Also known as the cultural capital of the French Riviera, there are undoubtedly a thousand things to do in Nice France. Thanks to its spectacular natural scenery, this city is the ideal destination for lovers of the French Mediterranean.
Whether for its good climate and proximity to the sea, its architectural wonders or the countless leisure activities it offers, Nice is a city that will certainly captivate you. Read on to find out more!
What are the must-see places in Nice?
1. Saint-Nicholas Cathedral
This cathedral will certainly leave you speechless. Not only is it the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside of Russia, but it is also one of the favorite places in Nice. Its architectural beauty is mainly composed of domes, crosses and a mix of dazzling colors.
Despite not having an optimal location, as it is somewhat far from the center, it is essential to pay a visit to this incredible architectural monument before leaving the city.
2. Phoenix Park
Thanks to an unbeatable location, the Phoenix Park, located in front of the sea, is an ideal place to stroll and relax after a long day of sightseeing.
You will be immersed in a natural environment where you can enjoy the company of numerous bird species, including birds, swans and ducks. Inside the park you will also find the Green Diamond, a greenhouse that will take you on a journey through six different tropical climates, and all this for only €5 per ticket!
3. Lascaris Palace
This palace is located within the old part of the city, better known as the Vieille Ville. It has an imposing appearance, loaded with ornamentation inspired by Italian palaces, despite being baroque in nature.
Inside you can find numerous artistic collections that will help you to know the history of the city in more detail.
4. Vieille Ville of Nice
One of the favorite things for travelers is to be able to get lost in the streets of the old neighborhoods. On your trip to Nice you will have the opportunity to do so in its beautiful Old Town.
Being the old part of the city, in this neighborhood you can get lost among narrow streets full of buildings with a great historical value, characterized by their yellow and orange colors.
In addition, you can visit some traditional stores and markets, as well as pleasant terraces where you can relax for a while and even old churches that will leave you impressed.
5. Promenade des Anglais in Nice
The Promenade des Anglais is a long avenue that runs along several places to see in Nice; among them is the Baie des Anges, one of the most visited beaches in the city.
While strolling along this avenue, you can enjoy the typical architecture of the Belle Epoque. Also take a picture with what is already considered a true symbol of the city of Nice: the famous blue chairs.
6. Castle’s Hills of Nice
Once you have finished the Promenade des Anglais, we recommend a short trip to Nice’s Castle. You can access by elevator or walking while enjoying exceptional views.
Once you get there, you will discover an artificial waterfall next to a botanical garden, as well as the remains of an old fortress. Do not forget to take pictures of the views of the city!
7. Massena Square
Considered the most beautiful square to see in Nice, you will find some of the oldest buildings in the city.
It is also an ideal place to stop and relax on a terrace while having a bite to eat or a coffee. Meanwhile, you can contemplate some of the seven sculptures along the square, each one representing one of the continents. Very interesting, don’t you think?
8. Flowers Market
The Marché aux Fleurs, or in English, the Flowers Market, is one of the busiest markets you’ll find in Nice. Not surprisingly, because of how beautiful it is and the amount of things to do there.
In addition to finding a huge variety of flowers, you can also buy different types of food and even souvenirs. You don’t need more reasons to stop by, do you?
9. Marc-Chagall National Museum
This beautiful museum, located in the center of Nice, preserves most of the works of the artist Marc Chagall, who once offered to the French state some of his most acclaimed paintings on the Bible.
The collection is composed of a wide range of drawings, sketches and other works full of color and shapes that will leave you completely amazed. Undoubtedly a 100% recommended visit to do in Nice.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to see around Nice
Nice is characterized by being surrounded by a vast number of dreamy villages. Although it is difficult to get bored in the city, if you have a day to take a trip in the surroundings, do not hesitate to do so.
1. Pincipality of Monaco
About 14 kilometers from Nice you can find Monaco, which despite its small size is home to more than 37,000 inhabitants, having one of the highest densities in the world. One of the main reasons is undoubtedly its incredible geographical position in the Mediterranean.
In Monaco you will be able to visit different emblematic points of the city. Among them, do not hesitate to opt for monuments such as the Café de Paris Casino and the Hermitage Hotel. Take as well a stroll through the Fontvieille Quarter, which is literally on the sea. Truly impressive to look at.
2. Île de France
This villa is one of the most beautiful palaces of the entire Côte d’Azur. It consists of an incredible mansion inspired by the Italian Renaissance. It’s also urrounded by gardens with ponds, olive groves, different types of trees and even waterfalls.
It currently houses a museum open to the public, where you can find old belongings of Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild. Some of them are tapestries, porcelains and paintings. A most interesting visit.
3. Èze in Nice France
Considered one of the most charming villages of the Alpes-Maritimes, Èze is located about 8 kilometers from Nice France. At an altitude of 400 meters, its entrance is a magnificent fortified gate.
You can lose yourself in its streets full of houses built with old stone and decorated with flowers of all colors. In addition, this village has a beautiful beach at its lowest point, which you can access through a path full of naturee. A true natural wonder.
Things to do in Nice at night
Day or night, Nice is a city with a thousand things to do. However, there are certain places and activities that enjoy a special atmosphere after dark, making the experience even better.
Enjoy Nice’s Carnival
The Nice’s Carnival is definitely the biggest in France, besides being world famous. It takes place in the month of February, so traveling to this city during that time can be a great option.
At the festival you can enjoy an exhibition of floats with an impressive decoration and aesthetics, including the famous battle of flowers. This great event takes place on the Promenade des Anglais.
Have a dinner at Port Lympia
The Port Lympia is one of the first places that was built in the city, as well as being a must-see in Nice France.
Located at the foot of the city, the port is a small corner that deserves a walk, especially at night. You can stop for dinner at one of the restaurants in the area, such as the pizzeria Les Amoureux, or the Argentinean restaurant Rusti’K.
Visit Garibaldi’s Square
This baroque style square is undoubtedly beautiful during the day, but at night it acquires a unique magic. When it is illuminated, the colors of the buildings that surround it take on very striking colors.
There you will find numerous restaurants and bars where you can sit and have a drink “al fresco” overlooking the rest of the square. In the center of the square you can see a majestic fountain with the statue of the hero Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Where to eat in Nice
Nice offers a wide variety of restaurants, from which you can choose depending on the type of cuisine you are looking for, there are endless options!
Enjoy Nice’s typical food at Acchiardo Restaurant
Something essential when we travel to a new place is to stop and try some typical local dish or food. The cuisine of Nice is different from the traditional French cuisine and is more similar to ours, with olive oil as the main ingredient. Curious, isn’t it?
Although you can find numerous options where you can try local dishes, we recommend you to visit the Acchiardo Restaurant. It’s considered one of the most typical and most visited places of Nicaraguan food.
Taste some Mediterranean cuisine at Le Bistrot de Guillou
Whether you preffer to enjoy a good Mediterranean dish with a touch of French cuisine, we definitely recommend you to visit Le Bistrot de Gillou.
Besides being a charming place and having an excellent location near Avenue Jean Médecin, in this restaurant you will find a wide variety of dishes. You’ll find a variety from fish and seafood to meats and pastas, including a variety of regional dishes. Are you going to miss it?
Try the famous Nice’s “merenda” at Chez Theresa
When you want to recharge your batteries after a long day of sightseeing, do not hesitate to go to the Flowers Market to taste an authentic Nicaraguan “merenda”. Equivalent to a snack, at the market you will find numerous stalls where you can buy different types of typical sweets or savory treats.
In particular, we recommend Chez Theresa, where you can try the socca, the pissaladière or the tourte de blettes, all delicious!
Itineraries for your trip to Nice France
Things to see in Nice in 1 day
There is a lot to see and do in Nice France, so it is important to prioritize if you only have one day to visit. Take note of these recommendations about the places you can’t miss.
- Visit Saint-Nicholas Cathedral
- Reach Nice Castle’s Hills
- Walk around the Vieille Ville
- Get to know the Flowers Market
- Take pictures of Massena’s Square
Things to see in Nice in 3 days
With three days ahead of you, not only will you have the opportunity to visit Nice from top to bottom, but you can also take a short trip to surrounding areas to enjoy all its charm. Here are some suggestions!
- Visit Marc-Chagall National Museum
- Walk through the Promenade des Anglais
- Entry the Phoenix Park
- Get to know Èze
- Admire Lascaris Palace
- Visit to the Principality of Monaco
- Enjoy île de France
- Have dinner at Port Lympia
Frequent questions
– You can take the bus and streetcar to move comfortably around the city.
– You can rent a Vélobleu bicycle to explore the city at your leisure.
– For excursions around Nice, you can take a bus or rent a car to move around more freely.
If you prefer to stay in the center:
– Best Western Hotel (approximately 60€/night).
– Hotel Wilson (approximately 60€/night).
– Hotel du Centre (approx. 120€/night).
– Ibis Styles Nice Centre Gare (approximately €130/night).
If you prefer to stay near the sea:
Hotel Villa Rivoli (approx. 80€/night).
Hotel Windsor (approximately 90€/night).
Hostel Meyerbeer (approximately 90€/night).
Hotel de France (approximately 200€/night).
How to plan your itinerary of the places you want to see in Nice France?
Download the Passporter app and plan your trip in the most organized way and according to the days and places you want to see in Nice France.
With the app you will be able to:
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Save information about the destinations you want to visit and that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
- Save tickets and reservations.
- Organize your route on google maps having as a starting point your accommodation or any other that you indicate.
- Get the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish your own pictures and experiences as you go s and experiences, so as to when someone asks you “How was your trip in Ibiza? Visit my traveler profile on Passporter.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to use and get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
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