How to Spend 5 Days in Nice, France

Are you headed to the French Riviera for a few days and looking for ideas of what to see and do? I did this a few years ago and had a great time soaking up the sun and exploring coastal towns while using Nice as my base. With easy access to nearby towns, plenty of beaches, and an awesome farmer’s market, Nice makes a great place to relax and explore from for a few days. I spent 5 days in Nice, France so here are my suggestions on where to stay, the best things to do in Nice, and some ideas for day trips. 

psst: Looking for a travel credit card with lots of perks (like lounge access) that will also allow you to earn points for travel? This is what I use and recommend. 

How to get to Nice, France

Nice is home to the third most important airport in France, the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which is located just outside of the city. There are frequent shuttle busses from both terminals that lead to and from city centre with numerous stops along the Promenade Des Anglais along the way. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth just outside the airport entrance, or on the bus itself. Nice also has a train station, as well as a large Port.

Getting Around Nice, France

For the most part, the city is pretty walkable. Especially if you plan on spending 5 days in Nice, that’s plenty of time to wander and look around.

The city does also have a tram system, as well as bus routes throughout the city. Tickets can be purchased on board. For those looking for a more touristy way to see the sites, there is a little tourist train that starts along the Promenade Des Anglais.

If you plan on doing day trips, you can use the bus system, the trains, or you can rent a car.

Where To Stay in Nice, France 

There are a few areas that I would recommend staying in Nice. For me, being a water-lover, I wanted to be as close as possible to a beach. There are plenty of beaches along the Promenade Des Anglais so it’s not difficult to find a spot within easy walking distance from the sea. Other popular areas are Place Masséna, Old Town, and the Port.

Looking for some suggestions? Take a look at the following accommodation options:

Hostels:  Hotel Ozz by HappyCulture 

Midrange hotels: The Deck Hotel or Hotel le Royal Promenade des Anglais 

Luxury hotels: Hotel Negresco or Hotel Aston La Scala 

The Best Things to do in Nice

Wondering what to see and do? Here are my top suggestions on how to make the most of your 5 days in Nice. 

Explore Old Town

Made up of narrow cobblestone alleys and winding streets, Old Town Nice is a great place to wander. Full of shops, cafes, and restaurants, it’s also one of the most popular places to grab a bite to eat. The Old Town is also home to the famous flower market, as well as important landmark buildings including the Palais Lascaris, and Cathédrale de Sainte Réparate. And if it’s hot and you need something to cool down, Old Town is also the home to the city’s best gelato shop: Fennocchio which boasts to have over 100 flavours ranging from classic chocolate to the questionable flavour of cactus. Prepare to wait in line though, this place is popular!

Castle Hill

A little misleading in its name due to the fact that there was never actually  a castle here, Castle Hill offers the best views of Nice. Located between Old Town and the Nice Port, this hill is a hot-spot for tourists and locals alike. Its steep trails are popular with runners and the park up top is a popular place for locals and their families to spend an afternoon relaxing and playing. The man-made waterfall is also a popular attraction. Castle hill makes for a great place to have a picnic and relax with a book and get stunning photos of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea from above. There are numerous paths leading to the top of Castle Hill as well as an elevator. 

Place Masséna

As the main square of Nice, Place Masséna is the spot to find public events, celebrations, and concerts. Lined by palm trees, gardens, and red buildings built in Italian-style architecture, this square is picture perfect and a popular hangout spot for locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of high end shops in this area, as well as a large mall, Galleries Lafayette, filled with floor upon floor of European design good ranging from clothing, to shoes, to jewelry, to handbags and wallets.

Promenade Des Anglais

Promenade Des Anglais is a giant sea-side road that leads from the airport all the way to the Nice Port. On the land side it is lined with hotels and restaurants while numerous beaches line the sea-side. There is a wide area for pedestrians and cyclists as it is the perfect place to enjoy an evening walk. It’s also common to find locals playing sports along its path: when I visited there was some sort of soccer tournament going on.

The Beaches

Promenade Des Anglais is lined with numerous beaches stretching out down the coast line. It is important to note however, that these are stone beaches and not sand beaches, so if you plan on spending a day here it’s best to bring a beach matt or something thicker to sit/lie on. Showers and toilets are available for a fee, and some beaches do have restaurants/bars.

The Russian Cathedral

Probably the furthest attraction of the city, the Russian Church is about a 25 minute walk from Place Masséna. It’s a stunning building in the centre of Nice, and the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe. The Cathedral is open to viewers during certain times, so make sure to check the schedule first, or you will likely end up like me trying to take photos through the closed gate.

Place Garibaldi

Another important square, Place Garibaldi is located between Old Town and New Town and is a short walk from the Nice Port. Like Place Masséna, Place Garibaldi is also home to some stunning architecture, though rather than numerous shops it is lined with a variety of restaurants. This is also the area where you catch the bus to Èze and Monaco.

The Flower Market

Probably my favourite place to visit in Nice, the Flower Market is the perfect place to grab some homemade food, shop for souvenirs, or just wander and look at what the vendors have to offer. Though there are quite a few vendors selling flowers, the Flower Market is home to all kinds of items. Some stalls offer fresh cuts of meat and sea food while others deal in fruits and vegetables. A few have mouth-watering displays of fresh made bread, croissants, and other baked goods and a couple offer a variety of fresh cheeses.

This is the best place to come and buy your food for the day, whether you needed something pre-made or something to cook later for dinner, you can find almost everything here. During my my 5 days in Nice I only went out to dinner once. Instead, I preferred to pick up baguettes, cheeses, berries, and other treats from this market for my daily meals.

The market is open every day except for Mondays, (which is antique day) from morning til early afternoon. Go as early as possible though because things disappear quickly.

The Port

Located on the far side of Castle Hill, the Nice Port is one of the most picturesque areas of the city. It can be reached by walking along the Promenade des Anglais (which offers stunning views) or by walking behind Castle Hill through Place Garibaldi area.  Nice Port is another popular location for hotels and restaurants. If you are planning on taking any sailing or boating trips, they will leave from this area.

What to Buy in Nice

The main shopping street in Nice is avenue Jean Medecin, upon which you can find all kinds of boutiques, European chain stores, and the Nice Etoile mall. As mentioned above, another popular spot is the Galleries Lafyette, which offeres a variety of products of European design. Aside from the European fashions, Nice also offers some more budget friendly and unique products that make great souvenirs and gifts for friends and family back home. Some of my favourite finds were olive oil soaps that came in numerous different scents, bags of herbs de Provence for cooking, chocolates, and lavender. The flower market is great for these types of items- just be sure to shop around the different vendors before buying!

Day Trips from Nice

Nice is a gateway to all kinds of easy and close day trips throughout the area. Some are very easy to do on your own (I have posts for how to spend 1 day in Monaco and a guide to Eze) but other spots such as St. Tropez or Provence are a bit trickier and require a lot of time on public transit. For this reason, I suggest doing a bit of research as you may be better off taking a guided tour for some day trip destinations .

Some tours that may be of interest include:

• Gorges of Verdon and Lavender Tour
• Saint Tropez Day Trip
• Cannes, Antibes, and Saint-Paul de Vence  
• Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze 

Nice really surprised me. I liked it more than I expected, especially because it’s so central and easy to explore the area from. I definitely recommend spending 3-5 days in Nice if you are looking to kick back, relax, and enjoy the French Riviera.

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I’m a big fan of Airalo and have used their sim cards around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA. It’s really easy- you download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase. 

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

Check out my group trips!