• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Via Travelers Logo

via travelers

Always moving.

  • About
  • Blog
    • Travel Tips
    • Travel Hacking Tips
    • Itineraries
    • Food Tips
    • Business Travel
    • Travel Reviews
  • Destinations
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
  • Travel Products
    • Best Travel Gifts
    • Best Travel Totes
    • Best Van Camping Equipment
    • Best Travel Purses
    • Best Travel Routers
    • Best Travel Humidifiers
  • Trip Ideas
    • Cheap Destinations
    • Beautiful Destinations
    • Group Vacations
    • Black Sand Beaches
    • Unknown U.S. Destinations
  • Guides
    • Travel Hacking 101
    • Find Hacker Fares for Flights
    • Best Travel Credit Cards
    • Best Sites for Booking Tours
  • Shop
  • Show Search
Hide Search

A 2 Days in Nice, France Itinerary You’ll Want to Copy

By kmf · Updated: December 18, 2020

Nice, France is an attractive destination for anyone looking for French culture and great weather. This is the best 2 days in Nice France itinerary you’ll want to mimic to see and do everything.

A 2 Days in Nice, France Itinerary You’ll Want to Copy

Nice, France Beach Coastline

There’s nothing quite like the French Riviera – the beautiful and glamorous coastline on the Mediterranean. And you can do it affordably with this 48 hours in Nice, France itinerary. (btw: Nice is pronounced Neese).

I’m a big fan of bleisure travel (when you tack on a few days of leisure time to a business trip to explore the area outside those conference room walls).

So when my former company made me go to Paris twice within two months, I decided to check out someplace different since I already toured The City of Light on my first trip.

I chose Nice, France as it was June and I wanted to do a beach getaway. I heard that it was very expensive, but, honestly, I did not find the costs to be exorbitant.

While you could take a train from Paris to Nice, I was short on time so decided to take a direct flight via AirFrance. It was fast (only 1.5 hours) and relatively inexpensive ($120 Euros roundtrip).

Table of Contents

  • Things to do in Nice, France
  • Wake up in a room with a view
  • Walk / run along Promenade des Anglais
  • Enjoy an afternoon on a pebble beach
  •  
  •  
  • Enjoy an afternoon or evening on a rooftop
  • Hike to the top of Castle Hill
  • Explore Old Town
  • Take in a street performance
  • Enjoy foodie experiences
  • Stroll through botanical gardens 
  • Get your culture on at Nice museums
  • Gather at historic Place Massena
  • Take a one-hour sightseeing cruise  
  • Half-day trip to Monaco and Eze
  • Experience Nice Carnival
  • Traveling solo
  • Create your own 48 hours in Nice, France itinerary 

Things to do in Nice, France

Other than hanging out on the French Riviera, I did not have a preplanned agenda (which is so not me).

So I decided to wing it. I don’t regret it as I enjoyed walking in Nice and discovering surprises along the way.

I learned that this Mediterranean city offers much more than beautiful beaches. With 300 hectares (741 acres) of green spaces and parks, you will also find a cosmopolitan vibe as well as mountains, ski resorts, museums, foodie destinations, and a rich cultural history dating back to 400,000 BC.

It’s no wonder Nice is the second most popular tourist destination in France (only second behind Paris), and also a popular port destination for cruises. While the country’s fifth-largest city attracts about 5 million visitors annually, it’s easy to get around in the metro area of 550,000 people (about the size of Albuquerque, New Mexico). I found it very walkable and only took an Uber for the airport/hotel transfer.

So here are a few things I enjoyed during my 48 hours in Nice, France (and most of them were free) – as well as a few things I added to my bucket list for when I return.

Wake up in a room with a view

View of Room in Nice, France

You can find several hotels right on the Promenade des Anglais. I selected the Radisson Blu because of its great wake-up view of the Mediterranean, affordable room rates, fun rooftop bar and pool, and a private beach directly across street.

Walk / run along Promenade des Anglais

Promenade des Anglais

I also chose this location because it was right on the Promenade des Anglais (nicknamed Prom)  – a famous road that winds along the Mediterranean coastline with a wide and long pedestrian walkway. It’s a great place to take a leisurely stroll, check out the beaches, a restaurant. I did a couple of morning runs and it was not crowded at all.

A little bit of history: this road had humble beginnings as a 6-foot-wide footpath. It wasn’t until 1931 when the Prom became two roads separated by a boulevard of palm trees.

You definitely want to add a walk or run along the Promenade on your list of things to do in Nice, France.

Enjoy an afternoon on a pebble beach

pebble beach, nice, france

Nice offers six miles of coastline with nearly five miles of beaches.

While the beautiful pebble beach on the Mediterranean requires no filter, it definitely requires water shoes or sandals. You won’t find sand here.

My hotel offered a private beach so I didn’t have to worry about finding a beach chair or umbrella. The area includes about 30 beaches in all (with half of them private).

The largest and most popular public and free beach is La Plage Publique de Beau Rivage.

