updated on 5 March 2026

Is a weekend in Nice too short?

Not at all! On the contrary, Nice is a city designed for two- to three-day stays, or a week if you like to relax on the beach. The city is very well served by transport: unlike other major cities in France, its infrastructure is all located just a few minutes from the centre. For example, if you come to Nice by plane, it will only take you 15 minutes by bus to reach the centre (see our article Coming to Nice by plane). The airport is located by the sea at the end of the Promenade des Anglais.
If you're travelling by train, you'll arrive at Nice Ville SNCF station in the city centre, just a few minutes by tram from the centre (see our article Getting to Nice by train).

As you can see, you'll reach your destination quickly. So your weekend won't be taken up by travelling! As for how long to stay, two to three days is plenty of time to enjoy the city's charms: beaches, sightseeing, walks, restaurants. Just one tip: plan to arrive early in the morning on the first day and leave at the end of the day on the last.

Which hotel for a weekend in Nice

Choosing your hotel, and therefore the neighbourhood where you will spend one or two nights in Nice for your weekend, is very important. Nice is a very spread-out city, and it's best enjoyed when you can do everything on foot. We therefore recommend choosing a hotel in the centre.

Cheap hotels in the centre

We invite you to discover our selection of hotels located in the tourist centre of Nice for less than €60 per night (average price for the year, please note that significant price fluctuations are possible depending on the season).

All the hotels in this selection are ideally located, allowing you to do everything on foot, which we strongly recommend given the traffic conditions in Nice and so that you can walk back from the restaurant in the evening in just a few minutes.

Comfortable hotels in the centre

For a larger budget, we recommend choosing hotels from this selection. We particularly like the following hotels:

• Hôtel Mercure Nice Promenade des Anglais: ideally located along the sea and with a private beach
• Holiday Inn Hotel: located on Boulevard Victor Hugo, one of the most luxurious in Nice, 3 minutes from the sea
• The Westminster Hotel: facing the sea, on the Promenade des Anglais
• Boscolo Plaza Hotel: an excellent location, facing a park, 1 minute from the sea
• Le Méridien: a safe bet, high-end and extremely well located

All you have to do is choose according to your budget.

What to see and do during a weekend?

2-day weekend

• Day 1:
  • Head to the Promenade des Anglais at the beautiful Negresco Hotel. Explore this building and walk up the Promenade to the Albert 1er Garden. This walk is punctuated with beautiful hotels to discover and is a delight as it runs along the sea.
  • After exploring the Albert 1er gardens, we recommend heading to Cours Saleya. Locals tend to avoid eating here, as the restaurants are quite touristy.
  • Then head to Old Nice. You can eat in one of the many restaurants there and then stroll through the narrow streets of this very pleasant area. You will discover Place Rossetti, Place du Palais de Justice and Palais Lascaris (museum).
  • If you have time and are tempted by the beach, go for a swim opposite Old Nice at one of the city's public or private beaches.
  • At the end of the day, you can enjoy a superb sunset over the city from the Castle Hill (panoramic view).
  • Return to Old Nice for dinner and the evening. The old town is full of pleasant restaurants and pubs.
• Day 2:
  • Start at the intersection of Boulevard Gambetta and Boulevard Victor Hugo. Walk up Rue Jean Médecin to do some shopping (note that in France, many shops are closed on Sundays, except during the peak tourist season) and discover one of the city's main thoroughfares.
  • Then walk down Rue Jean Médecin towards the sea, where you will come across the beautiful Place Massena.
  • After exploring the square, take the pedestrian street (Rue de France) for a pleasant, car-free stroll. You can eat at one of the many restaurants.
  • Take advantage of your free time to visit the beach.

3-day weekend

Same programme as above, with the following additions:

• Day 2:
  • After swimming, head to the port of Nice to explore on foot, then walk up to Old Nice towards the beautiful Place Garibaldi.
  • Book a restaurant for the evening on this same square.
• Day 3:
  • Make some sandwiches, set off early, hire a scooter (book in advance) or take public transport to the Russian Church. It's a little out of the way but well worth the detour.
  • Continue your journey by public transport or on two wheels to the Matisse Museum. This world-famous museum is a must-see and the setting is very pretty!
  • Enjoy a picnic on the lawns of the Matisse Museum park. If you have children, they can run around and play in the park.
  • Then continue your tour with a visit to the Cimiez Monastery and the Cimiez Arena. Don't worry, all these points of interest are just a few hundred metres apart.

The programme is of course quite full, and you can skip one or more stops depending on your preferences. However, we have personally followed these stops in order every time we have visited the city, and those interested have always been delighted.

Calendar: major events (2026)

To choose your weekend based on the atmosphere (sport, culture, fair, concerts), also check out our selection: major events in Nice in 2026.

Hotels Nice: niceTrotter selection