Things to do in Nice, between the airport and your villa
The old town, its market and Castle Hill, the Promenade des Anglais and the museums of Cimiez, arranged into plans that fit a stopover on arrival, a morning of art or a full day out from Cannes, the Cap d’Antibes or Saint-Tropez.
The best things to do in Nice sit in a small area: the lanes of Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya market, the climb up Castle Hill for the view over the Baie des Anges and the port, a walk along the Promenade des Anglais and, on the hill of Cimiez, the Matisse and Chagall museums. The old town, the market and Castle Hill can be seen on foot in about three hours, which is why they make an ideal stop on the day you land. A full day lets you add the museums and the port. One rule shapes every plan: both the Matisse and the Chagall museums close on Tuesdays.
This guide is written for travellers who fly into Nice Côte d’Azur airport on their way to a villa in Cannes, on the Cap d’Antibes or in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Most of them cross Nice at speed, from the terminal to the motorway, and only realise later what they drove past: a city listed by UNESCO, a baroque old town, a flower market that fills its square six days a week. Our concierge turns the transfer into a visit. The driver keeps your luggage in the car, leaves you at the edge of the old town and collects you at the port or on the Promenade when you are ready to continue.
Below you will find what to see in Nice area by area, a morning route through the old town, the different ways up Castle Hill, the museum hours that matter, three ready-made plans and how to fit Nice into a stay based elsewhere on the coast. If your villa is on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, our guide to the journey from Nice to Saint-Tropez by road, helicopter or boat covers the second half of the day.
Nice in verified figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Nice was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as “Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera”, a property of 522 hectares.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage CentreThe Promenade des Anglais began as a modest coastal path, the “Camin dei Ingles”, created in 1824 by British winter visitors, and was lengthened and widened in the 1930s.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage CentreThe city has 7 km of beaches along the Côte d’Azur coastline, and its territory rises from sea level to 520 metres.
Source: Nice Côte d'Azur tourist officeThe Cours Saleya market is held every day except Monday; on Mondays a second-hand market takes over the Cours from 7:00 to 18:00, except on the eve of public holidays.
Source: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regional tourismTram line 2 runs from airport Terminals 1 and 2 to the city centre, stopping at Jean Médecin and Port Lympia, in less than 30 minutes, every 7 to 8 minutes on weekdays.
Source: Nice Côte d'Azur AirportThe Musée Matisse is open every day except Tuesday, from 10:00 to 17:00 between November and March and from 10:00 to 18:00 between April and October.
Source: Musée Matisse NiceWhat to see in Nice, area by area
Nice is easier than it looks on a map. Almost everything a first visit needs lies between the Promenade des Anglais to the west, the port to the east and the hill of Cimiez to the north, and the old town sits at the centre of it, wedged between the sea and Castle Hill. Think in areas rather than in a list of sights, and the day organises itself.
| Area | What you find there | Time to allow | Best moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vieux Nice (the old town) | Narrow lanes, the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate on Place Rossetti, the Palais Lascaris, Place Garibaldi | 1 h 30 to 2 h | Morning, before the lanes fill |
| Cours Saleya | The flower and produce market, lined with terraces; a second-hand market on Mondays | 30 to 45 min | Early in the day, Tuesday to Sunday |
| Castle Hill (Colline du Château) | A park on the rock above the old town, with a waterfall and the panorama over the bay and the port | About 1 h | A clear morning or the end of the afternoon |
| Promenade des Anglais and the beaches | The seafront walk along the Baie des Anges, pebble beaches, Belle Époque façades | As long as you like | Early evening, when the light turns gold |
| Place Masséna and the Promenade du Paillon | The main square of the city and the green walk that links the sea to the city | 30 min | On the way between the old town and the shops |
| Port Lympia and Mont Boron | The harbour, the church of Notre-Dame du Port, the Cap de Nice and the coastal path towards Villefranche | 1 to 3 h | Afternoon, or a walk before dinner |
| Cimiez | The Musée Matisse, the Roman arena and archaeology museum, the monastery gardens; the Chagall museum lower down the hill | Half a day | Any morning except Tuesday |
Times are our own estimates for an unhurried visit. Opening hours of each museum and site are on their official websites.
The old town and the Cours Saleya, a morning route
The old town is best walked in the morning, from the market inwards. The route below takes about two hours at a gentle pace, stays on foot the whole time and ends close to the foot of Castle Hill, so it links naturally with the next stop. Wear flat shoes: the lanes are paved, narrow and in places stepped.
- Start at the Cours Saleya
The long market square lies between the old town and the seafront. Flowers, fruit, vegetables and local produce fill it every day except Monday, when second-hand dealers take their place from 7:00 to 18:00. Go early, before the heat and the crowds, and walk its full length before turning into the lanes.
- Cross into the lanes
Leave the Cours by one of the passages on its northern side and you are in the old town proper: tall ochre houses, washing between the windows, workshops and small food shops. Getting a little lost here is part of the visit; the old town is small enough that you always come out somewhere you recognise.
