All citiesNice Things to do and walking itinerary
France Nice travel guide
30 things to do in Nice, where to stay, airport transfers, 3 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Nice
- Nice Cathedral — cathedral located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Notre-Dame de Nice — basilica located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice — cathedral located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret — Art museum in Nice, France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- musée Marc-Chagall — art museum in Nice, France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Musée Matisse — art museum in Nice, France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Terra Amata — prehistoric archaeological site in Nice, France (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild — museum in France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Opéra de Nice — opera house (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Sainte Jeanne d'Arc Church — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain de Nice — museum in Nice, France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Castel of Nice Cathedral — cathedral located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Nice Synagogue — synagogue located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Palais Lascaris — building in Nice, France (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Grotte du Lazaret — prehistoric cave in France (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Église orthodoxe russe Saint-Nicolas et Sainte-Alexandra de Nice — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Parc Phœnix — garden in Nice, France (visit ≈ 150 min)
- place Masséna — square in Nice, France (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Church of Gesù, Nice — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Église Saint-François-de-Paule — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Chapelle de la Miséricorde de Nice — chapel located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- fort of Mont Alban — military fort in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes, France) (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Saint Peter's Chapel — old religious building located in Alpes-Maritimes (France) (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Abbey of St Pons — abbey located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Jardin botanique de la Ville de Nice — botanical garden (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Colline du Château — fortified structure in Nice, France (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Cemenelum — archaeological site in France (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Musée international d'art naïf Anatole Jakovsky — art museum in Nice, France (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Église Notre-Dame du Port — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Église Notre-Dame-Auxiliatrice de Nice — church located in Alpes-Maritimes, in France (visit ≈ 30 min)
2-day Nice walking itinerary
Starting point: Vieux Nice. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 8.4 km · 11,320 steps · 1 h 52 min on the way): Opéra de Nice → Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret → Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice → Notre-Dame de Nice → musée Marc-Chagall
- Day 2 (≈ 8.6 km · 11,560 steps · 1 h 55 min on the way): Musée Matisse → Terra Amata → Nice Cathedral
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Nice
- Place Garibaldi — Arcaded 18th-century square with ochre façades at the northern edge of the old town. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Mont Boron — Wooded hill east of the port with walking trails and lookouts over the bay of Villefranche. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Musée Masséna — Belle Époque villa on the Promenade des Anglais telling the city's history, with a garden. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Tête Carrée — A giant cube-shaped head that is both sculpture and building, housing the library's offices. (visit ≈ 10 min)
- Èze — Medieval village perched on a rock 400 m above the sea; the exotic garden at the top has coastal views. (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Antibes Old Town — Walled seaside town a short train ride away: the Picasso Museum, a yacht harbour and narrow old lanes. (visit ≈ 240 min)
- Villefranche-sur-Mer — Small harbour town on a deep bay with pastel houses, vaulted old lanes and a 16th-century citadel. (visit ≈ 120 min)
Where to stay in Nice
- Vieux Nice: Colourful lanes, the market and a few steps to the beach.
- Promenade des Anglais: Sea-view hotels along the long promenade.
- Port: Calm and local around a harbour full of colourful boats.
- Cimiez: A calm hilltop area with museums and Roman ruins.
- Jean Médecin / Station: The shopping street and tram; handy for getting around.
Getting from the airport to Nice
- Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE): T2 tram ≈ 25 min
Getting around
Tram lines run from the airport to the centre and the port; the old town is best on foot.
Classic places to eat
- Chez Pipo: Socca (chickpea pancake) since 1923.
- Lou Pilha Leva: Street food like socca and pissaladière in the old town.
- La Merenda: Classic Niçoise dishes in a tiny room.
- Le Safari: Provençal cooking on the Cours Saleya.
- Fenocchio: Hundreds of ice-cream flavours since 1966.
- Maison Auer: Sweets and candied fruit since 1820.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- La Chèvre d’Or — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Jan — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern
- Le Chantecler — 1 MICHELIN star, Classic French
Romantic views
- Castle Hill (Sunset): The best view of the Baie des Anges.
- Promenade des Anglais (Evening): The famous seafront with its blue chairs.
- Cours Saleya (Early morning): A flower market by morning, terraces by night.
- Port Lympia (Evening): A calm harbour of colourful buildings and boats.
- Cimiez Monastery Garden (Afternoon): A rose garden with views to the sea.
Football stadiums in Nice
- Stade Louis II: Home of AS Monaco FC
- Allianz Riviera: Home of OGC Nice
Good to know before visiting Nice
- Fine: Clothing that fully covers the face is banned in public places.
- Fine: Keep your metro/RER ticket until you exit; riding without one is fined at checks.
- Fine: Since July 2025 smoking is banned on beaches, in parks, at bus shelters and outside schools.
- Fine: Flying drones is prohibited over most of Paris.
- Warning: Carry ID or your passport; police may check identity.
- Warning: Driving into city low-emission zones requires a Crit'Air sticker.
- Emergency: 112 (police 17, ambulance 15, fire 18)
- Plugs: C/E, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe; you can ask for a free "carafe d'eau" in restaurants.
- Tipping: Service is included by law; leaving a few euros is a nice extra.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: France, Wikivoyage — France, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Nice travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Nice?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Nice?
- Highlights: Nice Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Nice, Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice, Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret and musée Marc-Chagall. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Nice?
- Vieux Nice: Colourful lanes, the market and a few steps to the beach. Other options: Promenade des Anglais, Port, Cimiez and Jean Médecin / Station.
- How do you get from the airport to Nice city centre?
- Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE): T2 tram ≈ 25 min
- How do you get around Nice?
- Tram lines run from the airport to the centre and the port; the old town is best on foot.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Nice?
- According to the last known data there are 3 starred restaurants: La Chèvre d’Or (2 stars), Jan (1 star), Le Chantecler (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Nice?
- Emergency: 112 (police 17, ambulance 15, fire 18).
- Do you tip in Nice?
- Service is included by law; leaving a few euros is a nice extra.
Nearby cities
Monaco · Turin · Marseille · Milan · Pisa · Geneva · Lyon · Florence
France travel guide: all cities · All cities