Nice walking tour & city guide
Riviera light, pastel old town and the Promenade des Anglais.
Video by Tourister on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
The capital of the French Riviera has drawn travelers for over two centuries with its mild climate, brilliant light and the deep blue of the Baie des Anges. Painters like Matisse and Chagall made it their home, and a walk here easily explains why.
Vieux Nice and the seafront
The old town, Vieux Nice, is a tangle of narrow lanes painted in ochre, pink and yellow, with laundry hanging from the windows and Baroque churches around every corner. Its heart is the Cours Saleya, a long square that hosts a famous flower and produce market most mornings.
Just beyond the old town runs the Promenade des Anglais, a seven-kilometer seafront walkway built in the 19th century and named after the English aristocrats who wintered here. Join locals walking, jogging and sitting on the famous blue chairs facing the sea.
Views and art
Climb Castle Hill, the Colline du Château, by steps or elevator for the best view in Nice, over the rooftops of the old town on one side and the port on the other. The park at the top has a waterfall and shady paths.
The hill of Cimiez holds the Matisse Museum and Roman ruins, while the Marc Chagall National Museum lies nearby. The modern Promenade du Paillon, a green park that runs through the center, links the old town with the newer city.
Along the Riviera
Nice is the perfect base for exploring the Côte d'Azur. Trains and buses run along the coast to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze and Monaco, about half an hour away. The coastal corniche roads between Nice and Monaco are among the most scenic drives in Europe, as the driving video for this city shows.
Top sights in Nice
- 1
Promenade des Anglais
The famous seafront walkway along the Baie des Anges.
- 2
Vieux Nice
The colorful old town of narrow lanes and Baroque churches.
- 3
Castle Hill
A hilltop park with panoramic views over the city and sea.
- 4
Cours Saleya Market
A flower and food market in the heart of the old town.
- 5
Matisse Museum
A Genoese villa in Cimiez devoted to the painter's work.
- 6
Place Masséna
The grand main square with its red buildings and checkerboard pavement.
Food markets & where to eat in Nice
Cours Saleya
Market stalls and restaurant terraces in the heart of Vieux Nice.
Vieux Nice socca stands
Old-town spots baking socca, the local chickpea pancake.
Port of Nice restaurants
Seafood and Provençal dishes by the colorful harbor.
Place Rossetti
An old-town square known for its ice cream shops.
Food to try in Nice
Socca
A thin, crispy chickpea flour pancake baked in a wood oven.
Salade niçoise
The city's famous salad of tuna, eggs, olives and vegetables.
Pissaladière
An onion tart topped with olives and anchovies.
Pan bagnat
A hearty sandwich filled with niçoise salad.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Nice
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in NiceCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Nice.
- eSIM for FranceStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in France
▶ 6 videosParis
Boulevards, bridges and cafés in the City of Light.
▶ 6 videosMarseille
France's oldest city: a gritty, sunny port with Mediterranean soul.
▶ 6 videosLyon
France's food capital, between two rivers.
▶ 6 videosBordeaux
Golden stone, grand quays and the world's wine capital.
▶ 5 videosStrasbourg
Half-timbered houses, canals and the capital of Christmas.
▶ 6 videosCannes
Red carpets, the Croisette and Riviera glamour.
▶ 6 videosColmar
A storybook town of colorful half-timbered houses in Alsace.
▶ 6 videosAnnecy
The 'Venice of the Alps': canals, flowers and a crystal-clear lake.
▶ 6 videosAvignon
The city of popes, with a famous broken bridge in Provence.
▶ 6 videosToulouse
La Ville Rose: pink brick, the Garonne and the home of Airbus.
▶ 6 videosMontpellier
A sunny student city of grand squares and medieval lanes.
▶ 6 videosLille
Flemish facades, cozy estaminets and a famous waffle shop.