Visiting Nice, France? 10 Things to Do While You Are There

Nice’s setting is nothing short of spectacular. This city, with the Mediterranean lapping at its edge and the Southern Alps as a backdrop, is France’s 5th largest metropolis. Whether you are a beach fan, an art lover, or a market enthusiast, Nice has something for everyone. Did we mention the local cuisine and wine scene? To help you plan your visit, we put together a list of 10 things to do while in Nice.

Getting to Nice is Easy

The Nice Côte d’Azur Airport welcomes direct flights from major European cities and connects seamlessly across France. It is the country’s busiest airport outside Paris. You might also choose a picturesque train journey from Paris or neighbouring Italian towns, or take in the coastal beauty on a scenic drive. Once you arrive, getting around is a breeze thanks to Nice’s efficient tram, bus, and train network, making every corner of the city easy to explore.

Nice invites you to explore on foot, especially through its enchanting old town and along the sunlit coastline. When it comes to accommodations, the city caters to every taste, from opulent hotels on the Promenade des Anglais to cozy boutique inns and wallet-friendly apartments in the heart of town. It’s the sort of place that captures your heart and tempts you to linger.

#1 The Promenade des Anglais

Begin your adventure in Nice with a stroll along the iconic Promenade des Anglais. This famed seven-kilometre boulevard, fringed with swaying palms beside the sea, reveals sweeping views of the Baie des Anges—the shimmering heart of the city. The endless pathway offers a liberating sense of space and serenity you won’t find anywhere else in Nice.

The Promenade des Anglais dates to the 19th century, when many European aristocrats, particularly from England, chose Nice as their winter getaway. This influx of the upper class significantly boosted the city’s economy, infrastructure, and reputation. Since then, artists from various eras, including renowned colourists such as Matisse and Dufy, as well as modern photographers and visual artists, have remained captivated by this unique panoramic walkway.

About the Promenade des Anglais

#2 Tour Old Town Nice

Nice is best discovered on foot, and Vieux Nice is the perfect place to begin. This vibrant old town pulses with history and local life. Lose yourself in its winding streets, where Baroque churches like Cathédrale Ste-Réparate and Gésu, Renaissance palaces, and sun-dappled squares such as Place Rossetti await. Step off the beaten path into quiet alleys to uncover a kaleidoscope of colourful facades and the true spirit of the old town.

Walking in Old Nice

#3 Nice the Market Town

From Tuesday to Sunday, Nice comes alive with bustling markets, the most vibrant of which is the daily Cours Saleya market in Vieux Nice. Of all the city’s markets, Cours Saleya in the Old Town and the Liberation district market stand out as the most beloved and lively.

The Cours Saleya market occupies a street in Vieux Nice, parallel to the sea and at the foot of Castle Hill. Painter Henri Matisse lived there. While at the market, look at the Nice Opera House, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century by François Aune, a pupil of Gustave Eiffel. On Mondays, a flea market replaces the fruit and vegetable market.

The Liberation market, larger and brimming with regional produce at friendly prices, offers a true taste of local life. Exploring this less-touristed neighbourhood lets you experience Nice as the locals do.

Don’t miss the Cité Marchande, a petite covered market preserved in its original charm. Wandering among its vintage 1960s signs feels like stepping into a living time capsule.

#4 Castle Hill Park

The panorama of the sparkling Mediterranean from atop Castle Hill in Parc de la Colline du Château is truly breathtaking.

In the 3rd century BC, Greek settlers from Massalia founded Nikaia. The trading outpost, perched on a hill overlooking the bay, facilitated trade with the Ligurians native to the area. This marked the beginning of the region’s trading history.

From the 11th to the 18th centuries, this hill was a mighty citadel, though the castle itself has vanished. Now, it crowns Nice with a lush public park above the Promenade des Anglais, offering visitors sweeping views in every direction. Gaze one way to see the harbour’s grand ships and fishermen’s rainbow-hued boats; look the other to find the Promenade and sun-kissed beaches. The park’s vast grounds also hide a peaceful cemetery and a cascading waterfall, perfect for cooling off on a summer afternoon.

#5 Local Cuisine

Nice is a paradise for food lovers. Thanks to its gentle Mediterranean climate, the city enjoys a bounty of fresh produce and seafood year-round. Seek out Cuisine Nissarde, the hallmark of authentic local recipes and eateries serving beloved regional specialties. The tourism office maintains a list of restaurants that meet the culinary standards for Cuisine Nissarde.

Shaped by its close ties to Italy and a history of shifting borders, Nice’s cuisine is a flavourful tapestry woven from the region’s past and its abundant ingredients. Local favourites brim with Swiss chard, pumpkin, tomatoes, cabbage, seafood, cheeses, olives, and more.

Niçoise recipes are refreshingly simple, often needing just a handful of ingredients and little fuss. For food enthusiasts, the real joy lies in uncovering the deep-rooted culinary traditions of Cuisine Nissarde. Treat yourself to a tempting array of sweet and savoury delights from the French Riviera. Carnets de cuisine du Comté de Nice is available in French; you can purchase the book online at Amazon or the Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d’Azur.

Nice for Food Lovers

How to Make Socca

A gluten-free chickpea pancake that everyone will love.

Check out this recipe

Salade Niçoise - La Salada Nissarda

This salad is presented flat, with the ingredients arranged artistically on the mesclun lettuce. The presentation of this salad is important because it is only mixed before serving.

