Fashionable but relaxed and fun, Nice is the unquestioned queen of the French Riviera. It makes a great base from which to explore the rest of the Cote d'Azur on day trips but if you stay in town you won't run out of things to do.

There's a wealth of sights to see , great nightlife, great shopping, diverse accommodation and a wide assortment of restaurants. Plus, there's the ever-popular sport of sunbathing on one of Nice's 27 beaches.

Panoramic view of Nice

Check my favorite 10 tips for visiting Nice

In fine weather, stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, take a swim in the sparkling blue water and dry off on the galets. The Mediterranean at its finest! But don't forget to check out one of Nice's fine museums, explore the flower market on the Cours Saleya, enjoy the rocky coastal path along the Cap de Nice. From the Colline du Chateau, you get an unrivalled view of the entire bay and at the Port Lympia you are reminded of the days when Nice was a fishing village.

Nice History

Nice was founded around 350 BC by the Greek seafaring folks who had settled Marseilles. They named the colony Nikaia, apparently to commemorate a victory (nike in Greek) over a nearby town. In 154 BC the Greeks were followed by the Romans, who settled farther uphill around what is now Cimiez, site of a number of Roman ruins.

The Counts of Provence ruled Nice in the 10th century until the House of Savoy took over in 1388. In 1860, Napoleon decided he wanted to annex Nice to France. He put the matter to a vote and Nice voted to become part of France. In the 19th century, the English aristocracy began travelling to Nice as an escape from foggy London winters. Other European royals followed and Nice became fashionable. Many of Nice's most illustrious buildings were constructed as luxurious villas for the European aristocracy. The novel idea of constructing the city for visitors was why Unesco designated Nice as a World Heritage Site in 2021.

See more about the history of Nice