An Insider’s Guide to the 50+ Best Things to do in Nice

Last Updated on 6th April 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

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Nice is the dazzling gateway city to the Côte d’Azur. This Southern French city has bucketloads of character, a plethora of fascinating attractions, and boasts over 150 days of sunshine per year. Between hidden gems, munching on local delicacies, sipping on traditional French tipple, and generally getting lost in France’s fifth largest city. Here’s your insider’s guide to the best things to do in Nice!

What is Nice known for?

Nice is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful destinations in the French Riviera. The settlement extends along the curving silver shores of the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) and is renowned for its warm climate, beaches, and laidback and stylish attitude.

Nice is the second most visited city in France, after Paris, and draws in more than 5 million visitors each year. Boasting an average of 150 days of sunshine per year, from the world-famous Promenade des Anglais to the mouthwatering local culinary scene, Nice is more than just nice!

Best things to do in Nice

Discover the Promenade des Anglais

Of all the things to do in Nice, a stroll down the Promenade des Anglais is easily one of the top must-sees. So-called due to its incredible popularity with wealthy English men and women during the 18th-century, the Promenade itself was constructed by a Revered in the 19th-century and now serves unparalleled views across the Bay of Angels.

Climb up to the Parc de la Colline du Château 

The Colline du Château marks the eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais. The citadel was once fortified from the 11th to the 18th century, though hardly of the château remains today.

Instead, it is a municipal park, built into the steep rock “Castle Hill” that looms over Nices’ Bay. Within the park, there’s a beautiful fountain as well as breathtaking views of the city’s Old Town and the glittering Mediterranean Sea and beyond.

Wander around Old Town Nice (Vielle Ville)

As with most places, one of the best ways to experience the city is to get lost in it. Nice is a colourful metropolis interspersed with narrow streets; overall, it feels akin to an Italian town.

This is because Nice is one of those few places in France, like the Alsace region, with a tumultuous history of deciding whether or not it’s French. It wasn’t until 1860, through the Treaty of Turin, that Nice officially became part of the Kingdom of France.

Vieux Nice is a maze of narrow alleys festooned with locals’ washing gently swaying and hidden bistros and cafés you’ll want to log in your memory so you can visit them later.

The historic centre of Nice feels like its very own small medieval village within the city. Wandering through the shaded streets, lined with pastel painted tenements, churches, and squares.

Check out Nice’s Cathedral

Situated in the very heart of the city is the light lemon-coloured delight, Nice Cathedral (Sainte-Réparate Cathedral), which is the seat of the Diocese of Nice. It looms above the vibrant Place Rossetti, where diners can be seen enjoyeing the many terraced restaurants.

This Baroque cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Reparata, and its main body was completed in 1685. However, further modifications and decorative elements have been added up until 1949. Today, it’s classified as a national monument.

Visit the Cimiez District

Cimiez is Nice’s most bourgeois neighbourhood, high up on a hill overlooking the rest of the city and the azure blue sea beyond. Populated by mansions, at the very top of the hill you’ll discover a monastery dating back to the 800s.

Within the complex, there’s a small museum documenting the history of the area, a breathtakingly beautiful church that’s free to enter, and sprawling monastery gardens that offer panoramic views onto the city of Nice below.

Inside the 16th century monastic church there are three paintings on wood by the Renaissance painter, Ludovico Brea. In the cemetery adjacent is where Henri Matisse lies buried.

Check out Nice’s beach scene

If there’s one thing you should know about Nice’s beaches before visiting it’s that they are pebbled. Instead of sandy stretches. The small pebbles can sometimes be sharp to tread across, but at least you don’t get sand stuck between your toes!

Some of the best beaches in Nice are:

Promenade des Anglais Beach – The most famous stretch of beach in Nice is that which runs parallel to its famous walk way. The long pebble beach curves 7km around the silver bay and has several public and private areas along.

Coco Beach – Rather than your typical beach, Coco Beach is an area of large rocks, making it the perfect spot for those who wish to lounge out in the sun and easily access the sea for a dip (there are iron ladders leading into the sea). Popular with the locals, this is considered to be a quieter hangout spot.

Reserve Beach – Situated in the port area of Nice, this tiny beach is tucked away in the east side of the city. It’s secluded location gives a more relaxed atmosphere, though it has to be said it can get crowded pretty quickly because of its size.

