Things to do in Nice

For many visitors Nice is primarily a launching pad for a French Riviera beach holiday. The weather is certainly a major drawcard, and despite its pebbly beaches, the luxury offered by the hotels and restaurants along the coast ensures that visitors can enjoy a beach holiday in immense comfort.

For those less interested in the prospect of a tan, Nice is an historic and artistic city with a rich offering of galleries and museums. Favourite art museums include Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, Musée Matisee, and Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret. History buffs will love the Musée de Paléontologie Humaine de Terra Amata, which is built on a prehistoric settlement and traces life on the Riviera 400,000 years ago.

Those looking for a religious experience will also not be disappointed as Nice is home to a number of impressive churches and religious institutions. The Cathédrale Saint Nicolas, a Russian orthodox church, is an unexpected attraction in this French city. The Monastery of Cimiez, which includes a church, a cemetery and a convent, remains an active monastery and is a joy to explore.

Of course, throughout France the magnificent cuisine is a draw for travellers and Nice is known to be a competitor in this regard. Visitors looking for simple fare will enjoy Nice's most famous market area, the Cours Saleya, where fresh produce and quaint sidewalk cafes can be found. Those in search of glamorous fine dining will find a diverse offering of fancy restaurants in Nice.

Antibes photo

Antibes

Antibes is a few miles east of Cannes and a very popular excursion from the city. It has one of the best markets on the coast and an excellent Picasso museum in its ancient seafron…

Musée Matisse photo

Musée Matisse

Renowned artist Henri Matisse spent a good portion of his life in Nice, living in the city from 1918 until 1954, and he is honoured by this museum. The Musée Matisse has several p…

The Château de Nice photo

The Château de Nice

The Chateau de Nice was built in the 11th century for military purposes. It is located in Vieux Nice and features on most sightseeing tours of Nice, but the fortress itself is long…

Phoenix Parc Floral de Nice photo

Phoenix Parc Floral de Nice

Just outside of Nice, near the airport, this vast tourist attraction includes a botanical garden and numerous animals, among other things. 2,500 species of plant are collected in t…

Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret photo

Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret

Housed in the former residence of the Ukrainian Princess Kotchubey is a fine collection of 19th and 20th century art, including works by Boudin, Ziem, Raffaelli, Renoir and Monet. …

Cimiez photo

Cimiez

The Monastery of Cimiez, which includes a church, a cemetery and a convent where some Franciscan friars still live, is located in a residential area in the hills above the hustle a…

Cours Saleya Food and Flower Market photo

Cours Saleya Food and Flower Market

Nice's most famous market area, the Cours Saleya, bustles with activity every day and is a riot of colour and fresh smells. Cours Saleya is the famous promenade in the southwest of…

Marc Chagall Museum photo

Marc Chagall Museum

Celebrated modernist artist Marc Chagall (1887 to 1985), though born in the Soviet Union, spent much of his career in France. The Marc Chagall Museum in Nice has the largest perman…

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral photo

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Nice and the French Riviera were fashionable holiday resorts for Russian nobility in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to a close relationship between the regions tha…

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