Planning a cruise along the French Riviera? Lucky you! With its soaring cliffs, azure seas, warm climate, and rich and famous residents, the Riviera is a Mediterranean paradise of legendary stature. And no cruise to this dazzling part of the world would be complete without a visit to the region’s capital of Nice.
Nice’s old-world charm, abundant sunshine, and stunning seaside location are sure to take your breath away. Dig a little deeper and the city’s artistic heritage and vibrant culture will make you never want to leave! However, most cruise stopovers in Nice are just one day, so you’ll have time for only a taster of all this city has to offer. Get a head start with our carefully planned itinerary!
Can’t get enough of the French Riviera? Check out the sights in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Castle Hill
The best way to begin your day in Nice to is to take it from the top. Castle Hill, the original city centre of Nice, was once the site of an imposing château (castle), which was entirely dismantled in the 18th century. You can still view the ruins of the chateau on this craggy hilltop, though many people come for the view! As you look out from a height of 92 metres, you can take in the sweep of Nice’s long pebble beach, the turquoise Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels), the coastal mountains in the distance, and of course the red roofs of the city’s old town – an excellent way to get your bearings for the day ahead. At the top you’ll also find an intriguing artificial waterfall called the Cascade Dijon, where sheets of water gush off the natural rock face.
If you don’t want to climb the nearly 300 feet of stairs to get to the top of Castle Hill, there’s a free lift that can take you about three quarters of the way.
Ascenseurs du château (Castle Hill Elevator)
Montée Lesage, 06300 Nice, France
Hours: Open daily 8:00am-6:00pm
Recommended read: Some of the Other Major Attractions Which Nice Has to Offer
Cours Saleya
Next, make your way west along the Quai des Étas-Unis to Cours Saleya (about a six-minute walk). Located right in the centre of the Vieille Ville (Old Town) in front of the the unmistakable canary-yellow façade of the Baroque Chapelle de la Miséricorde, this produce and flower market is always bustling with activity. Under long rows of striped awnings, vendors hawk melons, cherries, apricots, squash, tomatoes, spices, olives, honey, and a riotously colourful selection of freshly cut flowers. Here you’ll find locals and tourists alike doing their shopping or simply taking in the vivid display.
Cours Saleya, 06300 Nice, France
Flower Market (Marché aux fleurs): Tues, Thurs, Friday 6:00am-5:3pm0. Wed and Sat 6:30am-6:30pm. Sun 6:30am-1:30pm. Closed Mondays.
Fruit and Vegetable Market (Marché aux fruits et legumes): every day except Monday from 6:00am-1:30pm.
Place Rossetti & Nice Cathedral
Just three minutes’ walk along Rue Saint-Gaëtan and Rue Saint-Reparate you’ll arrive in Place Rossetti, a picturesque square in the heart of the Old Town completely enclosed by Italian-style red and yellow townhouses. In the centre of the square a number of colourful umbrella-topped tables invite you to sit down with a drink or a bite from any of the nearby cafés.
Towering above the entire scene is the Cathedrale Sainte-Reparate – better known to visitors simply as Nice Cathedral. Built in the 17th century, this stunning Italian-style Baroque cathedral features a stunning yellow and green façade framed by Corinthian columns and adorned with statues of religious and historical figures. To the right of the main entrance, you can’t miss the towering campanile, which was added later. Step through the door and you’ll find an ornately decorated interior with ten side chapels, as well as three spectacular organs. It’s hard to know where to look first!
Local tip: After you’re done looking around the cathedral, pop into La Rossettisserie, a cosy restaurant just up the street from the square on Rue Mascoinat. Try the ratatouille – a Niçois favourite!
Cathedrale Saint-Reparate
3 Place Rossetti, Vieux Nice, 06300 Nice, France
Tel: +33 04 93 92 01 35
Hours: Tues-Sun 9:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-6:00pm
La Rossettisserie
8 Rue Mascoinat, 06300 Nice, France
Tel: +33 04 93 76 18 80
Palais Lascaris
If you’re not tired of Baroque architecture yet, stroll over to the Palais Lascaris, around the corner on the Rue Droite. This 17th century building was once home to one of the most important aristocratic families in Nice, the Lascaris-Ventimiglia, but is now a museum open to the public. The interior of this historic building is a veritable treasure trove of luxury: priceless tapestries, sculptures, paintings, and furniture fill every inch. Don’t miss the grand staircase with its majestic frescoes along the walls and ceilings, or the collection of some 500 musical instruments from as far back as the 16th century, donated by the famous collector Antoine Gautier.
15 Rue Droite, 06300 Nice, France
Tel: +33 4 93 62 72 40
Hours: Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm
Prices: €6.00
Musée Marc Chagall
For art lovers, Nice is really a dream come true. The Mediterranean landscape and stunning colours and light have attracted many artists to the area over the years, all of whom have left their mark on the city. Nowhere is this more evident at the Musée Marc Chagall, a national museum dedicated to the Russian-French modernist famous for his work with stained glass, prints, ceramics, painting, stage sets, and more. The museum is a collection of some religious-inspired works, including Chagall’s most important biblical work, Message Biblique.
The museum is about a 25-minute walk from the Palais, but if you’re not up for the walk, there are very reasonably-priced buses and trams that can take you north out of the Old Town. If you’re on a roll with modernist artists (and have the time), go a little further into the Cimiez quarter and visit the museum dedicated to Chagall’s contemporary, Henri Matisse.
Musée Marc Chagall, 36 Avenue Dr Ménard, 06000 Nice, France
Tel: +33 4 93 53 87 20
Hours: Open daily (excluding Tuesday), 10:00am-5:00pm
Prices: €9.00
Musée Matisse, 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, 06000 Nice, France
Tel: +33 4 93 81 08 08
Hours: Open daily (excluding Tuesday), 10:00am-6:00pm
Prices: €6.00
11e ART Nice
At the end of a long day full of art, architecture, and culture, you’ve earned a good meal. Head back towards the seaside and tuck into dinner at 11e ART Nice, a stylish restaurant serving up fresh and creative contemporary cuisine. Try the tasting menu – you can choose two starters, two mains and two desserts and sample a little bit of everything.
11 Rue Meyerbeer, 06000 Nice, France
Tel: +33 04 93 87 57 15
Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00pm-2:00pm and 6:30pm-10:30ppm
Recommended read: Discovering the Culinary Delights of Nice
Promenade des Anglais
With the right timing and a bit of luck, you’ll be able to finish off dinner with a stroll down the Promenade des Anglais, a long walkway that follows the sweep of Nice’s pebble beach. Its name is a nod to the 18th-century English visitors who flocked to Nice during the winter months, and it’s simply spectacular at sundown
How to Get to Nice
You can expect your cruise ship to dock either at the Quai du Commerce or a little further east at Villefranche-sur-Mer if it’s a larger ship. Either way, once you’ve disembarked you’re probably looking for a quick way to get into Nice proper and begin your day. Book your Nice cruise port transfer with Shuttle Direct well ahead of time in order to have a car waiting for you right at the harbour.
About Shuttle Direct:
No matter where you’re going or how long you’re staying, it pays to be one step ahead of everything. As the largest provider of transfer services across Europe and North Africa, Shuttle Direct can make your holiday, business trip, or weekend getaway run a little more smoothly. Book with us to get to and from hotels, airports, train stations, cruise ports, and more with no stress and no hassle.
