Nice is one of the most popular cities on the French Riviera, offering many attractions, a pleasant atmosphere, and wonderful panoramic views for tourists!
France’s 5th largest city is located on the Mediterranean coast, halfway between Marseille and Genoa. Along with Cannes and Monaco, it’s one of the most popular European destinations.
I spent two days exploring the French Riviera, including Nice. You can read here!
Table of Contents
Nice attractions
Promenade des Anglais
Nice’s most famous attraction, featured in most pictures of the city.
It means „English Promenade,” referring to its original construction for English tourists who visited the city in winter. The nearly 7 km long promenade is lined with palm trees and numerous elegant hotels, restaurants, and cafes.
It’s one of the city’s central meeting places, where beachgoers, relaxers, and joggers can enjoy themselves. It’s also the venue for several famous festivals, including the Nice Carnival.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
The 92-meter high hill is located in the eastern part of the city center, offering breathtaking views of the city, the port, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Although the castle no longer stands, there’s a beautiful park at the top of the hill, which is a popular resting place for locals and tourists alike. The park features an impressive waterfall, which is particularly spectacular on summer evenings when it’s illuminated.
It can be approached on foot from several directions, but there’s also an elevator from the seaside.
Old Town (Vieux Nice)
This charming neighborhood is located at the western foot of Castle Hill. The historic district, with its narrow, winding streets and brightly colored houses, evokes medieval Nice.
One of its main parts is Cours Saleya, a market filled with flowers and local products. Here you can taste local specialties like socca or pissaladière.
The small streets are full of shops, restaurants, and cafes, making it an unmissable part of the city.
Nice Cathedral (Sainte-Réparate de Nice)
The dominant building of the Old Town. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Reparata, Nice’s patron saint, who was a young Palestinian martyr.
The Baroque-style church was built in the 17th century and consecrated in 1699. Its impressive dome and bell tower are recognizable from afar in the Old Town skyline. It has ten chapels, each dedicated to different saints.
The organ, built in 1868, has excellent acoustics and regularly hosts concerts. The building’s floor is decorated with geometric patterns of black and white stones, which is a characteristic element of the Ligurian Baroque style.
Place Masséna
This square is one of Nice’s most important and spectacular public spaces.
The square is named after Marshal André Masséna, a native of Nice and one of Napoleon’s most excellent generals. Its distinctive black and white checkered stone paving creates an optical illusion.
The buildings around the square, with their red facades and green shutters, represent a typical Nice style. In the center is the Fountain of the Sun (Fontaine du Soleil), with a bronze statue of the Greek god Apollo rising in its center.
Place Garibaldi
The other most important square is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unity, who was born in Nice.
The square was built in the 18th century and is a characteristic example of Piedmontese Baroque architecture. Its central part is adorned with an impressive statue of Garibaldi, erected in 1891.
The buildings on the square form a harmonious overall picture with their uniform yellowish-ochre facades and symmetrical arrangement. On the ground floor, there are arcades under which terraces of restaurants and cafes can be found.
Port Lympia
Nice’s port is located near Castle Hill, surrounded by beautiful colorful buildings and many boats.
Notre-Dame de Nice
This Neo-Gothic style building is located in the city center on Avenue Jean-Médecin.
Construction of the church began in 1864 and was completed in 1868, designed by architects Louis Lenormand and Charles Lenormand. Its external appearance strongly resembles the Notre-Dame in Paris, although smaller in size.
Its facade is adorned with two 65-meter high towers, between which is a large rose window. The interior of the church is impressive, with its colorful stained glass windows and carved altars particularly noteworthy. It houses one of the largest organs in France.
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral (Saint-Nicolas de Nice)
The church is the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe, located in the Cimier district of the city.
Construction of the building began in 1912 with the support of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and was consecrated in 1912. The church was designed by Russian architect Mikhail Preobrazhensky, who based it on the style of the Kremlin churches in Moscow.
The cathedral’s characteristic onion domes and colorful exterior make it immediately recognizable. It has six domes, of which the central one is the largest, and each is crowned with a gilded cross. Its interior is essentially Byzantine in style, rich with frescoes, icons, and mosaics.
Phoenix Park
This seven-hectare park is located in the western part of the city, near the airport.
The central element of the park is a huge, 25-meter high greenhouse, the „Green Diamond” (Diamant Vert), which is home to more than 2,500 plant species. It’s one of the largest greenhouses in Europe, showcasing tropical and subtropical plants.
The park features numerous themed gardens, including Mediterranean, African, and Asian plants. The park is also home to various animal species, including flamingos, parrots, and reptiles.
All information can be found here!
Matisse Museum
One of Nice’s most famous museums, showcasing the work of Henri Matisse, one of the most significant artists of the 20th century.
The institution is housed in a beautiful 17th-century Genoese villa, the Villa des Arènes. This area was particularly dear to Matisse, who spent the last years of his life in Nice.
The museum’s collection provides a comprehensive view of Matisse’s artistic career, from early works to the last creations. The exhibited objects include paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and the artist’s famous paper cut-outs. It also showcases Matisse’s creative process, often displaying different versions or preliminary studies of a work side by side.
All information can be found here!
Marc Chagall Museum
Opened in 1973, the museum houses the world’s largest collection of Chagall’s works.
Its most famous work is the „Biblical Message” series, consisting of 17 large paintings depicting Old Testament stories. The museum also showcases many other Chagall works, including paintings, graphics, and stained glass window designs.
All information can be found here!
Panorama du Mont-Boron
Nice’s panorama can be best admired from here.
Mont Boron hill rises east of the city, most easily reached by bus 33. There’s a viewpoint with a few benches, offering a wonderful view not only of the city but also of the surrounding mountains and the sea.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
The palace is located near Nice, in the town of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, but it’s worth visiting.
The building was commissioned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild between 1905 and 1912. The villa was built in Italian Renaissance style and is surrounded by nine themed gardens, each representing a different style. These include French, Spanish, Japanese, and exotic gardens.
It houses a rich collection that includes paintings, sculptures, porcelains, and antique furniture. The villa’s furnishings span from the 15th to the 19th century.
One of its most unique features is the musical fountain located in front of the main entrance. At specific times, the water display starts with classical music accompaniment.
All information can be found here!