Visiting Nice in 3 Days: The Perfect Itinerary

Three days in Nice break down like this: Vieux-Nice, Cours Saleya and Castle Hill on day one, Cimiez hill with its Chagall and Matisse museums followed by Place Masséna and sunset on the Promenade des Anglais on day two, then Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze along the Basse Corniche (or Mont Boron and the harbour district if you’d rather stay in town) on day three. Budget 80 to 120 euros a day per person excluding transport, book accommodation early (Carnival in February and summer send prices soaring), and pack water shoes: Nice’s beaches are pebble, not sand.

France’s fifth-largest city and home to the country’s second-busiest airport, Nice is arguably the easiest city break to organise from anywhere in France: direct flights from most major cities, around 6 hours by TGV from Paris, and a tram (line 2) that links the airport to the centre in 25 minutes for 1.70 euros. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021 for its winter riviera resort architecture, the city packs in a rare combination: an old town with an Italian feel, hills full of museums, 7 kilometres of seafront and hilltop villages less than half an hour away. Here’s a tried-and-tested 3-day itinerary, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Day 1: Vieux-Nice and Castle Hill

Morning: Cours Saleya and the old town’s back streets

Start at Cours Saleya and its flower, fruit and vegetable market (Tuesday to Sunday; on Mondays, an antiques market takes over). The stalls of cut flowers and local produce set the tone for the day. Then head into Vieux-Nice: Sainte-Réparate Cathedral on Place Rossetti, the Chapelle de la Miséricorde (a baroque gem that’s often closed, so check the posted opening times) and Lascaris Palace, a 17th-century aristocratic townhouse tucked away on Rue Droite.

For lunch, stick to the local classics: a slice of socca (a chickpea pancake baked in a wood oven, 3 to 4 euros) from Thérésa on Rue Droite, or a pan bagnat eaten on the go. Save room for ice cream at Fenocchio on Place Rossetti: more than 90 flavours, including tomato-basil and orange blossom.

Afternoon: Castle Hill, the best view in town

Next, climb Castle Hill, the park overlooking the old town. Access is free, either up the steps of Montée Lesage or by lift from the foot of Bellanda Tower. There’s no castle up there any more (Louis XIV had it razed in 1706), but you’ll find an artificial waterfall, shaded gardens and the most photographed panorama in Nice: the Bay of Angels and the terracotta rooftops of Vieux-Nice on one side, Port Lympia and its colourful facades on the other. Come back down on the harbour side: the esplanade, lined with traditional fishing boats known as pointus, leads to Place du Pin, perfect for an early evening drink. Have dinner in Vieux-Nice, where there’s no shortage of places serving petits farcis (stuffed vegetables) and pissaladière; the best ones get booked up in summer.

Day 2: Cimiez’s museums, then the Promenade des Anglais

Morning: Chagall and Matisse on Cimiez hill

Head up to Cimiez hill, the smart residential district where Matisse once lived. First stop, halfway up: the Marc Chagall National Museum (Avenue Docteur Ménard), built around the Biblical Message cycle, one of the artist’s finest ensembles (around 10 euros, closed on Tuesdays). Carry on to the Matisse Museum, a red Genoese villa set among the olive trees of the Cimiez arena: the ticket, around 10 euros, gives 48-hour access to all of Nice’s municipal museums. Round off the morning at the nearby Cimiez Monastery: its free terraced gardens offer a lovely view over the city, and Matisse is buried in the adjoining cemetery.

Afternoon: Place Masséna, the green corridor and sunset on the Promenade

Head back down to the centre (about fifteen minutes by bus) for Place Masséna, the epicentre of Nice: a chequerboard floor, Pompeian-red facades, the Sun Fountain and, perched on their poles, Jaume Plensa’s seven illuminated statues that light up after dark. Leading off it, the Promenade du Paillon, a green corridor recently extended northwards, strings together a water mirror, pergolas and play areas: the perfect place to catch your breath. End the day on the Promenade des Anglais, on foot or by bike: the blue chairs facing the Bay of Angels, the facade of the Negresco, and a sunset that justifies the trip on its own. In the evening, head for the harbour district or Nice’s opera house, depending on your mood.

Day 3: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze, or Nice as the locals see it

Option A: the Basse Corniche, from Villefranche to Èze

Just 8 minutes by regional train from Nice-Ville station (2 to 3 euros), Villefranche-sur-Mer unfolds one of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean. Wander along the quay, walk through Rue Obscure (an entirely vaulted street dating from the 13th century), and visit the Saint-Pierre Chapel, decorated by Jean Cocteau (around 4 euros); the citadel and its gardens are free.

In the afternoon, head up to Èze, a village perched 429 metres above the sea: bus 82 from the Vauban transport hub in Nice, or the regional train to Èze-sur-Mer followed by the climb up the Nietzsche Path (45 minutes to an hour, steep but stunning; best avoided in the height of summer). Medieval lanes, craft workshops and, at the top, the cactus-filled Exotic Garden (around 8 euros), with a view stretching as far as the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula.

Option B: Mont Boron, Port Lympia and the Russian Cathedral

If you’d rather avoid the back-and-forth, spend the morning on Mont Boron: the path starts at the harbour and climbs for about an hour to Fort Mont Alban, with sweeping views over Villefranche bay on one side and the Bay of Angels on the other. Have lunch at Port Lympia (Chez Pipo, a socca institution since 1923, is just two streets away), then head to Saint Nicholas Cathedral, the largest Russian Orthodox church in Western Europe, a legacy of the Russian winter visitors of the Belle Époque (free entry, modest dress required). Finish with one last swim or a spot of shopping on Avenue Jean-Médecin.

Practical tips for a great city break in Nice

To turn this itinerary into an hour-by-hour plan tailored to your tastes, our guide to planning a city break with AI saves precious time, and our tips on estimating and tracking your travel budget will help you avoid nasty surprises. Fancy comparing with other long-weekend ideas? Take a look at our itineraries for visiting Marseille in 3 days and visiting Milan in 3 days.