The old town of Nice, with its cobbled streets, little bars, prix fixe menus, and beautiful architecture is a treat. The bonus of Nice is that you have the beach and promenade nearby too. A weekend in Nice, France, very much has the best of both worlds – city and coast, history and fun. This 3 day itinerary is perfect for a weekend getaway – enjoy!
I had a vision of Nice as being like Monaco – “all fur coat and no knickers“. But I was pleased to discover that it had a lot of spirit, charm, and had quite a Parisian vibe in parts. We have now visited a few times, and continue to adore the city vibes but with the sea so close!
Where to stay in Nice
I would recommend staying in the Old Town or near the Old Port as these areas have all the best bars and restaurants. Hotel Rossetti is one of my favourites, it is rustic, central, and is right in the heart of the action.
For a beautiful luxury boutique option, try Hotel Palais Saleya. A mid-range hotel option is Hotel Lafayette, which has good access to both the shopping areas and the old town.
Are hostels more your price range? Then try Villa Saint Exupery Beach Hostel.
A Weekend in Nice – Things to do in 3 days in the city
For a weekend in Nice, I recommend focusing your energy around the Massena area (shopping), down to the Old Town (history), the Old Port (restaurants), and the beach and prom at the east end. With easy train trips to a few choice spots if you feel inclined!
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
Castle Hill no longer has a castle on it, but there are fortifications and archaeological ruins that show the hills tumultuous past. The views from up here are epic, so definitely find a way to visit. There are a few ways to reach the top:
- On Foot – There are staircases leading up from both the Old Town (Vieux Nice) and the Promenade des Anglais. The climb takes about 10–15 minutes and offers scenic views along the way.
- By Elevator – A free public elevator (Ascenseur du Château) is available near the Bellanda Tower on Quai des États-Unis, although it is only open mid-morning until early evening. On our first visit, the elevator was closed for maintenance, so it was great to finally get to use it on a recent visit. There can be queues in the high season, but we visited in early March and there was no queues at all.
Fun fact: A secret entrance to WWII tunnels is right next to the elevator (behind the bench seat next to the elevator).
- By Tourist Train – The Petit Train de Nice departs from the Promenade des Anglais and includes a stop at Castle Hill. It is a good way to orientate yourself, plus if it’s hot, a nice way to travel up the hill. The train only stops for 10 minutes at the top, so best to either be quick taking pics, or just wait for the next one; or walk back down yourself.
- By Car – There’s a small parking area at the top, but spaces are limited.
To learn more, why not take a walking tour?
Cours Saleya Market
The Cours Saleya market has rotating days different kinds of market, with flowers, antiques and other items. There are many bars and restaurants around this area, spilling out onto the square – it is perfect for people-watching!
Art in Nice
Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain
This museum isn’t far from the beach, and has an eclectic collection of contemporary pieces. Even if modern art isn’t your thing, the layout and shape of the building is dynamic and interesting. I recommend a trip to MAMAC if you need some respite from the heat too!
Musée de Beaux-Arts
The Nice fine arts museum (33 Avenue des Baumettes) has Rodin’s ‘The Kiss’ in residence, which is stunning to see. I was also in awe of the rooms of Gustav-Adolf Mossa paintings. This is quite a traditional museum, in stark contrast to the Museum of Contemporary Art above – so be prepared for hushed tones and serious docents!
Act like a kid: Don’t forget to stop by Promenade du Paillon to see the marvellous steam fountain!
Stroll the Prom / People-Watching
Strolling along the Promenade des Anglais is a lovely pastime in Nice. Even more fun is to find a bar with prom views or rooftop bar and just watch the world go by. The people-watching opportunities from these spots is exceptional.
We love the Waka Bar, right on the street, but with a verandah bar and tables on the street. If you want fantastic small bites and yummy cocktails, this NZ-inspired bar is great (their loaded fries are amazing).
Rooftop / prom bars of note: Le Méridien Nice – La Terrasse, Farago on the Roof, Le Plongeoir.
Private Beaches
The private beaches along the Prom can be expensive. But there is a way to use them without shelling out for deck chairs and umbrellas. You can visit most of these establishments for lunch instead. We managed to find a lovely spot that provided shade and a delicious lunch (and a place to relax for a few hours) away from the throngs of tourists. Le Voilier Plage has a lovely setting and serves yummy salads.
