3 Day Nice Itinerary: All About Food, Art & Views

An iconic city on the French Riviera, Nice has long been known as a vacationer hotspot, artist retreat and sunshine-soaked capital. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to convince someone to plan a Nice itinerary!

Centuries ago, Nice’s scenery drew in Europe’s rich and famous, including artists like Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso and Chagall. If it’s good enough for those guys, it’s good enough for me!

That’s the attitude I took when I planned our winter 2024 trip to the South of France. While I had been to Nice before, it was a first for my husband, Colin, who was travelling with me.

We spent almost one week in Nice checking out the city, attending Carnaval and using it as an excellent base to explore more of the French Riviera.

On our first sunny day in the city (because most days in Nice are sunny), we were sold. As we clinked glasses at an outdoor terrace on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the Mediterranean, it was easy to see why people loved Nice.

Below I’ve put together my ideal three day itinerary for Nice. This itinerary gives you a great introduction to the city’s scenery, culture, food and history – plus some time to explore along the coast!

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⭐ Book now: Top 3 things to do in Nice

Here are the top activities you’ll want to enjoy in Nice:

Where to stay in Nice:

Day 1: Food tour, views and walks by the water

A selfie of Colin and Riana overlooking Nice on the Cote d'Azur from the top of Castle Hill

One of my favourite ways to discover a new place is through its food. That’s why I recommend you start your Nice itinerary off with a food tour!

Obviously any food tour in France is going to be delicious, but a food tour in Nice is even more special because of the city’s culinary history and geographic location. Nice really has its own unique food scene you won’t find anywhere else.

Colin and I went on this Provencal Food Walking Tour while we were in Nice and I highly recommend it.

We got to taste everything from Swiss chard pastry and chickpea bread to ice cream, tuna sandwiches and macarons!

Four images of food from Nice, France: socca bread, beef carpaccio with cheese, mussels and swiss chard tart

READ MORE: Discover all the delicious foods you’ll want to try in Nice

Our food tour took us through Old Nice (Vieux Nice), which meant we also got a guided tour of the city.

Our guide did an incredible job of sharing Nice’s history and pointing out places of importance – as well as recommending more restaurants for us to come back to!

Book your Nice food walking tour here

Once you’ve finished your food tour, you can stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, the main boardwalk in Nice.

Colin with a drink in his hand sitting at an outdoor terrace on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France

Admire the sea views, palm trees and sunshine as you walk, or stop at one of the many seaside restaurants for a drink. Colin and I grabbed an outdoor table at Le Sunset and enjoyed drinks and beef carpaccio.

Meander along the boardwalk until you reach Nice Castle Hill. You can climb stairs up the hill or take the elevator. The elevator is free but only open until 5:25 pm, so don’t miss it!

From the top of Castle Hill, you’ll be able to take in the most gorgeous views over all of Nice. This was probably my favourite spot in the entire city.

The view from Castle Hill, Nice, French Riviera

Off one side, you’re looking along the beach front with the downtown core stretched out behind you. From the other side, you’re looking down on the marina with colourful buildings, big boats and beautiful blue water.

There’s also a waterfall up on Castle Hill that you won’t want to miss. Just don’t get too close or you’ll get wet!

Waterfall at the top of Castle Hill in Nice, France

Colin and I sat on a bench admiring the view until our stomachs started to rumble for dinner and I highly recommend you do the same.

Or, better yet, pick up picnic supplies from various vendors in the Old Town and enjoy your dinner on the top of Castle Hill with a view!

Day 2: Markets & museums in Nice

Fresh flowers for sale at the Cours Saleya Provençal Market or Marche aux Fleurs in Nice, France

Start the second day of your Nice itinerary back in Vieux Nice at the famous Cours Saleya Provençal Market or Marche aux Fleurs.

Cours Saleya is Nice’s main outdoor market known primarily for selling flowers – though you’ll also find produce, fish and crafts for sale.

The market is on every day of the week except Mondays, all year round, from 9am to 1pm.

Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to wander through this market. I enjoyed envisioning myself living in France, buying fresh flowers and pastries every morning!

You can then spend the rest of Day 2 hitting up some of Nice’s famous museums.

Windows on the Matisse Museum in Nice Matisse Museum

Art lovers rejoice, for Nice’s best museums all centre around beautiful paintings, photographs or sculptures. You can visit:

Musée Matisse Nice: This is probably the most famous museum in Nice, dedicated to the works of one-time Nice resident, Henri Matisse. It’s also next door to Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez, the ruins of an Ancient Roman amphitheatre.
Musée National Marc Chagall: I saw this one on an episode of Rick Steves and thought it looked really cool with the large-scale paintings by Marc Chagall.
Villa Masséna: Here you’ll find art and artifacts from the French Riviera displayed in a beautiful historic villa.
Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre: Local and international photographs are on offer at this smaller museum in the heart of Vieux Nice.
MAMAC: This is Nice’s modern & contemporary art museum which is actually closed for extensive renovations until 2028. Until then, exhibits from the museum will be available online, in other museums throughout Nice, and out on the road.

PS: Museums not your thing? You can always relax at a local beach club instead. I did this on my first trip to Nice with a book and glass of sangria – an afternoon well spent!

