Yes, Nice is worth visiting. The city combines a long Mediterranean coastline, a lively Old Town, good restaurants and easy day trips along the French Riviera. What made Nice stand out for me was its relaxed feeling. It felt less posh than Cannes and Saint-Tropez, but still stylish enough to feel special.

I loved Nice! After visiting Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Grasse and Antibes and of course Monaco, I was ready for my last stop on the French Riviera. I had booked the ferry from Nice to Corsica, so Nice could easily have been only a practical stop before continuing my trip. Instead, it became one of my favorite places along the Côte d’Azur.

Is Nice worth visiting?

Nice is worth visiting if you like combining a city trip with time at the beach. You can walk through the Old Town in the morning, have lunch at a small restaurant and swim in the Mediterranean later in the day.

It is also a good choice when you want to experience the French Riviera without spending all your time surrounded by designer shops and expensive yachts. Nice still has an elegant side, but it felt more relaxed and mixed than Cannes and Saint-Tropez.

Nice may be less suitable if you are looking for quiet sandy beaches. The beaches are covered with pebbles and the city can become busy, especially during summer. For me, the combination of city, sea, food and a more laid-back vibe worked perfectly.

What is Nice, France known for?

Nice is best known for the Promenade des Anglais, its blue Mediterranean water, pebble beaches and colorful Old Town. Castle Hill offers some of the best views over the city, while Cours Saleya is known for its flower market, food stalls and terraces.

The city also has a noticeable mix of French and Italian influences. You can see this in the colorful architecture, small streets and local food. Nice has a long history that started with the Greeks and was later influenced by several cultures.

Nice is also known for its art museums, including Musée Matisse and Musée National Marc Chagall. These can be a good addition if you have more than two days or the weather is less suitable for the beach. For me, Nice is mainly known for the way city life and beach life come together. You do not have to choose between sightseeing and relaxing by the sea. You can easily do both in one day.

How many days do you need in Nice?

Two full days are enough to see the main highlights of Nice. You can visit Castle Hill, explore Vieux Nice, walk along the Promenade des Anglais and spend some time at the beach.

Three or four days are better if you also want to enjoy Nice at a slower pace or use the city as a base for day trips. Antibes, Cannes and Monaco are all relatively easy to reach by regional train.

Nice was my final stop before taking the ferry to Corsica, but I could easily have stayed longer. There was enough to see without feeling that I had to rush from one highlight to the next.

How to get to Nice

By air

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is located about 7 kilometers from the city center. The airport is very close to the coast, and you can often see arriving planes while relaxing at the beach. Tram line 2 connects both airport terminals with the city center and Port Lympia. The journey into central Nice takes less than 30 minutes.

By train

The main railway station is Nice-Ville. High-speed and regional trains connect Nice with other parts of France and nearby destinations along the Côte d’Azur. The regional TER network is especially practical for visiting places such as Antibes, Cannes and Monaco. Taking the train also saves you the trouble of finding parking in the busy coastal towns.

By car

In my opinion, driving along the coastal roads is one of the best ways to experience the Côte d’Azur. Roads such as the D6007, D6098 and D559 offer beautiful views and take you past several towns and beaches. Driving gives you freedom, but parking can be challenging in Nice and the other popular coastal cities. A hotel with its own parking garage can make a big difference. You can read more about my experience in my French Riviera and Corsica road trip tips.

Hiring a car is also a good option if you want to explore more of the Côte d’Azur at your own pace. You can compare rental cars and prices here.

By ferry

Nice can also be part of a longer trip to Corsica. I took the ferry from Nice after finishing my road trip along the French Riviera. Ferry routes and schedules can change depending on the season, so check the available connections before planning your route. My two-week French Riviera and Corsica itinerary shows how I combined both destinations by car.

Book your ferry early if you are traveling with a car during the busy summer months. The best departure times and cabins can sell out.

Where should you stay in Nice?

I booked the trendy Nice Pam Hotel at the last minute. Be aware that hotel prices in Nice can be high, even in September.  The colorful retro style and relaxed vibe of the hotel is very unique and has a boutique feeling. One of its biggest advantages for me was the garage underneath the building. Having a safe place to park my car saved me a lot of trouble.

The Pam hotel is located just outside the busiest part of the center, but I could still walk to the Old Town, the port and many restaurants. I would definitely stay here again. If you are not traveling by car, staying in or close to Vieux Nice is practical for restaurants and sightseeing. The area around the port and Place du Pin is also a good choice if you enjoy lively streets, bars and restaurants in the evening.

Is Nice a good base for the Côte d’Azur?

Yes, Nice is one of the best bases for exploring the Côte d’Azur. It has a major airport, a central train station and good regional connections. You can stay in Nice and take day trips to Antibes, Cannes or Monaco without moving your luggage every few days. This is especially practical if you do not want to drive or deal with parking.

I traveled differently and stayed in several places along the coast. That gave me more freedom during my road trip. You can read about that part of my route in my blog about Cannes, Grasse and Antibes. Nice is also a practical final stop before continuing to Corsica. This makes it easy to combine a city, the French Riviera and an island road trip in one holiday.