Other top-rated beach clubs are:
- Castel Plage – Located at the foot of Castle Hill, this upscale beach club offers a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, Mediterranean cuisine, and stunning views of the Baie des Anges.
- Ruhl Plage – One of the oldest and most iconic beach clubs in Nice, featuring classic French Riviera charm, excellent service, and a prime location near the Promenade des Anglais.
- Opéra Plage – A historic and family-run beach club with a laid-back vibe, great food, and comfortable loungers right by the sea.
Want to explore the nightlife in Nice? Why not take a guided bar crawl?
A day trip to Monaco, Èze or Antibes
- Monaco – I’ll be honest, I don’t rate Monaco very highly, but it’s perhaps one of those places that you want to see out of curiosity. It’s fun to see the casino and fancy cars, I’ll admit! I recommend the Equivoque – Exclusive Rooftop Terrace on J F Kennedy Avenue if you want lunch with a great view of the super yachts. The train stops at lovely places along the coast such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, which I actually prefer.
- Èze – Èze is a picturesque medieval village high on a cliff between Nice and Monaco. Visit Èze for historic stone buildings, the Château de La Chèvre d’Or hotel and restaurant, and fabulous Riviera views.
- Antibes – Antibes is easily accessible from Nice by train, bus, or car, with a journey time of around 20–30 minutes. Antibes is known for its historic old town, Picasso Museum, sandy beaches, and Port Vauban, one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean.
Take a 5 hour tour of Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo – a good way to fit a visit into a weekend in Nice!
Where to eat on a weekend in Nice
I recommend any of the many restaurants that are dotted around the Old Port – it’s a buzzy atmosphere and is a great spot to watch the comings and goings of the harbour.
My favourite restaurant is in the Old Town. Chez Juliette (near Square Rosetti) serves the most succulent steak with mustard sauce. Sitting outside, watching the bustling streets is perfection!
Don’t miss the gelato and apero time on the squares – relax and take your time here!
Other restaurants to try:
- Le Bistrot d’Antoine – A classic French bistro known for its traditional yet elevated dishes and warm atmosphere.
- Chez Pipo – Famous for its authentic socca (chickpea pancake), a staple of Niçoise cuisine.
- Jan – A Michelin-starred restaurant offering refined South African-French fusion cuisine in an intimate setting.
Love the sound of Nice? Why not check out my other favourite cities & towns in France!
A Weekend in Nice
One of our favourite traditions when we visit Nice is to grab a cone of gelato, and take ourselves down to the beach for a 4pm chill. It’s great to know that at apéro time (6pm), you just have to walk a block or two and you’re right back in the buzzing city. Nice is a great combination of old town Parisian chic and lazy beach town bustle. If you like people-watching, as we do, then find any number of fab cafes and bars, and enjoy a weekend in Nice! Only got one day here in Nice? Use my 24 hour guide!
Want to visit France? I live in France and can help put together a great french itinerary for you – get in touch here or on twitter!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!).
A quieter version of paris with a beach, I’m there! Great tip for dining at one of the restaurants along the prom, wine and beach, what a perfect day!
I love this guide! Thank you so much for the tips on the private beaches – such a good idea to have lunch there.
I have done a weekend in Nice but It was a very long time ago and I would love to do it again! thanks for the inspiration! i am not much of a beach person but love the food!
I visited Nice for a weekend in 2017 and I stopped by Monaco just because. I did a food tour, which I loved and; also visited the flower market. Wish I had more time to visit Eze etc.
I have not been to France yet, but I must say that this is definitely a place that I would love to visit. I am all about the beach, but love art as well. The food in your picture looks amazing!
This looks like such a fun itinerary! Would you say two days are enough to really enjoy Nice ?
I would say that 2 days will give you a taster, ok for the average tourist side of things. The evenings are where you can enjoy the city with fewer tourists (without cruise day trippers and the likes). Nice provides a pretty good base for exploring that edge of the Med, as does Antibes. Like all places, for those wanting to explore neighbourhoods and foodie elements + see surrounding towns, a week is better.