Nice France 4 Day Itinerary
Four days, one coastline, zero wasted afternoons. Nice earns its reputation as the best base on the French Riviera precisely because everything worth seeing sits within a short train ride, and the city itself is dense enough with good food and free views that you’ll never feel like you’re just killing time between trips.
Day 1: Exploring Nice’s Heart
Morning
Land at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and take Tram Line 2 (direction Port Lympia, not the Centre Administratif branch) straight to Jean-Médecin, about 30 minutes for 1.70 EUR. Skip taxis unless you insist on the flat 32 EUR rate up front, drivers here love letting the meter run past 45 EUR on unsuspecting arrivals. Grab a pastry from a local boulangerie once you’ve dropped your bags.
Afternoon
Walk the historic center starting at Place Masséna, then stroll the Promenade des Anglais, the free 7-kilometer seafront path with those photogenic blue chairs, also free. For lunch, socca is the move: Chez Pipo at 13 rue Bavastro has wood-fired this chickpea pancake since 1923, and at 5-8 EUR it’s the best cheap eat in the city, hands down.
Evening
Have dinner in Vieux Nice at Lou Balico or Acchiardo, both doing proper Niçois cooking, daube, ratatouille, stuffed vegetables, mains running 15-25 EUR. Follow it with a slow walk along the Baie des Anges as the evening light hits the water.
Things to Know
Nice’s Carnival happens every February, centered on Place Masséna with flower and night parades, one of the biggest carnivals anywhere. The city’s Vélobleu bike-share system is worth using if you want to cover more ground without relying on the tram.
Day 2: Cannes for the Day
Morning
Take the train, not a bus, from Nice to Cannes, about 30-40 minutes and 7-9 EUR each way. Walk La Croisette, the famous waterfront boulevard, and get a feel for why this small city punches so far above its size in reputation.
Afternoon
Grab lunch near Le Suquet, the old town overlooking the harbor, then take a short ferry to Île Saint-Honorat for quiet beaches and a working monastery, an easy escape from the Croisette crowds.
Evening
Head back to Nice for dinner rather than staying in Cannes, the train ride back is short and Nice’s food scene is simply stronger. Try a glass of Rosé de Provence with whatever you order, it’s the region’s signature pour.
Things to Know
The Cannes Film Festival takes over the city every May, so expect serious crowds and inflated prices if your dates overlap. Even outside festival season, the Croisette gets busy fast in summer.
Day 3: Monaco and Monte-Carlo
Morning
Train from Nice to Monaco/Monte-Carlo takes 20-25 minutes and costs 4-6 EUR, easily the best value day trip on this itinerary. Walk Port Hercule and take in just how much wealth is parked in one small harbor.
Afternoon
Visit the Casino de Monte-Carlo, at minimum for the ornate lobby even if you skip the tables, then tour the Palais Princier, the Sovereign Prince’s official residence, for a look at Monaco’s actual governance behind the glitz.
Evening
Come back to Nice for dinner rather than eating in Monaco, prices there run noticeably higher for comparable food. A Mille-Feuille from a local pâtisserie makes a fitting sweet finish to the day.
Things to Know
Monaco hosts the Grand Prix every May, transforming the entire principality into a racetrack, book well ahead if your trip lines up with it. Outside race season, the Casino and the port still draw heavy crowds year-round.
Day 4: Slowing Down in Nice
Morning
Spend the morning at Cours Saleya Market, flowers and produce Tuesday through Sunday (an antiques market replaces it on Mondays). Grab a pan bagnat for lunch on the go, tuna, egg, olives, and raw vegetables in a roll, 6-9 EUR and endlessly better than a sit-down tourist menu.
Afternoon
Relax properly on the Promenade des Anglais or head to the beach, keeping in mind Nice’s beaches are pebble, not sand, so water shoes are worth packing. If you’ve got energy left, climb Castle Hill for free, there’s no actual castle up there since it was demolished in 1706, just ruins and the best panoramic view in the city.
Evening
Close out the trip with dinner back in Vieux Nice or near the port. Skip anything on the Cours Saleya terraces themselves, they’re priced for tourists and the food rarely matches the price. Nice’s flower market reputation is best experienced in spring if your dates allow it.
Additional Tips
Expect real crowds during peak season, June through September, and book accommodation early if you’re traveling then. Try salade niçoise the correct way too: raw vegetables, tuna or anchovies, egg, and olives, with no cooked potatoes or green beans anywhere near the plate. A multi-attraction city pass can be worth it if you’re hitting several paid museums, though the free sights here, the Promenade, Castle Hill, Vieux Nice, already cover most of what makes Nice worth visiting.
Transportation
Lignes d’Azur runs the trams and buses citywide, single tickets at 1.70 EUR with 74-minute transfers, or a 7 EUR day pass if you’re moving constantly. The Ticket Azur at 2.50 EUR bundles a Nice trip with an onward bus to Monaco, Antibes, Cannes, or Saint-Paul-de-Vence within 2.5 hours, handy for stringing day trips together. Renting a car buys flexibility but adds parking headaches you don’t need in a city this walkable.
Budget Breakdown
Accommodation runs roughly 80-120 EUR per night on average, meals land between 15-30 EUR depending on where you eat, transit tickets run 1.50-2.50 EUR per ride, and most attractions charge 10-20 EUR per person. Prices swing with season, so expect the higher end of every range in July and August, and better deals in May, June, September, and October, when the sea is just as warm and the crowds thin out considerably.
Pack water shoes for the pebble beaches and comfortable shoes for Castle Hill’s stairs, you’ll want both before day one is even over.