All hail the Queen of the French Riviera! Resting gracefully at the foot of the majestic Alps, Nice has been a magnet for British monarchs and European aristocrats, stage legends and the grand maîtres of modern art since the 1700s. Don’t let that fool you – today it’s a perfect destination for ordinary mortals looking for a well-deserved summer break, relaxing city getaway or some winter sun. In fact, the capital of the Côte d'Azur is more grace than glitz, more high culture than high life and more about balmy Mediterranean beach days than anything else. Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful) is part French, part Italian and brings together the best of two worlds in an intoxicating blend of sea, sun and style.
The Queen of the French Riviera
“If only I were in Nice, I’d get better,” Queen Victoria lamented on her deathbed and she had a point. By the time she fell in love with the French Riviera at the end of the 19th century, it had practically become a British colony, thanks to the legions of aristocrats who flocked to the Blue Coast capital for its mild winter climate. Case in point: La Promenade des Anglais, the most famous and most spectacular seafront in all of France, named after and paid for by wealthy English sun-seekers. Nice’s charms are legion and, as Terra Amata, a nearby archaeological site suggests, 380,000 years in the making. It was founded as a Greek settlement in 350 BC by the Phocaeans of Marseille, who christened it after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. During Roman times, it became a busy trading port and, following centuries of flip-flopping between French and Italian domination, an even busier beach holiday destination.
Move over, Rio and Venice!
Culture hunters: welcome to your dream holiday! Nice has more than enough to keep you entertained, boasting a tally of museums second only to that of Paris. Trail the absolute giants of 20th-century painting, such as Marc Chagall, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, who all famously enjoyed basking in the warm Niçois sun. The lavish 17th-century villa that Matisse once called home now houses Musée Matisse and its impressive collection of the great colourist’s oil paintings, sketches, sculptures and trademark gouaches découpés (paper cut-outs). Added bonus: the museum is located in the dreamy neighbourhood of Cimiez, home to the remains of the 1st-century Roman settlement of Cemenelum, the serene Monastery of Our Lady of Cimiez and well-preserved Belle Époque architecture. Avid Chagall fans should head straight to Musée National Marc Chagall and marvel at the world's largest public collection of the artist’s works. Organised around Chagall’s famous Bible series, it showcases some 400 paintings, drawings and pastels born both from secular and spiritual inspiration. Continue your expedition on the winding streets of Vieux Nice, aka Nice’s Old Town. Take in the Old World charm of pastel-coloured houses and Baroque architectural gems, such as the Nice Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate). To get a glimpse of Niçois culture at its best and craziest, jump right into the cheerful crowds of Carnaval de Nice. The two-week affair takes off in late February and includes highlights such as the coronation of the Carnival Queen, the Battle of Flowers and its LGBTQ spin-off, Queernaval.
Get on a Niçois diet
Don’t file Niçois cuisine under “French” right away. Or if you do, make a side note: just like the city of Nice itself, local food is rich in flavour and tradition and retains a strong Mediterranean influence. Olive oil is at the heart of cooking in Niçois kitchens, along with fresh fish and shellfish and generous doses of garlic, lemon, tomatoes and aubergine. The epitome of this culinary philosophy, Salade Niçoise combines anchovies, olives, eggs, Dijon vinaigrette and seasonal vegetables in a light but intense and filling salad. No time for a sit-down meal? Opt for Pan Bagnat, aka the portable, sandwich version of Nice’s namesake dish. Add socca (chickpea pancakes), pissaladière (caramelised onion tart) and les petits farcis to your gastro bucket list for the full(-ish) experience. “Aqui si mangia la socca,” (We eat socca here) reads Chez Pipo’s sign on Rue Bavastro and you’d better follow their lead. A staple of the local culinary scene, it’s been widely praised as the best socca place in town since 1923. Founded shortly after, Acchiardo is now run by the fourth generation of Acchiardos but still synonymous with high-quality food, authentic recipes and warm hospitality. La Merenda is a true Niçois institution, where the former chef of Negresco, Dominique Le Stanc revamps classic dishes such as tomato tart and ratatouille into real culinary adventures. Two-time Michelin-starred Flaveur serves up no-nonsense dishes with a side of creativity and character, courtesy of founders Gaël and Mickaël Tourteau.
