10 Things to Do and See in Nice

Nice stretches along the Bay of Angels, one of those places where nature has granted the luxury of beauty.

The city, Italian until 1860, is now the capital of the French Riviera and a popular destination for beaches and nightlife.

The mild climate makes it perfect for any time of the year, as the artist Matisse once said: "When I understood that I would see this light every day, I could not believe my happiness."

A city that offers much more than just the waterfront and trendy venues, starting with two museums dedicated to two great painters: Chagall and Matisse, who loved Nice and its light.

Two grand cathedrals: the Cathedral of Saint Reparata and the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the largest Orthodox church outside of Russia. Then there are squares, palaces, parks, and beautiful walks.

In short, there's plenty to fill a few days. On this page, we recommend things to do and see in Nice during a weekend or vacation.

If you are looking for a hotel in Nice, we recommend choosing from those offered by Booking.com. There are about 3200 hotels with prices, photos, and reviews from those who have stayed before you. Go to Booking.com.

It all began in 1078. During a trip to Rome, the wealthy bourgeois Raimbald Rostagni came into possession of the relics of a Palestinian martyr, Saint Reparata, and decided to build a chapel to house her remains.

Over the years, the chapel became a parish and underwent numerous renovations and expansions that transformed it into a worthy cathedral. Saint Reparata is now the patron saint of Nice, and the church is the seat of the city's bishopric and a historic monument of France. Perfectly integrated into the context with its Baroque style, the white of the columns is enriched by details near the vaults from which frescoes symbolize paradise. The bell tower was completed in 1756 after the demolition of houses that occupied the square.

The streets of Old Nice were loved and sung by great writers like Dumas, Maupassant, and Mallarmé, who used to visit the Visconti Literary Salon in Cours Saleya.

Address: 3 Place Rossetti Opening hours of the Cathedral: Monday to Friday: 9 AM - 12 PM / 2 PM - 6 PM. Saturday: 9 AM - 12 PM / 2 PM - 7:30 PM. Sunday: 9 AM - 1 PM / 3 PM - 6 PM; Ticket cost: entrance is free.

The Promenade des Anglais is also the ideal place for events that involve large numbers of people, such as the Nice Carnival.

If you happen to visit the city in the last weeks of February, you will be greeted by an unforgettable spectacle of masks.

Events, street performers, floats, and lots of fun animate the first carnival in France.

Only in Nice can you be showered with flowers during the battle between floats!

If the noise or sports are not your thing, look for the "Chaises Bleues" on the waterfront, the blue chairs facing the sea that have become a local hallmark.

Admiring the buildings that overlook the Promenade, next to the Negresco Hotel, your gaze will be captured by the beautiful Villa Massena and its gardens.

A significant gift that André Massena gave to the city of Nice, on the condition that a museum be established inside. And so it was: the villa now houses the history of Nice from 1860 until the end of the Belle Époque.

Address: 65, rue de France Opening hours: Daily except Tuesday from 10 AM to 6 PM from May 2 to October 31. Daily except Tuesday from 11 AM to 6 PM from November 1 to April 30. Ticket cost: guided tours by appointment. Individual ticket €6.

The ideal location to host such an important legacy was undoubtedly the Cimiez neighborhood. In particular, the Villa Arènes of the 17th century, located near Matisse's old residence at the Hotel Regina. The museum was inaugurated in 1963. Inside, the works are arranged in a way that follows a path that allows visitors to see and learn about Matisse's artistic evolution through paintings, temperas, drawings, engravings, and sculptures. In addition to the works, there are also attempts, research, and creative sketches that led Matisse to his artistic maturity. A collection that starts from his beginnings in 1890 to a room dedicated to gouaches découpées, a set of drawings and temperas on paper that were then cut out. A total of 31 paintings, 454 drawings and engravings, 38 cut gouaches, and 57 sculptures. The artist's sculptures were gifted by his son Jean in 1978. The tapestries and serigraphs are testimonies of a trip made to Tahiti in 1930.

The museum organizes temporary exhibitions, creative and educational workshops, and concerts. Allow some time for a walk in the olive grove.