 

 

Enjoy an afternoon or evening on a rooftop

Many of the Nice’s hotels offer stunning panoramic views from their rooftop bars, restaurants and pools – beautiful day or night to enjoy a cocktail or meal. This view was taken next to the Calade Rooftop Restaurant at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Calade Rooftop Restaurant

Hike to the top of Castle Hill

And if you’re more in the mood for a more natural setting to capture some iconic shots of the Cote d’Azur or Old Town, simply hike to the top of Castle Hill. It’s 426 steps (305 feet high) and a relatively easy climb in you’re in good health. An elevator or a trolley/train are also available to take you to the top if needed.

Bring a travel backpack to pack water and snacks on a hot day. 

Castle Hill

You will find several landings and photo ops along the way so you do have the option to stop and rest. And there is a small café at the top if you’re looking for light refreshments. Or bring your own lunch as you admire the views.

Other things to check out on Castle Hill, a former military citadel, are its three cemeteries, the ruins of the citadel, playgrounds, a waterfall (Cascades or Cascade du Casteu), and possibly a street musician or two. I came across a violinist on one of the landings, which made the experience even more magical with the classical music filling the entire area.

I could have spent an entire weekend exploring this place so definitely add Castle Hill to your Nice, France itinerary.

Explore Old Town

After my run and hike to the top of Castle Hill, I meandered over to the charming Old Town. Loved wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets checking out the quaint shops, the Garibaldi Square and Massena Square, churches and cathedrals, the architecture, art galleries and restaurants.

Most of the area is pedestrian-only so it’s best to explore on your own on foot or take a walking tour. Segway tours are also popular to tour this area.

Old Town also offers a lively nightlife with several pubs and bars.

Take in a street performance

You don’t have to search far or hard for street musicians or talented street performers. They appear in the most unexpected places such as on an empty street, a corner or even right by your dinner table. They’re a nice value-add to your Nice, France itinerary.

Enjoy foodie experiences

Cuisine Nissarde, Nice, France

Nice offers a huge range of foodie experiences – from charming outdoor cafes (where I fell in love with this goat cheese with apricots on toast) to elegant dining to cooking classes.

If you’re looking for authentic local cuisine, all you need to do is look for the Cuisine Nissarde label. It’s a special designation the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau awards restaurants to let tourists know where they can find quality meals that respect traditional recipes and reflect the history of Nice cuisine.

See Related: Best Travel Totes

Stroll through botanical gardens 

At the Parc Forestier du Mont-Boron, you will find beautiful mountain, city and sea views as well as nearly seven miles of trails in a botanical garden. It’s situated in the middle of a Mediterranean forest of Aleppo pine and olive trees.

And that’s just one of the many green spaces in Nice. In fact, the metro area boasts 741 acres of natural greenery.

Here are just a few other popular gardens to add to your list of things to do in Nice, France.

  • Albert 1 Garden is the city’s oldest public garden that you can find along Promenade des Anglais – and you can stroll through it all the way to Place Massena.
  • Promenade du Paillon is located in city center near the Museum of Modern Art and Contemporary Art, the Theatre de Verdure and the Promenade des Anglais. Nearly 30 acres, this garden is especially popular for families as it includes children games and water fun such as mist sprays and water mirrors. It also hosts events such as art exhibitions.
  • Parc Phoenix, a 17-acre park located across from the Mediterranean, features 20 themed gardens. You’ll also find the Asian Arts Museum and one of Europe’s largest greenhouses called the Green Diamond. This park is also home to crocodiles, iguanas, exotic birds and lemurs.
  • The Jardin des Arenes de Cimiez is located across from the Monastery of Cimiez and features a large olive grove with thousands of trees that are centuries of years old.
  • For panoramic views of San Remo, Italy and Saint-Tropez, visit Parc Naturel Departemental de la Grande Corniche (more than 1,600 acres). They say when visibility is cooperating, it’s possible to even see Corsica.
  • Sentier du Canal de Gairaut is a great place for joggers and walkers – a beautiful trail with bridges, olive and fig trees along an old canal with panoramic views of the city.

See Related: Best Travel Credit Cards to Consider

Get your culture on at Nice museums

You’ll find 15 museums throughout Nice (and many are free admission if you purchase a French Riviera pass). Here are just a few you can visit.

  • Musée Matisse / Matisse Museum, also known as the Museum of France, displays the painter’s collections in a 17th century villa – most of which were painted in Nice. The museum is part of a larger historical complex of the Cimiez site that also includes Roman arenas and ruins, the monastery as well as a garden with olive trees that are hundreds of years old.
  • The National Marc Chagall Museum features the largest public collection of this artist – more than 400, including many paintings inspired by the Old Testament.
  • Musée D’art Moderne et D’art Contemporain (Museum of Modern Art – MAMAC) features more than 1,300 European and American avant-garde works from the 1960s and 1970s.
  • If you’re a prehistoric buff, the Musée de Prehistoire de Terra Amata is a must visit. A dig at this site discovered an elephant hunter’s camp going back 400,000 years – and where the domestication of fire was discovered.

