Cours Saleya market
Market · Vieux Nice
The Old Town market street of flowers and produce, and the place to try socca, the chickpea pancake.
Best for: a morning market, socca
Best time: morning (flowers and food; antiques on Monday)
Where to actually go in Nice
Where to eat, drink and go out in Nice: 20 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Nice
Chez Pipo
Restaurant · Le Port
The classic socca house, baking chickpea pancakes in wood ovens since 1923.
Best for: trying socca
Best time: lunch or early evening
Lou Pilha Leva
Restaurant · Vieux Nice
Cheap Niçois street food at outdoor tables: socca, pissaladière, beignets.
Best for: a cheap local lunch
Best time: lunch
Fenocchio
Dessert · Vieux Nice (Place Rossetti)
A famous ice-cream shop with dozens of flavours, including odd ones.
Best for: gelato in the Old Town
Best time: afternoon
La Merenda
Restaurant · Vieux Nice
A tiny Bib Gourmand bistro of traditional Niçois food.
Best for: a proper Niçois dinner
Booking: Reserve in person or by phone; small and popular.
Best time: dinner
Sights & days out in Nice
Promenade des Anglais
Walk · Seafront
The long seafront promenade with the blue chairs and the pebble beach below. Free.
Best for: a free walk or run, the beach
Best time: morning or sunset
Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
Viewpoint · Vieux Nice
A park on the hill above the Old Town with the classic view over the Baie des Anges. Free by stairs or the lift.
Best for: the best free view in Nice
Best time: late afternoon
Monaco day trip
Activity · Monaco (about 25 minutes by train)
A short coastal train ride to the casino, the harbour of superyachts and the old town on the rock.
Best for: a half-day out
Best time: afternoon
Place Masséna and the Promenade du Paillon
Sight · city centre
The red-and-white main square and the long garden park with fountains next to it.
Best for: a free walk
Best time: any time
Musée Matisse
Museum · Cimiez
A villa museum of Matisse's work in the hills above Nice.
Best for: art
Best time: afternoon
Musée Marc Chagall
Museum · Cimiez
Chagall's Biblical Message paintings in a purpose-built museum.
Best for: art
Best time: morning
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Activity · one stop east by train
A colourful bay town with a calm beach, 10 minutes by train.
Best for: a beach afternoon
Best time: afternoon
Èze village
Activity · by bus or train toward Monaco
A medieval village perched on a rock high above the sea.
Best for: a half-day trip
Best time: morning
Nights out in Nice
Old Town bars (Rue de la Préfecture, Rue Droite)
Area · Vieux Nice
The densest bar streets in the Old Town; international bars with live bands draw exchange students (Wayne's is the best known).
Best for: a student bar night
Best time: from about 11 PM
Port Lympia bars
Area · Le Port
Around the old port, where younger locals go out: less polished and more local than the Old Town.
Best for: a local night
Best time: evening
Wayne's Bar
Bar · Vieux Nice
An international bar with live bands and table-dancing; an exchange-student favourite.
Best for: a student night out
Best time: late evening
Ma Nolan's
Pub · Vieux Nice and the Port
Big Irish pubs with live music and sport.
Best for: an easy pub night
Best time: evening
Les Distilleries Idéales
Bar · Vieux Nice
An old-style bar for an aperitif in the Old Town.
Best for: an aperitif
Best time: early evening
Le Shapko
Live music · Vieux Nice (Rue Rossetti)
A small bar with live jazz, blues and soul.
Best for: live music
Best time: late evening
High Club
Club · Promenade des Anglais
The city's main electronic club on the seafront.
Best for: a club night
Best time: after midnight, Fri–Sat