France · 3 days · 16 stops
3 days in Nice – a ready-made itinerary
Nice sits on a wide bay, with an old town, a promenade and a pebble beach. One day covers the old town and the sea, one the museums on the hill of Cimiez, one the hilltop village of Èze and Monaco. The stops are in walking order.
In short
- Length
- 3 days, 16 stops
- Highlights
- Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, Musée Matisse, Èze, Castle Hill (Colline du Château), Place Masséna
- Where to stay
- Vieux Nice, Around Jean Médecin
- Getting around
- Explore the old town, harbour and promenade on foot.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to October are the most pleasant: warm, the sea is good for swimming and it is less crowded.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
The old town, Castle Hill and the Promenade
Cours Saleya
A flower and food market in the morning. Try socca, the chickpea-flour flatbread.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Cours Saleyaright next door
Sainte-Réparate Cathedral
A baroque church with a colourful dome, in the middle of the narrow lanes of Vieux Nice.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Sainte-Réparate Cathedralabout 5 min on foot
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
A hilltop park with a waterfall. Take the steps or the lift up for views over the bay and the harbour.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Castle Hill (Colline du Château)about 5 min on foot
Port Lympia
The old harbour with colourful façades and boats. There are places for lunch along the quays.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Port Lympiaabout 20 min on foot
Place Masséna
The large square with a red arcaded frame and black-and-white paving, between the old and new town.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place Massénaright next door
Promenade des Anglais
The seafront promenade along the bay, with its blue chairs. Walk or cycle it at sunset.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Promenade des Anglais
Day 2
Cimiez and the museums
A bus runs from the centre to Cimiez, about 20 minutes. Walk back downhill.
Musée Matisse
Works from every phase of Matisse's career, in a red villa in an olive grove. Matisse lived and died in Nice.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Musée Matisseabout 5 min on foot
Cimiez Monastery
A Franciscan monastery with a rose garden and views over the city. Matisse is buried in the cemetery.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Cimiez Monasteryabout 20 min on foot
Marc Chagall National Museum
Chagall's cycle of Bible paintings, with a concert hall and stained glass. About 20 minutes downhill from the monastery.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Marc Chagall National Museumabout 20 min on foot
St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
A cathedral with onion domes from 1912. Cover shoulders and knees.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedralabout 25 min on foot
Promenade du Paillon
A park over the covered-in Paillon river, with a water mirror and fountains. Good in the evening before dinner in the old town.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Promenade du Paillon
Day 3
Day trip to Èze and Monaco
Bus from Nice to Èze-Village, about 30 minutes. Return from Monaco by train, about 20 minutes.
Èze
A village on a rock high above the sea, with stone lanes. Get there early, before the coaches arrive.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Èzeright next door
Jardin exotique d'Èze
A cactus garden at the very top of the village, on the remains of the castle. The view stretches far along the coast.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Jardin exotique d'ÈzeBus to Monaco, about 20 min.
Prince's Palace of Monaco
The Grimaldi palace on the rock of Monaco-Ville. The changing of the guard takes place around midday – check the time on site.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Prince's Palace of Monacoabout 5 min on foot
Oceanographic Museum
Aquarium and marine museum built right into the cliff. From the roof terrace you look out over the sea.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Oceanographic Museumabout 15 min on foot
Monte Carlo Casino
The casino from 1863, with gardens in front and expensive cars outside. Age and dress rules apply in the gaming rooms.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Monte Carlo Casino
Good to know
Best time to go
May to June and September to October are the most pleasant: warm, the sea is good for swimming and it is less crowded. July and August are hot and very busy. Winter is mild and sunny, and the carnival runs in February.
Getting around
Explore the old town, harbour and promenade on foot. Trams and buses link the districts, and a tram runs from the airport to the centre. Buses and regional trains run along the coast to Èze, Monaco and Antibes. Tickets are sold at machines or via the app.
Where to stay
Vieux Nice
Right in the old town, close to the market and the beach. Lively at night, and rooms are often small.
Around Jean Médecin
The newer town between the station and Place Masséna, with the tram on the doorstep. Handy for trips along the coast.
Your plan
Start with this plan.
Copy it into YesTrip, pick your dates and make it yours: move stops, drop them or let the AI add more. On the road the app shows you the next stop and how to get there.
Nice: frequently asked questions
Are 3 days enough for Nice?
Yes, for the city and one day trip. With more time, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer or a beach day are worth it.
Does Nice have a sandy beach?
No, the city beach is pebbles. Water shoes help. There are sandy beaches further along the coast, for example in Villefranche.
Is Monaco worth a day trip?
Yes, Monaco is small and quick to reach by train or bus. Combined with Èze it makes a full day.
When are museums closed?
Many museums in Nice close one day a week. Check opening hours before you go.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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