Old Town
500 m from Place MassénaA maze of narrow lanes and tall, colourful houses between Castle Hill and the sea, full of small shops and restaurants. Lively until late, so expect some noise at night.
- Population
- ≈ 360,000
- Language
- French
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Nearest airport
- NCE, 6 km
Start in the square: Place Masséna
Place Masséna, 06000 Nice
Place Masséna is the city's main square, paved in black and white squares and framed by red buildings with arcades. A fountain with a statue of Apollo stands at one end, and the tram glides across the middle. At night, seven figures on tall poles light up in changing colours. The old town starts just to the south.
Within a short walk
- Castle HillColline du Château, 06300 Nice800 m
- Cours SaleyaCours Saleya, 06300 Nice400 m
- Sainte-Réparate CathedralPlace Rossetti, 06000 Nice500 m
- Palais Lascaris15, rue Droite, 06000 Nice600 m
Where to stay in Nice
Port
1.2 km from Place MassénaThe area around the old harbour east of Castle Hill, with yachts, ferries to Corsica and seafood restaurants on the quays. More local than the centre, with a tram into town.
Cimiez
2.3 km from Place MassénaA green hill north of the centre with grand villas, Roman ruins, a monastery garden and the Matisse and Chagall museums. Quiet and leafy, with buses down to the centre.
Mont Boron
2.6 km from Place MassénaA wooded hill east of the port with villas and walking paths high above the sea. Very quiet, with great views, but you need a bus or car to get around.
Things to do in Nice
Promenade des Anglais
Promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice
The seafront walk that follows the curve of the bay for several kilometres, lined with palm trees and blue chairs. Walk or cycle it early in the morning, or come back to watch the sunset.
Castle Hill
Colline du Château, 06300 Nice
A rocky hill between the old town and the port, now a shady park with an artificial waterfall and the ruins of a castle. Climb the steps or take the lift for the widest view of the bay.
Cours Saleya
Cours Saleya, 06300 Nice
A long square in the old town with a flower and food market every morning except Monday, when antiques and second-hand goods take over. Cafés and restaurants line both sides.
Marc Chagall National Museum
36, avenue Docteur Ménard, 06000 Nice
A museum built for Chagall's large paintings of stories from the Bible, with stained glass windows he designed for its concert room. It stands in a quiet garden on the hill of Cimiez.
Musée Matisse
164, Avenue des Arènes, 06000 Nice
A red villa among olive trees in Cimiez, holding works from every period of Matisse's life. The painter spent his last years in Nice, and his grave is in the cemetery nearby.
St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Avenue Nicolas-II, 06000 Nice
A cathedral with green and gold onion domes, built in 1912 for the Russian community that wintered in Nice. Inside are rich icons and painted walls; cover your shoulders and knees to enter.
Sainte-Réparate Cathedral
Place Rossetti, 06000 Nice
A baroque cathedral on a small square in the old town, with a dome of coloured tiles. The inside is full of gilded chapels, and the square in front is a pleasant place to sit.
Palais Lascaris
15, rue Droite, 06000 Nice
A 17th-century noble house in the old town, with painted ceilings, a grand staircase and a large collection of old musical instruments. A quick and cool stop on a hot day.
Museum of Fine Arts
33 avenue des Baumettes, 06000 Nice
Paintings and sculpture from the 17th to the early 20th century, in a grand villa in the west of the city. It is rarely crowded, and the garden is pleasant too.
Getting there
Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE)
06206 Nice
6 km from the city centre
Nice-Ville railway station
Avenue Thiers, 06008 Nice
Main railway station, 1 km from Place Masséna
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 12°Jan
- 12°Feb
- 13°Mar
- 15°Apr
- 19°May
- 22°Jun
- 25°Jul
- 26°Aug
- 23°Sep
- 20°Oct
- 16°Nov
- 13°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 13 |
| Low °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 11 |
| Rain mm | 57 | 58 | 67 | 56 | 55 | 33 | 18 | 28 | 54 | 91 | 123 | 83 |
| Rain days | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
| Daylight h | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
The year in Nice
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
NovemberSport
Nice–Cannes Marathon
A marathon that runs along the coast from Nice to Cannes, with the sea in view for most of the way. Coastal roads close in the morning while the runners pass.
FebruaryFestival
Nice Carnival
Two weeks of parades with giant figures and bands, plus flower parades where people on decorated floats throw flowers to the crowd. Buy seats in the stands for the best view.
JuneSport
Ironman France
A long-distance triathlon with a swim in the bay, a hard bike ride into the hills and a run along the seafront. Roads close for much of the day, and crowds cheer along the Promenade.
JulyMusic
Nice Jazz Festival
Evening concerts of jazz and many other styles on stages in gardens close to the sea. Tickets are sold per night, and the big names sell out first.
14 JulyHoliday
Bastille Day
France celebrates its national day with fireworks over the bay after dark. Find a spot on the seafront or the hills early, as the best places fill up fast.
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- 1 EUR = 1.12 USD = 0.83 GBP (ECB, 30 October 2026)
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Type C and E, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112, 15, 17, 18, 114
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (summer UTC+2)
- Country calling code
- +33
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- All Saints' Day (Toussaint)1 Nov 2026
- Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)11 Nov 2026
- Christmas Day (Noël)25 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)1 Jan 2027
- Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)29 Mar 2027
- Labour Day (Fête du Travail)1 May 2027
- Ascension Day (Ascension)6 May 2027
- Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945)8 May 2027
- Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)17 May 2027
- Bastille Day (Fête nationale)14 Jul 2027
- Assumption Day (Assomption)15 Aug 2027
Nice FAQ
When is the best time to visit Nice?
May – Oct, when the average daytime high is between 19 and 26 °C.
Which airport is closest to Nice?
Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), about 6 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in Nice?
The euro (EUR).
What plugs are used in Nice?
Type C and E, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in Nice?
Nice–Cannes Marathon (November), Nice Carnival (February), Ironman France (June), Nice Jazz Festival (July), Bastille Day (14 July).
Nearby cities
All guides in France →Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · 27 kmCannesPopulation ≈ 75,000
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · 126 kmToulonPopulation ≈ 170,000
Liguria · 43 kmSanremoPopulation ≈ 47,000
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · 148 kmAix-en-ProvencePopulation ≈ 150,000
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.