Villefranche-sur-Mer – While technically not in Nice, this beach is just over 20 minutes from the city and is popular amongst those who long for a sandy beach! Plush, golden and pebble-free, this beach is nestled in the bay and boasts tranquil waters.

Scout out Baroque Nice

Though there is indeed plenty of Haussmannian architecture to be seen in Nice, one of the standout styles has to be Baroque. Teeming with rich Baroque style churches, palaces and sights, the city became the epicentre of Baroque art in the 17th century.

Some of the best examples of this highly decorative and architectural style can be seen at Nice Cathedral, Lascaris Palace, and Place Garibaldi, one of the city’s most beautiful squares.

Explore the wider French Riviera

Nice makes for a great place to base yourself while exploring the wider region. After all, with excellent transport links, everything along the French Riviera is just a stone’s throw away! Read our 10+ Charming & Mediterranean-Inspired Day Trips from Nice guide.

Visit the Cours Saleya Market

One of the more famous markets in Nice is the delightful outdoor flower, fruit and vegetable market known as Cours Saleya Market. The market pulses life into the heart of Nices’ Old Town and is comprised of several different markets: a flower market, Fruit and vegetable market, antiques market, Provençal market and night market.

Bursting with colour and crowds of locals and tourists alike, this is the spot to find some of the region’s freshest produce and delicacies. A spot in Nice where the atmosphere is always warm and friendly, a visit to this bustling market is one of the best ways to soak up the French city’s culture.

Explore the Place Saint François Fish Market

Every morning, except for Mondays, a small yet bustling fish market is held in Old Nice. The French Riviera is renowned for its fish-focused cuisine, as you can probably imagine, with its proximity to the sea.

One of the most popular dishes to try while in Nice is Bouillabaisse, a traditional Provençal fish soup, which originated from the fishing port city of Marseille.

Seek out Nice’s Roman past

Nice was conquered by the Romans in the late 2nd century BC, and as with so many places in the world, their impressive mark can still be seen in the city today. From the Roman amphitheatre, to the thermal baths and small museum, all of which can be visited in the Cimiez district.

Relax in Parc Phoenix

Found in the heart of Nice is a floral, botanic pocket of green, which is also surprisingly a zoo too. This exceptionally scenic spot is home to a diverse variety of flora and fauna. Some of the animals you can expect to see include: macaw parrots, peacocks, otters, wallabies, iguanas, rigid turtles, and more!

Parc Phoenix is open daily, the times vary on the season, and it’s a particularly popular space to picnic and enjoy a tranquil moment when in Nice.

Marché de la Libération

The largest open air market in Nice stretches a full block and takes place every day from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 am to 12:30 pm. Located in the Liberation district, this lively market is where vendors come to sell local delights. Anything from freshly cut flowers, smelly cheeses, local honey, fruits, vegetables and fish.

People have commented that Marché de la Libération is slightly cheaper than that of Cours Saleya, and less touristic. As such, this is where the serious shoppers head to find goodies for their pantry.

Bar des Oiseaux

Once a club and now a trendy restaurant, Bar des Oiseaux is a playful and creative eatery that serves fine traditional French food with a global twist. The restaurant has earned it way onto the Michelin Guide and offers visitors a unique dining experience.

Beer District

Home to no fewer than 16 microbreweries, the Beer District in Nice is the place to go and sample a world of craft beer. This taproom has several delicious local brewed beers on rotation and boasts a friendly and relaxed environment.

Restaurant & Foodie things to do in Nice

Eat ice cream on Place Rossetti

Hands down, the best place to enjoy ice cream in Nice is from Fenocchio at the beautiful square, Place Rossetti. Enjoy indulging on a delicious creamy crème glacée as you look up at the magnificent Nice Cathedral!

Fenocchio is a renowned family-run ice cream parlour in Nice, which now has two locations in the city. Serving mouth-wateringly delicious sorbets and ice creams that come in all kinds of flavours imaginable. If there’s one place you stop for a sweet treat, make sure it’s here.

Discover the best Socca in Nice

A perfectly cheap and filling eat to be found in Nice is Socca. Also known as Farinata, torta di Ceci, or cecina, this savoury dish is a must-try while in the region.

Socca is a kind of savoury crêpe that’s a Niçois speciality and this delicious dish pairs perfectly with Rosé wine, another regional delight. Originating in Genoa, Northern Italy, this dish has since become synonymous with the French Riviera. Read our guide on where to find the best Socca in Nice.

