What to do in Nice: Making the most of your time on the Riviera

A good way to start planning is by looking through a list of what to do in Nice, which groups together a range of activities and outings so you can see what fits your style of travel before you arrive. From there, it’s easy to build a loose itinerary around your own interests rather than someone else’s idea of a perfect trip.

Mornings by the water

Nice mornings have a particular quality to them, cooler air, softer light, and far fewer crowds than later in the day. It’s the best time to walk the Promenade des Anglais before the beach chairs fill up, or to grab a coffee and watch the fishing boats come in near the port. If you’re an early riser, the Cours Saleya market is worth the visit purely for the smell of fresh flowers and produce mixing with the sea air.

Getting lost in the Old Town

By mid-morning, the old town starts to wake up properly. Vieux Nice is small enough to explore without a map, and that’s really the point, wandering its narrow lanes tends to turn up more than any guided route would. Look out for socca stands, family-run shops selling olive oil and lavender soap, and quiet little squares tucked behind the busier streets.

An afternoon with a view

Once the heat picks up, heading to Castle Hill is a good way to combine a bit of exercise with one of the best views in the city. The climb (or the elevator, if you’d rather skip it) rewards you with a wide panorama over the red rooftops of the old town and the curve of the bay. It’s a popular spot, but the views are worth sharing the space for.

Slower afternoons for art and culture

Not every afternoon needs to be active. Nice has a strong artistic pedigree, and museums like the Matisse and Chagall collections offer a cooler, quieter alternative to the beach on a hot day. Even a short visit gives some insight into why so many artists were drawn to the particular quality of light along this coast.

Evenings that slow down

As the sun starts to dip, the Promenade des Anglais becomes the place to be again, this time for sunset rather than swimming. Dinner in Nice tends to be a long, relaxed affair, and the old town’s restaurants spill out onto the streets as the evening cools. It’s less about where exactly you eat and more about not rushing the experience.

A base for day trips

Nice also works well as a launching point for exploring further afield. The hilltop village of Èze, the harbour town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, and even Monaco are all close enough for an easy day trip, each offering a different flavour of the Riviera without requiring you to change hotels. Trains and buses run frequently along the coast, so it’s entirely possible to base yourself in Nice for a week and still see a handful of neighbouring towns without much hassle.

A few practical notes

If you’re visiting between June and August, expect the beaches and old town to be considerably busier, and it’s worth booking restaurants and activities a little ahead of time. Spring and early autumn tend to offer a gentler version of the city, with milder weather and shorter queues, while still keeping most of the same options open. Comfortable shoes are worth packing regardless of season, since much of what makes Nice enjoyable happens on foot.

Choose the pace

What to do in Nice really depends on the kind of traveller you are that day, active or relaxed, curious or content to just watch the water. The city tends to reward whichever pace you choose, and more often than not, a few days here leave you already planning a return trip.

By A Freya

Image credit – Dreamstime.com