Rue Bonaparte

Set next to the Place Garibaldi, Rue Bonaparte is a stylish network of bars, restaurants and cafes perfect for when you feel like unwinding on your vacation. Despite having lots to enjoy, Rue Bonaparte doesn’t have the same touristy feel as some of the city’s other venues, even in the busier season.

Chateau de Bellet

If you’re a wine fan, the Chateau de Bellet vineyards are definitely worth a trip to see. The combination of rare grapes and sulphurous terrain lead to wines that are quite unique and offer a once in a lifetime chance for any vino lovers. Take the tour and you’ll be able to enjoy the vineyards themselves, as well as the wine cellar and the Belletchapel. And, of course, there’s the chance to participate in tasting sessions.

Galerie Eva Vautier

If you love art but want to avoid the busier venues Galerie Eva Vautier is a great option. It’s based in the Liberation part of Nice town centre, and shows off the best contemporary work from France and beyond. The gallery also regularly puts on cutting-edge expositions, so if you time your trip right you might be able to catch some of Europe’s most compelling work.

La Grande Corniche

The south of France has long attracted driving enthusiasts, and La Grande Corniche is one of the most stunning roads in the region. The scenery along the road – which will take you all the way to Italy, if you want it to! – is jaw-dropping in places, taking in some of southern France’s most beautiful towns, as well as a unique bird’s-eye view of Monaco. For lovers of the road, La Grande Corniche is a must visit.

Coco Beach

For many people, holidays are all about the beach. In Nice, Coco Beach is the hidden gem. It’s never as crowded as the coastline and has an almost tropical feel. There are also a lot of opportunities for diving and climbing on the surrounding rocks. Snorkelling is also an option if you’re an animal lover and want to say hello to the local wildlife.

Légion d’Honneur Garden

For those looking for a little oasis of calm in the heart of the busy and bustling city, the little garden surrounding the Musée Masséna is free to visit and open during daylight hours. Filled with park benches, shrubs, and plenty of cacti and other succulents, this beautiful place to relax is a great location to hang out with friends, enjoy a picnic, or plan your Nice itinerary!

l’Église Sainte Rita de Nice

In the very heart of the Vieux Nice quarter of the city, the Baroque church of Saint Rita dates back to the 1600s. Featuring six side chapels, beautiful frescoed ceilings, and ornate carvings throughout the church, this small yet sumptuous ecclesiastical building is a welcome calm from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the tiny streets of Old Town Nice.

Mini Replica of the Statue of Liberty

Along the Promenade des Anglais, there’s one statue that you won’t want to miss off your list. The teeny tiny Statue of Liberty replica was unveiled along the boardwalk in 2014. You may well not know this, but the original Statue of Liberty (that of NYC) was actually gifted to the people of America by the people of France all those decades ago.

Promenade des Anglais

The seaside boardwalk that runs along the Baie des Anges owes its existence to the British tourists who first popularized Nice as a holiday destination in the early 18th century. When hard economic times brought an influx of people to Nice searching for work, some of the wealthy Englishmen proposed paying them to create a walkway along the rocky beach. Today, it’s one of the most famous seaside promenades on the Mediterranean, lined with palm trees, beach cabanas, chic cafés and luxury hotels.

Cours Saleya

A broad promenade situated in Nice’s Old Town, the Cours Saleya is the site of the city’s famous open-air markets. Once a park for Nice’s upper classes, it’s shaded by trees and surrounded with 18th-century mansions, many of which are now home to pubs and restaurants serving Niçois cuisine. Sellers hawk fresh flowers and produce here every morning, Tuesday through Sunday. Antiques and collectibles are sold at the east end of Cours Saleya on Monday mornings.

Cimiez Monastery

A still-functioning monastery in Nice’s hilltop suburb of Cimiez, the Monastère de Cimiez was founded in the 9th century by Benedictine monks. Located near a cluster of Roman ruins and the Musée Matisse is an ancient church and museum that features art and documents from the 15th to 18th centuries, including three works painted by the Bréa brothers in the 1400s. Offering panoramic views of Nice and the Baie des Anges, the monastery also features exquisite gardens and the cemetery where the artist Henri Matisse is buried.

