Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nice?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nice?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Nice, France? Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days in Nice during their visit. After all, the beautiful seaside destination will let you enjoy a meal at a restaurant, dance the night away, admire the wonderful scenery, and swim at the beach.
Nice is a world famous destination along the French Riviera. It's lined with pebbly beaches and iconic shopping areas. The city is famous for its popularity amongst celebrities, but casual vacationers will also enjoy visiting the many cafes and and coastal views around town. Visitors can walk down the famous and historic promenade or pop in a local eatery to try some French cuisine.
Do you have one or two days to visit Nice? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Nice?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the beautiful seaside destination of Nice, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, dance the night away, admire the wonderful scenery, and swim at the beach. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside at least 3 or as many as 5 days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Nice
Don't miss the Promenade des Anglais during your trip to Nice, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The culinary scene in Nice is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this seaside destination's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The cuisine brings together fresh regional ingredients and mixes Provençal and Niçoise flavors. You'll find a lot of Italian influence as well. Fresh seafood is the thing to try while you're in town, but other local favorites include socca, Ratatouille, and Salade niçoise.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Nice Food Tour: Food Tastings & Local Wine Experience in Nice ($114)
- Provence Wine Tour - Small Group Tour from Cannes ($215)
- Private French Home Cooking Class near Nice with a Local Chef ($175)
Nice is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the seaside destination, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Nice?
Nice is home to a multitude of sights and attractions, making it an extremely popular destination for tourists. A weekend is probably not enough. You'll feel rushed to see the main attractions of Nice such as the great food along with the terrific nightlife. To thoroughly enjoy all that the seaside destination has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule at least 3 or as many as 5 days to fully experience this seaside destination. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Nice below.
Nice, France
How to spend 2 days in Nice
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Nice will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the seaside destination.
The beautiful beaches await you in Nice, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The city has about 4 miles of beach along its coastline and there are both public and private beaches available. La Réserve is a public beach with a laid back and fun vibe. Plage Beau Rivage is a private beach with many amenities, making it a favorite for visitors. Blue Beach is another private beach that is very family-friendly.
You'll want to have around 4 hours for The Beach. It's a nice activity for families and couples and is known for its stunning beauty, clear blue waters, and vibrant atmosphere. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Sunset Tour in Solar Boat near Nice and Monaco ($166)
- Premium Tour on a Solar Powered Boat - Private Group ($166)
- Monaco & Monte-Carlo: Classics & Hidden Gems - Walking & Boat ($78)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city has some of the best nightlife on the Cote d'Azur. You'll find a number of nightclubs along the seaside as well a bars and pubs in the Old Town. Some of the best clubs are along Promenade des Anglais.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Nice:Pub Crawl with 6 Free Shots and VIP Bars&Club Access ($24)
The public transit in Nice is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the seaside destination quite easily and affordably. There are both buses and trams.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Nice, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.