One Perfect Day in Nice (Cruise-Stop Edition)
Docked at Nice or Villefranche for the day? Here's Nice in eight glorious hours.
Ships call at Nice's own port or anchor in Villefranche's bay, ten minutes away by train or bus. Either way, Nice makes a perfect shore day: the flower market, socca, the view from Castle Hill, a swim and a walk along the Promenade.
This itinerary runs morning to sail-away. Add everything to your trip with one tap and take the map with you.
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Cours Saleya Market
☀️ Things To Do & Day Trips · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · Free · allow 1.5 hrs
9am: the flower and food market in full swing (Tuesday to Sunday).
Nice's flower and food market fills the long Cours Saleya from early morning until about 1pm, Tuesday to Sunday. On Mondays it becomes an antiques and flea market. Come hungry.
💛 Budget friendly🧒 Good with kids - 2
Chez Thérésa
🍽️ Restaurants · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · € · allow 30 min
10am: a cone of hot socca from the market stall.
A market favourite: socca baked in the Old Town and carried down to the Cours Saleya, served in a paper cone with plenty of black pepper. Best mid-morning while the market is in full swing.
💛 Budget friendly🧒 Good with kids - 3
Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate
☀️ Things To Do & Day Trips · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · Free · allow 30 min
10.30am: wander the Old Town lanes to the cathedral square.
Nice's cathedral, on lively Place Rossetti: a Baroque interior of marble and gilt under a dome of coloured glazed tiles. Pop in, then queue for an ice cream outside.
💛 Budget friendly - 4
Colline du Château (Castle Hill)
☀️ Things To Do & Day Trips · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · Free · allow 1.5 hrs
11am: up to Castle Hill for the view over the bay and the port.
There's no castle left, but the hill above the Old Town is a shady park with a waterfall, a playground and the best views in Nice over the Baie des Anges and the port. Walk up the stairs or take the free lift near the Tour Bellanda.
🌊 Sea view🌅 Sunset spot🧒 Good with kids💛 Budget friendly - 5
Lou Pilha Leva
🍽️ Restaurants · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · € · allow 1 hour
1pm: lunch at the shared tables: pissaladière, beignets, petits farcis.
Order at the counter and eat at long tables in the lane: socca, pissaladière, panisse, beignets and stuffed vegetables. The easiest way to taste all of Nice's street food in one sitting.
🌿 Terrace outside💛 Budget friendly🧒 Good with kids - 6
Plage des Ponchettes
🏖️ Beaches & Swimming · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · Free · allow 3 hours
2.30pm: a swim below the Old Town.
A free public stretch of pebbles a minute from the Cours Saleya, with the Old Town's rooftops and Castle Hill behind you. Bring water shoes: the pebbles are large and the beach shelves quickly.
🌊 Sea view💛 Budget friendly - 7
Promenade des Anglais
☀️ Things To Do & Day Trips · Promenade des Anglais & the Beaches · Free · allow 1.5 hrs
4pm: a stroll along the Promenade and a rest on a blue chair.
Seven kilometres of seafront walkway along the Baie des Anges. Walk, cycle or skate it, or just pull up one of the blue chairs and watch the sea. Best in the early evening, when all of Nice comes out.
🌊 Sea view🌅 Sunset spot🧒 Good with kids💛 Budget friendly - 8
Fenocchio
☕ Cafés, Bakeries & Gelato · Vieux Nice (Old Town) · € · allow 30 min
5pm: a last gelato on the way back to the port.
Nice's best-known ice-cream maker, facing the cathedral on Place Rossetti. Alongside the classics you'll find tomato-basil, lavender, olive and violet. Eat it on the cathedral steps.
🌿 Terrace outside🧒 Good with kids💛 Budget friendly
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