3 Days in Nice, France: The Perfect Itinerary
3 Days in Nice, France: The Perfect Itinerary
Three days in Nice, France is enough to get a real feel for the city: the old town, the beaches, the food, and the atmosphere that makes it the most visited place in France after Paris. This itinerary is built around what I actually did during my multi-week stay. I’ll tell you what’s worth your time, what to skip, and where to eat.
A quick note before you travel: book your walking tour in advance. Good small-group tours fill up fast, especially in summer. More on that below.
Day 1: Get Familiar with Nice
9am: Castle Hill
Start early at Colline du Château, also known as Castle Hill. Morning is the best time to go; the light is better for photos and it’s cooler before the heat of the day kicks in. The views over Nice, the coastline, and the old town are genuinely worth it.
Getting up is easier than it looks. Walk along the Promenade des Anglais toward the eastern end and you’ll find a free elevator that takes you most of the way up. It doesn’t go all the way to the top but it saves the hardest part of the climb. You can also climb it yourself, up to you!
10:30am: Cours Saleya Market
After Castle Hill, head straight to Cours Saleya before it closes. The market runs Tuesday to Sunday and wraps up around 1pm, so don’t leave this for later in the day or you’ll miss it.
Walk around, take it in, and grab a couple of bites as you go. This is a great place to get local souvenirs or just spices and oils to take back home. What I loved the most is that in order to have a stand, business owners from Nice are prioritized. All of the goods must be locally-made. This is a genuine local market, not a tourist trap. The produce is fresh, seasonal, and local. On Mondays it switches to an antiques market, which is worth a browse if that’s your thing.
For lunch, look out for the Cuisine Nissarde plaque displayed in restaurant windows. The label has been awarded since 1998 to establishments that preserve authentic Niçoise recipes. Only a handful of restaurants have it. I’ll add a photo to this post so you know exactly what to look for. If you decide to have lunch after the tour, ask your guide for Cuisine Nissarde recommendations.
Morning/Midday: Walking Tour (Pre-Booked)
A historical walking tour of Vieux-Nice (what the old town is called) is one of the best things you can do on a first visit. Two to three hours with a knowledgeable guide completely changes how you experience the city: you stop looking at buildings and start understanding what you’re actually looking at. Book this in advance so you can fit it around Castle Hill and the market.
→ Book a Nice Walking Tour on Viator
→ Book a Nice Walking Tour on GetYourGuide
Afternoon: Vieux-Nice and the Beach
After your tour, give yourself an unstructured afternoon. You’ll be better oriented after the walking tour, but don’t be afraid to get lost. Pick up an ice cream from Finocchio or Azzurro (lavender if it’s available, or any other unusual flavor you might want to try) and just walk.
If the weather is good and you want to swim, you can go for a dip right at the Promenade. I’ll tell you where to go later in this article if you’re looking for less crowded beaches.
Evening: Wayne’s Bar and the Dancing Square
Nice is lively in the evenings. Wayne’s Bar, just off Place du Palais de Justice in the old town, has live music and people actually dance on the tables late in the evening.
If you’re there on a Wednesday evening in summer, head to Place du Palais de Justice for Rendez-Vous Latino. This is a free open-air salsa, bachata, and kizomba event starting at 6pm. Wayne’s is right there, so the two work naturally together.
Day 2: Food, Culture, and the Promenade
Late Morning: Food Tour
If you haven’t already done it, late morning into the afternoon is the perfect time for the Do Eat Better Experience food tour. Five stops over three hours, a maximum of twelve people, and a guide with deep knowledge of Niçoise food history. I left completely full, which is exactly what the reviews promise and exactly what they deliver. So think of this as lunch.
In summer, the 5pm tour is a better option if you’d rather avoid the midday heat. Plan your day around whichever slot you book.
