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Negresco, Nice

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Nice

Updated 1 October 2026 · 18 things to do

Pictured: Negresco

Nice is the Riviera without the airs. It has a long pebble beach, a grand seafront promenade, an old town the colour of ice cream and a flower market that fills the air with scent, yet it's a real working city where people shop, argue and eat socca in the street. The light that drew Matisse and Chagall is still there, and the food is a mix of French and Italian that locals defend fiercely.

It's compact and walkable, and it makes an excellent base. A tram and the coast train put Villefranche, Monaco and Menton within reach, and the villages of the hills are a short bus ride away. You could happily spend three days without leaving town.

Don't miss

  1. 1The Promenade des Anglais
  2. 2Castle Hill
  3. 3Vieux Nice
  4. 4Cours Saleya
  5. 5Monaco

The seafront and the views

  1. The Promenade des Anglais

    Landmark

    The beach and Promenade des Anglais in Nice
    Photo: Staeiou, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Nice's seafront boulevard, named after the English visitors who funded the first path in the nineteenth century, runs along the sweep of the Baie des Anges beside a pebble beach. Walk, cycle or skate it, and take a seat on one of the famous blue chairs.

    Go early for a quiet jog or at sunset, when the light turns the sea pink.

  2. Castle Hill

    Nature

    The Baie des Anges seen from Castle Hill in Nice
    Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The castle that once stood here was demolished centuries ago, but the hill is now a park with a waterfall, shady paths and the best viewpoint in Nice. From the top you look down over the old town's terracotta roofs, the Baie des Anges and the port.

    Tip: Climb up for sunset and take the stairs or the lift back down.

  3. Place Masséna

    Landmark

    The red-ochre buildings around Place Masséna in Nice
    Photo: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Nice's main square is a handsome stage of red-ochre buildings and black-and-white paving, with a fountain and seven glowing figures on poles. The tram runs through it, and it's the hinge between the old town and the modern city.

  4. Port Lympia

    Neighbourhood

    Port Lympia in Nice with the church of Notre-Dame-du-Port behind
    Photo: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The old harbour, behind Castle Hill, is lined with pastel buildings, fishing boats and yachts, with the church of Notre-Dame-du-Port above it. Cafés and restaurants fill the streets around, and ferries leave for Corsica from here.

Old Nice

  1. Vieux Nice

    Neighbourhood

    The rooftops of Vieux Nice
    Photo: Baptiste Rossi, Public domain

    A tangle of narrow, shuttered lanes in shades of ochre, pink and yellow, with Baroque churches, tiny squares and shops selling olive oil, soap and spices. There's a whiff of Italy, which Nice belonged to until the nineteenth century.

    Wander without a map, stop for socca, and look for the hidden courtyards.

  2. Cours Saleya

    Market

    The Cours Saleya in Nice
    Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A long, sunny pedestrian street of flower and produce stalls, with restaurant terraces on both sides. Buy a bunch of anything colourful, taste the olives and local cheeses, and grab a table for lunch.

  3. Russian Orthodox Cathedral

    Landmark

    Built in the early twentieth century for Nice's Russian community, this extraordinary church, with its onion domes and bright facade, is one of the largest Russian Orthodox cathedrals outside Russia. The interior glows with icons and gilding.

Art and culture

  1. Musée Matisse

    Museum

    The Matisse Museum in Cimiez, Nice
    Photo: ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Henri Matisse lived in Nice for many years, and this museum, set in a red-ochre villa in the hilltop park of Cimiez, holds paintings, drawings and cut-outs from across his career. The gardens, with their ancient olive trees, are a bonus.

  2. Musée Marc Chagall

    Museum

    The Musée national Marc Chagall in Nice
    Photo: Derbrauni, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A modern, light-filled gallery built around Chagall's Biblical Message series, a set of large paintings on themes from the Old Testament. The stained-glass windows and the mosaic over the pool are as beautiful as the paintings.

  3. Cimiez

    Neighbourhood

    The leafy hill above the city holds Roman ruins, a Franciscan monastery with gardens and the elegant villas where Queen Victoria once stayed. Matisse is buried in the monastery cemetery.

Day trips from Nice

The Riviera is one long coast, and you can reach most of it without a car.

  1. Villefranche-sur-Mer

    Day trip

    A short train ride east, this pastel fishing town sits around a deep natural harbour. Wander the Rue Obscure, a covered medieval lane, and visit the little chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau.

  2. Èze

    Day trip

    The hilltop village of Èze with Cap Ferrat in the distance
    Photo: Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A medieval village on a rock, with a labyrinth of stone alleys, small galleries and a cactus garden at the top. The views over Cap Ferrat and the sea are some of the best on the coast.

    Tip: Walk down the steep Nietzsche Path to the station at the bottom, if your knees agree.

  3. Monaco

    Day trip

    The harbour of Monaco
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The tiny principality is an easy train ride from Nice. Visit the Monte-Carlo Casino and its gardens, stroll the old town on the Rock, and stare at the yachts in the harbour. It's spotlessly clean, and far more walkable than you might expect.

  4. Saint-Paul-de-Vence

    Day trip

    A walled hill village full of galleries and views, with a bus connection from Nice. It has been an artists' haunt for a century, and the nearby Fondation Maeght is a modern art gem.

  5. Cap Ferrat and Villa Ephrussi

    Day trip

    A wooded peninsula of grand villas, with a coastal path around the tip and the pink Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, whose themed gardens and fountains look out over both sides of the peninsula.

Eat and drink

  1. Socca

    Food

    Socca fresh from the oven in Vieux Nice
    Photo: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The thin, crisp chickpea pancake, baked in a wood-fired oven and served hot with pepper, is Nice's street food. Eat it from paper in the old town with a glass of local rosé.

  2. Salade niçoise

    Food

    A salade niçoise
    Photo: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 4.0

    In its home town, the salade niçoise is a simple, fresh plate of tomatoes, olives, anchovies or tuna, egg and basil. Don't expect potatoes or green beans, and enjoy it with a chilled rosé.

  3. Pissaladière

    Food

    A slow-cooked onion tart with anchovies and olives, sold warm by the slice in Vieux Nice's bakeries. Savoury and sweet at once, it's perfect for a beach picnic.

Where to stay in Nice

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Nice →

Getting around

The centre is compact and walkable, and the tram links the airport, the old town and the port. The coastal train and buses reach Villefranche, Monaco, Menton and the hill villages, so you rarely need a car.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are lovely, with warm sea and softer crowds. July and August are hot, busy and full of visitors, while winter is mild with a carnival in February.

Questions about visiting Nice

What is Nice best known for?
The Promenade des Anglais and its pebble beach, a colourful old town, the Cours Saleya market and the Riviera light that inspired Matisse and Chagall.
How many days do you need in Nice?
Three days covers the old town, Castle Hill and the museums, plus a day trip. Add another day or two for Monaco, Èze and the hill villages.
Do you need a car in Nice?
No. The tram, train and buses cover the city and the coast, and parking is expensive and tricky.
Is Nice worth visiting?
Yes. It's the best-value base on the Riviera, with beaches, museums, food and easy day trips.

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