Nice is the crown jewel of the French Riviera — a sun-drenched city where the Alps tumble almost to the Mediterranean and the light has inspired artists from Matisse to Chagall. More than just a beach destination, Nice rewards those who look beyond its famous promenade: a vibrant Baroque old town, world-class museums, and some of the best markets in France are all within easy walking distance. Here are the best things to do in Nice.
1. Walk the Promenade des Anglais
Nice's most iconic landmark is its sweeping seafront promenade, stretching 7 km along the Bay of Angels. Built by the English colony in the 19th century, the Prom is the city's social spine — a place for morning joggers, cycling families, and evening strollers. The famous blue chairs (chaises bleues) invite you to sit and watch the Mediterranean shimmer. Best visited at sunrise or sunset.
2. Explore Vieux-Nice (Old Town)
Vieux-Nice is one of the most atmospheric old quarters in France — a grid of narrow, ochre-walled streets behind the seafront, filled with Baroque churches, daily markets, and the smell of socca (chickpea pancake) wafting from street stalls. The Cours Saleya flower and food market is one of France's best, running every morning except Monday when the antiques market takes over.
3. Visit the Matisse Museum
Henri Matisse spent much of his life in Nice, drawn by the city's extraordinary light. The Musée Matisse in the hilltop Cimiez neighborhood houses the world's largest collection of his work — paintings, drawings, sculptures, and the paper cut-outs he created in his final years. The museum is set in a beautiful 17th-century Genoese villa surrounded by olive trees and Roman ruins.
4. Discover the Musée Marc Chagall
The Musée National Marc Chagall is dedicated entirely to the Russian-French artist who lived in nearby Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The museum's crowning glory is the Biblical Message series — 17 monumental paintings depicting scenes from Genesis and Exodus in Chagall's dreamy, luminous palette.
5. Climb Castle Hill (La Colline du Château)
For the best panoramic view in Nice, climb or take the free lift up to Castle Hill — a Mediterranean park where a medieval fortress once stood. The view from the top takes in the entire sweep of the Bay of Angels, the red-roofed Old Town, and the Alps rising to the north. Come at sunset for the most spectacular light.
6. Swim at Nice's Pebble Beaches
Nice's famous beaches are unique — not sand but smooth grey pebbles, which make the water strikingly clear and blue. The private beach clubs along the Promenade offer sun loungers, parasols, and cold rosé at a price; the public beaches are free. The best free beaches are Plage Publique de la Réserve to the east of Castle Hill, where the water is clearer and the crowds thinner.
7. Day Trip to Èze Village
Perched on a dramatic cliff 427 meters above the sea between Nice and Monaco, Èze is one of the most spectacular hilltop villages in France. The medieval village is car-free above the main gate, a tangle of narrow lanes around a restored cactus garden at the summit with jaw-dropping coastal views.
8. Take the Train to Monaco
Monaco is just 20 minutes from Nice by train — and one of Europe's most extraordinary city-states. Walk up to the Palace, peer into the famous casino in Monte-Carlo (free to enter the gaming rooms with a passport), stroll the harbor lined with superyachts, and visit the outstanding Oceanographic Museum. The Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit winds through the city streets — you can walk the entire route.
9. Explore the Nice Flea Market
Every Monday, the Cours Saleya transforms from a flower and food market into one of the Riviera's best flea markets, with antique furniture, vintage jewelry, retro clothing, and collectibles spilling out across the square. It's a great hunting ground for Art Deco ceramics, old postcards, and Provençal fabrics.
10. Eat Like a Niçois
Niçois cuisine is a distinct cooking tradition shaped by the city's long history as part of the Kingdom of Savoy. Must-try dishes include socca (crispy chickpea flatbread), pan bagnat (tuna Niçoise salad in a round bread roll), salade niçoise (with fresh tuna, not tinned), pissaladière (onion tart with anchovies and olives), and daube de bœuf (Provençal beef stew with olives and orange peel).
Getting Around Nice
Nice is a very walkable city — the Old Town, Promenade, and main museums are all within comfortable walking distance. The city has an excellent tram network and bus system. A combined Nice–Côte d'Azur train pass allows unlimited travel between Nice, Monaco, Menton, Cannes, and Antibes for multi-day exploration of the Riviera.