Nice Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Nice tours, old town and food market walks, French Riviera boat trips, and day trips to Monaco, Eze, Cannes and the lavender fields of Provence. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Nice and Côte d’Azur itinerary.
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Explore Nice by interest
Whatever brings you to Nice — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Old town & city
Vieux Nice, the market and the Promenade.
ExploreFood & markets
Socca, salade niçoise and the Cours Saleya.
ExploreBoat trips
The coast, Villefranche and hidden caves.
ExploreE-bike & panoramic
Effortless coast rides and viewpoints.
ExploreMonaco & Eze
Monte-Carlo glamour and a clifftop village.
ExploreCannes & Antibes
The film city, old-town Antibes and St-Paul.
ExploreProvence & lavender
Lavender fields and the Verdon Gorge.
ExploreSaint-Tropez
The glamorous yacht-filled resort.
ExploreTop attractions in Nice
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Vieux Nice
The old town and the Cours Saleya market.
Promenade des Anglais
The palm-lined seafront and Baie des Anges.
Riviera boat trips
Villefranche, Cap Ferrat and the coast.
Monaco & Eze
Monte-Carlo glamour and a clifftop village.
Cannes & Antibes
The film city and old-town Antibes.
Provence & lavender
Lavender fields and the Verdon Gorge.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
A hilltop village of artists and galleries.
Saint-Tropez
The glamorous yacht-filled resort.
Nice in 1 day
- 1Vieux Nice & market
- 2Castle Hill views
- 3Promenade des Anglais
- 4A coastal boat trip
Nice in 2 days
- 1Day 1: old town & seafront
- 2Boat trip
- 3Day 2: Monaco & Eze
- 4Monte-Carlo evening
Nice in 3 days
- 1Day 1: old town & seafront
- 2Day 2: Monaco & Eze
- 3Day 3: Cannes or Provence
- 4Riviera evenings
Nice with kids
- 1Beach & Promenade
- 2Castle Hill waterfall
- 3A coastal boat trip
- 4Monaco Oceanographic Museum
30 min awayMonaco & Eze
Monte-Carlo glamour and a clifftop village.
40 min awayCannes & Antibes
The film city, old-town Antibes and St-Paul.
2 hrs awayProvence & lavender
Lavender fields and the Verdon Gorge.
2 hrs awaySaint-Tropez
The glamorous yacht-filled Riviera resort.
20 min awayVillefranche & Cap Ferrat
A pretty bay and millionaires’ peninsula.
40 min awayMenton
The lemon town on the Italian border.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Nice visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring warm, sunny weather and thinner crowds — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Warm, blossoming days ideal for the city and coast, before the summer crowds; the sea warms by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot, sunny and very busy, perfect for the beach and boat trips; lavender peaks in early July.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, golden light and fewer crowds — a wonderful time for the Riviera.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild and quiet, with the famous February Carnival and easy access to nearby Alpine skiing.
Nice Carnival (Feb)
One of the world’s great carnivals fills the city with parades and flower battles in February.
One day
Enough for Vieux Nice, the market, Castle Hill and the Promenade.
Two days
Add a coastal boat trip and a Monaco and Eze day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Monaco, and Cannes or Provence.
Four to five days
Add Saint-Tropez, Menton and more of the coast and Provence.
A week or more
Use Nice as a base for the whole French Riviera and Provence.
Travelling with kids
Mix the beach, a boat trip and Castle Hill at a gentle pace.
On foot
The old town and seafront are compact and walkable, with Castle Hill for the views.
Trams
Nice’s modern tram lines link the centre, station and airport cheaply and easily.
Trains along the coast
The Riviera train line runs along the coast to Monaco, Villefranche, Antibes, Cannes and Menton — perfect for day trips.
Bikes & e-bikes
The flat seafront is great for cycling, with bike-share and e-bike tours along the coast.
Day-trip transport
Trains reach most Riviera towns cheaply; tours bundle transport for Provence and the lavender fields.
From the airport
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport links to the centre by tram (Line 2) in about 25 minutes.
Book day trips & boats ahead
Popular Monaco, Provence and boat trips fill up in summer — book ahead, especially in July and August.
Currency & tipping
France uses the euro; service is included, but rounding up or leaving a little for good service is appreciated.
Beach shoes help
Nice’s beaches are pebbly, so water shoes make swimming and sunbathing more comfortable.
Time the lavender
For Provence lavender, visit between late June and mid-July, when the fields are in full purple bloom.
Dress for Monaco’s casino
The Monte-Carlo Casino has a dress code (smart attire, ID required) if you wish to enter the gaming rooms.
Try Niçoise specialities
Sample socca, salade niçoise and pan-bagnat at the Cours Saleya; a food tour finds the best.
Monaco & Eze trips
Popular day trips fill up in summer — book ahead.
Boat trips
Coastal cruises and small-group boats sell out — reserve early.
Provence lavender
Summer lavender and Verdon trips fill up fast — book ahead.
Food & market tours
Small-group food tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Cannes & St-Tropez
Western Riviera day trips and ferries fill up — book early.
Summer & Carnival
July, August and the February Carnival fill hotels and tours — plan ahead.
Old town & food tours
Around €25–55 for a guided old town walk or a food and market tour.
Boat trips
About €30–70 for a coastal sightseeing or small-group boat trip.
Monaco & Eze
Roughly €55–80 for a half- or full-day Monaco and Eze tour.
Provence & lavender
Around €90–140 for a full-day Provence lavender and Verdon trip.
Cannes & St-Tropez
About €60–110 for a Cannes, Antibes or Saint-Tropez day trip.
How to save
Take the cheap coastal train to Riviera towns, enjoy the free old town and beaches, and join group day trips.
Nice through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm, blossoming days before the summer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The sea warms by June.
- Best for
- Hot, sunny days for beaches, boats and lavender.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy and pricey — book ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea, golden light and thinner crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for the Riviera.
- Best for
- Mild, quiet days and the February Carnival.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Alpine skiing is close by.