Nice is one of the most glamorous cities on the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur), perhaps even the most special. On the shores of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, it has been a source of inspiration for artists, aristocrats and travellers throughout history. With its narrow streets, pastel-coloured buildings, Provence-inspired smells rising from the marketplaces and unique sea views, every corner is a point of discovery. It is also the perfect central city for exploring the French Riviera.
Nice is a city whereluxury and local life are intertwined. On the one hand chic restaurants, historic hotels and luxury boutiques,cafes on the other side , markets full of fresh produce and authentic French bistros, You can see small restaurants that reflect the Italian spirit.
📍 Geography of the French Riviera and Nice
Nice is located in the south-east of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Being only 30 kilometres from the Italian border, it has traces of both French and Italian culture. The city is located at the foot of the Alps, making it a unique coastal city with both sea and mountain views.
Nice has a Mediterranean climate and enjoys mild and sunny weather throughout the year. The number of sunny days is almost 300, so it is possible to visit the city in all seasons.
⏳ History of Nice: Italy or France?
Nice has been under the influence of different kingdoms and cultures throughout history. Founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC and the city was named “Nikaia” , which means victory. The city was later captured by the Romans, During the Middle Ages Kingdom of Sardinia and Savoy It remained under the control of different administrations such as the Duchy.
The annexation of Nice to France took place quite late, in 1860. Nice, which had been part of Italy until then, joined the French territory as a result of an agreement with France. Therefore, it is still possible to see traces of Italian architecture and culture in the city.
🎨 Capital of Art and Culture
Nice has been a source of inspiration for artists and writers throughout history. Henri Matisse World-famous artists such as Marc Chagall and Auguste Renoir lived and worked in Nice for many years. Matisse Museum and Chagall Museum, a must-see to discover the legacy of these great artists.
Nice is also famous for the annual Nice Carnival. This colourful festival, which takes place in February, attracts tourists from all over the world with giant puppets, flower battles and street performances.
🍽 Nice Cuisine: The Meeting Point of French and Italian Flavours
The cuisine of Nice is one of the most beautiful fusions of French and Italian gastronomy. Here are some of the delicacies you must taste in the city:
Details that make Nice special
Here are our tried and tested favourites for Nice and the surrounding area our travel guide ofrestaurants and places to visit!
Restaurants:
– L’Alchimie
– Epiro
– Banh Mei
– Mallard
– Lavomatique
– La Merenda
– Chabrol
– Marmar
– Type 55 Pizzeria
– La Petit Maison
– La Colombe d’Or (Saint-Paul-de-Vence)
– La PecoraNegra Pizza (Menton)
Bakery:
– Pompon
– Boulangerie Bordonnat
– Philippe Tayac Patisserie
Coffee/Breakfast:
– Brume Coffee
– Blend Coffee and Vinyl
– La Claque
– RUA Cafe
– Frisson Ice Cream
– Cafe Paulette
– Cafe Fino
StreetFood:
– Chez Thérésa
– Junk Nice
– Bubu Burger
Bar/WineBar:
– Babel Babel
– Le Glouphile
– Povera
– Les Distilleries Idéales
Museums, parks and buildings worth visiting in Nice:
– Promenade des Anglais
– Vieux Nice (Old Town)
– Colline du Château
– Matisse Museum
– Chagall Museum
– Palais Masséna
– Nice Archaeological Museum
– Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate
– Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice
– Jardin Albert 1er
– Notre-Dame
– Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas
– Marché aux Fleurs
– Parc du Mont Boron
Places to visit nearby:
– Èze: postcard-perfect medieval village (see Le Jardin Exotique ),
– Menton: the capital of lemon on the border with Italy, a quiet town,
– Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: a peninsula famous for villas such as Villa Ephrussi and Villa Kérylos,
– Villefranche-sur-Mer: Colourful houses and quiet coves,
– Saint-Paul-de-Vence: historic art village ( see Fondation Maeght and La Colombe d’Or),
– Antibes, Cannes & Monaco are other prominent places you can visit nearby.
Nice is a city that can offer both luxury and a relaxed holiday. On the one hand, luxury yachts, chic restaurants and art museums, On the other side there are local markets, street food and historic neighbourhoods.
Although 2-3 days is enough to explore Nice, we recommend 4-5 days if you want to see the surrounding towns.
Hotel Recommendations:
Nice is one of Europe’s most expensive and popular destinations as it is one of the most touristic cities of the French Riviera. However, you can plan a trip according to your budget by choosing local markets, street flavours and affordable hotels/houses .
🍷 Epiro Nice
💰 Price: Set menu 40€
A small but characterful wine bar located in the harbour area of the city. Natural wines, seasonal dishes and fresh pastas are at the forefront here . Olive oils from the Liguria region offer a perfect rustic Mediterranean experience. If I lived in Nice, I would definitely be a regular. Booking is recommended.
🍽 L’Alchimie
💰 Price: Lunch menu 30€, evening average 45-50€ per person
This place has one of the best price-performance ratio among the Bib Gourmand restaurants in France. They offer a small but seasonal and carefully prepared menu. Plates prepared with fresh ingredients from the Mediterranean, appeal to both the eye and the palate. Reservation is a must because the place is quite popular and small.
