Free things to do · Nice · France
10 free things to do in Nice
Nice without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lascaris, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Nice without paying an entry fee: Promenade des Anglais, Vieux Nice, Place Masséna and Cours Saleya market are all free. Public beaches are free; bring your own towel or a cheap beach mat instead of renting a sunbed.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 10
- Low-cost extras
- 7
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- March and November–January
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Seafront
1.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Neighbourhood · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
2.Vieux Nice
Explore in the morning when the lanes are cool and quiet, then return in the evening when the terraces fill up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Landmark · Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna
3.Place Masséna
Come back after dark to see Plensa's illuminated figures, then walk the Promenade du Paillon's water mirror.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Market · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
4.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
5.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.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Couples
Park · Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna
6.Promenade du Paillon
Bring a change of clothes for small children if you plan to stop at the water mirror in summer.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Garden · Cimiez
7.Monastère de Cimiez and gardens
Visit the garden in May when the roses are in flower and the views are clear.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Couples
Waterfront · Le Port
8.Port Lympia
Walk round the eastern quay past the lighthouse towards Coco Beach for views back to Castle Hill.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Food
- Views
Religious site · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
9.Sainte-Réparate Cathedral
Follow your visit with an ice cream on Place Rossetti, where the gelaterias offer flavours such as lavender and olive.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Nature · Le Port
10.Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban
Take a bus up to the fort and walk down through the forest to the port; bring water as there are few shops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Free
- Nature
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Seafront | Promenade des Anglais | 1–2 hours |
| Vieux Nice (Old Town) | Vieux Nice, Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill (Colline du Château) and Sainte-Réparate Cathedral | Half a day + 1 hour + 1–1.5 hours + 20 minutes |
| Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna | Place Masséna and Promenade du Paillon | 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Cimiez | Monastère de Cimiez and gardens | 45 minutes |
| Le Port | Port Lympia and Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban | 1 hour + 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Museum · Cimiez
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.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Cimiez
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.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Religious site · Tzarewitch
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Cover shoulders and knees, and keep quiet if a service is taking place.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Promenade des Anglais seafront
Musée Masséna
Pair it with a rest in the free garden, one of the few shaded green spaces directly on the Promenade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Palace · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
Palais Lascaris
Use it as a cool, quiet break during a hot afternoon in the old town.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Garden · Arénas
Parc Phoenix
Reach it on tram line 2 towards the airport and combine it with a walk back along the Promenade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Museum · Baumettes
Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret
Walk up from the western Promenade; the villa's garden and staircase are worth seeing on their own.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Public beaches are free; bring your own towel or a cheap beach mat instead of renting a sunbed.
- Use trains and buses for day trips to Monaco, Èze and Menton rather than taxis or tours.
- Buy picnic supplies at the Libération or Cours Saleya markets for lunch on the beach or Castle Hill.
- Many restaurants offer a set lunch menu that costs much less than the same food at dinner.
- Nice's city-run museums, such as the Musée Matisse and Musée Masséna, share a multi-day museum pass that can pay off if you visit several.
- Avoid booking during the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival, when hotel prices across the Riviera rise steeply.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Nice expensive to visit?
Nice is expensive for most visitors, but 10 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Nice?
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.