{ "slug": "nice", "name": "Nice", "region": { "slug": "cote-azur", "name": "Côte d'Azur", "shortName": "Côte d'Azur" }, "url": "https://www.france2paths.com/regions/cote-azur/nice", "image": "/dev-server/src/assets/city-nice.jpg", "tagline": "Easy jumping-off hub for the Côte d'Azur — cobblestone beaches, Belle Époque elegance & a charming Old Town", "intro": "Bathed in the Mediterranean sun more than 300 days a year, Nice is the beating heart of the Côte d'Azur — and the easiest hub from which to explore the entire Riviera. Wander the ochre alleys of Vieux Nice (Old Town), stroll the famous Promenade des Anglais, and sink into the city that gave the world Niçoise-style food: socca, salade niçoise, pissaladière and pan bagnat. Foodies, beach lovers, art seekers and day-trippers all find their rhythm here, where big-city energy meets small-town neighborhoods and the Mediterranean glitters at the end of every street.", "pronunciation": "It's pronounced \"neece\" (like \"niece\"), not \"nice\". Tip: if your trip is solely to the South of France, fly directly into Nice International Airport (NCE) — many airlines offer direct or 1-stop flights from the U.S. and abroad.", "geo": { "lat": 43.7102, "lng": 7.262 }, "popular": false, "pros": [ "Warm Mediterranean climate with 300+ days of sunshine each year", "Huge beach easily accessible from most parts of the city", "Big city with small-town neighborhoods", "Excellent dining — regional Niçoise fare plus French and international cuisine", "Tons of tours and easy day trips out of the city", "Easy to reach nearby cities by local train and bus", "Cruise ships and ferries are easily accessible from Nice", "Easy to fly in and out of — a great hub for exploring the region" ], "cons": [ "Lots of tourists and crowds", "Can be pricey during high season", "The beach is cobblestones, not sand — bring water shoes!", "Nice is a big city — be aware of typical big-city issues" ], "stayCategories": [ { "kind": "luxury", "title": "Luxury", "description": "Luxury hotels are plentiful in Nice — from international brands like Marriott and Hilton to historic European and international luxury houses.", "hotels": [ { "name": "Hôtel du Couvent (Marriott Luxury Collection)", "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ncehc-hotel-du-couvent-a-luxury-collection-hotel-nice-france" }, { "name": "Maison Albar – Le Victoria", "url": "https://maison-albar-hotels-le-victoria.com" }, { "name": "Le Negresco", "url": "https://www.lenegresco.com" }, { "name": "Le Méridien Nice (Marriott)", "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ncemd-le-meridien-nice" } ] }, { "kind": "beach", "title": "Beach", "description": "Nice stretches along a very long beach, so beach hotels are everywhere — pick a stretch of the Promenade that suits your style and budget.", "hotels": [ { "name": "Hôtel Suisse", "url": "https://www.hotel-nice-suisse.com" }, { "name": "La Pérouse", "url": "https://www.hotel-la-perouse.com" }, { "name": "Hôtel Nice Beau Rivage", "url": "https://www.hotelnicebeaurivage.com" }, { "name": "Le Saint Paul", "url": "https://lesaintpaul-hotel.fr" } ] }, { "kind": "character", "title": "Character", "description": "Plenty of small B&B-style hotels around Nice. Pick a neighborhood you like and you'll find something at most budget levels.", "hotels": [ { "name": "Le Dortoir Boutique Suites", "url": "https://www.ledortoir.net" }, { "name": "Hôtel Palais Saleya", "url": "https://www.palaissaleya.com" }, { "name": "Hôtel Rossetti", "url": "https://www.hotelrossetti.fr" }, { "name": "Hôtel Petit Palais", "url": "https://www.petitpalaisnice.com/en" } ] }, { "kind": "budget", "title": "Budget", "description": "As a large city, Nice has many budget hotels and hostels. Read inclusions carefully — many don't have AC, linens/towels can be an extra fee, and some properties have no elevator (bring your stair-climbing legs).", "hotels": [ { "name": "Hôtel Paganini", "url": "https://www.paganini-nice.com" }, { "name": "Villa Saint Exupéry Beach Hostel", "url": "https://villahostels.com" }, { "name": "Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice", "url": "https://www.ammihotels.com/ammi-vieux-nice" } ] } ], "restaurants": [ { "name": "Le Plongeoir", "address": "60 Bd Franck Pilatte, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://www.leplongeoir.com", "notes": "Iconic seaside spot — great for social media." }, { "name": "Le Panier", "address": "5 Rue Barillerie, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://restaurantlepanier.com" }, { "name": "Chez Pipo", "address": "13 Rue Bavastro, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://www.chezpipo.fr/fr/", "notes": "Famous shop for traditional Niçoise socca." }, { "name": "Bocca Mar", "address": "15 Prom. des Anglais, 06000 Nice", "url": "https://www.boccamar.com" } ], "bars": [ { "name": "Waka Bar", "address": "57 Quai des États-Unis, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://waka-bar.com", "description": "Lively bar with a great seafront vibe." }, { "name": "Le Shapko", "address": "5 Rue Rossetti, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://shapko.eatbu.com", "description": "Live-music bar tucked into Vieux Nice." }, { "name": "Wayne's Bar", "address": "15 Rue de la Préfecture, 06300 Nice", "url": "https://www.waynesbar-restaurant.com", "description": "Long-standing Old Town favorite with live music and an international crowd." }, { "name": "High Club", "address": "45 Prom. des