Nice itinerary: 1, 2 and 3 days

Pick by how much time you have and whether you want the coast outside Nice. All three plans keep the same base: you sleep in Nice every night and travel by tram, bus or TER train, so no packing between stops.

Start early on the Promenade des Anglais, walking east with the sea on your right. Climb Castle Hill (free, steps or a lift) for the view over the Baie des Anges, then come down into the old town for the Cours Saleya market — flowers and food in the morning, restaurants later.

Afternoon: the Baroque churches and narrow lanes of Vieux Nice, then the Promenade du Paillon gardens back toward the new town. Finish with a swim or a drink on the beach, or take the tram up to the Marc Chagall National Museum if it rains.

One day is enough for the core and nothing else. If you also want Monaco or Èze, you need a second day.

Day 1 as above. Day 2, take the TER train east along the coast. Monaco is roughly 20–25 minutes from Nice-Ville; Èze-sur-Mer is about 15 minutes, with a steep walk or bus up to the village; Menton is around 35–40 minutes. Buy tickets at the station or on the app; no seat reservation on TER.

Alternative westbound day: Antibes (about 20 minutes) for the old town and Picasso museum, or Cannes (about 30–35 minutes) for the Croisette. Both are easy half-days, leaving the evening free back in Nice.

Two days is the point where the trip stops feeling rushed. You see Nice properly and one other place without spending the day in transit.

Day 3 gives you the choice the two-day plan forces you to skip. Stay in Nice and use the beaches and the museums — Matisse, Chagall, the Photography museum — or take a short bus or train to Villefranche-sur-Mer for a deep bay and a quieter waterfront.

If you would rather see more towns, run a second coastal day in the opposite direction: Antibes in the morning, Cannes in the afternoon, back to Nice for dinner. Three days also lets you absorb a rainy day without losing the trip.

Beyond three days, Nice works as a base rather than a checklist: day trips to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the Mercantour foothills or Italy (Ventimiglia market) all fit, and the France guide's Riviera recommendation of 3–4 nights matches this plan.

Nice is not a cheap city, but transport is. Local tram and bus tickets are a few euros, and a day or multi-day pass usually pays off if you ride more than twice. TER trains along the coast are priced by distance and are cheap for short hops; Monaco and Menton cost more than Antibes but still single-digit euros each way (2026 estimate).

Museums range from free to around €10–15; many municipal museums are free, and the first Sunday of the month often brings reductions. Food is the variable: a market lunch or a socca snack is a fraction of a seafront dinner. Accommodation is the biggest line — expect peak summer prices in July and August.

Base yourself once. Nice's old town, the port and the Promenade are walkable, and the train station puts the whole coast within reach, so changing hotels mid-trip wastes time.

Book summer accommodation early and check the tram line 2 route if you are arriving at the airport. In July and August, do the walking before 11am and after 5pm, and keep an eye on heat warnings. In winter, some beach clubs and boat services close — check before planning a sea day.