Gather at historic Place Massena

Place Massena, Nice, France

Place Massena, a centrally located square or plaza, features a large fountain with statues and is Nice’s main shopping area and is only minutes away from the Prom and Old Town. A tram also goes through the area, which is mainly a pedestrian area at this gathering space.

You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and beautiful architecture here (with its famous red facades). It’s also a great place for people-watching.

Take a one-hour sightseeing cruise  

For a different perspective of the French Riviera, take a one-hour sightseeing cruise. You’ll appreciate some spectacular views of the Mediterranean coast from the water as well as some historic hamlets, ancient villages, the Promenade des Anglais, while also learning some fascinating history of the area.

Half-day trip to Monaco and Eze

If you’re looking to check off another country on your travel bucket list, take a day trip from Nice, France to Monaco – the second smallest country in the world and one of five microstates in Europe.

You can find several tour operators who offer half-day trips to Monaco (as well as the medieval town of Eze). Or you can take a train or bus – it’s only about 13 miles away.

Some highlights: watch the changing of the guard at Monaco’s Royal Palace, do a lap at Monaco’s Formula One Grand Prix circuit, or try your luck at the famous casino.

Experience Nice Carnival

If you happen to visit Nice in mid-to-late February, you won’t want to miss the Carnival. Actually, it’s unlikely you can miss it. Carnival is a festival of events and parades that occur before Lent.

The Nice Carnival is one of the world’s oldest (going back to 1294) and major carnival events, attracting over a million visitors during that two-week period. You’ll find many parades, events and things to do in Nice, France during Carnival season.

See Related: Best Day Trips from Nice

Traveling solo

Did I feel safe? That’s a common question I receive when people learn I traveled solo to Nice, France. When I visited, the horrific terrorist attack on the Promenade was still on people’s minds and hearts as it had occurred less than a year before. I felt very safe. Concrete barriers had been installed along the Promenade to protect pedestrians and there was a large police presence.

People were very friendly and not once did I feel unsafe walking in Nice, France. I would definitely recommend this beautiful area as a solo traveler destination.

Create your own 48 hours in Nice, France itinerary 

I Love Nice - Nice, France

So there are plenty of options to create your own two days in Nice, France itinerary. Here’s a sample itinerary that you can customize.

Day 1

  • Take a walk along Promenade des Anglais and the pebble beaches.
  • Climb to the top of Castle Hill for some great photo ops.
  • Walkthrough the cobblestone streets of Old Town.
  • Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the Old Town street cafes.
  • Spend the afternoon at one of Nice’s 15 museums such as Musée Marc Chagall or Musée Massena.
  • Make reservations at a rooftop restaurant and enjoy the sunset.

Day 2

  • Take a half-day tour to Monaco to watch the changing of the guard and visit Ese, a medieval hilltop town.
  • Pack a lunch and enjoy it among the olive trees in one of the beautiful botanical gardens such as Parc Forestier du Mont-Boron.
  • Sail along the Mediterranean coastline on an hour-long cruise for some breathtaking views.
  • For the remainder of the afternoon, relax on one of Nice’s pebble beaches. See these other amazing black sand beaches from around the world.
  • Visit the historic Place Massena and enjoy an authentic Nicoise dinner at a restaurant awarded with the Cuisine Nissarde label.

Are you prepared with this Nice France itinerary? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

Related Resources

  • Top Sites to Book Tours
  • Travel Hacking 101
  • 2 Days in Amalfi Coast Itinerary
  • Scott’s Cheap Flights Review

via travelers is a modern travel blog helping you learn the best travel tips, itineraries and hacks to explore the world.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

France

Avatar for kmf

About kmf

A former hockey mom entering her fourth year as an emptynester, Karen Mellott-Foshier (aka kmf) recently resigned from the corporate life after 25+ years as a journalist, corporate communications manager, writer, and editor.

After microblogging about her travel adventures on social media for more than a decade, kmf is now a full-service travel agent and author of the travel and lifestyle blog, kmfiswriting.com, where she shares destination inspiration, travel tips, book reviews, and updates on her quest to find the best mac and cheese.

Primary Sidebar

Join the Community

Want to travel the world? Join our community of over 25,000 readers and learn how we travel the world for less than $1,000.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Reviews

Scott’s Cheap Flights Review

Award Wallet Review

Dollar Flight Club Review

GetYourGuide vs Viator

Travel Guides

Things to do in Amsterdam

Things to do in Minneapolis

Things to do in Northern California

Vacation Ideas

Vacations with Minimal Walking

Plan a Month Long Vacation

Group Vacation Ideas

Where to Travel For Your Birthday

Trip Guides

Asia

Australia

Europe

North America

South America

Recent Posts

  • The Windy City On Foot: Chicago’s Best Walking Tours
  • Eating and Drinking Your Way Through Charleston, SC: The Foodie Guide
  • 9 Best Travel Cooler for Road Trips
  • 12 Best Attractions in Chicago | Landmarks to See
  • Tampa Bay Itinerary: What to do During a Weekend 

Copyright © 2021 · Via Travelers. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About
  • Blog
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Contact
  • Become a Contributor
  • Shop
  • Asia