Season guide · Nice · France
Nice in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Miniwark, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Blossom, mild sunshine and quiet museums; too early to swim for most people, but perfect for walking and day trips along the coast. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 18 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 18
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 18°C (64°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 6 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 7 | 13.4 h | 3/5 |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 18 of the year's roughly 64 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Paris–Nice cycling race finishes around Nice (usually mid-March)
- May: Cannes Film Festival (usually mid-May)
- May: Monaco Grand Prix (usually late May or early June)
Good choices for spring
Museum · Cimiez
Musée Matisse
Set in a red Genoese villa among olive groves on Cimiez hill, the museum traces Matisse's career from early paintings to the cut-outs of his last years, with drawings, sculptures and personal objects from his Nice studios.
- 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
Museum · Promenade des Anglais seafront
Musée Masséna
This Belle Époque villa on the Promenade holds the city's history museum, with Napoleonic memorabilia, paintings and objects that trace Nice's growth into a Belle Époque winter resort.
- 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
A botanical park near the airport end of the Promenade, built around one of Europe's largest greenhouses, the Diamant Vert, which holds tropical plants, butterflies and small animals.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Monaco (About 20 minutes by train) — 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.
- Èze (About 30 minutes by bus) — A medieval village perched on a rock about 400 metres above the sea, with car-free lanes, perfume shops and a cactus garden on the summit.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Nice?
Yes: May is among the best months. Blossom, mild sunshine and quiet museums; too early to swim for most people, but perfect for walking and day trips along the coast.
+What is the weather like in Nice in spring?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 18 rainy days over the season.