Nice is a small city of red-roofed houses on the French Riviera. The city is famous for its exceptional climate, the ultra famous Promenade des Anglais, museums, and the International Film Festival.

What to Do in Nice

Nice isn’t a big city. You can “tourist” the whole city in about two days, if you’re fast and efficient. Here are the highlights I recommend when visiting this French city.

Castle Hill of Nice

Castle Hill was a military citadel built at the top of a hill and overlooking the entire seaside city. The walking path up the mountain is a gentle slope with lots of great lookout stops along the way. If walking isn’t your thing, you can also drive to the top or take an elevator, but I highly recommend the walk.

On the walk, you will come across a beautiful artificial waterfall, a playground, ample spots for picnics, a cemetery, and Belanda Tower. At the top, you’ll see the sprawling city surrounding the bay below, mountains rising high on the other side. It’s the perfect way to spend an hour or two!

Wander the Alleyways of Old Nice

Nice Vieux, or Old Nice, is a mess of twisting, turning alleys. You can easily get lost walking among the cafes, shops, and markets. If you’re looking for souvenirs, people watching, or a quick bite, this is a great way to get to know the city. Don’t bring a map – just lose yourself in the cobblestoned history!

Walk Down the Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais, which translates to the English Promenade, is a world-famous staple in Nice. Named so because it’s a favorite destination for English people during the cold winter months, it’s the most famous tourist attraction in the city.

The Promenade runs 7 km (4.35 miles) from Castle Hill to the Nice Airport. In fact, the bus from the airport to Old Nice runs right along the Promenade, and you will be dying to jump out of the bus and into the turquoise waters the whole 25 minutes of the ride.

Plan to walk, bike, or roller blade the Promenade des Anglais for part of your trip. It’s recommended to walk from Old Nice to the Negresco Hotel, passing through the Jardin Albert 1er and the Palais de la Méditerranée. This is also where you’ll find the most popular discos, restaurants, and bars.

Visit the Daily Farmer’s Market

The Cours Saleya is one of France’s special markets. Vendors set up daily from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm in the Old Town to sell local flowers, fruits, vegetables, soaps, and other merchandise. Even if you’re not looking to buy anything, it’s worth a visit just to smell the beautiful floral smells, see the colorful bouquets, and ask for locals’ advice on any questions you might have.

Shop French Styles

No trip to stylish France is complete without a little shopping! Whether you’re into luxury shopping, bargain shopping, or craft shopping, Nice has something for you.

Old Nice is perfect for shopping crafts and traditional French trinkets. Avenue Jean Medecin is ideal for department stores. If it’s antiques that you’re looking for, head closer to the port, just on the other side of Castle Hill from Old Nice. And finally, head east of Old Nice and Avenue Jean Medecin for luxury boutiques. Anywhere else in Nice, you can find local neighborhood shops and eateries. Don’t leave any stone unturned!

Hit the Beach

The beaches of Nice are (in)famous. Famous because the French Riviera has made a name for itself in movies, history, and among beach bums. Infamous because the waves don’t come up to crash on sand, but on rocks. If you like rocky beaches, where the rocks are warmed by the sun to feel like a nice massage, Nice is for you! If you prefer soft sand, head to Saint-Tropez or Le Lavandou.

Visit the Port of Nice

Port Lympia is one of the main harbors for boats that sail across the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you’ll see both large commercial ships and the private yachts of tourists who arrive to Nice by sea. Take a walk around the harbor to admire the yachts until you reach La Réserve. If you know the 2005 French comedy Brice de Nice, it’s on this beach that he lives.

Ride the Nice Tram

The Nice Tram will take you to every part of the city. It has transformed Nice from a gridlocked city into a fresh, open layout easy to get around. A ticket to ride the tramway costs 1.50€, the same as the bus. You can buy tickets at the little machine at each stop.

The tram comes every 3-5 minutes during the day (12-20 minutes at night). It runs from 4:25 am to 1:35 am.

Take a Day Trip to Monaco

The small 2 km² (0.78 mi²) country of Monaco is only an hour bus ride or 30-minute train ride from Nice and it’s a great full day or half day trip. The bus only costs 1.50€, the train about 4€. While the train is faster, the bus is more scenic and will leave you breathless the entire way. The bus also drops you off more directly to whichever attraction is calling you to Nice (Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince’s Palace, or the luxury shopping boutiques).

Where to Eat in Nice

Because I was on a solo mission in Nice, my restaurant recommendations might be skewed. But I did find some pretty awesome places to eat and drink in Nice!

Peixes

Pieces means fish, so if you don’t like fish, don’t eat here. If you’re a seafood lover, this is your jam! It’s a relaxed atmosphere with a bar, so eating solo was easy. There is always a line to get a table at this restaurant, day or night, and reservations are not accepted. There were many locals eating here as well. The food was fresh and delicious and prices were reasonable.

El Merkado

A Spanish tapas restaurant in France. Since I had just come from Spain, I decided to try a restaurant where I was sure I could read the menu. I was wrong. However, I ordered my usual favorite tapas and they were deliciously Spanish-tasting! It’s not local French food, but it’s still a great place to try. They have a large cocktail menu as well. And though they have a bar to sit at, I was the only one sitting at the bar all night.

Quick Bites

There are tons of “fast food” joints around Old Nice. Yes, they have Subways, but they also have local cafes with pre-made sandwiches. I preferred these cafes because I could grab a sandwich and eat while I walked so I didn’t waste any time! Obviously, food isn’t a priority to me. If you fall into my boat, Old Nice cafes are the way to go. Try the ham sandwiches or the curry chicken wraps!

Also, I read about Socca before I went to Nice, but I never got the chance to try it. Apparently it’s like a chickpea pancake. Supposedly a very French dish to try, and I missed it. If you get to try Socca, let me know what you think in the comments!

Where to Stay

I may be biased because I stayed in Old Nice, but I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. Old Nice is quaint, charming, close to lots of great restaurants, shopping, and transportation, and close to the beach. What else could you ask for?!

I stayed in Hotel de la Mer, right in the Place Massena by the Fontaine du Soleil. The hotel is in a prime location in the popular square, only a block to the beach. The bus from the airport drops you off very close (5-minute walk), and the train station and Port of Nice are only a 15-minute walk. A Subway sandwich shop and ATM are right next to the hotel.

The Hotel de la Mer is on the second floor of one of the red buildings surrounding the plaza. There is no elevator, but there are not many stairs. You may come and go from the hotel by door code, which is very convenient. The rooms are so comfortable in every aspect that I almost didn’t want to leave!

The hotel staff speak English well and are very helpful in explaining transportation, directions, and attractions. Breakfast is available for a fee.

Have you been to Nice? What do you know about the little French town? Do my rainy pictures make you want to add it to your bucket list? Tell me what you think about Nice in the comments below!

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P.S. You might also enjoy 9 Romantic Places for Couple Travel or Traveling Solo For the First Time