Parc Phoenix in Nice: the giant greenhouse and its gardens

Updated on September 26, 2026

The short answer: Parc Phoenix costs €5.50 for a full-price ticket and is free for children under 12 (up to 3 children per paying adult). It is open from 9:30am to 7:30pm from 1^st April to 30 September, then from 9:30am to 6pm until 31 March. You enter only through the tramway entrance, line 2, «Parc Phœnix» stop. Plan 2 to 3 hours for the tropical greenhouse, the gardens and the play areas.

Located at 405 Promenade des Anglais, opposite Nice Côte d'Azur airport, Parc Phoenix is the large garden of western Nice: 7 hectares of greenery, more than 2,500 plant species, a 7,000 m² pyramid greenhouse, free-roaming animals and play areas for children. Labelled «Remarkable Garden» and «Famille Plus», it is also one of the most affordable admission prices on the Côte d'Azur.

Parc Phoenix opening hours 2026

• 1^st April – 30 September: 9:30am – 7:30pm (summer hours)
• 1^st October – 31 March: 9:30am – 6:00pm (winter hours)
• Open every day of the year, except 25 December and 1^st January.
• The ticket office closes 1 hour before the park closes.
• The park may close in case of an orange weather alert for rain or strong wind: check the weather the same morning.

Parc Phoenix prices 2026

Free weekends in 2026 remaining for residents of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis: 5-6 September, 3-4 October, 7-8 November, 5-6 December.

A family with two children (2 adults + 2 children under 12) therefore gets in for €11: the best value for money on the Riviera, far from theme parks.

The tropical greenhouse: the «Green Diamond»

The pyramid greenhouse is the highlight: 7,000 m² under 25 metres of height, one of the tallest in Europe. Inside, six tropical and subtropical climates are recreated, with an equatorial forest and its waterfall, an orchid collection, the southern African garden and a fern greenhouse home to Nile crocodiles.

Humidity there nears 80%: you leave with frizzy hair, the price of immersion. It is the best place in the park on overcast days, when the light filters through the glass structure.

The park's wildlife

Parc Phoenix has been officially recognised by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition as an eco-refuge since 2020: a non-profit sanctuary for exotic wild animals seized by customs or abandoned. The park is home to more than 200 animals rescued in this way, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, an insectarium, a shelter and a small educational farm.

The animals you are most likely to spot on a stroll: peacocks roaming freely, flamingos, monkeys and, inside the greenhouse, Nile crocodiles. The animals are not used for shows: the visit is free and contemplative.

The theme gardens

Around the greenhouse, the park unfolds its collections: the fountain, the path and the oasis, the Provençal cabanon, the grass valley, the kitchen garden and vines, the citrus trees, the island of bygone times, the palm collection, the sage collection and the fragrant plants.

Each season changes the face of the park: spring blooms followed by the golden grasses of autumn. The «Remarkable Garden» label, awarded by the French Ministry of Culture, guarantees the upkeep and quality of the collections.

Parc Phoenix with children

The park is labelled «Famille Plus»: free-access play areas (slides, roundabouts, spring toys, see-saw rides), a picnic area and seasonal activities. Children under 12 do not need a ticket, which makes it a very reasonable outing for a family.

For older children, the Nissa'venture treetop adventure park, located on site but independent of the park, offers a paid high-ropes course. Refer to our guide to Nice with children to complete the day.

Picnics, food and services

• Picnicking is allowed: a designated area lets you have lunch on site without leaving the park.
• A snack bar («Côté Jardin») serves food on site during the park's opening hours.
• The park is accessible to people with reduced mobility; wheelchairs and pushchairs can be lent at reception on request.
• Dogs and other animals are prohibited, except guide dogs.
• Parking: there is no car park belonging to the park itself, but there are paid public car parks nearby (Indigo Arénas, Q PARK, Interparking Nouvel'R).

How to get to Parc Phoenix

• Tramway: line 2, «Parc Phœnix» stop: the park entrance opens directly onto the stop; see our guide to Nice's trams and buses.
• Bus: Parc Phoenix stop (line 620); Grand Arénas stop (622, 632, 650, 670, 672, 675).
• Train: Gare Saint-Augustin stop, then on foot or by bus.
• Car: A8 motorway, exit 51 Nice Saint-Augustin, or the Mathis road west exit.
• Airport: the park is a few minutes away, ideal for a stopover; see our guide to Nice airport.

Warning: entry is only through the tramway-side entrance. The Arénas entrance is closed.

How much time should you allow?

Allow 2 to 3 hours: about an hour for the greenhouse and gardens, an hour for the play areas and strolling. The morning is quieter, the afternoon livelier (especially on weekdays, with school pick-up times). As the ticket office closes an hour before closing time, arrive at least two hours before the closing time.

The park combines easily with Carras beach, very close by, see our beach guide, and with the Promenade des Anglais, a few stops away. For general planning, our guide to sights and activities remains the starting point.

Good to know before you go

• Online ticketing is not always available: buying on site remains the safest option, especially in peak season.
• In case of an orange alert for rain or wind, the park closes: this is announced in the morning on the park's social media.
• For a family stay, compare the park's prices with our guide to budgeting in Nice.
• If you visit in summer, the weather and the best dates are detailed in our guide to when to visit Nice.

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