Located on the French Riviera and blessed with a year-round sunny climate, Nice is more than just nice - it's the queen of the Cote d'Azur. What to do there? Take a stroll along Promenade des Anglais before browsing through a myriad of shops and the flower market, gawk at the beautiful art-deco façades and get lost in the maze of the old town. Sounds nice? Check out our readers' top Nice tips below and get even more inspired

Add your own tips here or check out more Nice tips here
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Where to stay

Villa la Tour Hotel
Posted by royalblue
This is a small, friendly hotel in the Old Town. I am not usually a fan of hotels, I prefer apartments these days, but I needed to pop to Nice for just two days and Villa la Tour was recommended to me. It is right in the Old Town on Rue de la Tour. It has less than 10 rooms and used to be a nunnery until the owners converted it. The lady who runs it used to work at the Negresso and she has customer service sewn up. They have their own website if you need to look them up. A cute and reasonably well-decorated place to stay for a short break.
villa-la-tour.com
Near to the bus station at the top of the Old Town

Nice Pebbles
Posted by Honeymooners
Friendly, fantastic service and superb apartments. As it was our honeymoon there were flowers, champagne and chocolates for our arrival. We also had waffle robes. We stayed in Alexandre Mari, so incredibly special with views of all of Nice. The restaurants they recommended to us were also very very good, especially Oliviera on Rue de Collet in the Old Town.
nicepebbles.com

Book direct with owners
Posted by chokoro
Last time I went to Nice I booked direct with the owner a stunning apartment just a couple of streets from the famous Negresco Hotel and one minute from the beach. I got an excellent two week deal with a pretty good discount.

I did scour around whilst I was there to get prices for hotels. Everything at the time of my trip was over €100 per night for a double room. I paid €65 per night for the apartment, plus I had the comfort of my own kitchen and plenty of space.

We eventually booked with a couple who have lived there for over three years. They handled everything professionally and we were very impressed. We will be back for sure. There are plenty of sources on the web to find owners but we did find this particular couple very friendly and professional.
rivierasoleil.com



Promenade des Anglais and Hotel Negresco

What to do

Visit Nice
Posted by Bovriltrudy
The city of Nice has everything for a long weekend: it is set on a wonderful bay with a pebbly beach and the Promenade des Anglais to stroll along, as well as Vieux Nice which is fascinating. There are lots of cafes and restaurants from which to watch the world go by and savour local cuisine.

There are wonderful art galleries and architecture; the shopping is excellent (the flower market is a must), as is the transport system, including a brand new tramway within the city, and buses which will take you along the coast and up to hill villages. The flight, with either Easyjet or BA who both go there all year round, takes about one hour 40 minutes with an easy transfer by bus into the city.

There is something for all tastes and because it will be Easter there will be a real festive buzz. Go! It's wonderful!

Nice Cycle Tours
Posted by klangy
This is a guided bike tour for discovering Nice.

The tour passes all Nice's main attractions. The guide explained Nice's history and answered all questiones sufficiently that were put to him during the tour. The tour is three hours long and included a free coffee (or beer).

The guide also pointed out all the best bars and restaurants for different tastes on the tour - from cheap n cheerful to regional cuisine and top-end romantic.

It's a great way to orientate yourself in Nice and see it from some fantastic angles.
nicecycletours.com

Parc Phoenix
Posted by argent99
This is a botanical park near the airport. For only two euro, you can stroll around its various environments and admire all the amazing plants. A tropical hothouse includes an aquarium and iguanas. Worth a visit anytime for a budget urban nature fix and terrific for passing a couple of relaxing hours prior to check-in.
Parc Phoenix
405 Promenade des Anglais
+33 (0)4 92 29 77 00
Opposite Nice Cote d'Azur airport
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Where to eat

Le Bistrot D'Antoine
Posted by royalblue
This restaurant serves traditional Nicois dishes. It is quite small and cosy with some tables outside.

It's always busy and we'd highly recommend booking a few days before (we had to try three times before we got a table). It is a much better experience than the tourist trap of the Cours Saleya, and just two streets back.
Rue de Prefecture

Cafe De Turin
Posted by laughingbuddha
This is the oldest seafood cafe in Nice. Eat moules, oyster, lobster and shellfish platters. Wash them down with delicious white wine/whisky.
Plaza Garibaldi

Sur La Pouce
Posted by Monkmoor
For quick and tasty street food on the go, try Sur La Pouce.

