The Perfect 4 Days in Nice: A French Riviera Escape

Nice is such a gem on the French Riviera. I’m honestly surprised it took me this long to make my way south. Nice has that rare mix of seaside ease, culture, and everyday beauty that makes you slow down without feeling bored. It’s a true year-round destination. Picture warm Mediterranean light in winter, vibrant markets in spring, beach days all summer, and golden evenings well into fall. Even in peak heat, the breeze off the water makes everything feel more relaxed.

We spent four full days here and managed to balance long walks along Promenade des Anglais, beach club afternoons, Old Town wanderings, market mornings, and lots of great food. We even fit in a few easy day trips along the coast. From the elegance of Le Negresco to sunset strolls through Place Masséna and the colorful lanes of Vieux Nice, the city feels layered. It’s part Riviera glamour, part lived-in Mediterranean town. In this guide to 4 days in Nice, I’ll share where to walk, swim, eat, explore, and how to use Nice as the perfect base for discovering the Côte d’Azur. And next time? I’ll stay longer. This coast rewards lingering.

Walk the Promenade des Anglais: Nice’s Famous Seafront

If you come to the south of France, you must start by the water! Make your way to Promenade des Anglaise. This large boardwalk has space for everyone – bikers, walkers, and those relaxing in the famous blue chairs.

I loved walking this path at different times of the day and in different directions. If you are looking for a truly scenic hike, and you are a strong walker, you can take it all the way to the town of Villefranche-Sur-Mer.

Best Beach Clubs in Nice, France (What to Expect + Costs)

If you are on the Promenade, you are right by the water, so next stop is the beach! There is no shortage of beach clubs here. Ruhl Plage, Castel Plage, Bocca Mar, and Plage Beau Rivage are the standouts. We picked Ruhl Plage and it was a great experience despite the late start. All the beaches are covered in grey pebbles, which look pretty next to the azure colored water but are tough to walk on and uncomfortable to get in and out of the water.

You’ll have to travel to Villefranche-Sur-Mer or Cannes to get to a sandy beach. We got used to the pebbles quickly and it is so enjoyable being at the beach club (Ruhl Plage), with a beach chair right by the water and drinks/snacks readily available. Plus, there are bathrooms, showers and changing rooms, so this justified the cost of the beach club for me (on average, €50). Check with your hotel, if you’re staying at one, to see if they have special discounts with some beach clubs.

Le Negresco Hotel: Iconic Luxury on the Nice Waterfront

Right by the Promenade Anglaise, with gorgeous views of the water is the impeccable hotel Le Negresco. With its gorgeous white facade and pink dome, examples of Le Belle Epoque architecture, it’s a jewel by the beach. There are just over 130 luxury rooms and suites (with the cheapest listed at €1500 on the day we walked by) and an incredible amount of art and period furniture.

Once you step into the lobby, you can linger by having a drink at the 1913 bar or Le Versailles champagne bar. There are so many tourists trying to take a peak at the beauty of the hotel but security will nicely ask you to leave to move to the bar.

It’s a national historic monument, founded in 1912. Le Negresco is home to brasserie La Rotonde and a Michelin-star restaurant, Le Chantecleur, with Mediterranean cuisine, under the helm of chef Virginie Basselot. If you are looking for a special experience, book a table there ahead of time.

Right next to the hotel, there is a beautiful garden surrounding the Massena Museum. If you are looking for a little respite from the heat, stop by and stay in the shade of gorgeous palm trees and fruit trees and enjoy any temporary exhibits. It’s a fairly small garden but I think it is worth the stop, when the gates are open.

The garden is part of Villa Massena, which houses the Massena Museum, with lots of history of Nice and some Napoleon memorabilia. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday, so check the hours before you go.

Place Masséna: The Heart of Nice and Transportation Hub

Nice is very walkable but also easy to get around with the help of trams (Lignes D’Azur). There are several tram lines and you can get a ticket at one of the stops and then validate it once you get on. It seems that wherever we were going, the expansive Place Massena was often the square we passed by. Every single time we walked through it, day or night, I was in awe of its beauty. With the fountain (Fontaine du Soleil) and the sculpture of Apollo at one end, historic red buildings lining up the square, seven sculptures on tall poles throughout and its checkered ground, it’s a sight to see.

It looks different during the day and at night, when the sculptures light up and the energy shifts with live music throughout. No wonder, it’s the area where many events for the Nice jazz festival and Nice carnival are held.

To me, it felt like a great connection point between the resort area and old town. There are long tram lines crossing Place Massena, so it’s a great starting point if you are heading somewhere.

Avenue Jacques Medecin, a major street in Nice named after its first mayor, ends at Place Massena. You can find a lot of shops (including Galleries Lafayette) and cafes along the way.

Right near the fountain, you’ll find Promenade du Paillon, a large park. We loved walking through it day and night, which was a completely different atmosphere. Earlier in the day you’d see kids running through the ground water fountains and later – couples strolling at night or teens laughing it up before heading somewhere else.

Explore Old Town (Vieux Nice): History, Restaurants & Gelato

The park at the end of Jacques Medecin was our path to and from Old Town (Vieux Nice). Once you step down the stairs, past the old Pizzeria, you are in a whole different world. It’s criss-crossed by little shops and restaurants. In fact, some of our favorite restaurants were in this part of town (Chez Juliette a cozy standout!).

There is so much energy on these old streets – tourists, locals, street performers, the smells of delicious foods and flowers. Best of all, it’s a pedestrian only area, so you can roam the streets without worrying about traffic.

Don’t forget to wander the Lascaris Palace, with the second-largest collection of musical instruments in France. The street it’s on is also lined with several notable galleries.

A beautiful open area bounded by Nice Cathedral is also a location for our favorite gelato in town – Fenocchio. There are so many flavors and it’s delicious. The lines are worth it! Sadly, I have no pictures of it, since I was just enjoying my gelato in the moment.

Cours Saleya Market: Food, Flowers & Local Specialties

Part of Old Town, Cours Saleya is a long promenade that is the location of the market. On Monday, it’s a flea and antiques market. On all the other days, it’s a fruit, vegetable, and flower market.

Full of local flavors, like olives, artichokes, zucchini flowers, lemons, olive oil and tapenades, to name a few. It also includes pastries and other treats, souvenirs and art.

Plus, you have to try socca – a Nicois specialty street food made of chickpeas. We found a stall right at the beginning and had to go back a few times, it was absolutely delicious.

Since we were visiting in the summer, the abundance of flowers was amazing.

Nice is a prime location on the French Riviera, with easy access to Cannes, Eze, Ventimiglia, Antibes, Menton and Monaco. We took several day trips from Nice and truly enjoyed the variety of flavors that the south of France offers. However, Nice isn’t just a stop on the Riviera, it’s a place to settle into. Mornings at the market, afternoons by the sea, evenings in Old Town with gelato in hand. It’s elegant without being intimidating, lively without being overwhelming.