A Perfect Travel Guide to Nice, France
Located on the sparkling Côte d’Azur or the French Riviera, Nice is a coastal gem that makes for the perfect home base when exploring the region. I originally chose to stay in Nice for its central location and excellent connections to nearby towns via public transportation – but I quickly discovered that the city itself has so much to offer. With a charming Old Town, vibrant food scene, and relaxed yet energetic seaside vibes, Nice is far more than just a convenient hub.
Whether you’re strolling along the iconic Promenade des Anglais or wandering through the colorful Cours Saleya market, Nice effortlessly blends culture, natural beauty, and Mediterranean charm.
In this complete travel guide, I’ll cover everything you need to plan your trip to Nice—how to get there, the best things to do and see, where to stay, and tips to help you make the most of your time in this stunning coastal city
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HOW TO GET TO NICE:
✈️ Fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)
Nice is easily accessible via Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which has direct flights from many European cities and seasonal routes from North America. Once landing, you can get to Nice city center by:
- 🚖 Taxi: A fixed fare of €32 to the city center. There are additional charge for luggage, and night time.
- 🚌 Tram: Line 2 runs directly from Terminal 2 (first stop) and Terminal 1 (second stop) to central Nice, stopping at key locations like Jean Médecin and Port Lympia.
- 🚖 Uber/Bolt: Nice is well served by ride-share apps like Uber.
🚆 By Train
Nice’s main train station, Nice-Ville, is well-connected to major cities in France through France’s national rail service SCNF.
- 🚄 From Paris: 5.5 – 6 hours by TGV (high-speed train).
- 🚄 From Marseille: 2.5- 3 hours by TER (regional train).
Book on SCNF or Omio.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN NICE:
Nice is a very walkable city, especially around the Old Town (Vieux Nice) and along the Promenade des Anglais, where many of the main attractions, cafes, and beaches are located. The local tram and bus network is efficient, affordable, and easy to navigate, making it simple to get around without a car. Taxis and Uber are also readily available if you’re heading somewhere less central. We mostly walked within Nice, and took Uber a couple times for going out of town.
If you’re planning to explore more of the French Riviera—like the hilltop villages of Èze, the beaches of Antibes, or the lavender fields inland—a rental car can offer added flexibility and convenience. That said, I don’t recommend driving within Nice itself as the city is busy, congested, and full of tiny streets!
Rental Cars: Book with Discover Cars for the best prices – I always choose a trusted company like Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt within the search results.
WHERE TO STAY IN NICE, france:
Accommodations come in a wide variety in Nice. Three areas I would consider staying in are Vieux Nice (Old Town), Promenade des Anglais, and Jean Médecin & City Center.
Best Hotels in Nice
Vieux Nice (Old Town)
Charm, food lovers, and nightlife – Vieux Nice is full of colorful buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, bustling markets, and great restaurants.
Promenade des Anglais
Beach lovers, iconic views, and luxury stays – this is where the most iconic hotels of Nice is located, and waking up to stunning Mediterranean views.
Jean Médecin & City Center
Shopping, convenience, and public transportation access – The city center area around Avenue Jean Médecin is well-connected by tram and walkable to most attractions.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN NICE, FRANCE:
Promenade des Anglais
This iconic palm-lined promenade stretches for several kilometers along the Mediterranean coast and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Nice. It’s perfect for a stroll any time of the day. Take in views of the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) and listen to the soothing sound of pebbles being moved by the waves. Along the way, you’ll find beach clubs, cafes, and beautiful Belle Époque architecture.
Vieux Nice – Old Town of Nice
Old towns are my favorite places to explore – Nice’s Old Town is especially charming, with a maze of narrow cobblestone streets bursting with colorful facades, local boutiques, art galleries, and lively cafes. Vieux Nice is the city’s beating heart and you’ll like spend most of your time in Nice here (aside from the beach and Promenade). Don’t miss the Baroque architecture of churches like Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur and the local specialty shops.
Pl. Rossetti in the photos below was my favorite spot in Vieux Nice – colorful buildings surrounding a fountain.
Guided Tours in Nice
If you enjoy walking tours, guided tours, here are some that are highly rated.
Cours Saleya Market
Located in the heart of the Old Town, this bustling open-air market is the place to experience local life. Each morning, vendors set up their stalls and sell fresh flowers, seasonal produce, cheeses, and olives. I still can’t get over how delicious the fruits from the stalls were here. The flower market and produce markets are open daily except for Mondays. On Mondays, it transforms into an antique and flea market, perfect for unique souvenirs.
Beach Day
There aren’t any sandy beaches in Nice – instead the coastline is made up of small pebbles. Although Nice may have a rocky shoreline, that doesn’t stop locals and visitors from enjoying the beach. Public beaches are dotted across the coastline. Bring a towel and an umbrella to enjoy a relaxing day by the waters.