🥩 Mallard
💰 Price: 40-50€ per person
The dishes from the kitchen of Chef Guillaume Tran-tu and Nino Vergez are a combination of natural wines and traditional French cuisine. The homemade sausage and panisses (fried chickpea flour) are a must-try. The intimate setting, quality ingredients and wine pairings make for a wonderful experience.
🥗 La Merenda
💰 Price: 50-60€ per person
One of Nice’s most iconic restaurants. Small, intimate and almost impossible without a reservation. We tried the tomato galette, fresh pasta with basil, fried courgette and ricotta salad, all of which were excellent. As it’s an authentic family-run business it can be a bit cramped and uncomfortable, but the food is more than worth it.
🍖 Lavomatique
💰 Price: 40-50€ per person
It’ s a great place fordates. If you come here , youshould definitely sit at the bar. The dining experience starts withbread and olive oil, It continued with tartare and peaked with steak. A restaurant with the concept ofsharing plates, The food is so delicious that you forget that you are sitting on uncomfortable stools.
🍔 Banh Mei
💰 Price: 20-30€ per person
A combination ofAsian and Mediterranean cuisine. It’ s a place we got a recommendation while eating in Epiro. Vietnamese sandwiches, spicy burgers and the best examples of fusion cuisine are here. We had agreat burger without waiting at all.
🍷 Chabrol & Marmar
💰 Price:40-50€ per person
Both are pleasant but not very impressive restaurants. Places we tried in theharbour area that we might want to give a chance again. Thewine list is good, but the food was not among our favourites.
🍕 Type 55 Pizzeria
💰 Price: 15-20€ per pizza
If you want to try a pizzeria in Nice, Type 55 Pizzeria is an interesting option. They make pizzas with experimental ingredients such as activated carbon, so if you are looking for something different from the classic Italian pizzas, you can try it.
🍷 La Petit Maison
💰 Price: 70-100€ per person
One of Nice’s most famous restaurants. Touristic but high quality. It has a menu full of seafood, classic French dishes and Provence breezes. The service can sometimes be disrupted, but it is a safe choice in terms of food quality.
🍽 La Colombe d’Or (Saint-Paul-de-Vence)
💰 Price: 100-120€ per person
A restaurant where art and gastronomy meet. Miro, Picasso and Matisse‘s paintings are on the walls and the food is literally a work of art. Prices are high but it is the perfect address for a stylish lunch in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. You should go here at noon because the atmosphere and the hotel are much more enjoyable during the day.
🍕 La Pecora Negra Pizza (Menton)
💰 Price: 15-25€ per pizza
If you want to eat adelicious pizza while travelling to Menton , this is the place for you. One of the best pizzerias in Menton with itsthin dough, excellent sauces and pizzas.
Nice also offers a pleasant eating and drinking experience with its small bakeries, coffee shops and bars. Here are the places we tried and recommended during our time in the city:
Nice is a city rich in historical buildings, museums and natural beauties. Here are the must-see places in the city:
Promenade des Anglais: Nice’s most famous seafront promenade. It is ideal for a walk accompanied by palm trees, luxury hotels and views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Vieux Nice (Old Town): The most authentic part of the city with itscolourful buildings, narrow streets and lively markets. Full ofsmall boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Colline du Château (Castle Hill): One of the best spots for panoramic views of Nice. There are the ruins of an old castle and a beautiful park.
Matisse Museum: The museum houses the works of thefamous painter Henri Matisse, a stop not to be missed for art lovers.
Chagall Museum: A collection of Marc Chagall’s most important works is exhibited here. Especially the colourful stained glass windows are worth seeing.
Palais Masséna: This palace, reflecting the elegant architecture of the 19th century, contains artefacts of Nice’s history and art.
Nice Archaeological Museum: Roman remains and excavated artefacts are exhibited here. It is an interesting stop for those who want to explore ancient Nice.
Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate: Located in the Old Town, this 17th-century cathedral stands out with its baroque architecture and ornate interior.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice: Fine arts museum with a large collection ofFrench and Italian artists.
Jardin Albert 1er: Located in the city centre, this park is the ideal place to relax and take a short break in nature.
Notre-Dame de Nice: Inspired by the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, it is one of the largest churches in the city.
Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas: notable for itsRussian architecture, this cathedral reflects the heritage of the Russian community in Nice.
Marché aux Fleurs: This flower market, set up inCours Saleya, is also a market for fresh fruit, A lively market where you can also find vegetables and local products.
Parc du Mont Boron: Located in the east of Nice, this park is a great place for nature walks and overlooking the city from above.
Nice has many places to discover both historical and natural beauties. Depending on the time you spend in the city, you can visit some or all of these places.
Nice is strategically located on the French Riviera and there are many charming towns and villages to explore. Here are five great routes from Nice and what you can do there.
How to get there?
What to do?
How to get there?
What to do?
How to get there?
What to do?
How to get there?
What to do?
How to get there?
What to do?
