The largest city along the Côte d’Azur, Nice is the best place to stay for most visitors who want to experience a few days on the French Riviera. It’s a lovely and historic city on its own, and it also happens to be only about 20 minutes by train from Cannes (to the west) and Monaco (to the east).
Nice is the largest city along the Côte d’Azur, and it’s got plenty to recommend it, especially for those who don’t mind a beach made of gravel. In addition to several notable attractions of its own, Nice is a short train ride from both Cannes and Monaco, so it’s an ideal base for those wanting to explore the more expensive parts of the French Riviera.
Along with being the largest city, Nice is also the cheapest city in the area for tourists, as long as you are willing to stay at least a few blocks from the beach. There is a good budget-travel infrastructure in the city, so even backpackers can find things they can afford on a short visit.
| Population | 350,000 |
| Area | 350,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) |
Hotels closer to the beach and especially with a beach view are quite expensive, as you’d expect. Hotels closer to the train station at the top of the town are most affordable, but they are a great choice for many people since the train to nearby towns is a handy way to get around.
Nice hotels begin filling up in May and by June prices have begun the peak that will last through August. The low season at Nice hotels runs from November through March at most places, and during this period you can get good deals at many of the fancier places. In summer the hostels in Nice get crowded as well, so book as early as you can.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 31.58 - 69.47 |
| 44.21 - 111.58 |
| 58.95 - 131.58 |
| 94.74 - 188.42 |
| 224.21 - 396.84 |
Hotel du Midi Doubles from €68/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Nice |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel | 17.89 - 36.84 |
Antares Hostel Beds from €20/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Nice |
The beach in Nice is one of many in the area where there are large pebbles rather than sand, and yet it’s still quite crowded all summer.
A quick day trip to nearby Cannes will get you to a sandy beach and a look at a more upscale town that also hosts a famous film festival.
Monaco is another short train ride away and it is mostly harbor rather than beaches, but it does have a few casinos and gorgeous views from all over.
The hop-on, hop-off tours of Nice are a great way to get oriented in a few hours and see the highlights from a short distance.
The little trolley that looks like a train and runs along the coast is another good way to see the area in a hurry.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musee Matisse guided tour | The Matisse Museum is free to enter so these prices are for the guided tour. | adults | 6.32 |
| Musee Chagall | The museum dedicated to the varied works of Marc Chagall is also popular. | adults | 8.42 |
| Sightseeing bus tour | Take the standard double-deck hop-on, hop-off 24-hour pass bus tour to all of Nice's highlights. | adults ages 4-11 | 23.16 8.42 |
Food and drinks do tend to be expensive by most standards, though quality is predictably high as well. If you are a budget-conscious traveler you’ll likely want to limit your time in this region unless you are coming during the winter months.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | A continental breakfast will be included with most hotels or hostels, but if not you can find filled baguettes nearby. | 4.21 - 7.37 |
| Budget lunch | There are cheaper restaurants near the train station, plus food stands near the market offering good deals. | 6.32 - 12.63 |
| Budget dinner | Location plays a big part in dining costs in Nice. There are good budget options if you look around. | 10.53 - 17.89 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Beer can be found cheaper than in Paris, but it's still pricey in Nice. | 4.21 - 6.32 |
| House wine (.5l jug) | Simple locals wines are good value compared to other drinks here. | 4.21 - 9.47 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 42.11 - 55.79 |
| Airport express bus to city center | 6.32 |
| Public bus from airport to city | 1.05 |
| 3km taxi ride in Nice | 12.63 - 15.79 |
| Bus ride in Nice | 1.05 |
| 10 rides bus pass | 10.53 |
Some visitors fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which is a little west of the city. It has incoming flights from many larger European cities, especially in summer.
Trains from Paris and elsewhere in France are even more popular. Book the express trains at least a couple weeks in advance for the best prices.
Nice is a very walkable city and most hotels and attractions are fairly close to the train station, beach, and the main road connecting the two.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55 | 42 | 3.4 |
| February | 56 | 43 | 2.4 |
| March | 59 | 64 | 2.4 |
| April | 62 | 50 | 2.7 |
| May | 68 | 56 | 1.9 |
| June | 75 | 62 | 1.5 |
| July | 80 | 68 | 0.6 |
| August | 81 | 68 | 0.9 |
| September | 76 | 63 | 3.0 |
| October | 69 | 56 | 5.7 |
| November | 61 | 48 | 3.7 |
| December | 57 | 43 | 3.4 |
Nice has a typical Mediterranean climate, with beautiful summers that are always warm and dry, and mild winters that are nicer than most of the rest of Europe. Spring and autumn tend to be pleasant, although autumn does tend to be wet.
| 21 Mar | 6:33am | 6:44pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:49am | 9:16pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:17am | 7:31pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:01am | 4:57pm |