What To See In Nice, France: 7 Can’t-Miss Sights

You are seriously missing out if you’re not interested in visiting the south of France! This region is one of the most jaw-dropping beautiful, historic, romantic places I’ve ever visited. Aside from the history in the area, the south of France is also famous for its beaches, cuisine, and vibrant architecture. The main city along the French Riviera is Nice. It’s the perfect jumping off point to explore the region — for example, a Nice to Monaco day trip is so easy, although you should explore the city for a few days too! This guide is going to cover what to see in Nice.

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Don’t have time to read the full guide? This full-day tour from Nice is the BEST way to see the top towns along the French Riviera, including Monaco, Antibes, and Cannes all in ONE day!

How To Get To Nice

The main airport in the south of France is the Nice Côte D’Azur airport (NCE). It services most major airlines, and has both domestic and international flights. You can fly direct into Nice from many large American cities including Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and LA on American Airlines or United. More commonly, people fly into Paris or London and then fly to Nice. This will definitely be cheaper!

I personally flew from Paris to Nice, which is just 1.5 hours nonstop. This flight can cost as little as $50 each way, as many budget airlines, like Easy Jet, operate along this route.

Alternatively, you can also take a train from Paris to Nice, although this takes much longer. The train ride is about 6 hours in length (this is the high speed train) and costs about the same as a flight — between $60-$140 USD. You may have to make a change if you take the train, so I definitely recommend flying!

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How To Get Around Nice

The airport is only 15 minutes from the city center, so you can easily catch a taxi to your hotel.

Additionally, for just 1.70 Euro, you can take tram line 2 — which runs directly into the city center from the Nice Airport (to Jean Médecin and the port), or you can take the bus line 12.

Or, you can book this incredible full-day tour of the French Riviera from Nice that includes a stop in Monaco!

Where To Stay In Nice

Budget ($): Maison Lamartine

This place is certainly no hostel, but the rooms do cost less than $150 per night. The value of this property is unbeatable. La Maison Lamartine provides accommodations in Nice city center, a 5-minute walk away from Nice-Ville Train Station and Jean Médecin Tram Stop.

The hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais and the beach, and each of the studios and apartments are recently renovated in 2017. If you have an extended stay in Nice or work remotely, this is the perfect place to be as each unit features a dining room, living area, bathroom, kitchenettes with refrigerators, and cleaning services.

Mid-range ($$): Boutique Hotel Nice Côte D’Azur

If you like a charming, boutique hotel, I have the PERFECT recommendation for you! Located in Nice, just a 13-minute walk from the main beach (Plage Lido),  Boutique Hotel Nice Côte d’azur provides accommodations with a shared lounge, private parking, a terrace and a bar.

This 4-star hotel offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Buffet and continental breakfast options are available, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is just 3.7 miles away.

Luxury ($$$): Entire Flat For Rent

If you’re traveling with a group or as a family, this 3 bedroom flat is the perfect accommodation option in Nice. Located just a 10 minute walk from the Blue Beach, this dreamy, colorful apartment features a terrace, garden, free private parking, and is located just 0.4 miles from the city center.

There is also a washing machine in unit, fully equipped kitchen, dishwasher, and oven, along with an outdoor dining area. Plus, the property is just 3.1 miles from the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.

What To See In Nice

Now that you know how to get to Nice, how to navigate the city, and where to stay, let’s dive into what to see in Nice! Since the city is quite small and walkable, these sightseeing recommendations can all be easily visited in just a few days.

1. Promenade Des Anglais

This promenade is the #1 recommendation you’ll find in any blog post when searching for what to see in Nice! Promenade des Anglais is the most important attraction in Nice. The South of France is known for its coastline and this walkway is a real gem that runs along it for 7 kilometers (over 4 miles!).

Pro-tip: If you work your way around Castle Hill, this walk or bike ride can stretch up to 6+ miles! I recommend renting one of the blue bikes (called VéloBleu) along the promenade. There is an app online and it was just 1 Euro for the hour!

In English, Promenade des Anglais means “walkway of the English”, but it’s more frequently called “The Prom”. The walkway was constructed in the 1700s so that lords and wives could walk comfortably along the coastline (you’ll see — the beaches are are quite rocky and uneven!).

Aside from this being the perfect place to stroll, Promenade des Anglais also hosts many of the city’s top events. A large part of the famous Nice Carnival takes place here. In addition, you can find many of the city’s top attractions along the promenade, including museums, parks, beaches, and casinos. More on the casinos below!

2. Photo At The #iloveNice Sign

If you walk to the very end of the promenade and start to climb the hill, you’ll reach the #iloveNice sign! Located about halfway up Castle Hill, this is one of the best photo-ops in the city! From here, you can see the entire promenade below, the Old Town of Nice, the ocean, and even planes taking off from the airport in the distance.

This giant red, white, and blue sign is so iconic for visitors to take photos in front of — whether you visit on a bike, on foot, or as part of a fun segway sightseeing tour… don’t miss it!

3. See The Views From Castle Hill Park (Colline du Château)

This list also functions as an itinerary because the next thing you should see after walking along the promenade and taking photos at the #iloveNice sign is Castle Hill Park! Called Colline du Château in French, this park has the best views of the city. My favorite part about it is it divides the city in two parts and has sweeping views of EVERYTHING!

The hill is 92m high and offers views from all sides. To the east is the Port of Nice and to the west is the Old Town of Nice and the promenade. Don’t miss the the artificial waterfall that was built at the end of the 19th century, along with the photo spot on the observation deck (located above the waterfall) where you can get a panorama view of Nice.

