A short history of Nice
Why is the seafront road called the Promenade des Anglais, the English Walk? In the 19th century, English families who came to Nice for the winter sun raised money to build a walkway along the shore. The traces of that tradition of wintering on the Riviera joined the UNESCO list in 2021.
The story goes back much further. Greeks from Massalia, today's Marseille, founded a colony here called Nikaia. The Romans chose Cemenelum on the hill, and the arena ruins in Cimiez are what's left of it.
Nice came under the House of Savoy in 1388 and passed to France in 1860 through the Treaty of Turin and the plebiscite that followed. In the old town some street signs show the local Niçard language alongside French. Garibaldi, one of the heroes of Italian unification, was born in the city in 1807.
Nice neighbourhoods
Colline du Château rises between the old town and the port, and only the name of its castle remains. Climb for the park, the artificial waterfall and the view over the Baie des Anges, or take the lift if you prefer.
Libération, north of the train station, is where people from Nice do their everyday shopping. At the morning market, the bakeries and the butchers you see the city without the tourists.
The Quartier des Musiciens is a set of streets lined with Belle Époque apartment blocks west of Avenue Jean Médecin. The streets carry the names of composers such as Verdi, Rossini and Berlioz, and the cafés are calm.
To the east, Mont Boron is a hill covered in pine forest and villas. Its trails climb to points overlooking the bay of Villefranche, a good choice for a half-day walk.
Where to stay
- 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 the tram make getting around easy.
When to visit Nice
Do you want to swim, or to walk the city? The sea reaches 23-26 °C from July to September, but in those months finding a spot on the beach is as hard as finding a fairly priced hotel. June and September strike the balance best, with days at 24-27 °C and water warm enough to swim.
In February the Nice Carnival runs for about two weeks. Parades of giant figures fill Place Masséna, flower battles take place on the Promenade, and some of the stands are ticketed.
From November to March days are 12-16 °C, with plenty of sun. Beach season ends, but strolling the old town, the museums in Cimiez and train trips to coastal towns become easier. In May, as the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix approach, room prices jump along the whole coast, so check the dates before you book.
Food culture in Nice
When the morning market goes up on the Cours Saleya, a queue forms at a socca stall. This thin chickpea-flour pancake bakes in a wood oven and is eaten hot off a sheet of paper with plenty of black pepper. On Mondays antique dealers take over the square instead of food.
Niçoise cooking sits between Provence and Liguria. Pissaladière with onions and anchovies, pan bagnat, a sandwich soaked in olive oil, the stuffed vegetables called petits farcis and fried courgette flowers are the local classics. A proper salade niçoise has no boiled vegetables, and locals care about that. The surprise among sweets is tourte de blettes, a chard tart with raisins and pine nuts.
People in Nice lunch from 12:00 to 14:00 and dine after 19:30, and kitchens close in between. Service is already on the bill, so anything extra is up to you.
Nice trip budget
In summer, yes, quite. Nice is more reasonable than Cannes or Monaco, but hotels get expensive in July and August, and the same room is noticeably cheaper in June and September. For 2026, budget 70-110 € a day with a guesthouse and street food, 160-250 € with a mid-range hotel and restaurant dinners, and 350 € and up for a sea-view room and a private beach.
A single tram or bus ticket is about 1.70 €, and the airport tram uses the same ticket. Museums such as the Musée Matisse or the Musée Marc Chagall charge 10-15 €. On private beaches a lounger and umbrella cost 25-40 € a day.
Public beaches are free, but bring water shoes for the pebbles. The Colline du Château park, a walk along the Promenade and a train ride of a few euros to Villefranche or Monaco won't strain the budget either.
Prices are approximate as of October 2026.
Build your route on the Nice map
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