- Visit the Palais Lascaris
This listed historic monument is the only civil baroque palace in Nice open to visitors. It is a good half-hour stop, and a sensible refuge on a hot or rainy morning.
- Pause on Place Rossetti
The square in front of the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, with its fountain, is the heart of the old town. Step into the cathedral, then take a seat on a terrace for a moment before moving on. On Saturdays a book market sets up on the nearby Place du Palais de Justice.
- Taste the local cuisine
Socca, pissaladière and pan bagnat are the dishes of Nice, and the old town is where to try them. Tell us beforehand and we will suggest a table serving genuine cuisine nissarde, or reserve lunch on a terrace if you prefer to sit down.
- Finish at Place Garibaldi
The large square at the northern edge of the old town opens towards the port. From here you can climb Castle Hill, walk down to the harbour, or meet your driver if the stopover ends here.
Castle Hill, which way up and which way down
Castle Hill is the rock that separates the old town from the port, and its park is the place to understand Nice at a glance: the curve of the Baie des Anges on one side, the harbour on the other, the rooftops of the old town at your feet. The reasons to go are the gardens, the waterfall and the panorama. The tourist office lists four ways up, and choosing the right one is the difference between a pleasant hour and a hot climb.
Our advice for most guests: take the lift up, enjoy the summit, then walk down on the port side and ask the driver to wait at the harbour. You see the view without the effort, and you finish the visit where the car can stop easily.
| Route | Where it starts | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The free lift | Near Rue des Ponchettes, at the sea end of the old town | None | Families, hot days, anyone short of time |
| The Lesage stairs | From the seafront, on the old town side | A steady climb of steps | Walkers who want the views to open up on the way |
| Through the old town | From the lanes of Vieux Nice | Moderate, with steps | Linking the climb to the morning route above |
| From the port | Via Rue Ségurane | Moderate | Walking down, to finish at the harbour |
Routes as listed by the Nice Côte d’Azur tourist office. The park is outdoors and its paths can close in bad weather.
Nice France attractions for art lovers, Matisse, Chagall and Cimiez
Nice is one of the great art cities of the Riviera, and its two essential museums are a short drive from the centre, on and below the hill of Cimiez. The Musée Matisse is a museum devoted entirely to the painter, set in the historic quarter of Cimiez. Next to it are the remains of the Roman arena and the archaeology museum, and the gardens of the Cimiez monastery. The Musée national Marc Chagall stands lower down the hill and is home to his cycle of paintings on the Biblical Message.
Two things catch visitors out. First, both museums close on Tuesdays, so a Tuesday stopover should be spent in the old town instead. Second, the city’s modern and contemporary art museum, the MAMAC, closed on 7 January 2024 for a renovation linked to the redevelopment of the Promenade du Paillon; check its official website for the reopening before planning around it.
| Museum | Open | Closed | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musée Matisse, Cimiez | 10:00 to 17:00 from November to March, 10:00 to 18:00 from April to October; ticket office closes 30 minutes earlier | Tuesdays, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 December | Bus lines 5, 16, 18, 33 or 40, stop Arènes / Musée Matisse, or with your driver |
| Musée national Marc Chagall | 10:00 to 18:00 | Tuesdays | A short drive from the centre; combine it with Cimiez on the same morning |
| MAMAC | Closed for renovation since 7 January 2024 | Until further notice | Check the museum’s website for the reopening date |
Hours as published by each museum. Both Cimiez museums announce temporary closures for exhibition changes on their websites, so check before you go. Ticket fares are on the official websites.
What to do in Nice in three hours, a morning or a full day
These three plans are the ones we suggest most often. The first fits between the plane and the villa, the second suits art lovers, the third is a day out from your villa with a driver at both ends.
- Luggage: on a stopover it stays locked in the car with the driver, so you walk the old town with nothing but a bag.
- Mondays: the Cours Saleya becomes a second-hand market for the day; still worth a walk, but not for flowers and produce.
- Tuesdays: the Matisse and Chagall museums are closed; choose the old town plan or the coastal path.
- Summer heat: climb Castle Hill early or take the lift, and keep the Promenade for the evening.
- Walking further: the coastal path runs 6 km from the Cap de Nice to the Villefranche roadstead, and the loop around Mont Boron is 5.1 km; the driver collects you at the end.
- Departure day: a last morning in the old town works well before an afternoon flight; tram line 2 links the centre and the port to both terminals if you travel light.
| Plan | Time | The route | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stopover on arrival | About 3 hours | Driver at the terminal, drop on the seafront by the old town; Cours Saleya, the lanes and Place Rossetti; the lift up Castle Hill; walk down to the port, where the car is waiting, then on to the villa | A morning or midday landing, guests who have never seen Nice |
| A morning of art | About 4 hours | Musée Matisse at opening, the Roman arena and the monastery gardens of Cimiez, then the Chagall museum; lunch in town | Any day except Tuesday; couples, art lovers |
| A full day from your villa | 9:00 to evening | Market and old town in the morning; Castle Hill; lunch; the port and the coastal path towards Villefranche or the Mont Boron loop in the afternoon; the Promenade at sunset; dinner, then the driver home | Guests staying in Cannes or on the Cap d’Antibes |
Fitting Nice into your stay, from Cannes, the Cap d’Antibes or Saint-Tropez
Where you stay decides how Nice fits in. The Cap d’Antibes lies between Nice and Cannes, so from there the city is an easy outing on any day of the week. From our villas in Cannes it makes a full day out, ideally paired with the eastern coast. From Saint-Tropez, the farthest of our bases, the city is best seen on the day you land or the day you leave rather than as a return trip.
| Your base | When to see Nice | How we organise it |
|---|---|---|
| Cap d’Antibes | Any morning, or an afternoon and dinner | At Villa Zeliane, Cap d’Antibes, airport transfers and a car with driver five hours a day are included, which is enough for a morning in the old town; read our Cap d’Antibes guide for the rest of the week |
| Cannes | On arrival, or as a full day | A stopover on the way from the airport, or a day combining Nice with Èze village and its exotic garden further east; a chauffeur and airport transfers can be added to any of our Cannes villas |
| Saint-Tropez | On arrival or departure day | A three-hour stop before the drive west, or a last morning before the flight; helicopter transfers are arranged on request, and Villa Calista and Villa Vittoria in Saint-Tropez have their own helipad |
Villas to return to after a day in Nice
Residences on the same coast as Nice airport, each visited by our team, from the Cap d’Antibes to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
The residences side by side
Guests, bedrooms, space and highlights at a glance.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa ZelianeCap d'Antibes | 10 | 7 | 6 | 340 m² | Heated Pool, Tennis Court, Hammam, Sauna, Gym |
| Villa ElarisCannes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 500 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa SoryaCannes | 12 | 6 | 6 | 550 m² | Heated Pool, Gym |
| Villa CalistaSaint-Tropez | 12 | 6 | 6 | 400 m² | Heated Pool, Wine Cellar, Gym, Gated Estate |
| Villa VittoriaSaint-Tropez | 16 | 8 | 9 | 460 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Massage Room, Gym |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
What we arrange for a day in Nice
Nice rewards a little planning: the right day, the right order and a car that is waiting where you finish.
A transfer that becomes a visit
The driver meets you at the terminal, keeps the luggage safe and fits the old town, the market and Castle Hill into the journey to your villa.
The calendar checked for you
We plan around Monday at the Cours Saleya, Tuesday at the museums and temporary exhibition closures, so no one arrives at a closed door.
Tables reserved in advance
Lunch in the old town or dinner facing the Baie des Anges, booked before you leave the villa, with honest advice on which terraces fill first.
One contact all day
Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad on WhatsApp if the plan changes, from a later pick-up at the port to an extra hour in Cimiez.
Things to do in Nice: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamWhat is there to do in Nice?
Start with Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya market, climb Castle Hill for the view over the bay and the port, and walk the Promenade des Anglais at the end of the day. Art lovers should add the Matisse museum and the Roman arena in Cimiez, and the Chagall museum below the hill. Walkers can follow the coastal path from the Cap de Nice towards Villefranche. Most of the centre is easily covered on foot.
What is there to see in Nice, France?
The essential sights are the old town with the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, Place Rossetti and the Palais Lascaris, the flower and produce market on the Cours Saleya, the panorama from Castle Hill, Place Masséna and the Promenade du Paillon, the Promenade des Anglais and Port Lympia. Since 2021 the city has been listed by UNESCO as the winter resort town of the Riviera.
Is Nice worth visiting?
Yes, even if you are only passing through. The old town, the market and Castle Hill can be seen in about three hours, and two of the finest art museums on the coast are a short drive away. For guests landing at Nice airport on their way to Cannes, Antibes or Saint-Tropez, a stop on the way to the villa is the easiest way to see the city without a separate trip.
How many days do you need in Nice?
One full day covers the old town, the market, Castle Hill, the Promenade and an afternoon at the port or on the coastal path. Add a morning for the museums of Cimiez if you enjoy art. If you are staying in a villa nearby, there is no need to sleep in Nice: a stopover on arrival and one day out with a driver are usually enough.
Can you visit Nice in a day?
Yes. Begin at the Cours Saleya market, walk through the lanes of the old town, take the free lift up Castle Hill, and walk down to the port. After lunch, choose between the Matisse and Chagall museums (closed on Tuesdays) or the coastal path towards Villefranche, then end on the Promenade des Anglais at sunset.
How do you get from Nice airport to the old town?
Tram line 2 runs from Terminals 1 and 2 to the city centre, stopping at Jean Médecin and Port Lympia, in less than 30 minutes, every 7 to 8 minutes on weekdays. With luggage for a villa stay, a car with driver is simpler: it drops you by the old town, waits with the bags and continues to your villa afterwards.
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Land in Nice, arrive at your villa
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your flight, your dates and the size of your group: they will suggest the right villa in Cannes, on the Cap d’Antibes or in Saint-Tropez and turn the airport transfer into a few hours in Nice, from the driver to the lunch table. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com, we usually reply within the day. Some of our residences are available without being published online.