Day 3: Day trips from Nice on the French Riviera

Coastal view of Antibes, France Antibes

The reason why Colin and I chose to spend almost a week in Nice is because it’s the perfect base for day trips along the French Riviera.

From Nice we easily visited Monaco, Eze, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Menton all by train.

A Nice to Monaco day trip is a must for most people. Who wouldn’t want to tick another country off their list and visit one of the richest places in Europe?

While most of Monaco is out of my budget, I do appreciate the views and have found some budget-friendly activities to enjoy there.

Hilltop view of Monaco with colourful houses along the hill and yachts in the marina below Monaco

Eze is great for hilltop views – don’t miss the Exotic Garden – while Villefranche-sur-Mer is the perfect place to relax by the water. Head to Menton for lemons and a taste of Italy or Antibes for Picasso, markets and beaches.

There’s also Cannes and Saint-Tropez if you want to hob knob with the glitterati or Grasse where you can make your own perfume. You could even cross the border into Italy for the day!

Don’t want to plan your own day trip? Check out this tour that visits the highlights of the Riviera all in one day!

Or, if you want to keep exploring Nice, here are two more places that are just outside the city and perfect for history buffs:

Cimiez Arena Park: Roman ruins that are just 25 minutes by transit from Vieux Nice – plus they’re free to visit!
Mount Alban Fort: A 16th Century military stronghold with nice views over the city and reachable by transit in about 30 minutes.

Bonus: Attend Carnaval de Nice!

King of Pop Culture at the Nice Carnival; a jedi with a light saber and crown of pop icons

If you happen to be in Nice in February, you’ll definitely want to attend Carnaval de Nice – the city’s epic carnival celebration rivalling the parties in Rio and Venice.

Colin and I attended the nighttime parade in 2024 and had such a blast. The music was great (aka mostly 2000’s hits), the floats were impressive, the dancers had non-stop energy, and the vibe of the entire place was so good!

FAQs about visiting Nice, France

Riana standing in front of the #ILoveNice sign in Nice, France

When is the best time to visit Nice?

Nice is most popular in the summer when sun seekers hit the beach and vacation on the coast. But I actually think winter is the best time to visit Nice!

Colin and I were in Nice in February and I thought it was the perfect time to be there. We got lots of sun and while it wasn’t beach weather, temperatures were quite mild (especially compared to back home in Canada).

Nice also hosts Carnaval de Nice every February – an incredible carnival with parades, music, markets and more. We got to attend on our French Riviera trip and it was a big bucket list item!

I personally wouldn’t want to visit Nice in the summer – too hot and too crowded. Give me the off-season any day!

How many days do you need in Nice?

I think 2-3 days is a good amount of time to explore Nice, France. That gives you a chance to explore the old town, Vieux Nice, and take in a museum or two.

If you want to spend more time exploring the French Riviera, Nice makes a great base. This is what we did, spending five nights in Nice and going on multiple day trips.

What part of Nice is best to stay in?

Our hotel room in Nice at the Villa Bougainville by Happy Culture showing a white bed with orange accents, orange walls and a green headboard Our room at Villa Bougainville

I recommend staying somewhere between the old town, Vieux Nice, and the main train station, Nice-Ville. That way you can easily explore the top sites in Nice and head off on day trips.

From the heart of the old town, it’s a 25 minute walk to the train station. So if you’re somewhere along that route, you’ll be perfectly located for your South of France trip.

Since we were spending more of our days out of Nice rather than in it, we chose to stay right by the train station. Hint: It’s cheaper to stay by the train station too!

We stayed at Villa Bougainville, a cute and cozy hotel that was clean, affordable and in the perfect location for us. Their free coffee bar didn’t hurt either!

Some other great accommodation options include:

Maison Albar – Le Victoria: If you want to treat yourself, this hotel looks indulgent and is in the best location in Nice.
Aparthotel AMMI Nice Lafayette: I love an aparthotel because you get the convenience and reliability of a hotel but the space and amenities of an apartment – enjoy the best of both worlds here!

Wrapping up your Nice itinerary

Riana leaning against a railing at the top of Nice Castle Hill with a view of the ocean, mountains and buildings behind her in Nice, France

When I first visited Nice in 2012, I honestly wasn’t won over by the city. A bad hostel experience started my trip on a sour note and as pretty as Nice was, I wasn’t sure I’d return.

But when we were planning our 2024 South of France trip, Nice just made sense. It was the best base for exploring the French Riviera.

I knew from my research ahead of time that Nice would be a convenient base. What I didn’t expect is how much my tune would change on the city.

Wandering Vieux Nice on our food tour, sipping drinks by the water, taking in the views from Castle Hill and dancing with locals at Carnaval, I finally understood why so many people have flocked to Nice for centuries.

Nice really is nice. Go figure!

I hope my 3 day Nice itinerary above has helped you plan your own dream trip to Nice. It’s the perfect place to explore the South of France from and to just enjoy for a few days as a vibrant, artsy and scenic city.

Now that you’ve got your Nice itinerary sorted, check out my favourite Cote d’Azur day trips (post coming soon!) and full French Riviera itinerary (post coming soon!).