Nice holidays

Take a trip into the past on your city break in Nice, where you’ll wander by mediaeval walls and baroque palaces on cobblestone lanes. Admire ceiling frescoes at the Lascaris Palace and see painted cherubs inside the Church of Saint Jacques le Majeur. At Grotte du Lazaret, discover a cave with remnants of prehistoric humans at the foot of Mont Boron.

Before a lunch of zucchini blossom beignets and saucy ratatouille, sip anise-flavoured ‘pastis.’ Then say ‘sante’ (cheers) to Provence-Cote d’Azur cuisine with a glass of rose. Along with its famous nicoise salad, Nice specialises in ‘pan bagnat’, sandwiches usually filled with olives, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs and tuna drenched in olive oil. For dessert, deep-fried ‘ganses’ pastries will melt in your mouth.

Holidays to Nice put you on the doorstep of mediaeval villages and seaside towns that epitomise Rivieran glamour. Catch a train from Nice-Ville station to stroll around Menton’s Serre de la Madone Garden or walk the Nietzsche Path to Plage d’Eze. Linger in Cannes for celebrity-spotting with sunset drinks along Promenade de la Croisette.

If you love shopping along grand boulevards and sipping cocktails on ritzy rooftops, Jean-Medecin is the best area to stay in Nice. Gaze at the fountains and statues dotting the checkerboard paving of Place Massena, the city’s central square. After filling your shopping bags and dining at chic French restaurants, relax in Promenade du Paillon park. 

Good for: Shopping, restaurants, rooftop bars

Wondering where to stay in Nice for a history fix on your way to markets and museums? Consider the Old Town, where the 1700s are still on fine display. Pick up foodie treats at Cours Saleya and rummage for vintage treasures at the Monday flea market. Keep your camera ready for Baroque wonders like the ornate Sainte Reparate Cathedral, the religious heart of the city for more than 400 years.

Good for: Museums, markets, churches

Planning on taking day trips around the French Riviera? Stay within a few steps of the train station in Riquier. The leafy neighbourhood is refreshingly residential and rests behind the upmarket port. And hotel prices here won’t break the bank for cheap holidays to Nice. It’s a quick walk down to the harbour, where yachts bob on the water and Place Garibaldi hosts sunset aperitifs.

Good for: Train station, parks, harbour

You’ll always find fun things to do with family in Nice along the Prom. Pick up electric bikes and cycle to a new ice cream shop each day. For an easy day trip, drive about 15 minutes to the beaches and cobbled stairways of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Rainy day? The indoor playground at Kid City Nice has you covered.

Pack your comfy shoes for shopping in Nice because once you start, it’s hard to stop. Avenue Jean Medecin is worth dedicating at least a day to, with Galeries Lafayette, designer stores and Centre Commercial NICETOILE. You’ll be spoilt for choice with markets, including book and antique vendors, at the Place du Palais de Justice market.

It’s worth getting a Nice Museum Pass for discounts to museums in Nice. Art fans flock to the Matisse Museum to marvel at the master’s paintings and sculptures. MAMAC is home to a trove of contemporary art, while Massena Museum lets you peer into the opulent lives of French nobility. To learn everything you need to know about Olympic Games history, check out the Musee National du Sport.

The nightlife in Nice is some of the best in the French Riviera. Dress up for an evening of classical music at the sumptuous Opera de Nice. If casual is more your thing, join pub crawls in the Old Town for pints with live music. You’re never far from a trendy bar between Port Lympia and Place Garibaldi. Ready to dance all night? High Club on the promenade hosts celebrity DJs.

You’ll need to book early to dine at the best restaurants in Nice, including Michelin-starred Flaveur and Restaurant JAN. Otherwise there’s a traditional bistro for ‘socca’ (chickpea pancakes) around most corners in the Old Town. From seafood restaurants in Quartier du Port, watch the yachts glide by. Find upmarket international cuisine in the hip Liberation neighbourhood.

Beaches in Nice don’t get more glamorous than the private Opera Beach. Iconic white-and-blue parasols shade holidaymakers while diners eat grilled prawns on the restaurant terrace. Take the kids to Blue Beach for watersports in front of the famous hotel Le Negresco. It’s best to arrive early for a spot on petite La Reserve beach with its photogenic diving platform.