Exploring Nice: 5 Things to Do & See

Nice is the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes region on the French Riviera bursting with beautiful beaches, impressive architecture, a wealth of history and art museums, and five-star cuisine. Nice was founded by the Greeks and later became a retreat for 19th-century European elite, attracting artists from all over the globe.

Where to Stay: Le Negressco Hotel

For a truly unique (and très chic) experience, a stay at the historic Le Negresco Hotel is absolutely unforgettable. On the Mediterranean, overlooking the famed Promenade des Anglais, it puts you front and center of where the bustling city comes alive.

The Top Five

Besides a stay at Le Negresco, here’s my top five list of must-do’s with a day or two in Nice:

Walk the Promenade des Anglais

Start your day with a lovely beachside stroll. The Promenade des Anglais is a 7-kilometer (4.3 miles) walk bordering the Mediterranean seaside boulevard. Stroll along the shore (or by any mode of portable transportation) from end-to-end, pausing to sit and soak in the sun in one of the iconic blue chairs.

Enjoy a Salad Niçoise

Another must-do is to have a Salade Niçoise - a dish born and made famous in Nice. Enjoy people-watching while sitting at a local sidewalk cafe - très francais! I recommend “Le Grand Café de Lyon” on Boulevard Jean Médecin. This is the quintessential french cafe scene, complete with bistro tables, wicker chairs, (and ash trays) under an awning.

Visit Vieux Nice (Old Town)

From the beach and the Quai des Étas Unis, head up a block into the Old Town. Walk under a set of old archways and into the Cours Salaya, an outdoor market place surrounded by cafés and restaurants.

Vieux Nice lies between Castle Hill and the town center, where you'll find a feast for the eyes! Peruse the shops at Place Messina, see the Mirroir d’Eau (“Water Mirror” fountains), gardens, and square, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Old Town architecture. While this is a very touristy area, especially in the summer months, it's just too quaint not to explore anytime of year.

Here, you can also pick up fresh local produce and flowers every morning (except Mondays, when it becomes a flea market). Come early to avoid the crowds and shop with the locals.

When you're ready for lunch, plan to linger a few hours to rest during your meal at a local restaurant.

Browse Local Markets

Stroll the antique markets in Palais de Justice - check out old french books, magazines, posters and small antiques while chatting with the local vendors in the old town square in front of the roman-style justice building.

Cruise the coastline

Drive, boat, or bike along the shore following the Quai des Étas-Unis around the bend to the Port de Nice. From there, the best way to explore "Port Lympia", is to take in the incredible views from above.

Start with a short climb up a set of stairs atop Monument aux Morts de Rauba Capeau (also known as the Monument to the Dead) to see a commanding view of the Nice port and surrounding bay.

This imposing, 32-meter high structure was built between 1924 and 1928 to honor the locals who died in World War I and is carved into the rock at the end of Quai Rauba Capeau.

The café is at a convenient corner location, a block away from Notre Dame cathedral in Nice.

There's plenty of indoor seating as well, but outdoors is the place to be. While you might be served right away, you won't be "checked on" by staff during your meal. This is customary in France - allowing patrons to truly take their time and enjoy a slower pace of life. So stay as long as you like!

Besides salads, other light menu items are available, yet their main attraction is their beverages. So sit and sip anything from coffee to cocktails, and watch other tourists hurry by.

When you're ready to pay, be prepared to be patient. When you finally flag down the server, simply say "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" and they'll return with the bill.

Rounding the bend, onto Quai Rauba Capeau, you'll see all the boats in the harbor at the busy port. By evening, enjoy a meal at a waterfront restaurant.

You can start either near the Nice airport or the Quai des États-Unis (the beachfront promenade which extends from the Promenade des Anglais), and walk towards the Old Town observing the vibrant city life.

Either way, the scene excites all the senses. Along the way you can take in the views of the sparkling sea, feel and smell the gentle breeze coming off the Mediterranean. You'll be sharing the path with pedestrians and runners, so keep an eye out! But take your time and enjoy the lively atmosphere. By mid-day, you'll find yourself near Vieux Nice - a great spot to continue exploring.

Le Negresco Hotel is world famous. Named after Henri Negresco (1868–1920), who had the palatial hotel built in 1912, he intended for guests to feel like royalty. The hotel has been family-owned for over 50 years. In that time, the family of art curators has amassed quite an impressive, five-centuries-old collection. Just being in the Negresco gives you little-known access inside its historic "museum" of great works of art.

Room 216 is located in the corner round “Princess Tower”, overlooking the Mediterranean. The view from the french balcony is breathtaking. On a summer day, the tropical panorama is vast, warm and breezy. You see beachgoers out on the shore bathing in the afternoon sun . The shoreline is rocky, with large pebbles. So at night, if you leave the doors open, you can hear the sound of the lapping waves churning the stones on the narrow beach. On Saturrday nights, you can see and hear the vibrant nightlife. Classic jazz notes fill the street below. Musicians playing old favorites like Sinatra, and Edith Piaf fill the hotel restaurant’s club on the first floor.

Even if you stay only a night, the Negressco experience is definitely worth the memories you'll keep for a lifetime.

As you continue on your route, the hillside rises and falls along the shoreline revealing incredibles views of the port below. To extend your tour, rent a car to follow the road along the coast. About nine kilometers to the east, you'll find the old fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

For more on the charming old town of Villefranche, and more must-see cities along the French Riviera, see A Month in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Nice hosts weekly, rotating markets, with a specific focus on antique and second-hand books on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Other markets are held there on different Saturdays, such as an arts and crafts market, on the 2nd Saturday, and a market selling just vintage postcards and vinyl records.

Consider a boat trip (organized tour or rental) to see the city from the water, or walk along the pedestrian quays. (That's where locals often find fishing boats for sale.) For great views, visit the Port Lympia station, or walk to the nearby Port of Nice Lighthouse, which provides panoramic views of the Mediterranean and Mont Boron.