The Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary in Nice, France [2026]

A 3 day itinerary in Nice, France offers a tempting taste of the French Riviera. 

As the gateway to the region, this city is well-connected by train to other nearby destinations and makes the perfect jumping-off point for a longer South of France itinerary. 

But between the cobbled Old Town, castle views, markets, beach clubs and enticing day trips, it can be hard to know where to start when planning how to spend 3 days in Nice. 

After a recent visit, I’ve devised the perfect 3 day Nice itinerary, which gives you plenty of time to see all the sights without sacrificing your sun tan. 

For those in a hurry, I’ve covered the highlights first and you’ll find an overview of the itinerary just below. 

The guide will then go into each day in more detail for those firming up their plans. At the end, I’ll also answer some practical FAQs about spending 3 days in Nice. 

3 Days in Nice: Itinerary in Brief 

Day 1: Wander the Old Town, hit the beach clubs 

Day 2: Visit Èze, take a sunset boat cruise 

Day 3: Stroll the market, visit Cap Ferrat and Villefranche-sur-Mer 

Where to Stay for This 3-Day Itinerary in Nice 

If it’s your first time in Nice, I recommend staying in the Old Town or on the Promenade des Anglais. The Old Town is nice and central, making it easy to get to all of the activities and transport links mentioned in this itinerary. 

Two hotels I recommend in (or right next to) the Old Town are:

Palm Boutique: With modern, boho-chic interiors, this cosy hotel is tucked right by the Old Town with a rum bar on the ground floor.
Aparthotel AMMI: With beautiful interiors and a perfect location overlooking Place Masséna, some of these stylish studios come with balconies, for people watching with a glass of cool Côtes De Provence rosé.

Unfortunately, due to its unique architecture and maze of tiny streets and alleyways, accomodation options are limited in the Old Town. 

If you’re after more choice and bigger facilities (like a spa or restaurant), there are many more hotels lined up along the Promenade des Anglais. 

Offering sea views, almost instant beach access and excellent transport links to the rest of the city, these hotels make a popular second choice. 

Two hotels I recommend on the Promenade des Anglais are:

Le Negresco: If you’re looking for luxury, this is the most iconic spot in town, with its landmark pink dome and eccentric interiors. 
Hotel Beau Rivage: With a beach club attached, this mid-range hotel offers an ultra-comfy stay in an unbeatable location. 

3-Day Itinerary in Nice in Detail 

Day 1: Old Town and Beach Clubs

Morning 

Spend the first morning of your 3-day itinerary in Nice with an orientation of the Old Town. 

Of course, you can wander the colourful streets yourself, but to get the full picture, I recommend this highly-rated walking tour. 

Nice is a big city with a lot to see, but if you only have 3 days, there are also some dreamy day trips you don’t want to miss out on. 

This whistle-stop walking tour ticks off all the major historic sights of the city in one morning, freeing up the rest of your itinerary.

Starting at 10 am, you’ll stroll through Vieux Nice (Old Nice) with a guide to show you the best secret photography spots and give a little context behind the architecture. 

You’ll also stop by the breathtaking chequerboard plaza known as Place Masséna and the charming flower market before finishing your tour at the top of Castle Hill for panoramic city views. 

Book the walking tour here. 

Lunch 

Reward yourself after all that walking with a lunch on the beach. There are so many beach clubs with restaurants serving food in Nice, it can be hard to choose which one to go to! 

Some of the most popular include Ruhl Plage, Castel Plage, Bocca Mar, and Plage Beau Rivage. 

Castel Plage boasts a unique position right at the end of Nice’s vast sweeping beach, with fantastic reviews for its food. It’s also conveniently located right by where you’ll finish the walking tour.

Afternoon 

Rest your weary legs and soak up the French Riviera sun with an afternoon on the beach. 

You can either pay to rent a bed at one of the beach clubs, or lay out your towel on the public stretch of pebbles. Because the beach in Nice is lacking in sand, I do find paying for a sunbed is worth it here! 

You’ll also get waiter service to keep the drinks flowing if you desire. If you can splurge on a stay at Le Negresco, you’ll get preferential beds at the hotel’s own beach club. 