Get ready to spend
Shopping at Cours Saleya in the Old Town of Nice is as much a cultural exploration as a chance to buy fresh fruit and veggies, gorgeous flowers and vintage gifts. From Tuesday to Sunday you can rub shoulders with the town’s star chefs looking for the best produce, and sort through a menagerie of antique furniture and knick-knacks on Mondays. If you’re ready to splurge, hit the streets around Carré d’Or to browse the fresh-off-the-runway goodies of dozens of luxury brands. Of course, no shopping guide (or spree) would be complete without Galeries Lafayette, with its striking façade and assortment of both high-end and high-street brands. Ready for some after-dark action? Find it around Vieux Nice. Just a couple of blocks north of the Old Port area, Rosalina awaits you with a chic décor, mellow ambience, hip crowds, refreshing cocktails and organic local wines. Not bad for a former garage!
Life on the beach and beyond
Nice’s coastline is dotted with thirty beaches, no less, both public and private. They’re all pebbly but most of them come with a cocktail menu, so all is well. Local favourites include tiny La Réserve and even tinier Coco Beach: the former is a short stroll away from the city centre and complete with a high-end restaurant, while the latter is an excellent spot for seaside picnics and afternoon naps. Ruhl Plage is a great private option for families, with swimming pools, lifeguards, sun loungers, waiter service and a distinct air of the French Riviera’s golden age. Opposite Albert-ler Gardens, Le Galet is all modern and all glam. Think Italian décor, reimagined beach food and serious lounge vibes. But why stop there? Get a taste of Riviera high life at nearby Cannes, where all that glitters is most certainly gold. Take a walk along its iconic promenade, La Croisette, and yacht-studded Vieux Port, where, legend says, Coco Chanel single-handedly turned suntan into a fashion accessory.
Nice weather
Nice’s storied climate is typical Mediterranean with forgiving, rainy winters and hot, often scorching summers. Tourists raid the Côte d'Azur capital all year long but the luckiest schedule their Nice trip for somewhere between mid-April and mid-June. Or September, but in that case, have your umbrella ready. Summer brings bath-warm seawater but expect occasional heatwaves, too.
Nice airport
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is one of the busiest in France, for obvious reasons. It’s located on the Promenade des Anglais and has two terminals for flights to domestic, Schengen and non-Schengen destinations, plus a Business Aviation Terminal. Catch tram no. 2, or bus no. 23 or 52 to reach central Nice. Alternatively, taxi and car rental services are also available.
FAQs for booking flights to Nice
How to get cheap flights to to Nice?
Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Nice flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.
When is the best time to visit Nice?
The best times to visit Nice are the shoulder seasons: from mid April to mid June and from September to October, as this period experiences the best weather. There are also not too many crowds of tourists, and accommodation is more affordable. Nice has a Mediterranean type of climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot summers, which make it a year-round destination. July and August are the hottest months and also the most crowded, turning the city into a lively but busy place. Winter is a period of relative peace and quiet, and the weather is quite moderate, allowing visitors to sightsee and explore cultural attractions without huge crowds.
How to get from Nice Airport to Cannes?
To get from Nice Airport (NCE) to Cannes Station you can take the bus, tram, train, taxi, car, rideshare, or town car. The recommended transport option is line 81 by bus from Terminal 2 to Gare SNCF Cannes: the journey will take about 45 minutes. The cheapest option for transportation is ridesharing; the travel time will be 43 minutes. You also can get there by tram to Parc Phoenix and take the train to Cannes. The tram’s travel time will be about 57 minutes. With the taxi and town car, you will arrive much quicker—in about 22 minutes. However, the bus is an easy and economically viable option since it runs hourly and brings you directly to Cannes.
How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Nice flight?
As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Nice flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.