What to do in Nice

1. Walk up Castle Hill

Castle Hill, or Colline du Château, is one of the best places in Nice for panoramic views. From the top, you can look across the city, the Mediterranean Sea, the port and the curved Baie des Anges. There is no complete castle left on the hill, but the park has green gardens, a waterfall and several viewpoints.

I walked up the winding paths and steps all the way to the top. The climb was worth it because the views were stunning. If you do not want to walk up, there is also a lift. Walking back down towards the sea and jumping into the blue Mediterranean water afterwards was a perfect combination.

2. Relax at the beaches in Nice

Nice has a long public beach that stretches along much of the Baie des Anges. It starts near Castle Hill and continues in the direction of the airport. The water can be beautifully clear and turquoise. You can use the free public sections or book a sunbed at a private beach club such as Castel Plage or Plage Beau Rivage. A lounger is not really a luxury on this beach. The beach consists completely of pebbles, so lying on only a thin towel can become uncomfortable.

Bring sandals or reef shoes to the pebble beach. They make walking over the stones and entering the water much more comfortable.

If you plan to use the public beach, bring a padded beach mat or a small beach chair. The pebbles become uncomfortable surprisingly quickly.

The shape of the beach and movement of the water can also make getting in and out of the sea more difficult. In several places, fixed ropes have been placed along the shore to help swimmers enter and leave the water.

3. Walk along the Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais is one of the most famous sights in Nice. The waterfront boulevard stretches for around 7 kilometers along the Baie des Anges. On one side you have views of the Mediterranean. On the other side are hotels, apartments and some beautiful historic buildings.

The promenade has the famous blue chairs where you can sit and look out over the beach. It is also popular for walking, running and cycling. You can follow the promenade for as long as you like, stop for coffee or cross the road for a swim. It is one of the easiest ways to enjoy Nice without making a complicated plan.

4. Explore Vieux Nice

Vieux Nice is the historic Old Town and one of the liveliest parts of the city. It is a maze of narrow streets filled with restaurants, local shops, art galleries and coffee places. Visit Cours Saleya for its flower and food market, then continue through the surrounding streets. You can also see the Baroque Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate at Place Rossetti.

I did not see many large designer shops here. The Old Town felt more focused on small boutiques, art shops and independent restaurants. That was exactly what I liked about it. There are trendy coffee shops, small French restaurants and more expensive dining options mixed together. The streets are lively, but they still have plenty of character.

5. Take a day trip to Antibes

Antibes is an easy day trip from Nice. It has a beautiful coastline, its own Old Town, a marina and several beaches. You can drive, but taking the regional train is usually easier. You can relax, watch the scenery and avoid the parking problems in the center.

Take the train instead of the car for day trips along the coast. It saves parking trouble and gives you more time to enjoy the destination.

My Cannes, Grasse and Antibes road trip includes more details about what to see in Antibes and how I traveled through this part of the Côte d’Azur.

Where to eat and drink in Nice

Nice has a mix of French and Italian influences, which you can also see in its food. I mainly enjoyed finding small restaurants and coffee places while walking through the Old Town.

Olive & Artichaut

The lovely small French restaurant Olive & Artichaut is tucked away in the streets of Vieux Nice. I managed to get a seat at the bar without a reservation, but there was a long line outside. The restaurant is popular and has only limited space.

Book Olive & Artichaut in advance. Getting a seat at the bar worked for me, but I would not count on being that lucky every evening.

Clay

Clay is a hip and trendy coffee café. Loved the styling of the place and the cappuccino was perfect. The food looked delicious as well. It is a good stop when you need a proper coffee between exploring the Old Town and walking towards the beach.

Maranna

Maranna is another nice spot in the Old Town, located at 31 Rue Benoît Bunico. I went there for an iced coffee with avocado and egg on toast for brunch. The café is located in one of the small streets with sun umbrellas hanging above it. It was a lovely place to sit outside and watch people passing by.

Place du Pin and Rue Bonaparte

In the evening, the streets close to my hotel became very lively. Place du Pin and Rue Bonaparte have plenty of restaurants, terraces and bars. There was music, people sitting outside and a great atmosphere. This area is worth checking when you want somewhere lively for dinner or drinks without going too far into the tourist center.

Would I return to Nice?

Yes, I would return to Nice. Nice has the beach, good food, coffee shops, colorful streets and enough things to do without feeling like every hour needs to be planned. It was more relaxed than some of the other famous places along the French Riviera, and that was the main reason I loved it.

After Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco, Nice felt like a place where I could slow down. I could explore the city, sit down for coffee and go for a swim without needing to dress up or spend a fortune. Nice also worked perfectly as the final stop on my Côte d’Azur road trip before taking the ferry to Corsica.

Time to take the boat to Corsica. But Nice, I promise I will be back one day! Continue planning your trip with my France travel blogs, my two-week Côte d’Azur and Corsica itinerary or my practical tips before road tripping Corsica.