A bed for the afternoon typically costs around €50, depending on the beach club you choose. In peak season, you may need to reserve a sunbed in advance at the more popular beach clubs mentioned above. 

Evening 

What other choice is there for your first evening in Nice other than Le Plongoir? 

This restaurant-on-a-rock is insta-famous for good reason: the sunset views are to die for. 

You’ll need to book a table many months in advance, or you can queue up to visit the more casual cocktail bar, which also serves snacks.

If you can’t get into Le Plongoir for dinner, try Carmela at the edge of the Old Town instead. 

Day 2: Èze Village Visit and Sunset Cruise

Morning 

On your second day in Nice, I recommend getting up nice and early to visit the stunning hilltop town of Èze. 

Offering some of the best views on the French Riviera, this medieval hilltop town offers all the Provencal vibes, with a winding maze of cobbled streets and cafes perched high above the azure Mediterranean. 

I’ve written a detailed guide about getting to Èze from Nice, but essentially, it takes about 20 – 30 minutes to get there from the city. You can take a taxi, which is quicker and more convenient, or the bus, which is cheaper. 

Aside from strolling the charming streets and popping your head into the many beautiful boutiques and art galleries, there are a few stunning things to do in Èze that you might want to plan your morning around:

• Visit the famous Fragonard perfume factory
• Take a perfume-making workshop for a bespoke souvenir 
• Take in the views from the hilltop exotic garden 

If you need to stop for a coffee mid-morning, I recommend Le Cactus. They do a fantastic iced coffee for when it’s hot!

Lunch 

For lunch, there’s only one spot in Èze that you can’t miss, and that’s the famous Chèvre d’Or. This iconic 5* hotel clings to the hillside of Èze with breathtaking views of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the Côte d’Azur.

You can book a table in one of the gourmet restaurants, but I prefer the more casual Café du Jardin, which serves up pizzas and small plates with a side of stunning sea views. 

You’ll need to book in advance if you’re travelling during the peak season. 

If you don’t want to book lunch in advance, Deli’Èze Village offers a more laidback lunch option with highly-rated food – every dish is served with its own variety of olive oil with ultra fresh ingredients. It’s located near the entrance to the botanical garden. 

If you can’t get a table on the small terrace, you can also get a takeaway to enjoy, perhaps on one of the benches in the botanical garden. 

Afternoon 

After lunch, I recommend heading down to the beaches below Èze Village. If you’re feeling active, you can take on the Nietzsche Path Hike down from Èze Village into Èze-sur-Mer. 

This steep downhill trail takes about an hour, and you’ll need some sturdy shoes to walk in with a bit of grip (do not attempt this in flip flops!). 

Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with sprawling views of the Riviera, Èze-sur-Mer and the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat glimmering in the distance. 

When you get to the bottom, you can cool off with a dip in the sea. From here, you can hop on the train to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, where the sunset cruise departs from. 

If you’re feeling tired after a morning exploring, simply catch a taxi straight to Beaulieu-sur-Mer from Èze Village. 

Spend the rest of the afternoon on the beach – it’s a lovely sheltered one with plenty of public space and a lively beach club. 

Evening 

Start your second evening in Nice with a stunning sunset cruise along the coast. 

Setting sail from Beaulieu-sur-Mer on a solar-powered boat, this excursion treats you to a new perspective of the French Riviera.

The solar-powered boat is slow and silent, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the cotton candy sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. 

Book it here.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to a private sunset cruise, this group sunset tour setting sail from Nice Port is a popular alternative.

See rates and availability here. 

After the cruise, head back into central Nice to enjoy a low-key dinner at Le Frog, or one of the many other charming Old Town bistros.

Day 3: Morning Markets and Cap Ferrat

Morning 

On your final day in Nice, spend a little bit more time in the city by strolling through the beautiful markets. 

During the summer months, local farmers and florists set up their stalls along the Cours Saleya every day with everything from bottled olive oil to juicy peaches for sale. 

You can grab a freshly squeezed juice from the fruit stands or pick up lavender-scented souvenirs. 

Food-lovers should consider a tour of the markets, which includes multiple tastings of local dishes and specialities and culminates in a picnic at Castle Hill Park.

Book the food-lovers market tour. 

