Nice
France · Country profile
Nice is the great city of the French Riviera, the elegant capital of the Cote d'Azur that curves its famous bay, its promenade and its pastel old town along the pebbled shore of the Mediterranean. The city has been the playground of the European winter for two centuries, and the grand hotels, the belle-epoque facades and the gardens of the city preserve that golden age, while the old town with its narrow lanes, its markets and its baroque churches carries the older Italianate life of the historic Nice. The city is the natural base of the whole coast, from the hilltop villages and the film town of the west to the beaches and the Monaco of the east, and its mild climate, its museums and its famous food make it one of the most complete and enjoyable cities of the whole Mediterranean.
About Nice
Nice is a city in France. The city's documented population is around 348,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and French is spoken; the dialling code is +33. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Nice Côte d'Azur Airport.
The Promenade, the Old Town and the Bay of the Riviera
Nice is an elegant, sun-soaked city that mixes the grand resort life of the famous promenade with the lively, Italianate lanes of its old town. The bay with its pebbled beaches and its turquoise water is the great public stage, and the museums, the markets and the hilltop fortress park fill out the circuit. The city is compact, walkable and easy to enjoy, with the whole Riviera radiating out from it by rail and road. It is both a destination in its own right and the perfect base for the glamour of the coast, the perfumed hills of the interior and the islands of the region.
The Seasons, the Bookings and the Rail of the Coast
The best seasons are the spring and the autumn, when the city is warm and the crowds are lighter; the summer is hot, busy and at its most expensive. The old town, the promenade and the museums are the essential circuit, and the castle hill with its park and its views gives the classic panorama. The French is the language, the euro is the currency and the card works widely. The rail of the coast, the famous line that runs the whole riviera from the town to the border, is the great way to explore the region, and the city is safe, walkable and genuinely easy. Book the summer stays well ahead.
The Cours Saleya, the Castle Hill and the Museums of the City
The promenade of the angels, the great seafront avenue that curves along the whole bay, is the essential walk of the city, and the castle hill at its eastern end with its gardens and its views over the bay and the port is the classic panorama. The old town, with its baroque cathedral, its flower market of the Cours Saleya and its narrow lanes of the shops and the restaurants, holds the Italianate life of the historic Nice, and the Russian cathedral and the noble villas of the hill add the exotic layers of the old resort life. The museums of the city, from the museum of the modern and the contemporary art to the Matisse museum of the hill, are among the best of the region, and the coast of the city, from the pebbled beaches to the marina, completes the picture.
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- Country
- France
- Population
- 348,000
- Coordinates
- 43.6584, 7.2159
- Capital
- Paris
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- French
- Calling code
- +33
- Country code
- FR
Entry requirements for France
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting France for tourism.
Getting to Nice
Airports we list for Nice:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in France
Other cities we cover in France:
Frequently asked questions
Is Nice the capital of France?
No — the capital of France is Paris.
What currency do I need in Nice?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in France include French.
What is the dialling code for France?
The international dialling code for France is +33.
Which airport should I fly into for Nice?
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the airport we list for Nice.
How far is Nice from the nearest airport?
Nice is about 285 km from Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit France?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter France visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Nice? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.