Outdoors · Nice · France
5 best outdoor things to do in Nice
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lascaris, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill (Colline du Château) and Promenade du Paillon. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–11 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 7–11 hours
- Areas
- Seafront, Vieux Nice (Old Town) and Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna
Outdoors in Nice
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
Viewpoint · Vieux Nice (Old Town)
2.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
3.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 · Arénas
4.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
Nature · Le Port
5.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Seafront | Promenade des Anglais | 1–2 hours |
| Vieux Nice (Old Town) | Castle Hill (Colline du Château) | 1–1.5 hours |
| Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna | Promenade du Paillon | 1 hour |
| Arénas | Parc Phoenix | 2–3 hours |
| Le Port | Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 free, 1 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Parc Phoenix; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Seafront, Vieux Nice (Old Town) and Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna): Promenade des Anglais → Castle Hill (Colline du Château) → Promenade du Paillon, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Arénas): Parc Phoenix, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Le Port): Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- July: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Hot, dry and the busiest month: beaches fill early, the jazz festival runs, and hotel prices peak.
- June: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm, long days and the sea becomes comfortable for swimming by the second half of the month.
- August: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warmest sea of the year and French holiday crowds; occasional thunderstorms break the heat late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Vieux Nice (Old Town) — Narrow ochre lanes, baroque churches, market stalls and late-night bars below Castle Hill
- Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna — Main shopping avenue, tram line 1 and the red-ochre Place Masséna
- Le Port — Italianate façades around Port Lympia, Place Garibaldi and antique shops
More of Nice
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Nice?
Promenade des Anglais. Nice's seafront promenade runs about 7 kilometres around the Baie des Anges from the airport to the foot of Castle Hill.
+Which of these are free in Nice?
Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill (Colline du Château), Promenade du Paillon and Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban.