Nice: top attractions & road trip guide

Nice
© Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nice is the capital of the French Riviera, a city where French and Italian influences meet along the sweeping Baie des Anges. Belle Époque palaces line its seafront, while the Old Town, Vieux Nice, keeps a tighter grid of baroque churches, pastel facades, and market streets behind it.

On a road trip, Nice anchors the eastern Côte d'Azur near the Italian border and works as a hub for exploring the corniche roads to Èze, Monaco, and Menton. The mountains rise close behind the coast here, so the drive out of town quickly turns alpine.

Top attractions

Promenade des Anglais

Promenade des Anglais
© 3602kiva · CC0

The famous seafront promenade curving along the Baie des Anges, lined with palm trees, blue chairs, and Belle Époque hotels.

Vieux Nice

Vieux Nice
© Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0

A dense historic quarter of baroque churches, narrow lanes, and markets, tucked between the seafront and Castle Hill.

Colline du Château

Colline du Château
© Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0

A hilltop park at the site of a former castle, offering sweeping views over the bay, the Old Town, and the port.

Cours Saleya

Cours Saleya
© Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nice's beloved market square, filled each morning with flower, fruit, and vegetable stalls, and antiques on Mondays.

Musée Matisse

Musée Matisse
© Tubantia · CC BY-SA 3.0

A museum in the Cimiez hills dedicated to Henri Matisse, who lived and worked in Nice for much of his later life.

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