Nice
France
- Promenade des Anglais
- Place Masséna
- Castle Hill
- Musée Matisse
- Marc Chagall National Museum
About Nice
Nice, on France's Mediterranean coast, is the largest city of the Côte d'Azur. Founded by Greek settlers, it belonged to the House of Savoy for centuries and became part of France in 1860.
The seafront Promenade des Anglais, the narrow streets of the old town (Vieux Nice), the view from Castle Hill and museums devoted to Matisse and Chagall define the city, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021 as the Riviera's winter resort town.
How many days do you need?
Allow two to three days: one for the old town, the Cours Saleya market and Castle Hill, one for the Promenade des Anglais and the Matisse and Chagall museums in Cimiez, and one for a day trip to Monaco, Èze or Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Where to stay
- Vieux Nice — Atmospheric and close to the sea; the narrow lanes can be noisy at night.
- Promenade and Carré d'Or — Sea views, near the beaches and shopping streets.
- Jean-Médecin and station area — Practical, close to the tram and the railway station.
From the airport to the city
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is about 4 miles west of the centre. Tram line 2 runs from both terminals along the seafront to the city centre and the port.
Getting around
Lignes d'Azur trams and buses cover the city, and regional TER trains stop along the coast to Monaco and Cannes. The centre and old town are easy to explore on foot.
Good to know
- Most beaches along the Promenade are pebbly; beach shoes help.
- The Musée Matisse and the Chagall museum are closed on Tuesdays.
- The currency is the euro. Summer is crowded; spring and autumn are milder and quieter.
Useful links
- Explore Nice Côte d'Azur (tourist office) explorenicecotedazur.com
- Lignes d'Azur (trams and buses) lignesdazur.com
- Nice Côte d'Azur Airport nice.aeroport.fr
When to go?
Best time to visit for the weather: May–October. The warmest month is August (average high 78 °F); the wettest is November (4.8 in).
Monthly climate
| Month | Avg. high °F | Rain in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53.4 | 2.26 | Cool or rainy |
| February | 53.4 | 2.28 | Cool or rainy |
| March | 56.1 | 2.65 | Cool or rainy |
| April | 59.9 | 2.20 | Good |
| May | 65.7 | 2.16 | Ideal |
| June | 72.5 | 1.29 | Ideal |
| July | 77.7 | 0.72 | Ideal |
| August | 78.3 | 1.11 | Ideal |
| September | 73.6 | 2.14 | Ideal |
| October | 67.5 | 3.60 | Ideal |
| November | 60.8 | 4.84 | Good |
| December | 55.8 | 3.27 | Cool or rainy |
Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.
Public holidays 2027
- New Year's DayJanuary 1
- Easter MondayMarch 29
- Labour DayMay 1
- Ascension DayMay 6
- Victory DayMay 8
- Whit MondayMay 17
- Bastille DayJuly 14
- AssumptionAugust 15
- All Saints' DayNovember 1
- Armistice DayNovember 11
- Christmas DayDecember 25
Sources: date-holidays and python-holidays open data projects; for Northern Cyprus, its public holidays law.
Practical info
- CurrencyEuro (€)
- Dialling code+33
- Plugs & voltageType C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Emergency112 · Police 17 · Ambulance 15 · Fire 18
- DrivingOn the right
Sources: IEC plug types, Wikidata, Wikipedia; unverified details are left blank.