Nice is the largest city on the French Riviera, and one of the few places where you can spend the morning at the market, the afternoon on the pebble beach and the evening in a Baroque lane without ever getting back in the car.
Choosing where to stay in Nice means first deciding between the centre, where you can get everywhere on foot, and the quieter hills, where gardens and pools are easier to find. This guide will help you decide, with places we have hand-picked one by one.
Hotels, guest rooms in old villas and holiday homes: all our places to stay are brought together on our page dedicated to accommodation in Nice.
Which neighbourhood to choose in Nice
The city stretches along the Bay of Angels, from Mont Boron to the mouth of the Var. Your stay can vary considerably depending on the neighbourhood:
- Old Nice: narrow lanes, Cours Saleya and its flower market, Sainte-Réparate Cathedral. Lively, almost car-free and rarely quiet.
- Carré d’Or and the centre: around Place Masséna and Rue de France, this is the most convenient base, with the tram, shops and beach just a few minutes away.
- Promenade des Anglais: the seafront and its grand hotels, facing the bay, with heavy traffic on the road.
- Port Lympia and Garibaldi: ochre façades, restaurants, a more local feel and tram 2 to the airport.
- Libération and the Musicians’ Quarter: residential streets near Nice-Ville station and the Libération market.
- Cimiez: the hill of Belle Époque palaces, museums and gardens.
- Western hills: in Fabron and the surrounding area, villas with gardens, sometimes a pool and sea views.
For a weekend or a first visit, the centre and Old Nice come out on top: being able to walk back after dinner makes all the difference. For a week in summer, a villa in the western hills more than makes up for the journeys. Here are our picks.
Stay in town, within walking distance of everything
These four places let you leave the car behind: the sea, museums and restaurants are all within walking distance or easy to reach by public transport.
Hotel Le Negresco
Under its pink dome, the historic grand hotel on the Promenade des Anglais retains period-furnished rooms, some overlooking the Bay of Angels. An indoor pool, spa and restaurants make it possible to enjoy the hotel even on grey days, and pets are welcome. The setting remains formal, so it may not suit those looking for the relaxed atmosphere of a guesthouse.
Hotel Villa Les Cygnes
A villa turned three-star hotel, a few streets from the beaches and museums. Guests come for the garden, air-conditioned rooms with balconies or terraces, and continental breakfast. It’s a welcoming, intimate base for a couple who want to explore on foot and return to a quiet spot in the evening. Those looking for an extensive buffet or a spa should consider one of the larger hotels.
Family Room
Just one air-conditioned room, opening onto a patio and inner courtyard, close to the station: an ideal choice if you arrive by train. Wi-Fi is free, and the beaches and museums are easy to reach without a car. The room overlooks the courtyard, not the sea, so this is a choice for convenience and the understated feel of a guesthouse.
Villa Saint Hubert
This adults-only hotel is for couples who want the peace and quiet of a villa without giving up the city: it has a garden, free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast. The neighbourhood is well served by public transport, making the museums and centre easy to reach. Families with children will need to look elsewhere.
Villas and guesthouses in western Nice
West of the city, the hills of Fabron and the residential neighbourhoods near the western beaches offer what the centre lacks: space, greenery and sometimes a pool. Expect a few journeys by bus or car.
Chambre d'hôtes duplex Le petit mas niçois de la Villa rose
This duplex in the Fabron area has a balcony overlooking the sea and mountains, a fully equipped kitchen and access to an outdoor pool. The kitchen makes it a good base for a stay of several days, whether you’re travelling as a couple or with friends. Old Nice is a fair distance away, so plan on taking the bus or driving for evenings in town.
Villa Bellabé
A guesthouse with a garden, where homemade cakes make breakfast a highlight. The rooms are air-conditioned, and a studio with a kitchenette and terrace rounds out the options. The western beaches are a few minutes away, as are several museums in the area. A place for those who prefer the atmosphere of a home to that of a hotel.
Villa Serenice - F2 au calme, climatisé, WIFI et parking gratuit
A one-bedroom apartment in a holiday home, with a garden terrace, hot tub, fully equipped kitchen and air conditioning: everything you need to set your own pace, without a breakfast schedule. The neighbourhood is quiet, and the beaches of western Nice are still close by. This is self-catering accommodation, with no reception or hotel services.
By car: two places with parking
Finding parking in Nice takes patience, especially in summer. These two places have free private parking, a real advantage if you plan to explore the Riviera or the hinterland by car.
B&B Villa sensorielle
Just two suites, each with a balcony and sea views, and a private hot tub; one also has a private pool and sauna. Continental breakfast and a wellness area make this a good choice for a couple’s getaway or a special occasion. With so few rooms, it’s best to book early for the high season.
