5 days in Nice

Day by day

1. Day 1: Promenade des Anglais and Vieux Nice

   Promenade des Anglais, Vieux Nice and Place Masséna, then Vieux Nice in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Promenade des Anglais

      Walk it at sunset from the Negresco towards the old town, then continue up to Castle Hill for the view back along the bay. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Vieux Nice

      Explore in the morning when the lanes are cool and quiet, then return in the evening when the terraces fill up. (Half a day, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Socca

      Counters in Vieux Nice and around the Cours Saleya and the port; it is best straight from the oven, so watch for a fresh tray.

   4. Afternoon

      Place Masséna

      Come back after dark to see Plensa's illuminated figures, then walk the Promenade du Paillon's water mirror. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Vieux Nice

      Pubs, wine bars and cocktail terraces around Rue de la Préfecture, Place Rossetti and the Cours Saleya, busy every evening in summer.

2. Day 2: Cours Saleya market and Castle Hill (Colline du Château)

   Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill (Colline du Château) and Palais Lascaris, then Le Port and Rue Bonaparte in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cours Saleya market

      Go before 10am for the best produce and buy a portion of socca from one of the counters at the eastern end. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Castle Hill (Colline du Château)

      Climb up from the old town in the late afternoon and walk down the far side to the port for dinner. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Salade niçoise

      Old town restaurants and lunch spots on the Cours Saleya; places that serve it with raw vegetables follow the Niçoise tradition.

   4. Afternoon

      Palais Lascaris

      Use it as a cool, quiet break during a hot afternoon in the old town. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Le Port and Rue Bonaparte

      Relaxed bars and restaurants around Place Garibaldi and Rue Bonaparte, popular with locals and the LGBTQ community.

3. Day 3: Promenade du Paillon and Musée Matisse

   Promenade du Paillon, Musée Matisse and Musée National Marc Chagall, then Beach clubs in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Promenade du Paillon

      Bring a change of clothes for small children if you plan to stop at the water mirror in summer. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Musée Matisse

      Combine it with the Roman ruins in the same park and the monastery gardens next door; bus lines from the centre stop outside. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pan bagnat

      Bakeries and sandwich counters in the old town and near the beaches; buy one in the morning before heading to the sea.

   4. Afternoon

      Musée National Marc Chagall

      Visit before the Musée Matisse and walk uphill between the two; it is easier than the other way round with the bus. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Beach clubs

      Several private beaches along the Promenade turn into lounge bars with DJs on summer evenings.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Monaco

   About 20 minutes by train each way. Getting there: TER train from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Monaco

      About 20 minutes by train (TER train from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo); about 20 km.

   2. Day

      Monaco

      The tiny principality packs the Prince's Palace on the Rock, the Oceanographic Museum, Monte-Carlo's casino square and a harbour full of superyachts into a few steep kilometres. Best for first-timers, luxury and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Nice

      Dinner: try Pissaladière.

5. Day 5: Monastère de Cimiez and gardens and St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

   Monastère de Cimiez and gardens, St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Port Lympia, then Monaco in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Monastère de Cimiez and gardens

      Visit the garden in May when the roses are in flower and the views are clear. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

      Cover shoulders and knees, and keep quiet if a service is taking place. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pissaladière

      Bakeries and snack counters across Vieux Nice and at the Cours Saleya market.

   4. Afternoon

      Port Lympia

      Walk round the eastern quay past the lighthouse towards Coco Beach for views back to Castle Hill. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Monaco

      Monte-Carlo's casino square, bars and clubs are about 20 minutes away by train.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Vieux Nice (Old Town) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Promenade des Anglais seafront ($$$$) suits beach, families, luxury and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–16 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Nice
• 2 days in Nice
• 3 days in Nice
• 4 days in Nice
• 7 days in Nice

Questions travellers ask