Looking for things to do in Nice, France? Read this list of must-see sights and the best things to do in Nice!
Nice is the fifth-largest city in France and is one of the most popular French cities for tourists. Of course, Nice cannot compete with the French capital Paris, but Nice has so much more to offer the adventurous travelers!
Nice is the center of the French Riviera and is surrounded by breathtaking green mountains and the calm blue sea. The beautiful area invites to adventurous road trips with many beautiful panoramic views along the way! Inside the city center, you’ll find lots of beautiful old buildings, art museums, lovely parks and much more!
Nice is definitely a wonderful destination that you should visit! And if you’re planning to visit Nice, I would like to recommend the 16 best things to do in Nice during your trip.
Table of Contents
1. Promenade des Anglais
The Promenade des Anglais is a landmark in Nice and stretches for 7 kilometers along the beautiful coast. The promenade is simply so iconic that you’ve not really been to Nice before strolling along the Promenade des Anglais!
The promenade itself is very beautiful and idyllic, but it’s often crowded with people, especially in the peak season. Across the road, you’ll find plenty of wonderful restaurants, bars, and hotels. Don’t forget to order some food at one of the restaurants! While eating you can enjoy the beautiful views of the lively promenade and the Mediterranean Sea with its calm blue waves.
Admission: Free to visit.
2. Musée d’art moderne et d’art contemporain
This museum of modern and contemporary art is one of the best things to do in Nice for art lovers. The museum consists of three floors with almost 1,300 works of art displayed in changing exhibitions. Several of the artworks at the museum are made by great and famous French artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. But there are also many other international artists behind the artworks.
Oh and by the way, make sure to visit the museum’s rooftop exhibit! It’s not necessarily the exhibit you should see up here, but rather the stunning views of Nice!
Admission: 10 € for adults. Free for children under 18, students and disabled civilians. / Official Site: https://www.mamac-nice.org/en/
3. Vieille Ville
The old town of Nice is absolutely beautiful and without a doubt, a must-see in Nice! The atmosphere in the old town is wonderful with a maze of narrow alleys and cobbled streets, ancient yellow houses, charming squares, and of course restaurants and small unique shops.
The many tourists, vendors, and street artists in the lively and old area contribute to an even better atmosphere! When visiting the old town, make sure to stop by the Cours Saleya, a square with a colorful flower and vegetable market.
Admission: Free to visit.
4. Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas Cathedral was built in 1912 by Tsar Alexander II in honor of his son who had sadly passed away. He wanted to build a church for the growing population of wealthy Russians in Nice because the old church was getting too small.
Today, Saint Nicholas Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches outside of Russia and the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe. Be aware that the beautiful church is still used as a place of worship and there are certain rules visitors must respect. When visiting the church, it’s required that the knees and shoulders are covered. You must also remember to be quiet and not to take pictures inside.
Admission: Free to visit.
5. Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya
In the old town of Nice, there’s a colorful flower and vegetable market with freshly produced goods. The market is worth a visit even if you don’t want to buy anything because Cours Saleya is an experience in itself. The beautiful colors, the scents, and the whole atmosphere are something very special!
The market is held every day of the week except Mondays, where it’s replaced by a large flea market with all sorts of antiques. If you want the ultimate experience, you need to get up early in the morning and visit the market before the tourists take over the place.
Admission: Free to visit.
6. Colline du Chateau
One of the very best things to do in Nice is to visit the Colline du Chateau, also called the Parc du Château or Castle Hill. And I know it might sound like there’s a castle up there, but unfortunately, it isn’t there anymore. The medieval castle was destroyed by Louis XIV more than 300 years ago and only the ruins remain today. The ruins are worth checking out, but it’s the great panoramic views that are a must-see in Nice!
The Colline du Chateau rises 93 meters above sea level and is not only the highest point in Nice but also offers the most beautiful views in the city! The beautiful artificial waterfall and the lovely park at the top of the mountain are wonderful places to rest your legs for a while.
If you have the courage, you can reach the top of the Colline du Chateau on foot, but there’s also a free lift. Another fun option, even for the little ones, is to take the tourist train to the top of the mountain.
Admission: Free to visit.
7. Musée Marc Chagall
This museum was built in honor of the Russian French artist Marc Chagall, one of the most popular Jewish artists of the 20th century. Admirers of Marc Chagall will be delighted that this place has the largest collection of his artworks in the world! Chagall had many artistic talents, but it’s especially his series of 17 biblical paintings that are impressive to visitors.
Marc Chagall paid a lot of attention to the details and the museum is actually designed and decorated in collaboration with Chagall himself. The placement of each painting is carefully thought out by him and nothing is left to chance.
Admission: 8 € with discounts available for children, young people and disabled civilians. / Official site: https://en.musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/chagall/
8. Parc Phoenix
One of the most popular things to do in Nice is to visit Parc Phoenix. This park is divided into 20 themes with more than 2,500 plant species, flowers, and trees. The large greenhouse in the park is divided into seven zones and is actually one of the largest greenhouses in all of Europe!
When visiting Parc Phoenix, you’ll also meet several different animals that are either free or live in the park’s mini zoo. You can meet and greet flamingos, owls, otters, turtles, iguanas, and spiders. Oh and before you get extremely scared like I would, the spiders are thankfully inside the terrariums! Phew! It’s a safe place to visit then!
