Tourism in Nice: top 15 things to do

Visit Old Nice

​

Old Nice is a must when you come to visit Nice. It's something you absolutely have to do. It is the lung of the city, it is one of the favorite places of the people of Nice to meet there. You can enter the Vieux either by Place Masséna or by the Promenade des Anglais, via the famous Ponchettes and Cours Jacques Chirac (the arcades you see when you walk on the Promenade des Anglais). Old Nice offers a concentrate of what life in Nice is like:

• its gastronomy through all its restaurants in Nice such as the Lou Fran Calin which I strongly recommend.

• its architecture that will make you think of an Italian city.

• its many bars with terraces for an aperitif.

• its glaciers to cool off.

​ ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The must-sees in old Nice are numerous: you absolutely must visit all its churches, including the magnificent Sainte-Réparate cathedral or the Sainte-Rita church . I also advise you to take a walk on the Cours Saleya on a market day, to see the magnificent colors of the vegetables, fruits and its flower market. I also suggest you taste the very good ice cream from Fenocchio . If you have time, I also advise you to visit the Palais Lascaris , not only because it's pretty but also because it contains a fine collection of old musical instruments.

​

Take a walk on the Promenade des Anglais

Another must in Nice is to stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, the symbol of the city of Nice. A Promenade des Anglaisq which offers a beautiful stroll along the Mediterranean, from Nice airport to the sundial esplanade in Rauba Capeu where you can take your picture near the #ILOVENICE, which is today somewhat considered a work.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Of course, once on the Promenade des Anglais, you can go down to the beaches, private or public, to go swimming or have lunch, dinner or an aperitif on one of the many terraces. You can also relax and admire the sea on one of the famous blue chairs , which have become the symbol of Nice.

.

Visit Castle Hill

​

If you are on the Promenade des Anglais or in Old Nice, I advise you to continue your visit by climbing the hill of the Castle. The objective will not only be to walk in the green but also to access the various belvederes which will offer you a magnificent view of Nice, the sea. If you are a lover of beautiful photos, then you absolutely have to go there, because from up there, the view is breathtaking. It's very simple, the hill of the Castle offers one of the most beautiful panoramas that you can find on the Côte d'Azur. So, on the other hand, no castle, or in any case, you will only see ruins there.

To get there, two solutions are available to you: either you take the stairs (there are quite a few steps), or you take the elevator. But beware, in summer there is sometimes a long wait.

​

Have a drink on Place Garibaldi in Nice

​

With Placr Masséna, Place Garibaldi is one of the most beautiful squares in Nice. A square that will make you think, like Old Nice, of an Italian square, with its colors, its architecture, and its famous statue of Garibaldi.

But the interest of this square is that it offers many restaurants that serve coffee during the day. These restaurants all have terraces on which it is very pleasant to have a drink or eat.

Not far from Place Garibaldi is also Place du Pin, which also offers restaurants and bars with very pleasant terraces. I particularly advise you to have lunch at the Café Paulette .

Stroll around the port of Nice

​

he port of Nice is one of the most beautiful places in the city. Not very far from the center, it is easily accessible. It is in particular the terminus of line 2 of the tramway. If you are on the Promenade des Anglais, you can get there by continuing your walk east. The port offers a nice stroll along the yachts or the traditional fishing boats of Nice.

​

You can also stop at one of the many café and restaurant terraces on the two quays. Finally, if you continue your walk, you will arrive on Coco Beach and the coastal path, a very nice walk on the rocks. A feeling of getting out of town.

​

Visit the Saint-Réparate cathedral in Old Nice

​

​

Sainte-Réparate Cathedral is undoubtedly the most beautiful church in Nice. When you walk in it's just beautiful and usually a little wow comes out of your mouth. The cathedral is located in Old Nice, near Place Rossetti. If you walk around Old Nice, you absolutely must enter it.

​

It is a baroque style cathedral which has 10 chapels inside.

​

​

Visit the Russian Church of Nice

​

The Russian Church, or St. Nicholas Cathedral in its official name, is one of the most important Russian Orthodox buildings located outside of Russia. Besides, when you're in the cathedral, you're on Russian territory (but don't panic, no passport to show before entering!!). It is a cathedral which is relatively recent since it was inaugurated in 1912. Its construction was decided because the first Orthodox church, which is located on rue Longchamps, had become too small to accommodate the faithful.