Promenade du Paillon

The recently opened Promenade du Paillon is a broad parkway that stretches from the Promenade des Anglais to the Théâtre National de Nice. Designed by landscape architect Michel Pena, it follows the path of the Paillon river, which was covered over in the late 19th century. The promenade features children’s playgrounds, greens spaces, gardens and a massive reflecting pool equipped with 128 water jets and fountains that spray water in a random pattern.

Musee Marc Chagall

Located in the hilly suburb of Cimiez on Nice’s northern border, the Musée Marc Chagall houses one of the largest collections of works by the modernist Russian-French artist. Created during Chagall’s lifetime, the museum was designed to showcase his Message Biblique series of 17 paintings depicting scenes from the Bible. Chagall also created the colorful outdoor mosaic that overlooks the garden pond. More than 800 works by Chagall have been added to the collection since the museum opened in 1973.

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

The Cathédrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Nicolas is the largest of its kind in Western Europe, and with its ornate façade and blue onion domes topped with the glimmering gold crosses, it’s arguably the most beautiful too. Completed in 1912, the cathedral was built to accommodate the growing number of Russian aristocrats who wintered in Nice. The cathedral’s construction was funded by Czar Nicholas II in memoriam of his heir, Nicholas Alexandrovitch, who died in Nice in 1865.

Musee Matisse

A 17th-century villa in the hills of Cimiez in the north part Nice is home to an expansive collection of works by the French artist Henri Matisse. The artist first came to Nice in 1917 and remained in the city until his death in 1954. He spent his final years living in a building located across from the place that would become the Musée Matisse. Opened in 1963, the museum houses hundreds of paintings, gouaches, drawings, prints and sculptures made by the French master, and features a large collection of personal items that belonged to Matisse as well.

Place Massena

The cultural center of Nice, the Place Masséna is the city’s largest square and the main gathering place for community events and seasonal festivals. Surrounded by 17th-century architecture, it links the Old Town quarter with the city’s commercial district. After rebuilding a tramway transportation system, the square was designated a pedestrian-only zone, and an art installation by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa was installed. The piece consists of sculptures atop tall pillars scattered around the plaza. A large fountain featuring a statue of Apollo stands as the centerpiece of the square.

Colline du Chateau (Castle Hill)

Little remains of the medieval fortress that once guarded Nice’s Vieux Ville from high atop a rocky hill, but the place where the Colline du Château stood still attracts visitors. Now a scenic park, Castle Hill offers spectacular views of the Old Town and shoreline below. Travelers can climb the 213 steps to the hill’s summit or can shorten the trek by taking the elevator located near the Hotel Suisse. In addition to crumbling castle walls, there’s a waterfall, several cafés, a children’s play area and a cemetery worth exploring.

Vieux Nice

Also known as Vieux Ville, Nice’s Old Town stretches from the foot of Castle Hill to the Place Masséna, the city’s main square. A maze of narrow streets punctuated with broad promenades, the medieval quarter evokes the time in history when Nice was allied with independent Italian states. Streets are lined with structures adorned with Italianate façades, faded gold paint and red-tile roofs. While many of the buildings now house shops and eateries that cater to tourists, Vieux Nice remains home to locals too. It’s one of the best areas to sample the region’s pastries and Niçois-style pizzas.

Bistrot d’Antoine – Gourmet Food at Great Prices.

In one of Old Nice’s bustling cobblestone streets, Bistro d’Antoine is not to be missed. This temple of gastronomic food is a Michelin starred restaurant with refined French cuisine. You can enjoy traditional dishes (like foie gras) in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Don’t forget to book in advance, because the restaurant is usually booked up a few days in advance. They don’t have a website, but our receptionists would be happy to call for you! Ask for a table on the 1st floor where it’s coziest.

