4 days in Nice - what to see, where to sleep?

"Nice is not France, Nice is not Italy, Nice is Nice," wrote the local daily "Nice Matin" on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Nice's annexation to France. And you have to admit that there is something to it.

The largest city on the Côte d'Azur is located in a narrow space between steep hills and a 7-kilometer-long beach on the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels).

Right on the seafront there is one of the most famous boulevards in the world: the Promenade des Anglais , with hotels (including Hotel Negresco, known from many films), bars, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Nice is a friendly city in every respect. Architecture, climate, landscapes, colors, sea and mountains. It's all breathtaking and attracts crowds of tourists every year. To all the advantages we can add good communication with other beautiful cities of the Côte d'Azur: Eze, Bealieu, Villefranch-sur-Mer, Cannes and of course Monaco .

The road leading to these places is breathtaking. Nice is therefore a great starting point for trips to this little paradise on earth.

Nice as a destination

The city is called one big resort. However, "ordinary" Mediterranean life can be seen everywhere. Whoever comes here will not regret it. One day is definitely not enough. The optimal time to spend in Nice is approximately 4-5 days, although there will be plenty of attractions for a longer stay.

Where to sleep

If you don't want to sleep in the city (it's quite noisy), you can find many places to stay in the area around Nice. Worth mentioning is La Camassade , a family campsite located in the forest on the outskirts of Nice. For demanding guests, we can recommend the 5-star Camp du Domaine , located directly by the sea, in Bormes les Mimosas. In turn, in Hyères you will find the Eurosurf campsite - as the name suggests, it is an ideal place for windsurfing.

What other places does the Côte d'Azur offer? Check out our database of campsites in France .

Day 1 – Promenade des Anglais

On the first day of your stay in Nice (or its surroundings), you should, of course, go to the Promenade des Anglais . It runs right next to the beach so you can come down and relax wherever you want. At the same time, a small note - the beaches on the French Riviera are rocky! In Nice it is not fine gravel, which is more comfortable to walk on than sand, but quite large and often sharp stones. Therefore, when going to the beach, it is best to wear shoes with a hard sole. Entering the sea, which is truly azure, is sometimes quite a feat. However, this is compensated by the water temperature - extremely pleasant in summer.

After resting by the sea, we can continue walking. Across the street, in the square at Cours Saleya , there is a giant flea market on Mondays. It's really worth visiting. Interestingly, you can also buy items from Poland or items that commemorate our country in some way.

On other days it is a vegetable and flower market . There are large and small restaurants around, in a wide price range. There are also plenty of takeaways. If your budget is limited, it is worth using them, because you can eat tasty food there, and at the same time much cheaper than in typical restaurants, where the prices... are decent ;).

At the end of the Promenade des Anglais walk, it is worth climbing or taking the elevator to Castle Hill . The name is a bit funny, because there is no castle there (the ruins of the citadel and cathedral remain), and among the monuments there is primarily an old Jewish cemetery.

From the hill we have a wonderful view of the sea, the Bay of Angels, the Promenade des Anglais, the port, old Nice and the mountains. The hill itself is covered with greenery, which is why there is a beautiful park with a playground where Nicoisees and tourists come to eat, rest and chat.

The attraction is a huge waterfall (Cascade du Casteu) , a perfect place to take a photo with the sea in the background. If we have enough strength, "a few steps" behind the hill, walking along the promenade, we will find the port . It is beautiful, and lovers of sailing and deep-sea yachts will have something to admire.

Day 2 – Phoenix Park

If we are traveling with children (but not only), on the second day you can go to Phoenix Park , located near the airport. There are many buses running there, but unfortunately the popular stops are quite far from the entrance. You can also reach the park by bike, as there is a bicycle path along the sea.

In addition to interesting, thematic plants, the park also has a mini-zoo. There are ponies, birds, including colorful parrots, as well as monkeys and even lizards and alligators. There is also a large lake and fountains that flow at designated times to the rhythm of music, such as cancan hits and classical music.

The area is vast, with sunny and shaded zones, although there are definitely more of the former. Both in the park and throughout your stay, do not forget about a hat and a water bottle. We also need to take a blanket and something to eat, because it's a great place for a picnic. As you move around Nice, you will quickly discover that its hallmark (at least during lunch time, which falls between 12 and 3 p.m.) are its inhabitants feasting on the grass.

If attractions are not enough, right next to the park we will see the modern building of the Asia and Pacific Museum , so you can go there too.

Day 3 – Cimiez

The next part of our stay is worth devoting to the famous Cimiez district, which lies on the hills surrounding the city. It's easy to get there both from the train station and the city center, but given the high temperatures and the route leading mainly uphill, I recommend considering your own or public transport.

The Belle Epoque district delights with its architecture, greenery, villas, palaces and the view from its hills. This is where you will find the Matiss and Chagall museums (both closed on Tuesdays!).

On the hill there are the ruins of a Roman city located in an olive grove. As you might guess, the grove is one of families' favorite picnic spots.

Continuing down the stairs, we will stand in front of the Franciscan monastery . There it is worth turning right and entering the gardens. They are delightful! Especially the herb garden. Jacek Tadeusz. Three fountains, vines, various species of plants and an amazing smell in the air make you feel like you are in southern Europe. On the other side of the church, it is worth visiting the historic cemetery - some monuments are real works of art.

On your way back, you need to browse a bit among the beautiful villas of the Cimiez district and their delightful gardens. If we're lucky, we'll get our hands on fresh figs. When we get tired of sightseeing, the bus will take us to the beach.

Day 4 – old town

The fourth day can be devoted to exploring the narrow and winding streets of the old town, painted in ocher, orange and yellow colors. It is worth going to Rossetti Square - the central point of this place, and actually one large open-air restaurant. When we are satisfied, you can visit the Cathedral of St. Reparations. The interior decorations are truly impressive, even to untrained eyes. An additional advantage is the ability to catch a bit of shade.

Parents with children should definitely go to the Promenade du Paillon park with its huge fountain (so-called water surface). Just behind it you will find a playground where all the equipment resembles sea creatures or ships. Children love this park!

Returning to the sea, because you have to see the beach every day, it is worth taking a walk along the chessboard Massena Square . In the center is the Fountain of the Sun with a statue of Apollo.