Nice tourist trail

• Essentials
  • Overview
  • Basics
  • Getting there
  • Getting around
• City sights
  • Top sights
  • Tourist trail
  • Offbeat sights
  • Nearby trips
  • Museums
• Things to do
  • Eating out
  • Cafe bars
  • Shopping
  • Nightlife
• Planning
  • When to go
  • Where to stay
  • Find a hotel

Tourist trail

Nice is the perfect city to simply wander around, soaking up the atmosphere of the the old city and the famous markets or strolling the beachfront on the Promenade des Anglais.

For those that prefer to be shown around, however, there are plenty of opportunities for more organised tours, by bus or even on a bicycle.

Nice bus tours

An ideal way to get the feel of the city is to take an open top bus tour, Nice le Grand Tour. You can buy a one or two-day pass and hop on and off where you fancy. Call 049 229 1700 for details of tour times.

Nice cultural tours

Each day there's a different cultural tour, based on various historical and architectural themes. They include a Belle Epoque walk; Opera; Baroque; Art Deco; Colline de Chateau; a neo-classical walk and a Colline de Cimiez walk.

They normally last about 90min and are usually in French. They depart every day at 3pm except Wednesday.

Nice guided tours

Discover the heart of the resort with a popular pedestrian tour through the narrow streets of the old city and learn about its history, the churches, the flower market and the many galleries.

The tours are in both French and English and operate each Saturday at 9.30am. They last about 2hrs 30mins and start at 5 Promenade des Anglais.

Nice cycle tours

Nice Cycle Tours is the only guided bike tour in Nice and offers a great introduction to the city. The fun-filled tour takes you mainly on the city's dedicated cycle lanes and quiet streets.

The tour lasts three hours and you get an insider's guide to the top attractions and best bars and restaurants. They supply a bicycle and helmet and will even buy you a coffee at the rest stop!

Nice tourist train

If it takes your fancy, get your bearings on the ‘Little Tourist Train’ tour of the town. Trains leave from the Promenade des Anglais just across from the Jardin Albert every 30min.

The 40min city circuit, with commentary, takes you around the famous flower market, then the old town before climbing up Castle Hill for views of the bay before ending by the sea at the Quai des Etats-Unis.

Take to the sea

You can also take a short sea cruise with Trans Cote d'Azur with views of the nearby bay and town of Villefranche and of the Promenade des Anglais. Cruises last about an hour.

Rent an inflatable boat or sailboat, with or without a crew. Try Moorings Sail Med on 049 200 4222 or Moorings Yachting on 049 200 0900. For the more active, canoes and kayaks are also available for hire.

Sweet Nice

A tour with a difference - take a free guided tour of the kitchens where confectionery is prepared using traditional methods at Confiserie Florian Old Nice.

You are welcomed with a sweet tasting and after the tour there's free sampling of the specialities. Naturally, you are invited to buy and it's hard to resist with sweets of this quality.