The moustachioed owner is friendly and chatty - go a second time and chances are he'll remember you.

To get a real taste of classic Nice food go for the Assiette Nicoise. It gives you all the classics on one plate: stuffed vegetables, courgette flowers, sardines etc.
Rue St Francois in the Old Town

Auer Gourmet
Posted by mp3cityguides
There is a stunning array of tea and coffee and amazing cakes and pastries in this little café and salon de thé. Beautiful decorations and friendly staff add to the effect.
7 Rue Saint François de Paul
maison-auer.com
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Helpful hints

The tramway
Posted by royalblue
The tram runs eight kilometres from Las Planas to Pont Michel, stopping in between at Gare Thiers, Jean Medicin, Place Massena and up to Place Garibaldi.

The cost per journey is a standard fare of €1.30. You can also get a day pass for €4 entitling you to unlimited travel for the day. You can buy tickets at any of the self-service stations where you catch the tram.

The journey from Place Massena to Pont Michel takes approx 16 minutes and there is a tram every four minutes during peak times and every eight minutes off-peak. Trams run from 4am until 2.30am the next morning.
tramway-nice.org
lignedazur.com

Local buses
Posted by WilmaD
For €1.30, single, you can travel all round Nice as far as Cannes, Monte Carlo and Menton.

Buses are frequent and run to timetables.
Main bus station in Nice

The train from Paris to Nice is, er, nice
Posted by Andrew Saxton
The overnight train from Paris to Nice is a brilliant way to get to the south of France on a budget, save yourself the cost of a hotel room for the night, and protect the environment.

So when you've reached the French capital on Eurostar you can get the TGV or SNCF south. It's great fun as well.


View over Villefranche and Menton

Had enough of Nice? Get out of town!

Taking the narrow gauge railway into the Alps
Posted by Touet
The CF de Provence is the last mainline narrow gauge railway in France. It runs daily from Nice to Digne leaving at 9am and arriving just in time for a memorable lunch in the station buffet at Digne.

Don't worry about missing the train back, the driver is in there too! It gets back to Nice at 5pm. The scenery is spectacular and the trains and stations enchanting. It's cheap and if you're over 55 or a student (or une famille nombreuse) you will get a big discount.

Go in February when you can leave a spring-like Nice and be in the depths of winter in 30 minutes with giant icicles and snow fields. August is lavender festival time.

The new neat station is in the rue Alfred Binet in Nice, just behind the original (now abandoned) art nouveau station which is being converted into a new town hall for Nice, but judging by how long they are taking to finish the trams, don't hold your breath.

Sospel
Posted by buryboy
This is a laid back, small town in the Roya valley, hard up against the border with Italy.

Easily accessible by train from Nice and surrounded by beautiful hills, it is perfect for exploring by foot or cycle, and a great entry point to the Mercantour National Park.

The town has its share of interesting buildings, including an ancient bridge and the baroque Saint Michel cathedral set in an impressive town square.

With plenty of places to eat well Sospel is a peaceful haven away from the hectic coastal area.
sospel-tourisme.com

Villefranche-sur-Mer
Posted by Bridget Mellor
Leave Nice and travel east five kilometres to the delightful town of Villefranche-sur-Mer with its deep natural harbour and wonderful selection of seafood restaurants.

Note the splendid Baroque church at the top of the hill and wind your way down the medieval streets to the amazing chapel by the sea, lavishly decorated by Jean Cocteau and dedicated to fishermen in the area who initially refused to enter because of the flamboyant naked male angels painted on the walls.

If you like Cocteau's work, travel onwards to Menton to a very camply decorated registry office and a wonderful museum, containing a huge Cocteau collection.

Stay in Nice and go skiing
Posted by Monkmoor
My HUGE tip - stay in Nice Old Town; soak up the sunshine and then hop on a train to go and whizz down the pistes in the Alps! It's way closer than you think, and great value - a skiing holiday on the Med? Yes!
nice-city-vacation.com/nice-skiing