Address: 164, Avenue of the Arena of Cimiez Opening hours: open daily except Tuesday. From 10 AM to 5 PM from November 1 to April 30. From 10 AM to 6 PM from May 2 to October 31. Closed January 1 - Easter Sunday - May 1 - December 25; Ticket cost: individual ticket for 24 hours €10 - Access to all municipal museums and galleries for 24 hours. Official site: http://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/

What awaits you at the top of the castle hill? A splendid panorama of the Bay of Angels and the city's port, but also an artificial waterfall among the trees of the park. An ideal spot for a moment of relaxation and a green lung where you can stroll among the many varieties of plants. If you have comfortable shoes and a strong desire to walk, from the historic center you can reach the hill via an urban trekking route that ends with some steps. More than 200 bricks will take you to the top, but in the meantime, you'll be surrounded by special views and panoramas that will ease your fatigue. In the summer, you can find refreshment at the kiosk or entertain the little ones in the play areas. A part of the past has survived: the remains of the cathedral, the citadel, and the defensive walls from the medieval period. The cemetery is the first in the city, dating back to 1783 and was commissioned by Vittorio Amedeo III. Inside, you will find monuments of great value such as statuary works and special architectural creations.

Address: Rue des Ponchettes - Rue de Foresta - Montée Montfort - 06300 Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM from 01/10 to 31/03 and from 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM from 01/04 to 30/09 Ticket cost: free

Despite its modest size, the museum houses findings from the first civilizations that lived on the beaches of Nice, dating back 400,000 years.

An interactive journey that shows how the first civilizations lived and one of mankind's great discoveries: the domestication of fire.

You will walk among kitchen utensils, jewelry, and toiletry items, as well as sarcophagi and funerary stelae from the metal age and the Middle Ages.

Upon exiting the museum, you will be attracted by the Roman baths of Cimiez (3rd century AD) and the amphitheater that testify to ancient Cemenelum, the capital of the Roman province of the Maritime Alps.

Notable is the Roman arena that housed around 5,000 spectators. The remains of the northern part of the baths are the best preserved.

Other attractions are present at Cimiez, such as the monastery with the Franciscan church and its beautiful gardens and the Matisse Museum, which deserves a separate exploration.

Address: 160, avenue des arènes Opening hours: open daily except Tuesday from 10 AM to 5 PM from November 1 to April 30. From 10 AM to 6 PM from May 2 to October 31. Closed January 1 - Easter Sunday - May 1 - December 25 Ticket cost: with the individual ticket for 24 hours - €10 access to all municipal museums and galleries within 24 hours from the first use.

Easily reachable on foot from the city station, its entrance is free, as long as the rules in sacred places are respected. Surrounded by a well-kept garden, it is worth contemplating the external finishes, perhaps sitting on a comfortable bench. The project for the chapel arose from the purchase of the park by Tsar Alexander II. The Tsar's son died of meningitis in the villa located in the park. The Tsar had it destroyed and built a chapel in memory of his son Nicolas. To accommodate the influx of Russians to Nice, the Tsar had a new basilica built near the chapel, which was inaugurated in 1912. Upon entering, you will be fascinated by the wooden iconostasis. In the central part, the four evangelists are depicted writing about the coming of Jesus, while in the side chapels, the appearance of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary is narrated. If you decide to visit on a Sunday during the mass, it has a special charm.

Address: Avenue Nicolas II; Opening hours: the cathedral is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The entrance to the temple may be limited or closed regarding the administration of sacraments, usually from 12 PM to 2 PM. Ticket cost: free

The canvases narrate the main themes of the Old Testament: Exodus, Genesis, Canticles. The project for the museum was entrusted to French architect André Hermant, but Chagall supervised it at every stage.

He chose the order of exhibition of the canvases, the type of desired lighting, the necessity of having an auditorium, and the simplicity of the walls. The walls had to be white to highlight the colors of the works and promote the visitor's reflection. In the first hall, you will find the 12 canvases from the first two books of the Old Testament, Genesis and Exodus. In the hexagonal hall, which is more intimate, you will find five compositions from the Canticles, another book from the Old Testament. Over the years, the museum has been enriched with sketches that the artist realized before proceeding with the canvases, but also 400 paintings, temperas, drawings, watercolors, and pastels, all related to the spiritual and religious theme. Do not leave the museum without seeing the gardens, the mosaic, and the three painted stained glass windows. Tip: get the free audio guide!

Address: Avenue Docteur Ménard; Opening hours: every day except Tuesday, January 1, May 1, December 25; from November to April 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. From May to October 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Ticket price: €8, €6 (reduced rate).

