Tourist Attractions in Nice

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, Nice is a charming town that mixes modern and old architecture but with a “beach vibe”.
If you are going there, I think on 2 or 3 days you can see most of the tourist attractions.
Here is a list of what you can visit, so you can plan your days ahead.

What to see in Nice?

Vielle Ville is the old town and has an Italian and French influence with loads of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The streets are narrow, and cars have no access to it, apart from residents and shops’ owners.

At the Old Town, you can visit the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice (Nice Cathedral) at the Rosetti Square, Vieux Nice
Port, Place du Palais de Justice, Place Saint François, Lascaris Palace, Opéra de Nice and Les Ponchettes.
One of the most charming streets is Rue Droite where you will find shops to buy the Marseille Soap and the delicious Provence herbs.

Castel Plage is one of the most charming private beaches with its sparkling white sands and vivid blue waters.

Park de la Colline du Chateau is where you can tour the ruins of Chateau de Nice and have a fantastic view of the town.
There are two ways to get there.

We climbed from the side, following the Chapelle de la Visitation Sainte-Claire and the cemetery. Although it has plenty of stairs, it doesn’t even compare to the steep entrance/exit staircase that is next to the free lift on Quai Rauba Capeu Street (facing the sea), by which we went down.

Or you can go by taking the mini train ride which the starting point is on the Promenade des Anglais, opposite the Jardin Albert 1er Centenary Monument.

I suggest that you take the stairs on at least one of the ways, as this will allow you to pass through the Bellanda Tower lookout, with a view of Baía dos Anjos.

Cours Saleya Market is a pleasant flower and fresh produce market where top chefs from surrounding restaurants shop right beside tourists. It is an excellent place to buy souvenirs. The market is closed on Mondays and opened from 6 am to 5.30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, except Sunday afternoons and public holidays.

Place Masséna is the largest and most famous square in Nice. With pink buildings, an iconic sidewalk and the sculptures by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa that light up at night, this square is a must-see.
The connecting pedestrian roads, like Avenue de Verdun, offer a series of famous brands, jewellers and luxury boutiques.

Avenue Jean Medecin is a long boulevard and where there are loads of clothing stores.
I admit that the area of this street, which is near the central station, made me a little worried. I found it very dirty and with very unreliable people.
But as you go down towards and get closer to Boulevard Victor Hugo, the road gets better, and I’ve felt safer.

Promenade des Anglais is a promenade with around 8km of distance, and that was built around 1820.
Walking on the waterfront is a delight, and as it is about 2 meters above beach level, several benches have been placed facing the sea and people sit there to watch the sunset.

One of the points of interest is the most high-end hotel in town, the Hotel Negresco, so don’t forget to have a look at it.

Also, at Quai de États Unis which is the continuation of the Promenade des Anglais, on the Cadran Solaire is where the famous #ilovenice sign is.

Parc du Mont Boron is a forest located in the eastern part of the city, and the highest part of the forest is Fort du Mont Alban which will give you an incredible view of the town and Cap Ferrat. It is where part of the series Riviera was filmed (where Georgina organizes an art exhibition).

Château de Bellet, the Bellet Wine Region is a small wine-growing area at the North of Nice where you can experience a tour on the beautiful vineyards, wine cellar and the old Bellet chapel which lies within its grounds.

Musée Marc Chagall is a small museum that features the most extensive public collection of Chagall works.

Place Garibaldi, named after and with a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, this square dates back to the 18th century. The Museum of Modern Art is nearby.
There is also the Rue Bonaparte with loads of bars, restaurants and cafés brimming with stylish customers enjoying an after-work drink.

Coco Beach, this beautiful beach is probably the preferred it amongst locals since it is quite unknown by tourists. One cool thing to do is to visit the Coco Beach Restaurant not only to try their delicious seafood but also, to enjoy the panoramic views.

Cimiez Monastery Complex (Gardens and Church) is one of the unique things to do in the city. Populated by mansions and on a hill overlooking Nice, at the very top of the mountain you’ll discover a monastery dating back to the 800s.

Phoenix Park, or Nice Floral Park, is one of the largest greenhouses in all of Europe and has 20 thematic zones, with 2,500 plant species growing around ponds and gardens. There are areas with animals and terrariums with turtles, otters and spiders.

What else to see?

Between Rue de la Poissonnerie and Carriera Dou Gouvernou are where you will find a series of stone fragments, monuments, and epitaphs dating back to the Roman Era.
Port Lympia, Promenade du Paillon sundial watchtower, the charming port of Nice and many more.

I hope you enjoy your days in Nice and if you have any questions or have some more suggestions to give us, please leave a comment. Thank you!

Share this:

  34