One day in Nice: Best Way to Spend 24 Hours in the City

Spending one day in Nice is great! Nice is a beautiful and very interesting city. It is one of the most beautiful places in France!

There are many interesting and fun things to do in Nice. Furthermore, it is a very relaxing city with beautiful beaches.

This guide helps you out to make the best of your time here. When you have only 24 hours in Nice, you have to spend your time well. There is a lot to see, but you can definitely do it in one day.

You'll find here an itinerary with the best things to do in this French city. Also, I have included some practical information.

How to get to Nice?

Nice is a city in the southern part of France. You'll find the city in the French Riviera region.

It is a city that is very easy to reach for both international and domestic visitors.

Train

Nice has a train station that is well connected to other parts of France.

If you are going here from Paris, you can go by high-speed rail. The trip only takes about 6 hours.

Getting here from other cities in France is also very easy to do. The train is very convenient for this.

Furthermore, the cities along the coast have a direct train connection. And you can reach the city-state of Monaco within 30 minutes.

You can also get to Nice by international train.

When you arrive by train you end up at the train station Nice Ville. This train station is in the city center. So you can get everywhere on foot from there.

Airport

Nice has its own airport that is very close to the city center. If you come from another country, this is how you get there most of the time.

The name of the airport is "Nice Côte d'Azur Airport".

Many airlines go here, including very cheap ones.

From the airport, you can reach the city by tram. This is very convenient. Moreover, it takes only about 20 minutes to reach the center.

Another option is to take a taxi. This is a bit faster than the tram, but it is a more expensive option. So, I wouldn't recommend a taxi if you don't have much luggage and if you're not in a rush.

You can also rent a car at the airport. It is a short trip to the city center. If you want to explore more areas around Nice, this is very convenient.

Bus

There are several bus companies that serve Nice. For example, Flixbus and Ouibus go here.

You can get to Nice from places in France. Furthermore, there are internal bus connections from countries surrounding France.

Another great idea is to take an overnight bus. This is a cheap way to travel. This is because you can sleep while you move to the next city. Getting to Nice by overnight bus is very convenient.

Ferry

You can also get to Nice by ferry from Corsica. There are regular ferries running between Nice and the island.

Getting around in Nice

Nice is not that large, so you can move around the city on foot.

If you want to travel faster or easier, you can take public transport.

There is a great network of trams in the city. These connect all parts of the city.

Furthermore, there are buses that connect various parts of the city.

Wherever you want to go, public transport is very easy. It's convenient to use it when you're 24 hours in Nice.

Where to stay in the city?

Because Nice is a small city it's not very important where you stay. You can go everywhere in the city from any part of the city. But, there are several areas that are more convenient depending on what you want to do.

You can stay in a place next to the train station. This is the best option for you if you intend to go to other cities as well.

If you like the beach, then a property next to the beach may be best for you. That way you can head there immediately when you wake up. Or you can see the sea from your window.

Another place to stay is at the old port of Nice. This is a great place with many restaurants. Thus, a perfect place to if you're 24 hours in Nice!

The best way to spend one day in Nice

Breakfast

The day starts with breakfast. There are many breakfast places for delicious French breakfast.

When you arrive at the train station you can walk on the Avenue Jean Médecin towards the beach. Along the way, you can see several breakfast places. I'd recommend choosing one of the places and having food there.

Typical French breakfast includes toast, baguette, and brioche. People combine it with jam, some orange juice, and coffee.

But, if you want to have something different for breakfast in Nice. Then there are plenty of options as well. Nice has many places that serve international breakfasts.

Modern and Contemporary Art Museum

One of the best museums in Nice is the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum. After breakfast, it is time to go here. You shouldn't miss this museum if you're 24 hours in Nice!

It is easy to walk here, but going by bus is also possible. When you walk through the city make sure to look at the beautiful architecture of the houses!

You'll find here many artworks of the modern and contemporary genre. Furthermore, there are plenty of exhibitions that change throughout the year.

Castle of Nice

After the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum I recommend going to the Castle of Nice. This is very close to the museum, so you can walk there.

Even though the name is 'Castle' of Nice, there is no castle anymore. There was a castle in the past. Louis XIV destroyed the castle in 1706.

Nowadays, there is a park here. This is a must-see when you're one day in Nice.

From the park, you have some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city. Whatever direction you look in, there is something beautiful to see.

For example, you can see the old harbor from here. Furthermore, this is the perfect place to see the sunset.

Market at Cours Saleya

From the Castle of Nice, you can walk down and head towards one of the best markets in Nice, the one at Cours Saleya. You can visit the street market almost every day of the week.

This is a great way to explore local life in Nice. The stalls here sell fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Buy something you like at the market or see the stalls! Whatever you do, the local experience is great!

Lunch

After this morning of culture, viewpoints, and local experiences, it is time to have lunch. If you are following this itinerary for one day in Nice you are in Old Nice.

There are so many good restaurants for lunch in this area of the city. Whether you like to have an extensive lunch menu or a quick lunch, you'll find it here.

One of the best places for lunch is La Fougasserie. It is a sandwich shop with delicious sandwiches. You can choose the one you like the most!

Also, you can grab a sandwich and have a picnic on the Promenade des Anglais. The place where we are heading to next!

Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais is one of the most famous places in Nice. This is a promenade along the beach. The promenade covers about 7 kilometers of the coast of Nice.

Along the promenade, there are many hotels, restaurants, and shops. Furthermore, you can see beautiful architecture when walking here.

But, the most beautiful thing to see from here is the sea. You can sit on one of the benches and watch the Mediterranean sea from here. Or go for a relaxing stroll while looking at the sea!

Relax at the beach

From the Promenade des Anglais, you can walk down onto the beach. There are many beaches. You can choose from both public and private beaches. If you're 24 hours in Nice, you should definitely see the beach!

The beaches vary in the amenities they offer. But, they are all great places to relax. You can walk along the promenade and choose which beach you like the most.

Spending your afternoon at one of the beaches is the best and most relaxing thing you can do in Nice!

Dinner

The day is almost over, but there is something left to see. The old port of Nice! This is the perfect place to end your day.

You can get there by public transport. But, you can also walk there. On your way to the old port, you can also walk past the Castle of Nice again. There you can see the sun set over the city. This is magical to see!

The old port is a beautiful place. It is a small port and there are lovely houses surrounding it. And there are many boats in this port that are typical for the city.

Also, this is a great place to go for dinner. There are restaurants and cafes everywhere. It's very nice to be here when you're one day in Nice.

One of the best restaurants that surround the old port is Les Amoureux. Les Amoureux serves delicious pizza. You can have all types of pizza you want. Moreover, they come in the form of a heart, which is very nice.

After dinner, you cannot miss out on delicious ice cream. In the area surrounding the port, there are several places for this. Finishing your 24 hours in Nice with ice cream is perfect!

If you're in Nice, you can also visit some of the other beautiful places in France.

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