Maison L'Aloé
A room with a kitchenette overlooking the garden, continental or buffet breakfast and free private parking: a simple, well thought-out set-up for a few days away. The kitchenette lets you prepare a light dinner after a day out. This is a place to come for peace and quiet rather than hotel services.
What to see in Nice
Start your visit in Old Nice, between the market at Cours Saleya, Sainte-Réparate Cathedral and the Lascaris Palace. Just above, Castle Hill overlooks the Bay of Angels on one side and Port Lympia on the other.
The Promenade des Anglais and its blue chairs are best explored on foot or by bike. Since 2021, “Nice, the Winter Resort Town of the Riviera” has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the area runs from the Promenade to Mont Boron and up to the hills of Cimiez.
Between Old Nice and the centre, the Promenade du Paillon is now complete: its second section, inaugurated in October 2025, replaced the former Nice National Theatre with a tree-filled park. In Cimiez, the Musée Matisse sits alongside the Roman arena and monastery garden, while the Marc Chagall National Museum is at the foot of the hill. The MAMAC, meanwhile, is closed for an extensive renovation.
When it’s time to eat, Nice’s local cuisine is best enjoyed without fuss: crisp socca, onion pissaladière, pan bagnat, petits farcis and a proper Niçoise salad.
Nearby
- Villefranche-sur-Mer: a deep natural harbour and a colourful old town, just a few minutes away by train.
- Èze: a hilltop village above the sea, with an exotic garden.
- Monaco and Menton: easy to reach by TER train along the coast.
- Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence: the old town and its ramparts on one side, the artists’ village and Fondation Maeght on the other.
When to visit Nice
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons: you can still swim in the sea in September, and the city feels less crowded. Summer is hot, lively and in high demand. Winter is mild and bright, a reminder that Nice was originally a winter resort for Europe’s high society.
The next Nice Carnival will take place from 9 to 28 February 2027 under the theme “Long Live Love”, with parades and flower battles around Place Masséna. The Nice Jazz Festival takes place every July. Book early for these dates.
Getting here and getting around
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is west of the city. From both terminals, tram line 2 reaches the centre (Jean-Médecin stop) and Port Lympia in under thirty minutes.
By train, Nice-Ville station has TGV services from Paris and the Intercités night train. TER trains run along the coast towards Cannes and Antibes to the west, and Villefranche, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia to the east.
In the city, you can get everywhere on foot or by tram, while the Lignes d’Azur bus network serves the hills and nearby villages. A car is only useful for places in the hills or the hinterland. More places to stay are listed on our Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur page.
Nice is part of our guide to where to stay in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. To compare it with nearby towns, also read where to stay in Antibes, between ramparts and beaches, where to stay in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, for a stay in a hilltop village, and where to stay in Menton, on the edge of Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions people most often ask before booking in Nice.
What is the best neighbourhood to stay in Nice?
For a first visit, Old Nice and the Carré d’Or are the most convenient: the beach, Castle Hill, Cours Saleya and Place Masséna are all within walking distance. Old Nice is also the noisiest in the evening. The port area has a more local feel, with a tram to the airport. For peace and quiet and sometimes a pool, the western hills, such as Fabron, are a better fit, though you’ll need to make a few journeys by bus or car.
Do you need a car to stay in Nice?
No, not if you’re staying in the centre, Old Nice, near the port or by the station: you can get everywhere on foot, by tram or by bus, and TER trains connect to Villefranche, Monaco, Menton, Antibes and Cannes. A car is useful for a villa in the western hills or for exploring the hinterland. Parking in the centre is still difficult, especially in summer, so if you’re coming by car, choose a place with private parking.
How do you get to central Nice from the airport?
The easiest option is tram line 2, which runs from both terminals at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the city centre, including the Jean-Médecin stop, and then Port Lympia, in under thirty minutes. Trams run frequently during the day. For a place in the western hills, a taxi or hire car is often more convenient, as the airport is on the west side of the city.
What is the best time of year to visit Nice?
Spring and early autumn offer the best balance: pleasant temperatures, sea warm enough to swim in during September and fewer people on the Promenade des Anglais. Summer is hot and very busy; winter is mild and bright, in keeping with Nice’s tradition as a winter resort. Nice Carnival will take place from 9 to 28 February 2027, and the Nice Jazz Festival returns every July. Book early for these dates.
Is Nice a good base for exploring the French Riviera?
It’s the best base of all for anyone travelling without a car. From Nice-Ville station, TER trains run along the coast to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia to the east, and Antibes and Cannes to the west. Lignes d’Azur buses serve Èze and other hilltop villages. With a car, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Vence and the villages of the hinterland are easy day trips, and you can return to the city for the night.
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