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Things to See & Do in Nice
Guide to Sightseeing in Nice

Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais is more than just a place to deliberate over where to plant your towel or work up an appetite before dining in one of Nice's excellent restaurants, it is the place to see and be seen in the city.

Built in the 19th century by English residents, the promenade still attracts the rich and fashionable from all over the world, and they keep up the tradition of the early evening stroll before dinner. Running the length of the beach front, a walk down the boulevard offers plenty of opportunities for star-spotting or admiring the invariably glorious sunset. Looking good is a must, so bring your finery.

Place Masséna

This fountain-strewn public square is at the heart of Nice - the pulse of the city radiates out from here. As much a park as it is an urban square the expanse of green is often littered with people eating lunch, socialising or just whiling away another glorious day on the Riviera.

Neo-classical arcades and elegant buildings, all of which are painted a striking Pompeiian red, surround the square, contrasting with the enigmatic skeletal art sculptures that adorn the fountain centrepiece. The square is also at the hub of Nice's business and shopping district making it the perfect point to start a browse of the boutiques.

Place Rossetti and St Réparate Cathedral

The baroque façade of Nice's 17th-century cathedral looks down on the cafés and bars of the old town's liveliest square. There is a palpable air of history in the surrounding maze of narrow streets and alleys, and nowhere else in the city has as much of a traditional Mediterranean ambience.

The cathedral itself has been a place of worship for centuries, archaeological remnants of both Greek and Roman temples lie underneath the present structure. Above the square rises the Parc du Château, laid out in a mock-Greek style in homage to the first settlement here, the Greek town of Nikea.

Matisse Museum

Whether or not you appreciate Matisse's decorative and exuberant paintings, the 17th-century Genoese country villa in which this collection is housed is reason alone to visit the museum. The Museum is in the Cimiez area, a ten-minute walk north of the Nice-Villa train station.

This huge selection of engravings, drawings and cutouts spans Matisse's entire career and includes the period in which he made Nice his home (1917-1954). Sun-worshippers can read an inscription by the painter himself, explaining that he moved down to the South of France as the quality of light was so helpful for his art.

*The Matisse museum is closed for refurbishment until June 2007.

164 Ave des Arènes.
Open: daily 10h00-18h00 (closed Tuesdays).
Admission: EUR4, adults; free for children.
Tel: +33 (0)4-9381-0808.

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

The building that houses Nice's Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain (or MAMAC as it is known locally) is as much an exhibit itself as it is a functional space. Built in grey marble, glass and brushed metal it is a significant modern landmark in Nice's geography. From the top floor the views stretch for miles, making it a great place from which to orientate yourself.

Inside, transparent footbridges interconnect the three floors that contain significant collections from the Modern Art movement, up to the present day. The European and American avant-garde schools are well represented and all the big names are here: Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Alexander Calder and more. There are often temporary exhibitions showcasing contemporary works or concentrating on a particular artist or movement.

Promenade des Arts.
Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-18h00.
Admission: EUR4, adults; free for children.
Tel: +33 (0)4-9713-4201.

Notre Dame de Cimiez Monastery

A Franciscan monastery dating from the 17th century, and an even earlier church (Notre Dame) are just two reasons to visit the exclusive and peaceful quarter of Cimiez. The place also commands views right down to the Mediterrannean.

The church is home to three masterpieces by the medieval artist and Nice resident Louis Bréa and a well-preserved carved wood altarpiece in the baroque style. The attached museum traces the history of the Franciscan friars through the centuries, and allows an illuminating insight into this most austere of holy orders.

Place du Monastère.
Church open: daily 07h30-19h30.
Monastery: daily 10h00-12h00 & 15h00-18h00.
Admission: free. Tel: +33 (0)4-9381-0004.

Nice Beach

The city's main draw stretches for 4km from the airport to the Colline du Château tree-dappled hill above Nice old town. Better still, it is almost entirely public - unlike many stretches on the Riviera. The sun is always shining and the water warm and clean. The only thing you won't find is sand - it's best to bring a mat as the beach is pebbly.

There are free showers every 100m. Cool-box wielding locals trot along the beach every few minutes ready to sell you an ice-cold beer or slice of watermelon.

Colline du Château and Naval Museum

The flower-filled, landscaped park of Colline du Château was once the heart of ancient Nice. Nowadays it is the favoured spot for wonderful views across the town and out to sea. Take a picnic and enjoy the sea breezes among the Roman ruins or the shaded groves of trees. Park open: 09h00-17h50 (19h50 during summer).

While browsing up here it's worth dropping in the Bellanda Tower, home to a naval museum including a gruesome collection of weapons.

Musée de la Marine, Tour Bellanda.
Open: daily 10h00-12h00 & 14h00-19h00 (Jun-Sep); 10h00-12h00 & 14h00-17h00 (Oct-May).
Admission: EUR2.50.
Tel: +33 (0)4-9380-4761.

National Bible Museum of Marc Chagall


This homage to the Russian-born graphic artist Marc Chagall houses hundreds of the modern genius's works. 17 enormous paintings form the museum's centrepiece, including 12 that together make up the "Message Biblique", representing the stories of Noah, Abraham and other Old Testament figures. Sculptures, sketches and mosaics are crammed into the museum but it is the stained-glass windows that really take the breath away - especially when illuminated by the clear Mediterranean sunlight.

Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall. Ave Docteur Ménard, off the boulevard de Cimiez. Open: Wed-Mon 10h00-17h00 (until 18h00 Jul-Sep).

Admission to permanent collection: EUR6.50.
Additional fee for temporary exhibitions.
Tel: +33 (0)4-9353-8720.

Lascaris Palace

A year-round series of exhibitions aimed at preserving Nice's artistic heritage is secondary to the fantastic baroque interiors of this 17th-century palace.

Styled on Genoese architecture of the same period the palace is suitably grand with towering marbled pillars, and layer upon layer of gilt. The house was originally the property of the wealthy Lascaris family and is filled with objets d'art from the 18th century, including the original fixtures and fittings of a centuries-old apothecary shop.

Palais Lascaris, 15 Rue Droite.
Open: daily 10h00-18h00 (closed Tuesdays).
Admission: free.
Tel: +33 (0)4-9362-0554.

Cimiez Graveyard

Even though it's surrounded by a much-visited monastery and church, this tranquil corner of Nice is surprisingly undisturbed and the perfect foil to the town's frenetic beachfront.

It's a great place to escape from the town for a while and its Mediterranean air is a far cry from gloomy cemeteries elsewhere. Don't think you're the first to appreciate the cemetery's serenity. The graveyard is the final resting-place of artists Raoul Dufy and Henri Matisse.
 

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