Best Things To See And Do In Nice France

The crystal-clear azure waters of the French Riviera and views of the Bay of Angels in Nice, France, once a playground for royalty, are a must-see. This, paired with Nice’s historic Old Town and sites on nearby Cimiez hill, are vacation-worthy, offering many memorable things to do.

Its beaches, with their striking and blue and white striped umbrellas, the heart-thumping views from old castle hill, buzzing old town, Roman ruins, and art museums devoted to greats Matisse and Chagall, make a great summer getaway. This post covers the best things to see and do in Nice, France.

Best Things To See And Do In Nice, France

Walk The Promenade des Anglais

The broad, 4.3 mile (7 km) promenade, between the city and the beach, known as ‘La Prom’, is very popular with families, bicyclists, and skateboarders. Especially on weekends and near sunset. Walking, and people watching, on this stately boulevard along the coast is definitely one of the top things to do in Nice, France.

Sun On The Baie des Anges, or Bay of Angels Beaches

4 miles (6.4 km) of beach glisten alongside Nice’s Baie des Anges, which translates to Bay of Angels. And with these dazzling views and wonderful Mediterranean weather, it’s easy to see how it got its name.

Although there are a variety of public and private beaches along the coast, Plage publique de l’opera and Plage de Carras are the closest to the Old Town, and in my opinion, have the best views. The beaches themselves, however, are mostly pebbled, so the lure of a lounge chair here, is worth the cost. Water shoes are also an excellent idea.

Explore Old Town Nice

Old Town Nice, or Vieille Ville, borders Promenade des Anglais below Castle Hill. It’s full of historic, colorful tenement buildings and narrow lanes, along with beautiful squares, and churches.

The central Square, Place Messena, is known for its checkerboard tiles, Fountain of the Sun, and huge statue of Apollo (which was dressed in soccer clothes for a while when I was there).

North of Messena Square is the main shopping street, Avenue Jean Medecin. To the south is Promenade des Anglias, while the urban park of Paillon Promenade lies to the east and west. This stately square is usually buzzing with both locals and tourists. In peak season it’s also alive with dance performances and other entertainment.

Visit Jardin Albert 1

Named after the King of Belgium when the first war broke out, this green oasis is right across from Promenade des Anglais. The oldest public gardens in Nice, there is a giant statue of the goddess Nike, namesake of Nice. There’s also the Theater de Verdure, a popular open-air venue for concerts.

Climb Castle Hill

Castle Hill, once the site of a military citadel and castle, is now the most famous public garden in Nice. Admiring the spectacular views of the Cote d’Azure, France from here is another of the best things to do in Nice.

In addition to the stunning views of Baie des Anges on one side, and the port in the other, there’s also a 19th century man-made waterfall, and interesting mosaics of Homer’s Odyssey, a nod to Nice’s Greek heritage.

How To Get To Castle Hill: Located above Ponchettes Beach, you can either take the stairs, at the end of Promendae des Anglais, or the elevator.

Visit Cimiez

Cimiez, an affluent area in Nice, was once the ancient Roman town Cemenelum, rival of the Greek city Nikaia which eventually became Nice. Founded in the 1st century AD Cemenelum started as a military post, but quickly grew in importance, eventually becoming this region’s capital, until the fall of Rome almost 400 years later.

In the 19th century, period of the Belle Epoche, Cimiez became popular again, when rich aristocrats and European Kings and Queens, like Edward VII, Queen Victoria, and George V, vacationed here.

The top sites at Cimiez hill, includes the Roman Ruins of Cemenelum, the Monastery and gardens of Cimiez, and the museums devoted to Matisse and Chagall.

See The Roman Ruins of Cemenelum

The ancient city of Cemenelum, once about the same size as Pompeii, had a Forum, amphitheater, temples, elaborate homes, and a massive spa complex.

All that remains today is the amphitheater and the bath/spa complex. The rest remains buried under the city. The amphitheater is free to visit, but the spa complex is part of the museum here, Musee Archeologie de Nice.

How To Get To Cemenelum: This site is located just next to Matisse Musée. From Nice, take bus #5 and exit at Les Arenes/Musée Matisse.

Visit The Musée Matisse

Here you’ll find works from Matisse spanning his life, from early paintings to the paper cutouts he was known for later in life. If you’re a lover of Matisse, I recommend a visit, but it’s really a bit underwhelming. Especially as much of the information is in French.

How To Get To Musée Matisee: This site is located just next to the ruins of Cemenelum. From Nice, take bus #5 and get off at Les Arenes/Musée Matisse.

See The Monastery and Gardens of Cimiez

This monastery and church have been used by Franciscan friars since the 16th century. One of the highlights here are the gardens across from the monastery, offering beautiful panoramas of Nice. Henry Matisse is buried in the cemetery here.

Visit Musée Chagall

This museum dedicated to Marc Chagall is the largest exhibit of his works. Guided and self-guided tours are available, and helpful, to understand his unique, yet important work.

How To Get To Musée Chagall: Take the #5 bus up the hill towards Cimiez, exiting at stop ‘Musée Chagall’. If combining with other sites of Cimiez, I recommend stopping here on the way back down the hill to Nice.

Want To See More Of France?

Other top spots to explore in the Cote d’Azur include Cassis, St. Tropez, Cannes, Antibes.

Of course you can’t miss France’s most visited city, Paris, one of the most romantic cities in Europe. And from Paris, there are several must-do day trips, like the Palace of Versailles, or Giverny, to see Claude Monet’s house and gardens.

If you want to explore some of France’s more historic smaller cities, consider visitng Strasbourg, Lyon, Brittany, and Mont Saint-Michel.

Provence is another must-visit region with several stunning stops including Avignon, seat of the papacy in the 14th century, Aix-en-Provence, Provence’s cultural capital, picture perfect Gordes, charming Lourmarin, Arles, and St. Remy, where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works.

And to learn more about France’s outstanding wines, there’s also Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Loire Valley. Each with their own incredible terroir, varietals, and historic architecture.

To see all the places to fall in love with France in, as well as tips on money, safety, scams, and how to best get around, see my France Travel Guide.