Aside from soaking up the views and South of France sunshine, this area has a lot of history. Dating back to the 4th century BC, this hill was used as a Greek settlement, and there have been mentions of a castle and cathedral dating back to the 11th century.

Today, the castle is no longer there (it was demolished in 1706 by Louis XIV), but you can see many historical engravings, archaeological excavations, and cemeteries on the hill. There is also a restaurant up here!

Pro-tip: To reach the top of the hill, you can just walk up the staircase next to the promenade, or use the elevator.

4. Visit The Cours Saleya Market

The Old Town of Nice has many markets you should visit! No matter the time of year, this charming city is always hosting markets! The most beautiful and unique one you should visit is the Cours Saleya market in Nice. When considering what to see in Nice, put this place at the top of your list!

Located in the heart of Old Town Nice and characterized by striped awnings, vendors come here to sell a variety of colorful products daily. Locals come here to shop for local produce and tourists come here in search of a special souvenir to bring home! I personally had a lot of luck with finding gifts here — the area is known for its lavender soaps, lotions, etc.

Cours Saleya hosts four different markets. The most well known is the Marché aux Fleurs, or Flower Market, held Tuesday through Sunday. The produce stands are typically packed up by the early afternoon, but you can browse the flower markets until about 5 pm!

Pro-tip: This part of the world has an important history with flower sellers! In 1897, Nice opened the first wholesale cut flower market in the world. Growers in the hills would bring their flowers down to the market every morning and try to sell their bouquets. Now, you can buy bouquets in most cities around the world!

Visiting during the summer months? Beginning in June and running through September, you can browse the marché artisanal nocturne, the evening crafts market, while strolling through Cours Saleya.

Here are some important hours…

• Flower Market [Marché aux fleurs]: Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 6 am – 5:30 pm. Wednesday & Saturday 6:30 am – 6:30 pm.  Sunday 6:30 am – 1:30 pm. Closed Mondays.
• Fruit and Vegetable Market [Marché aux fruits et legumes]: Open every day except Monday from 6:00 am – 1:30 pm.
• Antiques/Flea Market [Marché à la brocante]: Open 7 am – 6 pm every Monday.

5. Walk Around Place Massena

Place Massena is the main city square in Nice. Here, you’ll find many outdoor cafes and restaurants, one of the city’s tram stops, an impressive fountain, and many colorful buildings.

This is also where most walking tours will start from. I highly recommend booking this sightseeing tour of Nice to see the highlights of the city! I always try to plan one of these in my first day or two in the city to get familiar with my surroundings, meet new people, and get recommendations from a local for the rest of my trip.

6. Visit The Port

The Port of Nice, also called Port Lympia, is full of dozens of more restaurants, antique shops, cafes, and bars to visit. If you keep biking or walking along the promenade and round the corner where Castle Hill is, you can easily reach the port on foot. Aside from walking along the promenade, exploring Massena Square, and strolling through the Old City, you also MUST spend some time in the port. The port area is actually a part of Old Nice (Vieux Nice). 

See what I mean when I said Nice is so walkable? No car needed!

This port is a vibrant hub for cruise ships, has ferries to places like Sardinia, is popular among local fishermen, and even has a free boat crossing called Lou Passagin in the summer months. Every day of the week, this small boat allows you to cross the harbor from the Charles Félix dock on the west side (Quai Lunel) to the Entrecasteaux dock (east side). The rotation lasts only a handful of minutes and runs from May to the end of September.

This port area is rich in history, as it dates back to 1752.

7. Le Negresco Casino

The last recommendation I have for you in terms of what to see in Nice is the Le Negresco Casino! Le Negresco is the most luxurious hotel in Nice, and is also one of the most historic. Rooms here cost well over $600 per night, but there is also a restaurant on the property, beach club, bars, in addition to an iconic casino! Whether you stay here or not (I certainly didn’t), be sure to walk through the picturesque lobby and visit the casino.

This hotel is so famous for its collection of artworks displayed around the property, in addition to many famous guests who have stayed here.

Where To Eat In Nice

To wrap up this guide about what to see in Nice, I want to share 3 restaurant recommendations with you that I loved!

Chez Davia

Did you know ratatouille was invented in Nice? You’ll find this famous dish on many menus around Nice, but I loved this restaurant in the center of the city! They have indoor and outdoor dining and delicious wine.

Ratatouille is a dish from the Provence region of France made with eggplant, tomatoes, onion, peppers, zucchini, garlic, herbs, and olive oil. It’s vegetarian (vegan too!), and is incredible. Don’t miss it during your trip to the French Riviera.

Le Plongeoir

So, I didn’t actually eat here. The meals START at about $50 per person. However, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink and catch sunset! I sat here and enjoyed a glass of rose. Reservations are required as this restaurant is very famous, but rightfully so… it is one of the most unique and beautiful restaurants I’ve seen anywhere in the world.

La Maison De Marie

The #1 restaurant I recommend trying during your time in Nice is La Maison de Marie! This French restaurant is affordably priced, centrally located, and is a real hidden gem.

It’s a hidden oasis of a restaurant, located under an arch and near the main city square. Aside from delicious French cuisine, I found the service to be impeccable and the atmosphere to be unbeatable. It got a 12/10 from me! Add it to your list!

That brings us to the end of the guide all about what to see in Nice! I loved this trip so much and hope this guide inspires you to plan a visit of your own. If you want to take a day trip from Nice to Monaco, be sure to read this guide before you visit!

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