Nice
Nice is a city and commune, and the prefecture of the department of Alpes-Maritimes, and the administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
The Nice agglomeration extends beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million over an area of approximately 744 km2 (287 sq mi) or about the size of Singapore. Located on the French Riviera, the southeastern coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the French Alps, Nice is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille. It is approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) from the principality of Monaco and 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the French–Italian border. Nice's airport serves as a gateway to the region.
Worth seeing
The greatest thing to see in Nice is the views along the Promenade des Anglais, which skirts the seacoast for over 5 km, then ends at Nice Airport. These are the views you will have seen in dozens of postcards and in paintings by the 20th-century artist Henri Matisse, who spent so many years living in Nice, but whether you've seen pictures or not, you owe it to yourself to walk along some of this stretch if you have…
- 01Colline du Château
The castle hill overlooking the Baie des Anges and harbour offers a spectacular vantage point overlooking the city.
- 02Parc Phoenix
405 Promenade des Anglais, fax: +33 492 29 7701, parcphoenix@ville-nice.fr.
- 03Musée des Arts Asiatiques
405, Promenade des Anglais (just across the street from the airport),.
- 04Musée Marc Chagall
Avenue du Docteur Ménard 36, visiteguide-mn06@culture.gouv.fr.
- 05Musée Matisse
164, Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez (Buses 15, 22, 17, 20), fax: +33 4 9353 0022, matisse@ville-nice.fr.
- 06Musée d’Archéologie de Nice
Things to do
If you go to Nice for bathing or general lounging on the beach, you may wish to think again. The beaches of Nice consist entirely of large flat stones (gallets). A few private beaches have added a layer of sand, but the free public beaches are a stony experience. Besides towels or mats, you should definitely bring sandals, since walking on the stones can be painful, and a cushion if you want to sit.
- 01Cliff Walk
Where to eat
Many restaurants and cafés serve local food. You might consider preparing some simple meals chez vous or take home some local Nice delicacies to enjoy on your balcony. Street food is widely available in Nice. A combination of choices could easily replace a lunch without paying restaurant prices.
- 01Lou Pilha Leva
Locals (and the lots of French tourists) seem to love this place and it is often quite busy.
- 02L'americano
Friendly welcome, fast service, excellent pizza.
- 03Chez Palmyre
- 04Nomad Bar
A welcoming, authentic and pleasant place.
- 05Le Barbecue
In addition to the friendliness and kindness of all the staff.
Getting around Nice the local way
- Get inYou can either follow the road and hope to hitch a ride up, or choose the path up through the forest.
From Wikivoyage: Peillon, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-03.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Shesmax (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