Walking through the stone arches, you will find boutiques, restaurants, and cafes where you can stop and admire the beauty of the square.

The ochre red corner palace hosts the famous Galeries Lafayette, five floors dedicated to luxury brands from Valentino to Chloé, a must-stop for luxury shopping lovers. Stop to observe the fountain where the statue of Apollo, seven meters tall, dominates, surrounded by scenes from Greek mythology. Around it is the characteristic checkered floor, with white and gray tiles.

The evening lighting makes it particularly romantic, with the fountain displaying the colors of the French flag and the bright lights highlighting the seven statues, along the tram tracks, by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa.

Symbolically, the kneeling men represent the seven continents. Throughout the year, the square celebrates important anniversaries like Christmas, with the tree and decorations, and July 14th, Bastille Day, with the military parade.

Since its last renovation, the palace has become a museum where works of art and music from the 17th and 18th centuries are exhibited. In particular, you will find ancient musical instruments donated by Antoine Gautier and over five hundred instruments recently transferred from the Massena Museum collection. Designated a historic monument in 1946, what strikes you at the entrance is undoubtedly the monumental marble staircase, adorned with frescoes, leading to the main floor. Before going up, take a moment on the ground floor where the pharmacy of Victor Hugo, from his birthplace in Besançon, is displayed. A first glance in the rooms reveals an ostentation of wealth that does not leave one indifferent. The walls are covered with tapestries, the ceilings frescoed and the furnishings consist of precious objects and period furniture. On the second floor, you will enter a 66 square meter salon rich in frescoes and works of art. Do not leave without seeing the chapel that preserves the original ceiling.

Address: 15, rue Droite Opening hours: every day except Tuesday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Ticket price: individual ticket for 24 hours €10 - Access to all municipal museums and galleries for 24 hours.

In reality, calling it a park is an understatement because ideal habitats for animals and plants have been recreated within it.

There are many wonders you will encounter while walking among trees, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains that move to the rhythm of music.

In addition to the flora, you can admire many species of the animal kingdom. From "small" kangaroos, the wallabies, to lemurs from Madagascar, as well as a wide variety of birds, such as kookaburras.

Beautiful pink flamingos, peacocks, and the bright colors of the parrots are also present. The true jewel of the park is undoubtedly the enormous greenhouse: 6 different tropical and subtropical climates reconstructed in 7000 m2 with a height of 25 meters. Upon entering, you will find a perfect tropical climate, warm and humid in summer and cool and dry in winter. The greenhouses are also home to tropical animals like the crocodile in the fern greenhouse.

The park also offers a play area for children and the possibility to stop for a picnic among the natural beauties of the place.

Address: 405 Promenade des Anglais Opening hours: Open every day of the year (except December 25) 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM (summer hours: from April 1 to September 30) 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (winter hours: from October 1 to March 31) Ticket cost: full price €5.

The must-see attractions can be found on our page French Riviera. In a few kilometers, you can also go "abroad", to one of the richest states in the world: Monaco and Monte Carlo. Towards the interior, you enter Provence, a name that already evokes villages, vineyards, and lavender fields. For a quick discovery of the sights, visit our page 10 things to see in Provence. If you have more time, we have a complete guide to all the Provençal destinations, practical information, how to get there, and how to get around.

For street food, try the Pissaladière, a focaccia topped with slowly cooked onions and anchovies. If you want to have an aperitif, order the Tapenade aux olives, a bread similar to a baguette with a generous mix of spiced olives. The soups, influenced by French cuisine, are excellent: the Niçoise ratatouille, a dish of stewed vegetables, often accompanied by grilled fish; Soupe de Poissons, fish soup made with red mullets, scorpions, and rock fish. For the summer, the decidedly cooler Niçoise salad, with mixed vegetables both cooked and raw, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, anchovies, and black olives, all dressed in olive oil. Among the main dishes, try the Daube, veal stew with onions, carrots, bacon, and red wine. Finally, leave room for the "Tarte de Blettes", a pie made with Swiss chard and apples. If you have chosen Nice to celebrate the carnival, do not miss the "Ganses Niçoises", fried puff pastry similar to Italian "chiacchiere."

If you are looking for a hotel in Nice, we recommend choosing from those offered by Booking.com. There are about 3200 hotels with prices, photos, and reviews from those who have stayed before you. Go to Booking.com.