Things to Do in Nice

Start in Vieux Nice, the old town of narrow lanes and ochre façades, and the Cours Saleya market: flowers and local produce every morning except Monday, when the square fills with antique stalls. Climb Castle Hill (Colline du Château) — on foot or by the lift — for the classic view over the Baie des Anges, then walk the Promenade des Anglais, the 7 km seafront that helped earn Nice its UNESCO World Heritage listing as a winter resort town in 2021.

Nice is also a serious art city. The Musée Matisse sits among the olive trees of Cimiez, the Marc Chagall National Museum holds his Biblical Message cycle, and MAMAC covers modern and contemporary art from the 1950s onwards. Between museums, the Promenade du Paillon park links the old town to Place Masséna, and Port Lympia's quays are the place for an evening drink.

The year opens with the Nice Carnival in February — two weeks of parades and the famous flower battles on the Promenade. Summer brings the Nice Jazz Festival in July, open-air concerts at the Théâtre de Verdure and fireworks over the bay, while autumn and winter are the season for theatre, opera at the Opéra de Nice and big exhibitions.

May, June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea, long days and fewer crowds than July and August. Winters are mild enough for lunch on a terrace, which is exactly why Nice became a resort in the first place. Check the events above for what's on during your dates.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is the Riviera's main international gateway, just 7 km from the centre; tram line 2 runs from both terminals to the city centre and the port. Nice-Ville station has TGV connections to Paris and regional TER trains along the coast.

The centre is compact and walkable, and trams and Lignes d'Azur buses cover the rest. Nice is also the most practical base on the Côte d'Azur: by train, Villefranche-sur-Mer is under 10 minutes away, Monaco and Antibes around 20–25 minutes, and Cannes or Menton well under an hour.

Best for swimming and boat trips: June to September, when the sea is 20 °C or warmer. Spring and autumn are milder and quieter — a good time for walking, day trips and wine tours.