Nice · One-day itinerary

A day in Nice.

Nice is the unofficial capital of the Côte d'Azur, Italian for centuries before becoming French in 1860, which shows in the food, the architecture, the dialect. A working city, not a resort, with beaches you can walk to from any hotel.

Time
Full day
Distance
4-8 km
Food stops
3
Sites
6
The walking route

Hour by hour.

A suggested order, feel free to swap, skip, or take it in reverse.

1

09:30 · Start at Promenade des Anglais

Begin your day at Promenade des Anglais. Arrive early to avoid crowds and see it in the morning light.

2

11:00 · Vieux Nice (Old Town)

Walk to Vieux Nice (Old Town), one of the city's defining landmarks. Take your time, this is the kind of place you can't rush.

3

13:00 · Lunch at Chez Acchiardo

Long lunch at Chez Acchiardo. Locals eat late, by 1:30pm you'll be at the heart of the lunch service.

4

15:00 · Colline du Château

Walk off lunch with a visit to Colline du Château. Allow at least an hour.

5

16:30 · Musée Matisse

Continue to Musée Matisse. By now the harsh midday sun has softened, best time for photos.

6

18:30 · Drinks at Le Panier

Aperitivo or evening drink at Le Panier. Soak in the local rhythm.

7

20:30 · Dinner at La Voglia

End the day at La Voglia. Book ahead if possible.

Where to eat

Picks for the day.

The food stops on the route, plus a couple of alternatives if your timing doesn't match.

Chez Acchiardo

Address: 38 Rue Droite

Le Panier

Address: 5 Rue Barillerie

La Voglia

Address: 2 Rue Saint-François de Paule

Sites & sights

What to see along the way.

Promenade des Anglais

Address: Promenade des Anglais

Vieux Nice (Old Town)

Address: Vieux Nice

Colline du Château

Address: Castle Hill

Musée Matisse

Address: 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez

Musée Marc Chagall

Address: 36 Avenue Dr Ménard

Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate

Address: Place Rossetti

Practical notes

Tips before you go.

  • Most restaurants close between lunch (around 3pm) and dinner (around 7:30pm). Plan around it.
  • Cash is still useful in smaller places, though cards are increasingly accepted everywhere.
  • Walk where you can, the best parts of any old European city aren't accessible by car.
  • Museums sell timed-entry tickets online and they save real time, especially in peak season.
  • Locals eat dinner late by American or British standards. Don't show up at 6:30pm expecting service.
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