Lunch 

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is thought to be one of the most beautiful spots in the French Riviera, so it makes sense to head over there for your final afternoon in Nice. 

If you opted for the foodie tour above, you won’t need much in the way of lunch. But in case you didn’t, I recommend a seaside meal at Plage Paloma or Plage Passable. 

You can catch the number 15 bus over there from the centre of Nice, or hop in a 20-minute taxi. 

Afternoon 

Spend your final afternoon sprawled out on a sunbed on Cap Ferrat, spotting yachts in the distance, or continue with a spot of sightseeing – the choice is yours.

If sun worshipping is your thing, the beach club at Plage Passable offers a golden glow until late in the afternoon, and the public side is sandy for laying out a towel. 

If you’d prefer to soak up a little more history and architecture, the incredible pink Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is located on Cap Ferrat and offers endless photography opportunities. 

With dreamy, manicured gardens overlooking the sea, this pink mansion was once the residence of the renowned art collector Beatrice Rothschild. 

The bus heading back towards Nice stops right outside the entrance. 

Evening 

To round off a sensational 3 days in Nice, I recommend a waterside meal at the beautiful marina of Villefranche-sur-Mer. 

This gorgeous port town is on the way back to the city from Cap Ferrat – you can catch the bus or hop in a taxi. 

Alongside coral-coloured architecture, you’ll find a mouthwatering array of waterside restaurants and vibey bars to choose from – try the restaurant DRY for a low-key dinner and cocktails, followed by drinks at the rooftop bar Achill’s.

You may need to book ahead at the restaurants in peak season. 

You can easily get back to Nice from here via train in 7 minutes, taxi, or bus, depending on where your accommodation is in the city. 

How to Extend This 3-Day Itinerary in Nice 

If you wanted to spend longer than 3 days in Nice, you could definitely organise day trips to other nearby locations such as Menton, Cannes, Antibes, and Monaco. 

Check out my guide to spending 7 Days in the South of France for more inspo!

3 Day Itinerary in Nice: FAQs

Is 3 days in Nice enough?

While Nice is a large city, there isn’t a huge amount to do in terms of landmarks and attractions. Therefore, I believe 3 days in Nice is enough to see all of the highlights, as well as some nearby towns and villages.

If you have more time in the French Riviera, you could certainly spend more time in Nice, but I would recommend moving to another base along the coast to fit more in, such as Cannes or Menton. 

How to get to Nice, France

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is often referred to as the gateway to the French Riviera, with regular flights to countries worldwide. Meanwhile, Nice Train Station connects the city to other popular French destinations such as Marseille, Cannes, and Paris. 

Best time to visit the French Riviera 

The best time to visit the French Riviera is during the spring, when the weather is warming up but the summer crowds have yet to arrive. However, if you’re there to enjoy lively beach clubs and sun tan weather, then the peak summer season between June – August may suit you better.

Prices tend to be at their highest in summer, with better deals on accommodation in the shoulder seasons of April, May, September and October. 

How to Get Around Nice, France

Nice is a large city that feels quite spread out, especially outside of the Old Town. Thankfully, there are lots of easy ways to get around, including the bus and the tram. You can also use taxis and Uber for more convenience. 

A more fun way of getting around is using the electric Lime bikes, which are dotted in parking zones all over the city. 

You can use the Lime or Uber app to unlock and pay for your ride. E-bikes require hardly any effort to ride, and there are cycle lanes on all of the busy roads, making it easy and safe to get around.

You will need data roaming on your smartphone to use them. 

Top Travel Tips for Spending 3 Days in Nice 

• Use the SNCF app to book and pay for train tickets – it’s easy to use on the go and has all timetables and ticket info in English.
• You will need exact change to pay for the bus, or you can buy a card from ticket offices around the city, which is topped up via an app. This card works for the tram network too. 
• Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas and on public transport. Pickpockets operate in these areas! 
• Uber operates in Nice and is a convenient and relatively low-cost way of hailing a taxi. You can also use your Uber app to unlock and pay for the green Lime electric bikes. 
• During peak season, you will need a reservation at any decent restaurant (and even the not-so-decent ones). Plan ahead or be disappointed! 

Have more questions about organising a 3 day itinerary in Nice? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to help you plan the ultimate trip!