How many days in Nice? 4 days on the French Riviera: Nice, Èze, Monaco and Antibes
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Nice is the best base for the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur): a real city with an Italianate old town, a 7 km seafront promenade and museums of Matisse and Chagall, plus cheap trains and buses along the coast. Four days gives one to Nice itself, one to the villages and principality to the east (Villefranche, Èze, Monaco), one to the west (Antibes and Cannes), and one to the perched villages inland such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Nice's beaches are pebbly, but the water is clear.
Short answer
Three days covers Nice, Èze with Monaco, and Antibes. The fourth adds Saint-Paul-de-Vence or a lazy beach day.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Vieux Nice and Castle Hill
Morning. Walk the Cours Saleya market (flowers and food; antiques on Mondays) and the narrow lanes of Vieux Nice, the old town, with Baroque churches and the Palais Lascaris. Try socca, a chickpea pancake, from a street stall.
Afternoon. Climb (or take the free lift) to Castle Hill (Colline du Château), with a waterfall and the classic view over the Baie des Anges and the port. Walk down to the port to see the colourful old boats.
Evening. Walk the Promenade des Anglais at sunset, with its blue chairs, then dinner in Vieux Nice or the port area.
Nice's public beaches are free; private beach clubs rent sunbeds for about €25-40 a day. Bring water shoes for the pebbles.
Day 2: Villefranche, Èze and Monaco
Morning. Take bus 15 or the train to Villefranche-sur-Mer (10 minutes), a deep, sheltered bay with a fishing harbour and the Chapelle Saint-Pierre decorated by Jean Cocteau. Continue by bus 82 or 112 to Èze, a medieval village perched 427 metres above the sea, with an exotic garden at the top (about €8).
Afternoon. Walk down the steep Nietzsche Path from Èze to the coast (about 1-1.5 hours) and take the train or bus to Monaco: the Monte Carlo Casino and its square, the Prince's Palace with the changing of the guard at 11:55, and the Oceanographic Museum on the cliff.
Evening. Have a drink in Monte Carlo, then the train back to Nice (about 20-25 minutes).
The Lignes d'Azur buses cost only a few euros a ride along the whole coast, much cheaper than taxis.
Day 3: Antibes and Cannes
Morning. Take the train west to Antibes (about 20-30 minutes). Walk the old town ramparts to the Picasso Museum in the Grimaldi Castle, where Picasso worked in 1946, and the Provençal market.
Afternoon. Walk part of the coastal path around Cap d'Antibes (the Sentier du Littoral) or swim at the sandy Plage de la Salis. Continue to Cannes (15 minutes), with the Croisette, the Palais des Festivals and the old quarter of Le Suquet.
Evening. Have dinner in Cannes or Antibes, then the train back to Nice.
From Cannes, boats go to the Lérins Islands (15 minutes), where monks make wine on Saint-Honorat and the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned on Sainte-Marguerite.
Day 4: Matisse, Chagall and Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Morning. Take the bus up to the Cimiez hill in Nice for the Matisse Museum (about €10-15), in a red Genoese villa among olive groves, and the Roman ruins next to it. Walk down to the Marc Chagall National Museum, with his Biblical Message paintings.
Afternoon. Take the bus (about 45 minutes) to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a walled hilltop village that attracted Chagall (buried in its cemetery), Matisse and Picasso, and the Fondation Maeght modern art museum nearby.
Evening. Have a final dinner back in Nice: a salade niçoise or a plate of petits farcis (stuffed vegetables) with a glass of Bellet rosé.
In nearby Vence, Matisse's Chapelle du Rosaire, which he designed down to the priests' robes, has limited opening days; check before going.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 2 and 3. You lose the museums and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Got extra days?
With more time, visit Menton near the Italian border, the perfume town of Grasse, the Gorges du Verdon (about 2.5 hours) or cross into Italy for Ventimiglia's Friday market.
Where to stay in Nice
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Near Nice-Ville station / Jean-Médecin | Cheaper hotels, trains along the coast, tram to the airport. | €100-160 |
| Mid-range | Vieux Nice / port | Old-town atmosphere, walk to the beach and Castle Hill. | €160-280 |
| Mid-range | Carré d'Or | Between the station and the sea, near the promenade. | €170-290 |
| Comfort | Promenade des Anglais | Belle Époque hotels facing the sea. | €350-900 |
Getting around
Walk in Nice and use the tram (line 2 to the airport, about 25 minutes). TER trains run along the coast to Monaco, Menton, Antibes and Cannes every 15-30 minutes. Lignes d'Azur buses reach Èze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A car is only useful for inland villages and the Verdon; parking on the coast is difficult and expensive.
What to eat in Nice
Niçoise cuisine is Mediterranean, influenced by Italy: socca (chickpea pancake), pissaladière (onion tart with anchovies and olives), pan bagnat (salade niçoise in a round bun), salade niçoise itself, petits farcis and daube (beef stew). Drink rosé from Provence or the rare Bellet wine grown in the hills above Nice. A plate of socca costs about €4; dinner €30-50 per person.
Best time to visit
May, June and September are best, with highs of 22-27°C and warm sea. July and August are hot and crowded. The Nice Carnival (February) and the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival (May) raise prices. Winter is mild and sunny (about 13-14°C).
Month-by-month weather for Nice →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €60 | €120 | €300 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €60 | €120 |
| Sights & activities | €10 | €30 | €60 |
| Trains & buses | €6 | €12 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €110 | about €220 | about €520 |
Approximate 2026 prices. A city tax per person per night applies in Nice and other Riviera towns; Monaco uses the euro.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Nice the best base for the Riviera?
Yes for most visitors: it has the airport, the trains and buses to everywhere, and a real city life. Cannes or Antibes are alternatives if you want the west.
Are Nice's beaches sandy?
No, they are pebbly. Sandy beaches are found at Antibes (La Salis), Cannes and Juan-les-Pins.
Can I visit Monaco in a day?
Yes: it is 20-25 minutes from Nice by train. Combine it with Èze and Villefranche for a full day.
Do I need a car?
No for the coast. A car helps for Grasse, the inland villages and the Gorges du Verdon.
Is the French Riviera expensive?
It can be, especially Monaco and Cannes. Public beaches, markets, trains and buses keep costs reasonable.
Which perched village is best?
Èze for the sea view, Saint-Paul-de-Vence for art and ramparts, and quieter villages like Gourdon or Tourrettes-sur-Loup for fewer people.
When are the big events?
The Nice Carnival and Menton Lemon Festival in February, the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in May. Book accommodation early.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning France trips. Prices are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Nice Côte d'Azur tourism, Matisse and Chagall museums, Lignes d'Azur, SNCF TER and Monaco tourism websites before booking.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.