→ Book the Do Eat Better Experience on Viator
Afternoon: The Promenade des Anglais
Walk the Promenade des Anglais. All seven kilometres of it (it takes less than 2 hours at a regular pace) if you’re feeling ambitious, or just a stretch. It’s iconic and worth doing at least once. Pair it with a stop at Boulangerie Jeannot for excellent baked goods and some afternoon coffee.
If you still have time, and feel like going for a swim again, walk or take the bus to Coco Beach rather than the main city beach: fewer people, clearer water, and a much better experience. This was my go-to swimming spot in the city. Bring water shoes and be open minded! By this I mean that there are spots to lie down in all over the place beyond the pebbles.
Dinner: More Cuisine Nissarde
The one I visited personally was Lu Fran Calin, excellent food and they had a good amount of Nissarde dishes.
There is a lot of Italian influence here, given that it’s so close to the border. This also means that the Italian food here is pretty good. If you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe, Panozzo has pizza, but it’s better known for its arancini. La Favola specializes in pasta.
Day 3: Day Trips
Villefranche-sur-Mer
There are 3 ways of reaching Villefranche-sur-Mer, this could be done as a half-day or full-day trip. This is one of the most beautiful spots on the Côte d’Azur and it’s not far from Nice. A small harbour town with clear turquoise water, colourful buildings, and a completely different pace of life.
The first one that requires little to no energy: take a boat tour there. The locals say this is the best snorkeling spot in the whole area.
Take the bus or train. Go in the morning, swim if the weather allows, and be back in Nice by early afternoon. You can also take your own snacks or food, or stop at one of the many restaurants in the area. If you walk a bit further, you can reach my personal favorite beach in this area, which is Paloma Beach.
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, consider walking to Villefranche via the Sentier du Littoral: a stunning coastal path that follows the rocky shoreline between Nice and Villefranche. It’s a bit over 6 km long. It takes between an hour and a half to 2 hours to get there. Wear comfortable shoes (there are steps and rocks, consider it an easy hiking trail) and take your time. There are spots along the way to rest and eat your own snacks, or even swim. Just Google Sentier du Littoral – the starting point is right by Coco Beach. You can then take the scenic bus back to Nice.
Èze is another popular half-day option: a medieval hilltop village with views over the coast, highly recommended by locals.
Afternoon/Late Afternoon: Whatever You Missed
Use your final afternoon to revisit anything from the first two days, explore a neighbourhood you haven’t seen, or simply sit somewhere with a coffee and watch Nice go by.
If you feel like it, book a sunset tour with wine and snacks included. Because of Nice’s location you will be facing the sunset from the water.
Beyond Nice
If you have 4 or 5 days, you can take a day trip to Monaco by train or bus (you can refer to my article on how to get there).
Practical Tips
Getting around: Nice has an excellent tram and bus network. The coastal buses (routes 15, 600 and 601) run along the Côte d’Azur through Villefranche and towards Monaco for just €2.20. Read my full guide to (getting around Nice, France) for everything you need.
Budget: Around €20 for a main meal and a non-alcoholic drink. Street food and supermarkets are good if you’re watching spending. Michelin-level restaurants start from €50+.
When to go: September and October are the sweet spots: warm, swimmable, and far less crowded than summer. Read my best time to visit Nice guide for a full breakdown.
Safety: Very safe. Standard precautions: keep your bag close, watch for pickpockets in busy areas. I walked the old town alone at night throughout my stay without any issues.
Book early: High season accommodation starts from around €200 per night and fills quickly.
Planning your trip?
Read my guides on Is Nice, France Worth Visiting, Getting Around Nice, and Best Time to Visit Nice – or book a 1-on-1 travel consultation for a personalized itinerary.
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Hey there, and welcome to Go Global with Sibu! I’m a global citizen that has been living and traveling around the world since 2005 – all through budget travel, scholarships, study/work and living abroad opportunities. I share everything I’ve learned over the years here – to prove to you that you don’t need money or privilege to enjoy everything that this world has to offer.