If laying out on bumpy rocks is not your thing, don’t worry – Nice is home to many amazing beach clubs with comfy sun loungers, shade and food/drink service.
Many beach clubs do not take reservations for chairs, and during peak seasons of July and August they fill up quite quickly. Some do allow reserving online or by phone, especially for the front row. You may have to line up prior to opening to secure sunbeds. Many clubs offer full restaurant and bar service, so you can sip on cocktails or enjoy a seafood platter without leaving your lounger.
Here are a few of the best-known spots along the promenade:
- Blue Beach
- Castel Plage
- Ruhl Plage
- Plage Beau Rivage
- Le Galet
Beachside Dining
You don’t need to rent a sun lounger to enjoy the stunning seaside ambiance of Nice’s beach clubs—many of them have full-service restaurants that are open to the public. Best part is, these restaurants do take reservations unless the beach clubs.
Whether you’re after a leisurely lunch with sea views or a romantic sunset dinner by the water, beach club dining is a great way to experience the beachside without committing to a full beach day.
My favorite two were Le Galet, and Bocca Mar.
Colline du Château (Castle Hill)
Formerly a military citadel, the Colline du Château is now a park that has lush gardens, some historic ruins, a waterfall, and scenic viewpoints.
The panoramic views over Nice, the port, and the sparkling sea is worth the climb. You can climb the stairs or take the elevator near the Promenade. I chose to do the stairs, and while probably not the best choice of footwear (flip-flops), it wasn’t super difficult.
Place Massena
There isn’t much to DO in Place Massena, but it is the architectural centerpiece of Nice and close to all the famous sights of Nice such as the Promenade des Anglais and shopping at Jean Medicin Avenue. Fontaine du Soleil feature a statue of the Greek god Apollo, and it is surrounded by the iconic checkerboard floors, bright red buildings and seven statues that represent the continents.
WHERE TO EAT IN NICE, FRANCE
Here’s a map with all the locations mentioned in this blog! Enjoy!
Best Day Trips from Nice
Nice is centrally located, and it is easy to explore the surrounding gems of the French Riviera.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer – this seaside town is just 7 minutes by train from Nice-Ville station, but despite how close it is its a very different vibe with more relaxed, laid-back feel.
- Antibes – about 30 minutes away by train is Antibes where you have to check out the charming old town, the marina, and the Picasso Museum.
- Menton – this was my favorite day trip. It’s about 40 minutes by train, and given its proximity to Italy, this colorful city has an Italian flair.
- Cannes – just a couple stops more than Antibes, Cannes is known for its glitzy film festival but it also has a lovely old town (Le Suquet) and sandy beaches.
- Èze Village – a medieval hilltop village with winding stone streets, panoramic views of the sea, and the stunning Jardin Exotique d’Èze (Exotic Garden). It’s best to take the bus or an Uber since the train takes you to the bottom of town rather than the village itself. Read my guide on Èze here!
- Monaco – while technically not in France, the glamorous principality of Monaco is known for the Monte Carlo Casino, Prince’s Palace, and the F1 races.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence – another one of my favorites, this hilltop village is beloved by artists and therefore full of galleries, and cute streets. It’s not as easy to go here by public transportation – we had a car but if using public transportation, it requires a train ride, then a bus ride.
- Gorges du Verdon – breathtaking river canyon in southeastern France, about 2.5 hours by driving from Nice. I recommend spending a night if possible since its quite far.
Consider these tours if you prefer to sit back and let someone else take you to these other gorgeous spots!
MAP & CONCLUSION
I hope I’ve inspired you to visit Nice, France, an iconic city in the French Riviera. With this list of things to do, hotel recommendations, and transportation tips, navigating through your Nice trip should be a breeze.
USE MY CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR TRIP!
- Flights
- Search for the best flights on Skyscanner to get to your destination
- Search for the best flights on Skyscanner to get to your destination
- Hotels
- I use Booking.com for most accommodations
- For Asia, I prefer Agoda as they have the most competitive prices. I also compare prices on Klook (you can use my code MINYWANDER for a discount so see if that’s a better deal)
- For vacation rentals, especially for larger families, consider VRBO
- Transportation
- Trains & Ferries – book on Omio
- Rental Cars – I usually book on DiscoverCars
- For reliable airport pickups, use Welcome Pickups
- For Asia I use Klook (code MINYWANDER for a discount) – Japan trains for example
- Activities & Tours
- GetYourGuide and Viator are my go to’s.
- For Asia, I prefer Klook as there are more options – use code MINYWANDER
- E-sim
- Stay connected with Airalo E-sims.
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