Sample Panisse

Another chickpea-based snack that originates from Nice is Panisse, a small street food dish that is served in a sausage/rectangular form.Panisse is often mistaken as Italian in origin as workers from the Piedmont and Liguria regions would purchase them and bring them across the border to Italy.

Enjoy a glass of local rosé

While France is the capital of wine, Provence is the capital of the world when it comes to rosé wine. The region has become synonymous with the pink alcoholic beverage thanks to its unique modern-day rosé winemaking.

There are two ways when it comes to making the rosé in Provence that sets it above anywhere else. First, the maceration time, allowing for the skin of the grape to sit in the wine that bit longer and seep out powerful aromas, secondly, direct pressing (this creates the light and pale tones of rosé).

So, while in Nice, one of the best ways to taste the region (quite literally) is to enjoy sipping on a cool rosé wine by the sea!

La Ronronnerie (Nice Cat Café)

All across France, and indeed the world, more and more cat cafés are sprouting up. While drinking coffee with cats isn’t on everyone’s bucket list of things to do, La Ronronnerie is incredibly well-reviewed and perfect for cat-lovers!

Inviting visitors to come eat their homemade baked treats as well as enjoy cuddles from the felines, this is a unique experience you could enjoy while visiting Nice.

Visit a museum

As a melting pot of civilisations and cultures, if there’s one thing Nice has, it’s plenty of history. It’s for this reason the city is littered with museums of all kinds, many of which are dedicated to the life and works of artists who fell in love with the South of France and spent the rest of their days here.

• Musée Marc Chagall: A cultural hub dedicated to the  Belarusian, Russian and French modernist artist. Situated in the lower part of Cimiez, the museum houses an impressive collection of works. Chagall lived in the neighbouring town St-Paul-de-Vence, where he died aged 97 (1985).
• Musée Masséna: Located close to the Promenade des Anglais, this imposing palace was built in the 1890s. This architectural jewel of Nice is now owned by the council and has been transformed into a museum which showcases local history through exhibits of art, folklore, pottery, jewellery and plenty more fascinating items.
• Matisse Museum: One of the largest collections of Matisse artworks in the world is to be found in the Cimiez district of Nice. Matisse lived and worked in Nice (specifically Cimiez) for the most part of his life, right up until he died in 1954. His final resting place is in the cemetery on the hillside of Cimiez.
• MAMAC contemporary art museum: On the fringes of the old town, this museum is dedicated to contemporary and modern art works.
• Photography Museum: This museum hosts temporary monographic exhibitions of some of the biggest names in photography. It can be found in the Old Town.
• Museum of Asian Art: Close to the the artificial lake of Phoenix Park, this small museum was designed by the Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange. Open since 1998, this fascinating museum open up a new world to those interested in Asian arts.
• Palais Lascaris: If you’re looking for a glimpse into the 17th century then head to the heart of Vieux Nice. This impressive aristocratic building is currently a musical instrument museum, where visitors can explore the grand palatial interior and imagine the music once played on these fascinating instruments.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts: The Nice fine arts museum is full of surprises. Home to an impressive collection of fine works by the likes of Renoir, Fragonard, Monet and Braque. But, what’s most impressive about a visit here is to see all the works by the lesser-known artists who have connection with Nice.
• Musee Archeologique de Nice-Cimiez: For those who love history and archaeology in equal measure, a visit to this site museum is a must! Found atop the neighbourhood of Cimiez, is ancient city of Cemenelum, the former capital of the Roman territory in the Alpes Maritime department.

Where to stay in Nice

Thanks to its status as one of the most popular places to visit in France (even among the French), there’s no shortage of wonderful places to stay in Nice to suit plenty of different budgets and needs.

With this being said, please note that Nice is indeed one of the pricier towns along the French Riviera (and, to be honest, within the entirety of France) and so you might opt to stay somewhere else in the are after visiting Nice if you’re on a tighter budget.

Budget- The Maioun Guesthouse: This hostel is set against the backdrop of a restored 19th-century temple and is just over a ten-minute walk away from the nearest beach. There are mixed dorms where each bed has a privacy curtain or private rooms for an extra fee. Check prices and availability here.

Mid-range- Hotel Cresp: This laid-back hotel is conveniently located close to Nice’s Opera House. All rooms have facilities such as TVs and complimentary WiF. Check prices and availability here.

Luxury- Hotel Negresco: For an unforgettable stay during your time in Nice, you’ll want to book yourself into this luxurious five-star accommodation which has become something of an institution in the city. Check prices and availability here.

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