Nice

Sun, Sea and Sophistication on the Riviera

Nice sits on France’s southeastern coast where the Mediterranean meets rolling hills and vibrant neighborhoods. The city features wide boulevards lined with palm trees, historic buildings painted in pastel colors and a lively old town known as Vieux Nice. Markets sell fresh produce, fragrant spices and handmade crafts. Beaches stretch along the shoreline, offering calm waters for swimming or quiet walks. Local cafes serve regional dishes like salade niçoise and socca. The area balances relaxed seaside life with cultural attractions such as museums and festivals throughout the year.

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City in France

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Many locals in the service industry have a good command of English, making it easy to get around without French.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Nice Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for Mediterranean beaches and city culture. Walk the seaside promenade, relax on sunny beaches, explore old town markets and enjoy vibrant cafés.

Place score

8.2

Best at:

Sea

Local cuisine

Walkable

Fine dining

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 10

Couples

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

France – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.

Bastille Day (July)	Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other:	France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Nice, France

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

🌦️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Nice Carnival runs about two weeks from early to late February, with parades and flower battles

Heavy autumn storms with flash flooding possible September to November, check weather alerts

Many beach clubs and seaside restaurants close from November to March

Don't miss

🌅 Stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais at sunset
🏘️ Explore the colorful markets and narrow streets of Old Town
🏖️ Relax on the pebble beaches of the French Riviera
🎨 Visit the stunning Musée Matisse and admire his masterpieces
🎰 Take a day trip to glamorous Monaco and Monte Carlo
🏰 Climb Castle Hill for panoramic views over Nice

You've been here?

Why travel to Nice?

Nice offers a perfect mix of beach relaxation, cultural experiences and vibrant city life. The Promenade des Anglais is perfect for a leisurely walk along the sea, while the Old Town (Vieux Nice) invites you to get lost in its colorful, narrow streets. The city’s art museums, like the Musée Matisse, are a treat for culture lovers. While it can be crowded in peak season and a bit pricey, its charm is well worth it.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Musée Marc Chagall
2 Musée Matisse
3 Palais Lascaris
4 Place Masséna
5 Promenade des Anglais
6 Bar Old Town

🎡Places for activities

1 Promenade des Anglais
2 Opéra de Nice

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Phoenix Park
2 Baie des Anges
3 Promenade du Paillon
4 Coco Beach
5 Mont Boron
6 Jardin Albert 1er
7 Cap de Nice

🛍️Shopping

1 Galeries Lafayette
2 Avenue Jean Médecin
3 Rue Paradis
4 Marché Poissons Libération
5 Cap 3000
6 Rue de France
7 Bar Old Town

🎈Events

Nice Carnival
Nice Jazz Festival
Festival de la Musique
Les Fêtes de Mai
Prom'Party
Nice Film Festival
Christmas Village and Market
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes
Ironman France
Fête de la Saint-Pierre

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book beachfront or Old Town accommodation early, especially in summer.
Expect mostly pebbly beaches along the Promenade des Anglais; pack water shoes and consider paying for private beach comfort.
Set aside time for Castle Hill and Vieux Nice’s markets and lanes, ideal for photos, sunsets and local snacks.
Ride the elevator or walk up Castle Hill for panoramic bay views, then continue to Port Lympia for quieter waterfront cafés.

How to travel to Nice

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the main gateway, offering international and domestic flights. High-speed trains (TGV) connect Nice to Paris, Marseille and beyond. The port also accommodates ferries to Corsica and Mediterranean cruises.

Access summary

From Nice Airport (NCE): Tram line 2 to centre, about 25–30 minutes.
From Paris: Direct TGV trains to Nice-Ville, usually around 5.5–6 hours.
From Monaco: Frequent regional TER trains to Nice, typically about 20–30 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Nice

Nice offers a mix of luxury hotels along the Promenade des Anglais, charming boutique stays in the Old Town and budget-friendly options further inland. Consider staying in Cimiez for a quieter experience or near the port for a vibrant nightlife scene.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel 66 Nice

9.2

Hotel West End Promenade des Anglais

8.7

Hotel 64 Nice

9.1

Hotel Nice Azur Riviera

8.9

Westminster Hotel & Spa

8.5

Beau Rivage Nice

8.4

Hotel Albert 1er Nice

8.8

Nemea Appart'hôtel Nice Riviera

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Nice

Nice has an efficient tram and bus network, with the Lignes d'Azur system connecting key spots. The tram line 2 directly links the airport with the city center. Walking and cycling are great ways to explore, especially along the promenade.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+10 %

Daily expenses in Nice are around 10% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£70	£162	£455
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£75	£188
🍝 Food per day	£34	£77	£229
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£10	£39

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£29
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£23
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£11.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Nice is generally safe, with a low crime rate. Be cautious of pickpockets in crowded areas and avoid isolated spots late at night, especially near the train station.

Health & Medical

Nice has excellent healthcare facilities, including international clinics. Pharmacies are widely available and emergency services are reliable. No special vaccinations are needed for travel here.

Accessibility

Nice is quite accessible, with adapted public transport and many accessible hotels and attractions. However, some areas in the Old Town have cobblestone streets which might be difficult for wheelchair users.

Tap water

Tap water in Nice is safe to drink. Public fountains often provide fresh water and restaurants serve tap water for free if requested ('carafe d'eau').