5-Day Nice Itinerary – French Riviera

Overview: Nice and the French Riviera

Nice sits at the crook of the Côte d'Azur — the capital of the French Riviera, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The light here has a particular quality: sharp, almost Mediterranean gold, the kind that made Matisse pack up and stay for the rest of his life. The old town, Vieux-Nice, is a labyrinth of Baroque churches and ochre-painted facades that feels far more Italian than French — and for good reason. Nice was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860, and the cooking still shows it: pissaladière, socca, pan bagnat, and a wine appellation (Bellet) that most Niçois keep for themselves.

Beyond the city, the Riviera opens up in every direction. Monaco is a 25-minute train ride away. The medieval hilltop village of Èze clings to a cliff above the sea. Antibes has its Picasso museum and old-town ramparts. Every destination is connected by one of the most scenic rail lines in Europe, which means your hotel in Nice doubles as a base for the whole coast — no rental car required.

Your 5-day Nice itinerary

Day 1

Vieux-Nice immersion

MorningStart at Cours Saleya market — the heart of Nice, running every morning except Monday. Buy socca (thin chickpea pancake, cooked on a griddle) from Chez René Socca nearby and eat it standing up, still hot from the pan. Browse the flower stalls and local producers.

AfternoonWander the baroque alleys of Vieux-Nice: the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, the ornate Chapelle de la Miséricorde (one of the finest baroque chapels on the Riviera), and the Palais Lascaris with its elaborately frescoed staircases. Get lost — the streets are the attraction.

EveningDinner in the old town. Order the daube niçoise (beef slow-braised in red wine) or stockfish — both are Niçois classics rarely found outside the region. Rue Droite and Rue de la Boucherie have the best trattorias-turned-bistros.

Day 2

Promenade des Anglais & Musée Matisse

MorningWalk the Promenade des Anglais at dawn, before the crowds. The 7km seafront is Nice at its most cinematic — the Belle Époque Hôtel Negresco, the azure sea, the white-sailed yachts. Stop for breakfast at one of the beachside brasseries as the light comes up over the water.

AfternoonTake bus 15 up to Cimiez for the Musée Matisse — housed in a 17th-century Genoese villa in an olive grove. The collection spans his entire career: paper cut-outs, paintings, sculptures, and drawings. The museum sits in Cimiez's hilltop gardens, a peaceful contrast to the busy seafront.

EveningHead east of the old town to the Nice-Est neighbourhood — less touristy, with local restaurants serving proper Niçois cuisine. Catch the sunset from the hilltop Colline du Château park, which offers a sweeping panorama of the city, the bay, and the Promenade.

Day 3

Monaco day trip

MorningCatch a train from Nice-Ville station to Monaco-Monte-Carlo (25 minutes, €4 each way). Arrive early and walk up to Le Rocher — the ancient rock where the royal palace sits. Watch the changing of the guard at 11:55 each morning outside the Palais Princier.

AfternoonThe Casino de Monte-Carlo is the most famous building on the Riviera — even if you don't gamble, the Belle Époque exterior and Place du Casino are worth seeing. Then visit the Musée Océanographique de Monaco: an extraordinary marine biology museum built into the cliff-face, with its own aquarium, founded by Prince Albert I in 1910.

EveningTrain back to Nice. Have dinner in Vieux-Nice or on the Promenade — you've earned a sit-down meal at one of the terrace restaurants with a glass of Provençal rosé and a view of the bay.

Day 4

Art, gardens & the Colline du Château

MorningVisit the Musée National Marc Chagall on Avenue du Docteur Ménard — the largest permanent collection of Chagall's work anywhere in the world, with his monumental Biblical Message canvases filling every wall. The museum itself was designed with Chagall's direct input. Book online to avoid queues.

AfternoonWalk up to the Colline du Château — take the lift from the seafront for easy access, or climb the steps for the workout. The park sits on the ancient site of Nice's first settlement, with ruins, a waterfall, and what is objectively the finest view of the city. Stay up here as the light shifts to gold over the rooftops.

EveningCours Saleya transforms into a restaurant scene at night. Pick a table outside at one of the Niçois bistros overlooking the square — try salade niçoise (authentic version: no potatoes, no cooked vegetables, just tuna, anchovies, olives, eggs, and tomatoes over leaves).

Day 5

Èze, Antibes & a farewell to the Côte d'Azur

MorningTake bus 112 from Nice to Èze village — a medieval perched village 430 metres above the sea, clinging to a near-vertical cliff. Walk through the stone alleyways to the ruined château at the summit: the view takes in the entire Mediterranean coastline from Cap d'Antibes to the Italian border. Genuinely breathtaking.

AfternoonReturn to Nice and catch a train west to Antibes (20 minutes). The old town's ramparts were designed by Vauban. The Musée Picasso occupies the Château Grimaldi where Picasso worked during the summer of 1946 and donated the resulting works — a unique collection tied to a specific, joyful moment in his life. Alternatively, if the weather is perfect, spend the afternoon at one of Antibes' sand beaches.

EveningA final dinner in Nice. If the budget allows, splurge at a classic French restaurant near the Promenade — bouillabaisse, a plateau de fruits de mer, and a glass of Bellet white wine made from grapes grown in the hills above the city. A fitting send-off from the Riviera.

Insider tips for your Nice trip

The details that make a Riviera trip feel effortless rather than touristy.

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Bring shoes for the pebbles

Nice's famous beach is all smooth stones, not sand. Bare feet on pebbles are painful. Buy or bring beach shoes (aqua socks) — they're sold everywhere along the Promenade for a few euros.

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Order Bellet wine

Nice's own wine appellation produces tiny quantities from vines grown in the hills above the city. It's almost impossible to find outside the region — crisp whites and rosés that taste like the terroir of the Riviera. Ask for it by name.

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Use the Lignes d'Azur buses

A single bus ticket on Lignes d'Azur costs €1.50 and covers the whole network including trams. One-day passes are €5. Line 100 runs the coastal road to Monaco and is one of the most scenic bus routes in Europe.

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Visit during Carnival

The Nice Carnival in February is one of the largest in the world — two weeks of parades, flower battles on the Promenade, and a genuine local street party atmosphere. Book accommodation months ahead if you plan to go.

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Nice trip planning – frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Nice?

Five days is ideal — it gives you two full days in Nice itself, a day trip to Monaco, a day trip to Èze and Antibes, and time to simply sit on the Promenade. Three days is enough for the highlights if you're short on time, but you'll miss the day trips.

When is the best time to visit Nice and the French Riviera?

May, June, and September are the sweet spots — warm enough for the beach, not as crowded or expensive as July and August. July and August are peak season with higher prices and busier beaches. April and October are quieter and still pleasant at 18–22°C.

Is Nice a good base for day trips on the French Riviera?

Excellent. The train line runs the entire Côte d'Azur coast. Monaco is 25 minutes away, Antibes 20 minutes, Cannes 35 minutes, Menton 40 minutes, and Villefranche-sur-Mer just 8 minutes. You can do all of these as day trips from Nice without moving hotels.

How does Wandercrafted personalise my Nice itinerary?

Tell us your travel style — whether you want art museums and belle époque architecture, beach days and rosé, foodie adventures through the markets, or a romance-focused trip along the coast. We tailor the daily schedule, restaurant picks, and day trip destinations to exactly how you like to travel.

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