Top 10 Things to Do in Nice

Nice's old town is a labyrinth of narrow streets painted in warm terracotta and yellow, filled with Baroque churches, hidden squares, and the aroma of socca cooking on open griddles. The neighborhood's Italianate character reflects Nice's long history as part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Housed in a striking 17th-century Genoese villa in the Cimiez neighborhood, this museum traces Henri Matisse's entire creative journey with paintings, sculptures, drawings, and personal objects. Matisse spent the last 17 years of his life in Nice and is buried in the adjacent monastery garden.

Rising 92 meters above the sea at the eastern end of the Promenade, Castle Hill offers the most spectacular panoramic views of Nice, the Baie des Anges, and the surrounding coastline. The shaded park at the summit is a peaceful retreat from the city below.

Every morning except Monday, the broad esplanade of Cours Saleya in Old Town transforms into one of France's most celebrated markets, overflowing with flowers, fresh produce, local cheeses, and Provençal specialties. On Mondays it hosts an equally excellent antique and flea market.

This purpose-built museum in the Cimiez hills houses the largest permanent collection of Marc Chagall's work, including the magnificent Biblical Message cycle of seventeen monumental canvases. The tranquil garden and mosaic-lined auditorium add to the contemplative atmosphere.

Nice has its own distinct cuisine rooted in Ligurian tradition — socca (crispy chickpea pancakes), pissaladière (onion and anchovy flatbread), pan bagnat, and salade niçoise in its authentic form. The best places to eat are the market stalls and hole-in-the-wall spots of Old Town.

MAMAC's striking building of white marble towers connected by glass walkways houses an outstanding collection of French and American avant-garde art from the 1960s to the present. The rooftop terrace offers excellent views across the city.

Perched 427 meters above the Mediterranean, the medieval village of Èze is one of the most dramatic and picturesque spots on the entire Riviera. The exotic garden at its summit and the perfume workshops in its lanes make it the perfect half-day excursion from Nice.

The grand central square of Nice is a masterpiece of Italianate architecture, paved with black-and-white checkerboard stone and flanked by red-ochre buildings with green shutters. At night, the square glows with light installations and the energy of the city's social life.

Nice's old town is a labyrinth of narrow streets painted in warm terracotta and yellow, filled with Baroque churches, hidden squares, and the aroma of socca cooking on open griddles. The neighborhood's Italianate character reflects Nice's long history as part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Housed in a striking 17th-century Genoese villa in the Cimiez neighborhood, this museum traces Henri Matisse's entire creative journey with paintings, sculptures, drawings, and personal objects. Matisse spent the last 17 years of his life in Nice and is buried in the adjacent monastery garden.

Rising 92 meters above the sea at the eastern end of the Promenade, Castle Hill offers the most spectacular panoramic views of Nice, the Baie des Anges, and the surrounding coastline. The shaded park at the summit is a peaceful retreat from the city below.

Every morning except Monday, the broad esplanade of Cours Saleya in Old Town transforms into one of France's most celebrated markets, overflowing with flowers, fresh produce, local cheeses, and Provençal specialties. On Mondays it hosts an equally excellent antique and flea market.

This purpose-built museum in the Cimiez hills houses the largest permanent collection of Marc Chagall's work, including the magnificent Biblical Message cycle of seventeen monumental canvases. The tranquil garden and mosaic-lined auditorium add to the contemplative atmosphere.

Nice has its own distinct cuisine rooted in Ligurian tradition — socca (crispy chickpea pancakes), pissaladière (onion and anchovy flatbread), pan bagnat, and salade niçoise in its authentic form. The best places to eat are the market stalls and hole-in-the-wall spots of Old Town.

MAMAC's striking building of white marble towers connected by glass walkways houses an outstanding collection of French and American avant-garde art from the 1960s to the present. The rooftop terrace offers excellent views across the city.

Perched 427 meters above the Mediterranean, the medieval village of Èze is one of the most dramatic and picturesque spots on the entire Riviera. The exotic garden at its summit and the perfume workshops in its lanes make it the perfect half-day excursion from Nice.

The grand central square of Nice is a masterpiece of Italianate architecture, paved with black-and-white checkerboard stone and flanked by red-ochre buildings with green shutters. At night, the square glows with light installations and the energy of the city's social life.