The 5 best things to do in Nice, France

Whether you’re local to the EU or just visiting Europe, Nice is the perfect place for a weekend trip. It has a large major airport, and is a good jumping off point for destinations like St. Tropez, Provence, or Monaco. But there are plenty of activities that will keep you busy in Nice too! Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or just a day, here are the 5 best things to do in Nice.

Spend the day at a beach club

Nice is an interesting city to visit, but unfortunately it doesn’t have great beaches. If you would like to spend some time by the ocean, I recommend visiting a beach club.

My top choice is Castel Plage, which is close to where we stayed along the coast. They do have chairs & umbrellas for rent, but make sure to bring your own towel. I like to pack these towels, which are absorbent but thin for packing. They also have pretty good food! If you’re wondering what to wear, check out my summer style guide to the French Riviera.

Splurge on a chartered boat

My favorite activity during my trip to the south of France last year was chartering a boat for the day. We were able to choose our destinations – a few swimming stops (including this gorgeous turquoise bay) and an island for lunch. It’s actually one of my most memorable travel experiences ever, and if you only spend money on one big activity – this should be it.

We went through the service Click and Boat, and the whole day including a captain and gas was around €650. Split between four people, it was a good price for the experience.

Enjoy an excellent meal

Nice has some great restaurants. My favorite spot for lunch was Caruso, which has delicious pizza.

For a romantic and memorable dinner, I recommend the Michelin-starred restaurant Jan. Their presentations and flavors were some of the best I’ve seen coming out of a Michelin restaurant in Europe.

Window shop

Although the French Riviera is known for being expensive, you don’t actually have to spend a lot to enjoy yourself here. If you’re looking for something free to do, take a walk through the shopping area of Vieux Nice (Old Nice). It’s centrally located near the water, and fairly small so you can explore it in a few hours. The buildings are mostly shades of yellows and oranges with turquoise accents, and almost reminiscent of Venice.

Visit the Whispering Angel winery

The south of France is famous for rosé, and one of the most famous brands in the US is Whispering Angel. The vineyard that bottles Whispering Angel, Chateau D’Esclans, is only an hour and a half from Nice. The visits aren’t free – in fact, they were $50 when I went – but it does come with a tour and a tasting. You can also pick up bottles at a lower rate in the shop, including magnums.

I visited by rental car with my husband, but if you’re planning on drinking a lot I recommend coordinating a driver service. Chateau D’Esclans will coordinate one for you for a fee. I booked my tour through Wine Paths.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Nice – be sure to tag me on Instagram if you visit these places!