the bars are cheaper than Place du Pin, and you get a proper view of the harbor lights without the tourist markup. Also, if you're there in summer, the free outdoor cinema at the ThéÒtre de Verdure in Cimiez runs most nights, and it's a lovely way to end a hot day.
The itinerary is solid, especially the Monaco day trip. One thing I'd add: skip the Prince's Palace interior and just watch the changing of the guard at 11:55, then spend that saved time in the Jardin Exotique instead. The palace rooms are pretty empty, but the garden's cliffside views over the whole coast are worth the extra walk up.
For the Old Town day, don't miss the tiny chapel at 5 Place Rossetti, it's free and has some of the most striking baroque frescoes in the city. Also, if you're there on a Monday when Cours Saleya market is closed, the flower market stalls get replaced by a small antiques fair, which is a fun wander even if you're not buying.