Nice 3-Day Essentials

Activities

1. 08:30 Cours Saleya market (Niçoise morning ritual) 2 hours

   Flowers + cheese + olives + socca tasting + Provence rosé. Market 06:00-13:30 (closed Mon for food, flowers Mon).

   Cost: €2-15 with tastings TIP: Mornings 08:00-11:00 best. Try socca + pissaladière at Lou Pilha Leva or René Socca stand. Buy olives + cheese + rosé for picnic.
2. 11:00 Vieux Nice walking + Place Rossetti 2 hours

   Vieux Nice UNESCO Old Town — narrow streets + colorful buildings + Place Rossetti + Sainte-Réparate Cathedral.

   Cost: Free TIP: Fenocchio gelato at Place Rossetti (50+ flavors). Sainte-Réparate Cathedral free entry. Walk to Castle Hill base.
3. 13:00 Lunch — La Storia Salade Niçoise (canonical) 1.5 hours

   Traditional Salade Niçoise without potatoes (€18) + Pissaladière + Provence rosé.

   Cost: €18-50 TIP: Reservation Fri-Sat. Vieux Nice location. Pair with rosé.
4. 14:30 Castle Hill (Colline du Château, 92m) 1.5 hours

   Free elevator from Vieux Nice (Rue de la Préfecture) to ruins + 360° city panorama + Bay of Angels view.

   Cost: Free elevator TIP: Castle Hill is essentially a park (no real castle remains). Best sunset views 19:00-21:00.
5. 16:30 Promenade des Anglais walk + beach club 2.5 hours

   4km Mediterranean walk along blue-cushioned beach chairs. Hotel Negresco (1913 historic) anchors midpoint. Beach club for chairs + cocktails.

   Cost: Free walk + €15-50 beach club TIP: Castel Plage or Beau Rivage beach clubs €15-25/day chairs + €30-50 minimum F&B. Sunset 19:00-21:00 magical.
6. 19:30 Dinner — Hotel Negresco Le Chantecler (Michelin) OR La Petite Maison de Nicole 2.5 hours

   Michelin or heritage Niçoise farewell. Le Chantecler at Hotel Negresco (€180-280 tasting) OR La Petite Maison (€40-90).

   Cost: €40-280 TIP: Le Chantecler reservation 2-3 weeks ahead. La Petite Maison 1-2 days. Smart-casual minimum.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Train SNCF Nice → Monaco-Monte Carlo (20 min) 20 min each way

   Train every 15-30 min from Nice-Ville Station. €4 RT. Right side of train for coastal views.

   Cost: €4 RT TIP: Pre-book at sncf.com or buy at station. Sit on right side for coastline view.
2. 10:00 Le Rocher de Monaco + Royal Palace + Changing of Guard 2 hours

   Le Rocher de Monaco (Monaco's old town on rock) + Royal Palace + Changing of Guard ceremony 11:55 daily.

   Cost: Royal Palace €10 TIP: Changing of Guard 11:55 — arrive 11:30 for best spot. Walk uphill from Monaco-Ville station 10 min. Royal Palace open Apr-Oct only.
3. 12:30 Lunch + Café de Paris terrace (Casino view) 1.5 hours

   Café de Paris terrace overlooking Place du Casino — Monte Carlo brasserie + Place du Casino architecture.

   Cost: €30-60 TIP: Café de Paris (1868) historic. Pricey but iconic view.
4. 14:30 Monte Carlo Casino + Place du Casino exterior 1.5 hours

   1863 Belle Époque Casino — Place du Casino exterior + Salle Garnier opera house + Hotel de Paris exterior.

   Cost: €17 visit / €5+ gambling minimum TIP: Dress code: no shorts/flip-flops/sportswear after 14:00. Gambling minimum €5-50 depending table. Visit-only €17 (no gambling required).
5. 16:30 Oceanographic Museum + Princess Grace memorial 2 hours

   Oceanographic Museum (1910) cliff-edge aquarium + Princess Grace memorial at Saint Nicholas Cathedral.

   Cost: €18 museum TIP: Most-iconic Monaco museum. Princess Grace tomb at Saint Nicholas Cathedral free. Walk back to Monaco-Ville station.
6. 19:30 Train back to Nice + dinner at Lou Pilha Leva 2 hours

   Train back to Nice 20 min. Dinner at Lou Pilha Leva (Vieux Nice) — socca + pissaladière + Niçoise specialties.

   Cost: €10-30 TIP: Cheap dinner after expensive Monaco day. Cash + card. Sit at counter for canonical experience.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Bus 82 to Èze (45 min east) 45 min each way

   Bus 82 from Nice (€1.50 each way). Stops at Èze Village (cliff top 429m) and Èze Bord de Mer (coast).

   Cost: €1.50 each way TIP: Get off at Èze Village stop for cliff village. Walk down to Èze Bord de Mer (steep 30 min) for train back to Nice alternative.
2. 10:00 Jardin Exotique + Èze cliff village walking 2 hours

   429m cactus garden + medieval cliff village + 360° Mediterranean panorama + Friedrich Nietzsche walked here for inspiration.

   Cost: €7 garden + free village TIP: Cactus garden has 1,000+ species + Mediterranean view. Allow 1h walking inside village (cobblestone).
3. 12:00 Lunch — Le Chèvre d'Or (Michelin) or Bistrot du Château 2 hours

   Le Chèvre d'Or 1-Michelin (€180-300 tasting) on cliff edge OR Bistrot du Château casual (€30-50).

   Cost: €30-300 TIP: Le Chèvre d'Or reservation 2-3 months ahead. View premium worth it for special occasion. Bistrot du Château casual alternative.
4. 14:30 Bus back to Nice + Train to Antibes (40 min west) 1.5 hours transit

   Bus 82 back to Nice. Train SNCF Nice → Antibes 40 min (€5 RT).

   Cost: Bus + €5 RT train
5. 16:30 Antibes Old Town + Cap d'Antibes coastal walk 3 hours

   Antibes Old Town + Picasso Museum + Cap d'Antibes coastal walk (5km, 3-4 hours). Most-iconic Riviera walk.

   Cost: €8 Picasso Museum + free walk TIP: Cap d'Antibes coastal walk is free + 5km — most-iconic Riviera walk. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc visible at end. Bring water + sunhat.
6. 20:00 Train back to Nice + farewell at La Storia 2 hours

   Train Antibes → Nice 40 min. Farewell dinner at La Storia (canonical Salade Niçoise) or Le Café de Turin (1912 seafood).

   Cost: €18-60 TIP: Reservation 1 day ahead.

Meal Recommendations