Nice, France travel guide

Why go

The largest city on the French Riviera curls around a wide bay, with a long seafront promenade on one side and a dense old town of ochre buildings, Italianate churches and market squares on the other. It was Italian until the middle of the nineteenth century and still tastes like it. Hills of villas rise behind, the light is famously good, and the sea stays swimmable well into autumn.

It works both as a city break and as the base for the whole coast, since trains run east and west along the shore all day. Four or five nights lets you fold in Villefranche, Èze, Antibes and Menton without hiring a car. July and August are hot and full; May, June, September and October are better in every respect. The pebble beaches suit swimmers more than sandcastle builders.

Ideal stay: 4–5 nights
The vibe: Sun-bleached, Italianate, unhurried

From our guides

The beaches are pebble — buy the cheap mat everyone else has — and the swimming is glorious into October. Between dips: the Matisse and Chagall museums, the baroque old town, and socca eaten hot from paper.

Featured in Ten city breaks with a seriously good beach attached

Things to do

Promenade des Anglais

A seven-kilometre seafront walk along the Baie des Anges, lined with the blue chairs that have become the city's signature. Good for cycling early.
Cours Saleya market

Flowers, produce and Provençal food in the old town most mornings, with an antiques market on Mondays. Socca, a chickpea pancake, is sold hot nearby.
Colline du Château

The castle hill at the eastern end of the bay, with a waterfall, ruins and the classic view down over the terracotta roofs of the old town. A lift saves the climb.
Musée Matisse

Set in a red villa among olive trees in Cimiez, with paintings, cut-outs and drawings spanning the artist's long association with the city.
Musée Marc Chagall

A purpose-built museum holding the Biblical Message cycle, with stained glass and a concert hall, in a garden a short walk uphill from the centre.
Coastal day trips

Trains reach Villefranche in six minutes, Antibes in twenty and Menton in half an hour, with the hilltop village of Èze a short bus ride up the corniche.

Getting there

Fly to
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes (NCE)

Nearest airport to Nice, about 6km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Nice

About 20 minutes from Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) on tram line 2 straight into the centre, or 15 to 20 minutes by taxi.
On the ground
Getting around

The Promenade, the old town and the port are all walkable, trams cover the rest of the city, and coastal trains reach Villefranche, Monaco and Menton in minutes.

Public transport: Excellent: trams, buses and the frequent TER coastal railway make the whole Riviera easy without a car.

Flights

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Flying from

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Roughly 12h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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When to go

Daytime highs run from about 12°C in January to 29°C in August. Driest in January and February and July; wettest in May, with rain on about 14 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 27°C, coolest at 14°C.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

December13° · rain 10 days · sea 16°Cool with rain most weeks.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to stay

Belle Epoque seafront hotels, small old-town boutiques and a very large apartment rental market. Family rooms are scarce in the old buildings.

Best base overall
Vieux Nice

The old town's lanes put the market, the socca and the beach steps within a couple of minutes. Rooms are small and often above bars, so expect noise until late.
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Best for couples
Carre d'Or and the Promenade

Between the old town and the Jardin Albert, with the grand seafront hotels and the best shopping. Sea-view rooms cost sharply more and face the promenade traffic.
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Best value
Cimiez and Liberation

Uphill and inland, with the Matisse museum, a good daily market and lower prices. It is a tram ride or a solid walk to the water.
Find stays in Cimiez and Liberation
Quietest
Port and Mont Boron

East of the old town, with restaurants around the harbour, calmer streets and coastal walks. The beaches here are smaller, and it is further from the station.
Find stays in Port and Mont Boron

Worth knowing before you book: The Carnival in February, the Grand Prix weekend along the coast and the Cannes festival all push prices up for miles, so check the regional calendar.

Our picks in this destination

Mid-range

Hôtel Vendôme

City centre · neoclassical 19th-century townhouse hotel

A 3-star hotel in a 19th-century neoclassical townhouse near Place Masséna, a short walk from the beach and Nice-Ville station.

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Boutique

Palais Saleya

Vieux Nice · 18th-century apartment-hotel by Cours Saleya

An 18th-century building beside the Cours Saleya flower market, restored into 26 suites and apartments at the edge of the Old Town.

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Luxury

Le Royal

Promenade des Anglais · Belle Époque seafront palace

A former 1905 palace on the Promenade des Anglais, this Belle Époque hotel faces the Mediterranean across the Baie des Anges.

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Or search everything else in Nice by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

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Good to know

Beaches: Every beach here is smooth pebble, not sand. Buy a cheap foam mat and, ideally, water shoes for getting in and out.
Getting there: The airport sits at the western end of the promenade and a tram line runs into the centre in about twenty minutes.
Timing: Swimming is comfortable from June to October. May and September give warm days without August's prices and pressure on tables.
Tram: Two tram lines cover the airport, the centre and the port cheaply, and a day ticket usually beats singles if you are moving about.
Pickpockets: The promenade, the old town markets and the station area attract them in season. Keep bags closed and in front of you.

Similar places

Nearby destinations

Elsewhere in France

Aiguille du Midi Alpe d'Huez Annecy Brittany Chamonix Collioure Côte des Basques Disneyland Paris

Quick answers

When is the best time to visit Nice?

Daytime highs run from about 12°C in January to 29°C in August. Driest in January and February and July; wettest in May, with rain on about 14 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 27°C, coolest at 14°C.

How long should I spend in Nice?

Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.

How do I get to Nice?

About 20 minutes from Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) on tram line 2 straight into the centre, or 15 to 20 minutes by taxi.

Do I need a car in Nice?

No. Excellent: trams, buses and the frequent TER coastal railway make the whole Riviera easy without a car.

What currency and language are used in Nice?

Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.

Who is Nice best for?

Best for couples, foodies and culture seekers. In a phrase: sun-bleached, Italianate, unhurried.

Nice

Promenade des Anglais

Cours Saleya market

Colline du Château

Musée Matisse

Musée Marc Chagall

Coastal day trips

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes (NCE)

To Nice

Getting around

Vieux Nice

Carre d'Or and the Promenade

Cimiez and Liberation

Port and Mont Boron

Hôtel Vendôme

Palais Saleya

Le Royal

Piran

Barcelona

Rovinj

Èze

Kayaking the Verdon Gorge

Provence

Langhe

Porquerolles

Calanque d'En-Vau

Ten city breaks with a seriously good beach attached