Nice and the French Riviera: The Perfect Getaway from Spring to Summer

Nice and the French Riviera are perfect destinations from spring through summer, offering the ideal vacation mix of beautiful beaches, rich history, and entertainment options. This comprehensive guide shares everything you need to know about what to see and do in Nice in 2025. I also recommend reading my guide for wine tours in North Italy, with my top destinations for tasting amazing wines.

The sea in Nice boasts that characteristic intense blue color that gave the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) its name. The beach stretches along the entire city, providing a mix of private beach clubs and free public areas to suit every preference and budget. The city welcomes you with numerous cafés, restaurants, and shops for those who enjoy retail therapy. If you’re looking for cultural experiences, you can choose to visit museums, one of the beautiful historic villas along the coast, or enjoy unique activities connected to the region.

Nice’s Beaches and Seaside

Nice is primarily a seaside destination, famous for its stunning, long beach where you can spend unforgettable sunny days. Along the entire Promenade des Anglais, you’ll find numerous access points to Nice’s beach, which alternates between spacious public areas and equipped beach clubs with loungers and umbrellas. These beach clubs also offer restaurants with sea views, perfect for lunch or a romantic dinner.

The sea in Nice is beautiful along the entire coast, featuring that distinctive deep azure color that gave this region its name, the Côte d’Azur. The water is clean and ideal for swimming.

It’s important to note that Nice’s beach isn’t composed of fine sand but rather small pebbles. For this reason, I strongly recommend bringing water shoes to walk comfortably and fully enjoy your day at the beach. If you prefer to save some money, I suggest bringing your own umbrella and mat and setting up on the free public beach areas. You’ll still have access to showers, and the abundant space means you won’t feel crowded.

Things to Do In and Around Nice and the French Riviera

When visiting a coastal city, you might worry about getting bored with nothing interesting to do except sunbathing. However, Nice offers many activities suitable for both beautiful sunny days and potential rainy days.

Boat Tour from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer

Let’s start with a perfect activity for a beautiful day, but also enjoyable if the sky becomes cloudy: a panoramic cruise to the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, admiring the French Riviera from the sea and its spectacular villas.

This pleasant one-hour boat tour allows you to discover many interesting facts about the history of the luxurious villas in the area, their owners, and the city itself. The tour is offered with English or French guides. It’s an opportunity to admire the coastal landscape from a different perspective, and the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer viewed from the sea is truly beautiful.

Creating Personalized Perfumes

If you’re looking for something to do in Nice on a rainy day, a fun idea could be a custom perfume creation workshop. It lasts 45 minutes, and you’ll be guided in creating a personalized perfume that you’ll take home with you. This activity is also offered in French and English.

Not far from Nice is the town of Grasse, considered the world capital of perfumery. Maison Molinard, which offers this experience, is a historic perfume creator in the area that will expertly guide you in selecting fragrances to compose the perfect scent for you.

Visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Finally, if you want to experience the atmosphere of elegant parties from the past in the luxurious villas of the French Riviera, I recommend visiting the wonderful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a museum villa with a spectacular garden.

This villa is easily reached from Nice’s center, even by public transport. The visit, with included audio guide, will help you discover the history of this incredible building, and you can imagine what it was like to attend the dazzling parties of the past. The large attached garden with its mix of different styles is a jewel rich in plants of all kinds that come alive and bloom in spring. You can also choose to end your tour with lunch in the villa’s restaurant or afternoon tea.

Nice’s Old Town: What to See

The old town of Nice is a small labyrinth of narrow streets perfect for wandering and exploring.

I recommend starting your tour from Place Massena, where you can admire the Fountain of the Sun with its imposing statue of Apollo, and the fountains of Promenade du Paillon with their beautiful reflections.

Continue along Rue Saint-François de Paule with its souvenir shops, bakeries, and cafés with outdoor seating, until you reach the square where the famous Marché aux Fleurs (Flower Market) is held every morning (from 9 AM to 1 PM). Here you can find stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, beautiful flowers and succulents, soaps, essential oils, lavender sachets, and much more.

If you continue on Rue Alexandre Mari, you can admire the Palace of Justice and, a little further, the Clock Tower. From here, the next stop is the Cathedral of Saint Reparata with its lavish Baroque style.

At this point, you could head towards Nice Castle and decide whether to tackle the climb on foot or take the free elevator to the top (opens at 10 AM). If you climb on foot, the first stop to admire the panorama and take some beautiful photos is Bellanda Tower, from which you’ll have a spectacular view of Nice and the colors of the French Riviera.

Continue the climb through the park’s paths, immersed in greenery and tranquility, until you reach the top of the hill. Here you’ll also find cafés where you can relax and have a drink in the shade of the trees. Don’t miss a stop at the beautiful castle waterfall, which can be glimpsed from below the hill, and by climbing, you can reach exactly under the waterfall.

For a lunch of Breton galettes and cider, I recommend stopping at the creperie Le Trimaran, which offers delicious savory and sweet crepes with no reservation needed (just a bit of patience if it’s full).

Promenade des Anglais

Nice’s promenade is one of its most famous features. This seafront walkway runs along the entire Bay of Angels and is a meeting point not only for those who love walks by the sea but also for joggers and cyclists (the bike path runs alongside the pedestrian area). You’ll find the promenade always crowded with people, and along the route, you’ll see the typical blue metal chairs where you can sit to watch the sea and chat.

Along the Promenade des Anglais are some of Nice’s historic buildings that have become true symbols of the city over time. The first is definitely Le Negresco, a luxury hotel inaugurated in 1913 and designated as a historical monument by the French government in 2003. You’ll find its profile on all souvenirs, from canvas bags to posters.

Another building of historical importance is Villa Massena, built between 1898 and 1901 by architect Hans-Georg Tersling, one of the best representatives of the Belle Époque. Currently, the villa houses a museum that hosts art and artifacts from the Riviera, including Napoleon’s death mask.

Another interesting building is the Palais de la Méditerranée, which houses the casino. Of this building, only the façade remains original and has been declared “heritage of the 20th century.”

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found ideas and inspiration for your weekend in Nice in spring, to enjoy sunny days on the French Riviera, and to find activities for rainy days as well. Whether you’re drawn to the azure waters, historic architecture, or unique cultural experiences, Nice offers something for every traveler.

Have you visited Nice or the French Riviera? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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