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A stone obelisk fountain stands amid the yellow, green-shuttered buildings of Nice's old town.
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NiceTravel Guide

France5 stories

The capital of the French Riviera pairs a palm-lined seafront promenade with a tangle of ochre Old Town lanes, Belle Epoque architecture, and a Mediterranean food culture all its own.

Is Nice right for you?

When to come

Late spring and early autumn

Around 28°C by day in August, 13°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

Nice is inDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 13 degrees by day, 6 at night, 74 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 14 degrees by day, 6 at night, 54 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 15 degrees by day, 8 at night, 51 millimetres of rain, some rain.
April: around 17 degrees by day, 11 at night, 69 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 21 degrees by day, 15 at night, 40 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
June: around 25 degrees by day, 18 at night, 36 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
July: around 28 degrees by day, 21 at night, 14 millimetres of rain, dry.
August: around 28 degrees by day, 21 at night, 17 millimetres of rain, dry.
September: around 25 degrees by day, 18 at night, 81 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
October: around 21 degrees by day, 14 at night, 128 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 17 degrees by day, 10 at night, 138 millimetres of rain, wet.
December: around 14 degrees by day, 7 at night, 90 millimetres of rain, wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Late spring and early autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Nice (Nice Cote d'Azur Airport), 4 m, 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

Meteo-France; Infoclimat.fr (via Wikipedia 'Nice')

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Turin, Italy160 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mid)

  • Marseille160 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

  • Cinque Terre, Italy200 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mid)

  • Milan, Italy250 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

Plan itWhere to stay in Nicead · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Nice

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Nice

Red and ochre Belle Epoque buildings and palm trees reflected in the mirror pool of the Promenade du Paillon beside Place Massena in Nice
01
Destinations

Nice for First-Timers: The Complete Riviera Primer

Curving bay, ochre old town, market mornings and museum afternoons — how to do the capital of the French Riviera right on a first visit.

France · 2 min
A narrow lane in Vieux Nice in afternoon sun, cafe tables and awnings lining the ochre-walled street and people strolling through the light.
02
Destinations

When to visit Nice: a frank guide to the Riviera's seasons

Nice was built as a winter resort, and the calendar still rewards anyone who remembers it: a frank, month-by-month guide to the Riviera's seasons, costs and crowds.

France · 10 min
Late golden light down a busy street in Vieux Nice, ochre and yellow shuttered facades on both sides, market awnings and a bar terrace at the far end, and the white clock tower of the old town standing above the crowd.
03
Itineraries

Sunrise to midnight in Nice: one full Riviera day

Dawn on the Promenade, market grazing on Cours Saleya, a castle-hill panorama and a Vieux Nice evening — how to give Nice one perfect day.

France · 2 min
A narrow lane in Vieux Nice shot on film, a green cafe awning and folded parasol on the left, cafe tables and chairs out on the flagstones, and a red scooter parked under a painted tattoo and piercing sign.
04
Stays

Where to stay in Nice: the areas to book and the ones to skip

Seafront grandeur, old-town atmosphere or port-side cool? A straight-talking guide to choosing your Nice neighborhood — and the spots to avoid.

France · 2 min
In pictures

Nice, framed

Looking down on the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais in Nice and the pebble beach of the Baie des Anges, with swimmers in the turquoise water.
Photo: Kamilla Isalieva / Unsplash
Place Massena in Nice, its black-and-white checkerboard paving spreading in front of the red-ochre arcaded buildings and the Galeries Lafayette storefront.
Photo: Lum Lumi / Unsplash
Start on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice
Photo: Belkaa Photographer / Unsplash
Lose the map in Vieux Nice, Nice
Photo: Patryk Kuleta / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Nice

See and do

Before you go

Practical essentials for France

Money

Euro (EUR)

Language

French; English is spoken in tourist settings in Paris, Nice and the larger cities.

Power

Type C/E, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

SNCF's TGV connects the cities, and each has its own local network — in Paris that is the Navigo Easy card and the Ile-de-France Mobilites app for metro, RER and bus.

Tipping

Service is included by law, so tipping is optional - round up or leave a couple of euros for good service.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Driving

Right-hand side; an EU licence is enough, and other visitors should carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence.

Emergency

112; also 15 ambulance, 17 police, 18 fire

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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