Anglais, 06000 Nice", "url": "https://www.highclub.fr/", "description": "One of Nice's biggest nightclubs — right on the Promenade." } ], "activities": [ { "icon": "compass", "title": "Old Nice (Vieux Nice)", "description": "A must-visit. Wander the shady alleys and colorful buildings — gorgeous photos and great walking. Skip the map, then stop for a coffee, drink or snack. Shop, or hit one of the weekly markets in the squares." }, { "icon": "compass", "title": "Stroll the Promenade des Anglais", "description": "This famous beach sidewalk got its name from the British tourists who flocked here over a century ago. It runs 7+ km west from Old Nice all the way to the airport — flat, easy walking with cafés and restaurants along the way. Grab one of the iconic blue chairs and watch the waves." }, { "icon": "anchor", "title": "Visit the Port (Quartier du Port)", "description": "Love yachts and ferry-watching? Don't miss Nice's port — small, upscale, totally walkable, with touristy shops and cafés.", "link": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/7aJSgihtYKoR5xqE8?g_st=ic", "linkLabel": "View on Map" }, { "icon": "mountain", "title": "Colline du Château viewpoints", "description": "Between the port and Old Town sits a hilltop park with walking trails, ruins, a cemetery and historical buildings — and the best photo viewpoints over Nice. It's a steep walk up; there's an elevator but it's often out of service.", "link": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/gPxjfqsTN4uZY4Yq7?g_st=ic", "linkLabel": "Colline du Château", "links": [ { "label": "I Love Nice Sign", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/seb3PSzYXnv1QuPL6?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Bellanda Tower", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/sVz4s8EW1rfwmcCb8?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Château View of Nice", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/N1e6KJz2XuJKLbi56?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Old Town Nice Panorama", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/gPxjfqsTN4uZY4Yq7?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Port View", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kh6mgurZcKCRiMWG7?g_st=ic" } ] }, { "icon": "shopping", "title": "Visit an open-air market", "description": "Nice has many open-air markets in different squares on different days — search 'open air market' in Google Maps to find one. A few of the most famous:", "links": [ { "label": "Marché aux Fleurs Cours Saleya", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/a45i2TawzSXtboFC9?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Marché des Antiquités", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/a45i2TawzSXtboFC9?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Marché de Noël (winter holidays)", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/bHYgZ41wjnivZh5G7?g_st=ic" } ] }, { "icon": "compass", "title": "Walk Jardin Albert 1er to Place Masséna", "description": "A lovely short park walk. Start at the Nice Centenary Monument and stroll to Place Masséna — be sure to stop for photos at the Fontaine du Soleil along the way.", "links": [ { "label": "Nice Centenary Monument (start)", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/72PG1grEEbD2eByW6?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Place Masséna", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7YLUFWG6ZQaweaq6?g_st=ic" }, { "label": "Fontaine du Soleil", "url": "https://maps.app.goo.gl/hpR2pDC64pTzm2mF8?g_st=ic" } ] }, { "icon": "star", "title": "Musée Matisse", "description": "Enjoy the art of Matisse in an elegant 17th-century villa at 164 Ave. des Arènes de Cimiez.", "link": "https://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/en/", "linkLabel": "Visit Website" }, { "icon": "star", "title": "MAMAC — Modern & Contemporary Art Museum", "description": "If you love modern art, MAMAC is an easy visit from Old Town Nice. Place Yves Klein, 06000 Nice.", "link": "https://www.mamac-nice.org/en/", "linkLabel": "Visit Website" }, { "icon": "compass", "title": "Watch the sunset", "description": "Find a bar or café along the Promenade, order a drink, and just relax — golden-hour Nice is unbeatable." } ], "dayTripGroups": [ { "title": "Perched Villages", "towns": [ { "name": "Gourdon" }, { "name": "Route des Gorges du Loup" }, { "name": "Vence" }, { "name": "Tourrettes-sur-Loup", "to": { "regionSlug": "cote-azur", "citySlug": "tourrettes-sur-loup" } }, { "name": "Saint-Jeannet", "to": { "regionSlug": "cote-azur", "citySlug": "saint-jeannet" } } ] }, { "title": "Coastal — Going East", "towns": [ { "name": "Èze", "to": { "regionSlug": "cote-azur", "citySlug": "eze" } }, { "name": "Villefranche-sur-Mer" }, { "name": "Beaulieu-sur-Mer" }, { "name": "Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat" }, { "name": "Monte Carlo / Monaco" }, { "name": "Menton", "to": { "regionSlug": "cote-azur", "citySlug": "menton" } } ] } ], "dayTripIntro": "Nice is a perfect jumping-off city for day trips along the Riviera and into the perched villages above. You can do most of these on your own (car, train or bus), or hire a guide, tour or driver.", "dayTripWarning": { "title": "Too Far for a Day Trip", "body": "While tempting, Saint-Tropez, Provence, Verdon, Luberon, the Calanques, Les Alpilles and Marseille are more than a couple of hours away. If these are must-sees, consider basing yourself closer." }, "tips": [] }