History · Nice · France
7 historic sites to see in Nice
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Vieux Nice, Musée Matisse and Monastère de Cimiez and gardens. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 8–9 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 8–9 hours
- Areas
- Vieux Nice (Old Town), Cimiez and Tzarewitch
Historic sites in Nice
Neighbourhood · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
1.Vieux Nice
Place Rossetti, in front of the cathedral, is known for its ice-cream shops, and the arcaded Rue Saint-François-de-Paule has the Opéra and old-fashioned food shops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Museum · Cimiez
2.Musée Matisse
Matisse lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954 and is buried in the nearby Cimiez cemetery.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Garden · Cimiez
3.Monastère de Cimiez and gardens
The church has early Renaissance altarpieces by Louis Bréa, and the cemetery next door holds the graves of Henri Matisse and Raoul Dufy.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Couples
Religious site · Tzarewitch
4.St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Its interior is covered with icons and carved wood. It stands in a quiet garden west of Nice-Ville station.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Promenade des Anglais seafront
5.Musée Masséna
Its seafront garden is free to enter and offers a shaded break from the Promenade.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Palace · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
6.Palais Lascaris
It is small enough for a short visit while exploring the old town.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Religious site · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
7.Sainte-Réparate Cathedral
It is free to enter and sits at the centre of the old town's lanes.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Vieux Nice (Old Town) | Vieux Nice, Palais Lascaris and Sainte-Réparate Cathedral | Half a day + 45 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Cimiez | Musée Matisse and Monastère de Cimiez and gardens | 1.5 hours + 45 minutes |
| Tzarewitch | St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral | 45 minutes |
| Promenade des Anglais seafront | Musée Masséna | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Vieux Nice; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Vieux Nice (Old Town)): Vieux Nice → Palais Lascaris, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Vieux Nice (Old Town), Cimiez, Tzarewitch and Promenade des Anglais seafront): Sainte-Réparate Cathedral → Musée Matisse → Monastère de Cimiez and gardens → St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral → Musée Masséna, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Mild and often sunny for winter, with clear views of snow on the Alps; too cold to swim but pleasant for walking and museums.
- March: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Spring arrives early: mimosa and almond blossom, café lunches outdoors and quiet museums.
- December: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild and festive, with a Christmas village on Place Masséna and quiet beaches for winter walks.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Vieux Nice (Old Town) — Narrow ochre lanes, baroque churches, market stalls and late-night bars below Castle Hill
- Promenade des Anglais seafront — Belle Époque hotels, sea-view rooms and the famous blue chairs along the bay
- Cimiez — Leafy hill of Belle Époque villas, Roman ruins and the Matisse and Chagall museums
More of Nice
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Nice?
Vieux Nice. The old town's lanes, such as Rue Droite and Rue de la Préfecture, hide baroque chapels, small museums and some of the best places to try socca and pissaladière.
+Which of these are free in Nice?
Vieux Nice, Monastère de Cimiez and gardens and Sainte-Réparate Cathedral.