Nice delivers the French Riviera’s most complete urban experience: a beachfront promenade stretching 7km, a labyrinthine old town painted in ochre and terracotta, museums dedicated to Matisse and Chagall, and a food scene built around socca (chickpea pancakes), pissaladière (caramelized onion tart)
Pan Bagnat (the local niçoise salad in sandwich form). This guide covers the essential Nice attractions with opening hours, ticket prices, and practical tips as of 2026.
Best Things to Do in Nice France
Promenade des Anglais: The 7km Seafront Walk
The Promenade des Anglais stretches from Nice Airport in the west to the Port of Nice in the east, tracing the curve of the Baie des Anges. The wide pedestrian and cycling path runs alongside the pebble beach, with the iconic blue chairs (les chaises bleues) positioned at intervals for sitting and staring at the Mediterranean.
The promenade was built in 1822, funded by English expatriates (hence the name). It’s free, open 24/7, and equally busy with runners at 7:00 and strollers at 21:00. Check the Nice weather forecast before planning a full walk as there’s no shade along the route.
Vieux Nice (Old Town): Cours Saleya and the Labyrinth
The old town sits between the Promenade and Castle Hill, a dense grid of narrow streets painted in warm yellows, oranges, and reds. Cours Saleya hosts the daily flower and produce market (Tuesday-Sunday 6:00-17:30, antiques on Monday). The Marché aux Poissons (fish market) operates on Place Saint-François.
Rue de la Préfecture and Rue Droite concentrate the best food shops, including olive oil specialist Alziari (14 Rue Saint-François de Paule) and socca vendor Chez Thérésa (open since 1920). The area is free to explore. For the best food experience, visit around 11:00 when the markets are at their peak. The Old Town accommodation is atmospheric but noisy at night.
Colline du Château (Castle Hill): The Best View in Nice
Castle Hill rises 92 meters between the old town and the port. Despite the name, the castle was demolished in 1706 and only ruins remain. The park at the summit (open daily 8:30-20:00 summer, until 18:00 winter, free entry) delivers the definitive Nice panorama: the Baie des Anges to the west, the port with its colorful fishing boats to the east
the red-tiled roofs of the old town below. Climb the 213 steps from Rue des Ponchettes or take the free elevator (ascenseur du Château) at the eastern end of the Quai des États-Unis. The park includes a waterfall, playground, and cafe. Sunset draws the largest crowds.
Musée Matisse: The Artist’s Nice Legacy
164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez. Open Wednesday-Monday 10:00-18:00 (until 17:00 November-April), closed Tuesdays. Tickets cost €10 (€12 during temporary exhibitions). Henri Matisse lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954, and this museum in the Cimiez neighborhood houses one of the world’s largest collections of his work, including 68 paintings, 236 drawings, and the full-scale paper cutouts from his later years.
The 17th-century Genoese villa that houses the museum sits in the Parc des Arènes, next to Roman ruins. The Cimiez neighborhood, 3km north of the center, also contains the Musée Chagall (€8, similar hours) with 17 large-scale biblical paintings. Take bus 5, 17, or 22 from the center.
Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas (Russian Orthodox Cathedral)
Avenue Nicolas II. Open daily 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00 (until 17:00 in winter). Entry €6. Built in 1912 under Tsar Nicholas II, this is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside Russia, a testament to the Russian aristocracy that wintered on the Riviera before the 1917 Revolution. The onion domes, ornate iconostasis
gilded interior create a startling architectural contrast with Nice’s Italianate old town. It sits a 15-minute walk west of the train station. Photography is prohibited inside.
Parc Phoenix: Botanical Gardens and Tropical Greenhouse
405 Promenade des Anglais. Open daily 9:30-19:30 (until 18:00 October-March). Tickets €5 (adults), free for children under 12. This 7-hectare botanical garden at the western end of the Promenade houses one of Europe’s largest tropical greenhouses (25 meters high, containing 2,500 plant species) and a lake with pelicans and swans. The outdoor gardens feature Mediterranean and tropical zones. It’s a good family option and a shady alternative to the beach on hot days. Take tram line 2 to Parc Phoenix station.
Nice Beaches: What to Know
Nice has pebble beaches, not sand. Bring water shoes or sandals for comfort. The beach splits into private beach clubs (plages privées) renting sun loungers with umbrellas, food service, and showers for €20-35 per day, and public beaches (plages publiques) that are free but offer no amenities beyond cold showers.
The best public beaches are Plage de la Réserve (east of the port, smaller and quieter) and Plage de Carras (west end, wider). Beach clubs fill by 10:30 in July and August; reserve ahead. The best time to visit Nice for beach weather is July through September when sea temperatures exceed 22°C (72°F).
Day Trips from Nice: Monaco, Èze, and Antibes
Nice’s train station (Nice-Ville) connects to the entire Riviera. Monaco-Monte Carlo is 22 minutes by TER train (€4.90, every 30 minutes). The medieval hilltop village of Èze (12km east) is reachable by bus 82 (€1.70, 30 minutes) from Vauban station. Antibes (20km southwest) with its Picasso Museum and rampart walls takes 25 minutes by train (€5.50). Cannes is 35 minutes (€7.80). The train line runs directly along the coast between Nice and Ventimiglia (Italy), offering sea views for most of the journey. Sit on the left side heading east for the best views.
