France · Côte d'Azur

Nice and the Riviera travel guide

Blue sea, pastel old towns and a train line that links them all

Nice from Castle Hill. Photo: 3602kiva, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

1h 45mflight from London

NCEnearest main airport

24° in Augwarmest month

10° in Febcoolest month

The Côte d'Azur is glamour you can reach on a budget airline. Nice makes the perfect base: an old town of ochre buildings and markets, a seafront promenade for sunset walks, and a coastal train to Monaco, Cannes and Menton.

The beaches are pebbly and busy in high summer, but the water is clear and warm. Come in spring or autumn and you'll have much more of it to yourself.

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Top things to do in Nice and the Riviera

1
Vieux Nice
Narrow lanes, the Cours Saleya flower and food market, and socca, the local chickpea pancake.
2
Castle Hill
Climb (or take the lift) for the best view over the Baie des Anges and the old town roofs.
3
The Promenade des Anglais
Seven kilometres of seafront for a walk, a cycle or a sunset drink.
4
Monaco
Twenty minutes by train: the casino, the harbour full of superyachts and the changing of the guard.
5
Èze
A medieval village perched high above the sea, with an exotic garden at the top.
6
Matisse and Chagall museums
Two small, superb galleries in the Cimiez hills, both easy by bus.

Tours and tickets in Nice and the Riviera

Where to stay in Nice and the Riviera

Vieux Nice
Atmospheric and walkable, but rooms are small and it's lively at night.
Around the Promenade
Sea views and grand hotels, a few minutes from the old town.
Port Lympia
A quieter, local feel with good restaurants, by the harbour.

Find a hotel in Nice and the Riviera

Best time to visit Nice and the Riviera

Best value: Feb–May, Sep–Oct. May, June and September: warm sea, sunny days and easier prices than July and August.

Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Nice and the Riviera, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 1h 45m from London to NCE, and flights from most UK airports.

Trains run along the coast every 15 to 30 minutes, and Nice's trams cover the city. Tram line 2 runs from the airport to the port in about 25 minutes. A car is only worth it for the hill villages.

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Day trips from Nice and the Riviera

Cannes
The film festival town, 40 minutes west by train.
Menton
Lemon-coloured houses and gardens near the Italian border.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
A walled hilltop village full of art galleries, an hour by bus.

Good to know

Bring water shoes: most beaches are pebbles, not sand.
Private beach clubs charge for a sunbed. The public stretches between them are free.
Book summer accommodation early, especially in July and August.

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