Address: Bistrot d’Antoine, 27 rue de la Préfecture, Vieux Nice (Old Town)

Bar des Oiseaux

The Bar des Oiseaux offer revisited seasonal dishes with a fresh menu that changes daily. Here, fresh pasta reigns supreme. On the menu, you will find fresh ravioli and seafood linguine based on the day’s catch, all at reasonable prices and served in a lively atmosphere with pop-art décor. You will need to book in advance to get a table here!

Address: Bar des Oiseaux 5 Rue Saint-Vincent, Nice

Peixes

Head here for some of the best seafood in the city. Peixes means fish in Portuguese and Catalan – this restaurant’s menu is geared towards all the delights of the big blue. You’ll find delicious and fresh ingredients, a relaxed and inviting décor, professional service, and beautiful and tasty cuisine for a good price.

Address: Peixes, 4 Rue de l’Opéra, Nice

Cafe de Turin

The Café de Turin is a landmark for seafood lovers and has been a culinary institution in Nice for more than 100 years. Here, you’ll taste the freshest seafood served in their bountiful seafood platters, in a chic and relaxed brasserie atmosphere. The menu has a wide selection of shellfish and crustaceans of high quality; if you love sea-food, this is a must. You can also grab takeaway service from their walk-up seafood bar, Jo l’Écailler.

Address: Cafe de turin, 5 place Garibaldi, Nice

Comptoir du Marche

Brought to you by the same family as the Bistrot d’Antoine, the Comptoir du Marché combines friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere, and quality cuisine, at very reasonable prices. Every day the talented chefs decide the menu from fresh produce at the Fruit and Flower Market nearby. The food is both simple and sophisticated, and certainly delicious. You can enjoy classics like lamb shank stew, beef with sliced Roquefort, fresh tuna with coconut and artichokes. And for dessert, French toast or petit pot of chocolate cream.

Address: Le comptoir du marché, 8 rue du marché, Nice

Di Piu

Di Più offers tasty and affordable Italian food with an unbeatable sea-side view; their giant patio has seating for more than one hundred, and locals and tourists alike flock here. Quantities are generous, with fresh ingredients and produce. The décor is chic and relaxed, and from the tables you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Bay of Angels.

Address: Di Piu, 85 Quai des États-Unis, Nice

Le Galet

One of the many restaurants lining the coast of Nice, Le Galet’s tables are set right down on the beach, so you can enjoy your food with the gentle sound of the surf against the pebbles and the fresh sea air complimenting their dishes. They have lounge-chairs for rent to enjoy a cocktail on the beach after your meal. The restaurant is very new, but from a well-established restauranteur group in Nice; professional, chic and very relaxed.

Address: Le Galet, 3 Promenade des Anglais, Nice

Le Canon

A little golden nugget of a bistro with moleskine benches and a 100% natural wine list. It’s an ideal places to go for dinner with a hot date. There’s no menu here. Instead you’ll find a changing spectrum of dishes that change with the seasons, according to whatever is delivered from local producers. The kitchen keep things simple, letting the top drawer produce shine – think bold green asparagus and perfect tender lamb.

Address: 23, rue Meyerbeer 06000 Nice

La Merenda

One of the city’s institutions! Dominique Le Stanc – former chef of Negresco – is the innkeeper here, highlighting Nice’s traditional cuisine in a comfortable retro space. Mad Men fans will love the decor and everyone will love the food. Think menton pie (containing dandelion and anchovies), gorgonzola polenta and veal tripe. All are delicious, but the star of the show is the most perfect daube de boeuf à la Provençale (orange and beef tail).

Address: 4, Rue Raoul Bosio – 06300 Nice

Le Plongeoir

An architectural feat, Le Plongeoir stands on the rocks facing the sea, offering breathtaking views of the water. It’s a place to spend an evening people-watching the in-crowd. It’s hard to outdo the carefully prepared food here. It makes many references to traditional cuisine, even going so far as to offer a super-local menu – with salad niçoise, cod with meat juice and ravioli with herbs and lemon meringue pie.

Address: 60 Boulevard Franck Pilatte, 06300 Nice