​

​

Visit Villa Masséna in Nice

​

The Villa Masséna is located on the Promenade des Anglais, and it is a monument that you cannot miss because it is so imposing. The Villa Masséna is today a municipal museum of the city of Nice which evokes the art and history of Nice from its attachment to France until the end of the Belle Epoque. You will therefore see period costumes, furniture, everything that made up the art of living in Nice.

​

Villa Masséna also benefits from a garden to discover.

​

Lunch or a drink at Gare du Sud in Nice

​

This is one of the new spots in Nice, which opened recently. Although the Gare du Sud was once a real train station, today it has become a favorite meeting point for the people of Nice. Because it has become an essential place to meet up with friends, for lunch, dinner or a drink. The Gare du Sud is a space in which you will find different catering outlets, of all cuisines. And in its center are large tables. Basically, everyone chooses what they want to eat and then finds their friends at the table.

​

Shopping at the Cours Saleya

​

It is one of the favorite attractions for tourists when they come to visit Nice. Go to the Cours Saleya market, which is located in old Nice. Because this market offers very beautiful colors related to fruits, vegetables, flowers. Photography enthusiasts will thus be able to photograph all the fruits and vegetables that smell good of the south, but also the bouquets of colorful flowers.

​

Be careful not to go there too late in the morning because in summer, the market is crowded and it is difficult to walk there. And of course, like all good self-respecting Nice people, once the market is done, you have to go and have a little aperitif on one of the many terraces along Cours Saleya!

​

Have a drink on the rooftop of a hotel in Nice

​

Given that we are in a city located by the sea and that Nice offers many hotels with a roof terrace (rooftop) on the Promenade des Anglais, it would still be a shame not to take advantage of it! I advise you to have a drink, during the day or for an aperitif, on one of the rooftops of Nice, to have a magnificent view of the Baie des Anges. Guaranteed holiday impression. Impression of avsion also with a view of the sea. I also wrote an article on my list of rooftops in Nice , in which you can find my 3 favorite rooftops in Nice.

​

Taste the gastronomy of Nice

​

We don't know it (in any case I didn't know it when I arrived in Nice 10 years ago), but Nice is a city that likes to eat well. And its gastronomy in Nice bears witness to this. Of course, you can't leave Nice without having tasted its Nice stuffed vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, etc.) stuffed with two meats. You also can't leave without having eaten his pissaladière , his onion tart. There is also the daube niçoise , the gnocchi , the ravioli niçoise, very very good especially when they are with Daube sauce. I could also mention his panisses (his fries with chickpea flour) or even the socca ... And why not have a sweet chard tart for dessert?

​

Visit Phoenix Park in Nice

​

Phoenix Park is a botanical and zoological park located in the east of the city, not far from the airport. It is a place that children love for the presence of many animals, and because Phoenix Park is a very nice area for playing, running, etc. The park has several areas including a magnificent tropical greenhouse which is one of the largest in Europe, ponds, Mediterranean gardens, and, of course, areas for animals.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Stroll along the Coulée Verte in Nice

​

A brand new place to stroll in Nice, the Coulée Verte is located in the very center of Nice and extends from the Promenade des Anglais (via the Albert 1er garden to the TNN (Nice national theater). The Coulée Verte can thus be a good following a walk on the Promenade des Anglais, a new place for a walk but which has immediately become one of the favorite places of the people of Nice, and especially of children!!Its many play areas in the shape of animals amuse them a lot. And the water mirror and its many jets has become a place where the little ones love to play.

​

Visit the MAMAC in Nice

​

The MAMAC or Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, is the main museum of the city of Nice. Located in the center of Nice, it is therefore very difficult to access. It is particularly a very good activity to do when it rains in Nice. The museum has around 1,300 works by more than 300 artists and covers a period from the late 1950s to the present day. In particular, there are works by Yves Klein and Niki de Saint Phalle in the permanent collection, as well as very beautiful temporary exhibitions.

​