So, you’ve decided to visit Nice – great choice! France has so many beautiful corners to explore, but personally, I think Nice lands quite high on the list. So well done to you for narrowing down the choices and settling on this lovely city along southern France’s sun-drenched coastline.
I’ve traveled extensively across France, and while I love almost everywhere that I’ve been, there’s a reason I chose to make Nice my home and have stayed here for over 10 years now; it’s a lively, beautiful city with an unbeatable combination of weather, beaches, access to nature and the mountains, and busy urban life. The city also has a strong heritage and distinct aesthetic, which makes it a really interesting place to both live and explore.
Here, we’re spoiled with almost year-round sunshine, beautiful seascapes, excellent cuisine, tons of cultural events, and a wild hinterland that’s right at our doorstep anytime we want to get away. Honestly, what more could you want?
Ok, now that I’ve finished singing my adopted hometown’s praises, let’s start thinking about what you, as a visitor, need to consider as you try to decide what part of the city to stay in for your visit. Although not a huge city – there are only about 350,000 residents – Nice has very distinct neighborhoods and a few major geographic features (mainly the hills and the sea), which are important to know about as you think through your options.
Usually, the first thing to decide on is whether you want to be by the beach, up in the hills, or in the busy city center. After that, which neighborhood you choose will mostly come down to personal taste and the vibe that you’re looking for. Do you want to be somewhere historic and quaint? Want to mix it up with the locals? Are you looking for a calm and refined experience? Or are you after big hotels with modern conveniences and don’t especially care about the neighborhood character?
Nice has all of those things, so you’ll certainly be able to find what you’re after, and that’s what I’m here to help you with! In this article, I’ve laid out what I think are the best neighborhoods for the vast majority of visitors, largely based on my 10 years of living here and my experience helping family and friends decide where to base themselves when they come to visit (which is often, because this is a wonderful place!).
So, let’s dig in and find the perfect spot for your stay here in the sunny south of France!
And for more advice on visiting, have a look at our Nice travel guide!