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La Trucha a Niçoise Favourite

The trucha is a nourishing staple of Cuisine Nissarde. Enjoy it hot, warm, or cold with olive oil and crusty bread. This recipe makes enough for two (2) people for a lunchtime meal. * Variations listed in notes.

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Tourte de Blettes Salée from Nice

This savoury tart's main ingredient is blette (chard), which grows all year near Nice, France. Considered part of traditional Niçose cuisine, there are two variations sweet and savoury (salée). Serve this tart with a green salad for lunch or a light dinner.

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Swiss Chard Pie - Tourta de Blea - Tourte aux Blette Sucrée

This delicious dessert contains raisins, dry cheese, pinenuts, and apples. Enjoy! 

Check out this recipe

#6 Hotel Negresco

Perched on the Promenade des Anglais, the legendary Hotel Negresco has welcomed celebrities, royalty, and luminaries for over a century. Its unmistakable pink dome is a Belle Époque jewel on Nice’s seafront. Inside, the hotel’s suites are a living museum, displaying five centuries of French history through art and décor, from regal portraits to modern masterpieces by Sosno, Dali, Gruau, Moretti, and Nike de Saint Phalle. Even if an overnight stay is out of reach, treat yourself to a meal or a drink and bask in the hotel’s timeless elegance.

#7 The Museums of Nice

The French Riviera dazzles with its mix of sandy and pebbled beaches, opulent villas, and lush designer gardens. Whether you arrive by car, plane, train, or yacht, it’s a dream destination. When you crave a break from the sun and sea, Nice’s ten museums offer a cultural feast. Explore everything from cutting-edge modern art at MAMAC to the vivid masterpieces of Chagall and Matisse.

Visit any one of these 10 museums in Nice. Each museum in Nice showcases treasures by celebrated artists, and some, like the Musée Masséna, are themselves masterpieces of architecture and history. Opened in 1921 on the Promenade des Anglais, Villa Masséna is a 19th-century gem designed by Danish architect Hans-Georg Tersling. Its story is as rich as its collections, with the villa gifted to the city on the condition that its gardens always be open to the public.

MAMAC ©CRT Côte d’Azur, France, Anais Brochiero

Tucked away in Vieux Nice, the Musée du Palais Lascaris was once the lavish home of the Lascaris Vintimille family. Built in 1648, this Baroque mansion survived the French Revolution and now stands as a Musée de France and a protected historic monument. Step inside to discover a dazzling trove of over 500 musical instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries—the largest collection of its kind outside Paris.

#8 The Gardens of Nice

If you’re searching for another reason to visit the Mediterranean coast, consider the 14 Jardins Remarquables (Remarkable Gardens) that grace the Côte d’Azur. Lose yourself in these lush havens, lovingly crafted by passionate gardeners, and soak up breathtaking scenery. Stretching from Antibes to Menton and into the hills of the Alpes Maritimes, these gardens offer both seaside and mountain vistas. Two of these gems are right in Nice, waiting to be explored.

Photo: C. MOIRENC ©Côte d’Azur Tourisme

The Botanical Garden in Nice is a living open-air museum, home to more than 3,000 plant species spread across 3.5 hectares. Since its founding in 1983, it has championed biodiversity and celebrated the region’s natural heritage. Wander the pathways for sweeping views of the Var estuary and the sparkling Baie des Anges.

Phoenix Park is a haven for nature lovers, gardeners, and curious explorers. Discover over 1,000 plant species, from exotic succulents to fragrant aromatics, as you wander through bamboo groves, lush greenhouses, and vegetable gardens. The park also shelters more than 70 animal species, creating a harmonious world where flora and fauna thrive side by side.

Gardens of the Riviera

#9 Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral

The Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, built in 1912 to honour Nicholas Alexandrovich, the former Russian heir who passed away in Nice, is a breathtaking sight. Its five ornate onion domes and classic Old Russian design transport you straight to Moscow. Now a National Monument, the cathedral stands as one of the French Riviera’s most visited and awe-inspiring landmarks.

About Saint Nicholas Cathedral

#10 Nice’s Vineyards

Nice is unique in France, boasting its own wine appellation within the city itself. As the country’s oldest wine region, Provence holds a special place in the world’s winemaking story. Today’s Nice was settled by the Phocaeans around 600 BC. The Greeks introduced grape cultivation and winemaking to ancient Provence. These pale wines were crafted using free-run juice and quick maceration.

Photo credit ©Winedering

Set between the majestic Alps and the sparkling Côte d’Azur, the Bellet vineyards in Nice are as scenic as they are historic. Nestled in the foothills, the Bellet appellation (AOC) covers 650 hectares, though just 50 are planted with vines at elevations of 200 to 300 meters. Blessed with over 300 days of sunshine, ample rainfall, and the cleansing mistral and tramontane winds, these vineyards produce wines as distinctive as their setting.

Take a Wine Tour from Nice

Conclusion

With a Mediterranean climate, fresh local flavours, and a vibrant cultural scene, Nice, France, is a dream destination. Nissa la Bella is also a beloved home for its residents. Personally, I love ending a day with a sunset stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. My insider tip: pause in a sunlit square or by the sea, and let the city’s magic wash over you—these quiet moments often become your most cherished memories.

Full day Bandol & Cassis Discovery Wine Tour from Marseille

Begin your journey in the medieval village of Le Castellet, perched elegantly atop a wooded hill overlooking lush vineyards. Next, venture into the renowned Bandol wine region.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).