Nice anchors the French Riviera with a pebbly beach, Baroque old town, flower market and easy trains to Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and the perched village of Eze. Late spring and early autumn are warm and uncrowded.
Good to know
- The regional TER and Lignes d'Azur trams make a car unnecessary for most trips.
- August is the most crowded and expensive month; May and September are ideal.
- Beach clubs charge for loungers; free public beaches have no frills.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Baroque lanes, the flower and produce market and socca stalls; the best place to eat Nicoise specialties.
Wooded hill with waterfalls, ruins and the classic view over the Bay of Angels.
Stuffed vegetables, daube and socca in a family bistro, with a glass of local rose.
The sweeping seafront walk lined with palm trees and blue chairs; great for sunrise jogging or evening strolls.
Rent a lounger at a private beach club or lay a towel on the free pebbles with a baguette and rose.
Paper cut-outs and paintings by Henri Matisse in a Genoese villa, near the Roman ruins.
Biblical Message paintings and stained glass by Marc Chagall in a light-filled building.
Medieval village on a rocky peak with the Jardin Exotique and views over the Mediterranean.
Prince's Palace, the casino, the Oceanographic Museum and yacht-filled port, 25 minutes by train.
Walled old town, Picasso Museum and a coastal path past billionaire villas.
Perched artists' village with galleries and the Fondation Maeght, popular with Chagall and Matisse.