Nice in 3 days

The French Riviera's sun-soaked capital: a pebble-beach promenade, pastel old town and gateway to the Côte d'Azur. Best time to visit: May-June and September-October. Average daily budget: $110 to $190 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Vieux Nice (Old Town), Ochre lanes, the flower market and Niçoise food and bars.

Morning: Promenade des Anglais & beach. Stroll, cycle or swim along the iconic seafront.

Afternoon: Explore Vieux Nice (Old Town), Ochre lanes, the flower market and Niçoise food and bars.

Evening: Vieux Nice & Cours Saleya market. Old-town lanes, the flower and food market, and socca stalls.

Eat: Socca, the warm chickpea-flour pancake

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Promenade des Anglais, The famous seafront walk along the Baie des Anges.

Morning: Castle Hill viewpoint. Climb (or take the lift) for the postcard view over the bay.

Afternoon: Explore Promenade des Anglais, The famous seafront walk along the Baie des Anges.

Evening: Day trip to Èze, Monaco or Antibes. Perched villages, glamour and coves along the coastal railway.

Eat: Salade niçoise done the proper local way

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Cimiez, A leafy hilltop quarter with Roman ruins and the Matisse Museum.

Morning: Socca, the chickpea pancake, fresh from a Vieux Nice stall.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Cimiez, A leafy hilltop quarter with Roman ruins and the Matisse Museum.

Evening: The Marc Chagall and Matisse museums up in Cimiez.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Pissaladière, the onion-and-anchovy tart

Hidden gems

Socca, the chickpea pancake, fresh from a Vieux Nice stall.
The Marc Chagall and Matisse museums up in Cimiez.
Sunset drinks at the harbour or Mont Boron.
The hidden coves around Villefranche-sur-Mer, one stop away.

Getting around

Central Nice is walkable, with a clean tram line linking the station, old town and port. The coastal train is the star for day trips, reaching Monaco, Èze-sur-Mer, Antibes and Cannes in minutes for a few euros. Skip a car; coastal parking is expensive and scarce.

Safety

Nice is generally safe but, as a busy tourist city, has pickpockets on the promenade, in markets and on packed trains, so keep bags zipped and close. The beach is pebbles, not sand, so bring water shoes, and watch belongings while swimming.

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