French Riviera & Nice: The Complete Guide
Nice is the Riviera's practical base — direct international flights, a 7 km promenade, one of France's best food markets and a coastal train that puts every glamour-name of the Côte d'Azur inside 40 minutes. This guide covers the day-trips that go on the shortlist and which hotel neighbourhood matches your trip.
Where to stay in Nice
Vieux Nice (Old Town): terracotta lanes, socca stalls, Cours Saleya flower market, dinner atmosphere on tap. Base here for a first visit — pick a hotel with double glazing.
Promenade des Anglais / Zone Piétonne: the classic sea-view Belle-Époque hotels (Le Negresco, Hyatt Regency, Anantara) and easy access to the beach clubs.
Carré d'Or: the Golden Square between the Promenade and Place Masséna — quieter than Vieux Nice, walking distance to everything.
Cimiez: quiet, leafy, Belle-Époque villas, Matisse and Marc Chagall museums — best for a longer stay or return visits.
Port de Nice: hipper, cheaper, near the ferry terminal to Corsica. Good restaurants, 15 min walk to Vieux Nice.
The day trips — by coastal train and bus
Èze (20 min by train + a bus up the hill): the perfect medieval hilltop village with the Jardin Exotique and Château Eza sunset. Half-day.
Monaco (20 min): Monte-Carlo Casino, Prince's Palace changing of the guard at 11:55, the Oceanographic Museum, lunch at Café de Paris. Full day.
Antibes + Cap d'Antibes (25 min): Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi, Marché Provençal, walk the Cap d'Antibes coastal path.
Cannes (35 min): La Croisette + Palais des Festivals, Le Suquet old town, boat to the Îles de Lérins for a monastery lunch.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence (bus 400 from Nice, 1h): the Fondation Maeght modern art masterpiece, medieval ramparts, La Colombe d'Or terrace lunch.
Menton (35 min, next to the Italian border): the lemon-yellow prettiest Riviera town — perfect for a quiet second day.
The best of Nice itself
Cours Saleya market: Provençal produce, flowers, socca (chickpea pancake) from Chez Thérésa. Closed Mondays.
Colline du Château sunset: 20-min climb (or free lift) to the ruined château for the sweep of the Baie des Anges.
Musée Matisse + Musée Marc Chagall in Cimiez — the twin heavyweight museums.
Beach clubs on the Promenade: Le Galet, Blue Beach, Castel Plage — pay ~€25-40 for a lounger + parasol day.
Dinner: La Merenda (no phone, no cards, cash only — the Niçois classic).
Getting in and around
Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) is 7 km from the centre. Tramway line 2 to the port is €1.70 (30 min). Kiwitaxi private transfer is 15-20 min.
TER coastal train: Nice-Monaco-Menton line runs every 20-30 min, all Riviera essentials €5-10.
Rent a car ONLY if you're doing hilltop villages (Gorbio, Peille, La Turbie) or the Verdon Gorges — otherwise trains and Zou! buses are easier. Book through our EconomyBookings / Discover Cars integration.
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Four nights minimum — one for Nice itself, one Monaco + Èze, one Antibes + Cannes, one Saint-Paul-de-Vence + a beach afternoon. Five nights lets you add Menton or Grasse.
Is Monaco worth a night?
No — day-trip. Monaco's hotels are 3-4x Nice pricing and everything of interest closes by 20:00 except the casino.
When is the best month?
May-June and mid-September to early October: warm, swimmable, half the July-August crowd, better hotel value. Avoid July-August unless you're OK with 32°C and packed beaches.
Do I need a car?
Not for the classic Riviera towns (all on the train line). Yes if you want the medieval hilltop villages of the Alpes-Maritimes hinterland or day trips to Verdon Gorges.
Is Nice safe?
Yes — standard big-city pickpocket awareness applies on the Promenade and Vieux Nice at night. The station area (Thiers) is scruffier — take a taxi at night.
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