Admission: 5 € for adults. 3 € for children between 12 and 18 years. Free to visit for children under 12 years. / Official site: https://www.parc-phoenix.org/
9. Hotel Negresco
Hotel Negresco is perhaps the most iconic building along the Promenade des Anglais. This 5-star luxury hotel has been a popular hot spot for royalty, politicians, and celebrities since 1913! It’s not exactly cheap to stay overnight at the hotel, but there’s a slightly more affordable bar and restaurant for those who do not exactly carry gold in their pockets.
In 2003, the Hotel Negresco was listed as a National Historic Building and is a member of Leading Hotels of the World! Besides being a luxury hotel with many facilities, Hotel Negresco also has an impressive collection of art with quality paintings, statues, and much more from no less than five centuries!
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://www.hotel-negresco-nice.com/en
10. Musée Matisse
The world-famous French artist Henri Matisse was born in northern France but lived in Nice for almost 40 years of his life. He loved Nice so much that he’s actually buried in the cemetery of the Monastère de Cimiez in Nice. Not far from the cemetery is the Musée Matisse located in a historic red villa surrounded by beautiful gardens with olive groves.
The museum is made in honor of Henri Matisse and is home to one of the world’s largest collections of his works. His great talent can be seen in thousands of paintings, photos, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics made by Henri Matisse himself. In addition, the Musée Matisse also has a large collection of changing exhibitions with more unknown works of art.
Admission: 10 €. Free for children under 18, students, unemployed and disabled civilians. / Official site: http://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/?_locale=en
11. Monastére de Cimiez
Now that we’re already talking about Monastére de Cimiez, it’s obviously one of the best things to do in Nice, too. It may sound a bit dramatic that a cemetery is a must-see in Nice, but it’s actually a very beautiful place! The cemetery is an experience in itself and there are several great artists buried on the site, such as the French artist Henri Matisse.
To be honest, this isn’t why you should visit Monastére de Cimiez. The reason you have to go up here is because of the beautiful gardens and the old monastery. Oh and I almost forgot the best part … Of course you’ll also have to go up here to visit the terrace from which there’s an extremely amazing view of Nice!
Admission: Free to visit.
12. Place Massena
Place Massena is the main square and is almost unavoidable during your trip to Nice. The square is located in the heart of Nice and separates the new part of the city from the old part. It’s a very beautiful square with thousands of black and white square tiles, sparkling fountains, and statues. If you get hungry or just need to relax, Place Massena is surrounded by charming buildings with lots of restaurants.
When visiting Place Massena, don’t forget to see the Fountain of the Sun. This statue consists of a fountain with a seven-meter high statue of Apollo surrounded by smaller statues representing Earth, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn. Also, don’t miss the seven men on high pillars representing the seven continents of the world. Every night, the statues become even more beautiful as they light up in changing colors!
Admission: Free to visit.
13. Nice Cathedral
Nice Cathedral or Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate is located in the old town of Vieille Ville. From the outside, the cathedral isn’t exactly as impressive as other cathedrals in Nice. But when you step inside, you’ll be amazed at the beauty of this Roman Catholic cathedral!
Many people call it the most ornate cathedral in Nice, and it’s certainly not without reason! Inside there are ten highly decorated baroque chapels with impressive altars, paintings, and sculptures. Nice Cathedral is still used for worship, so be sure to check the schedules before your visit.
Admission: Free to visit. / Official site: https://cathedrale-nice.fr/
14. Avenue Jean Médecin
If you want to go shopping in Nice, then you have to take a stroll on Avenue Jean Médecin! When we’re talking about shopping in Nice, this is the main street where you’ll find countless international shops, French boutiques, department stores, and restaurants. Avenue Jean Médecin is one of the best things to do in Nice, for all those who want to spend some money on shopping!
There’s certainly a deeper meaning to why the street is called Nice´s answer on Oxford Street in London. Go there and find out why! But uh, remember your credit card, it can be hard to resist all the clothes, shoes, bags – and yes yes everything else too! Being a shopaholic in a world with so many temptations is not quite easy… Haha!
Admission: Free to visit.
15. Port Lympia
The colorful port of Nice is worth a visit because it’s a charming area with churches, monuments, and stories from both world wars! Take a walk along the harbor and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. Breathe in the scent of the sea and enjoy the views of the area with its many fishing boats, tour boats, luxury yachts, and cruises. You can also grab a cup of coffee or enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants in Port Lympia.
Admission: Free to visit.
16. I Love Nice Sign
If you’re looking for the perfect picture during your trip to Nice, you simply have to visit this sign! The I Love Nice Sign is a relatively new attraction in Nice and isn’t that well known, at least not yet. But in my opinion, it’s still one of the best things to do in Nice! Who would not want a picture in front of this signature sign when visiting Nice? I would without a doubt!
Admission: Free to visit.
Now we got through the list of the best things to do in Nice, France. What are your favorite things to do in Nice? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Nice? Feel free to leave a comment!
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I have been to France twice with my boyfriend. The first was in 2016, and the last was in 2019, before the pandemic kicked off. We have been to the city of light, Paris and Relms and Marseillesm but we don’t have the chance to visit Nice. I heard so many amazing things about nice, and this is our main priority on our third trip.