Where to stay in Nice - the best neighborhoods for tourists

Nice is a sprawling and lively city on the chic French Riviera. Nice is famous for its colorful buildings, long beaches with turquoise water, rich history, and overall charm. In addition, Nice boasts the largest number of museums in France, which is why it is considered a city of art.

You should not skip Nice in your travel itinerary around France.

Since it is a big city with many neighborhoods, choosing a place to stay in Nice depends on the season and your vacation style. I will talk about this below.

Recommended reading: Beach holidays on the Côte d’Azur

When to go to Nice, and when not to

Honestly, it’s beautiful here at any time of the year. Nevertheless, some periods are better to visit than others, and there are some periods that are best avoided. For example, I was there in August—it was very hot and humid, so for a beach holiday next time I would rather choose September or June.

High season (summer)

The high season on the French Riviera officially lasts from June 1 to mid-September. These 3-3.5 months are the most expensive time of year to visit, and there are also the most people. Add to this picture intense heat, overcrowded beaches, long lines, and a real possibility of being denied at fully booked restaurants, and you will not have a pleasant holiday.

Low season (winter)

In Nice, from mid-November to mid-February, the weather is not ideal. This is the coldest period of the year, and although there are usually no frosts on the Riviera, strong cold winds can make going outside unpleasant. If you are planning to visit the city in midwinter, know that seasonal festivals begin in mid-February, such as the Carnival in Nice.

Mid-season (spring/autumn)

The best time to visit Nice is during the mid-season, mid-spring and mid-autumn. Even then, do not expect to stroll around without tourists.

In spring—from March, the temperature starts to become pleasant, the threat of rain is almost gone, and everything begins to bloom.

Likewise, in autumn there are fewer crowds, prices are more affordable, and the weather is great for swimming, walking around the city and surroundings.

The swimming season lasts from May to September, and it’s warm from early spring to late autumn.

A brief guide to Nice’s neighborhoods—where tourists should stay

Nice is the fifth largest city in France, with over 338,000 residents. It is divided into a variety of neighborhoods that suit different interests, styles, and budgets.

The Old Town is the heart of Nice and the city’s most famous district. It has winding cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Nearby the Old Town are the neighborhoods of Jean-Médecin and Le Port—the two coolest neighborhoods in the city. Here you’ll find great bars, trendy clubs, fabulous shops, and incredible views. Night owls will be happy to call either of these two districts home.

To the north and west of the city center are the neighborhoods of Thiers, Gambetta, Vernier, and Cimiez. They have many great museums and a wide range of restaurants. In these neighborhoods, you’ll find excellent accommodation options for families and those planning budget travel.

The Old Town (“Vieux Nice”)—stay in Nice for the First Time

On the southeast edge of the city, by the sea, lies the Old Town—the spiritual heart of Nice, a neighborhood that literally bursts with life. It’s always fun and lively here, and the architecture is truly charming, with beautiful old buildings lined up along narrow streets. If you stay here, you’ll also be close to everything in the city center, including many major attractions and the beaches.

However, you need to be aware of the downsides, mainly the constant noise, lack of air conditioning, and cramped and old buildings, most of which have no elevators (be prepared to climb a bit).

Locals call the Old Town both Old Nice and the Old City, and it’s depicted on every other postcard of Nice. This is the oldest part of the city, which looks wonderfully enclosed and intimate. It is densely built and crisscrossed with narrow pedestrian streets, along which stand beautiful and colorful old buildings.

Most of the best bars and restaurants in Nice frequented by locals are located right here. Alongside beautiful churches and other landmarks, like the famous flower and produce market. This area is also located by the sea and faces the promenade, where you can stroll along the waterfront.

Features of staying in the Old Town of Nice

When it comes to accommodation here, keep in mind that housing in this area is mostly apartment rentals, not hotels. And for those who plan to cook for themselves, that’s an advantage, but for those looking for a hassle-free hotel stay, not so much.

The apartments you’ll find in the Old Town are mostly historic and atmospheric. Imagine waking up every morning in the very heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from delicious bakeries, small coffee shops, boutiques, as well as good bars and restaurants.

However, there are nuances and drawbacks—in this place where everyone gathers to eat, drink, and hang out, it’s very noisy. The Old Town is crowded and vibrant from morning till night throughout the summer, so you need to be prepared for that. Even in the off-season, when tourism dies down, you may still be disturbed late at night by people heading home after the nightclubs close.

Most apartments also don’t have elevators, and air conditioning is rare here, and don’t count on inclusive passage through narrow streets and stairs. There is plenty of public transport nearby, but none of the routes go directly through this part of the city, so you’ll always have to walk at least a bit.

If all of the above doesn’t scare you but rather attracts you to the vibe of this part of Nice—it’s a great choice for your stay. Because the beach, bars, restaurants, markets, and great shops are all at your fingertips.

What to do in the Old Town of Nice:

Stop and smell the roses at the flower market Cours Saleya, where you’ll see hundreds of colorful, exotic, and familiar plants and flowers.
Admire the exquisite facade of the Saint Reparata Cathedral, which dates back to the mid-17th century.
Marvel at incredible works of art at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Climb to the top of Castle Hill—from the 90-meter height of the hill you get picturesque views of the Bay of Angels, the old town, and Nice’s port.
Stroll through the winding streets of the charming Old Town, where you’ll find colorful buildings, old-fashioned shops, and beautifully decorated windows.
Join an informative guided walking tour to the Old Town and Castle Hill.
And the sea, the promenade, and the beach are just a few streets away. This means you can swim at the beach anytime, or go for wonderful morning or evening walks along the promenade.

Where to stay in the Old Town of Nice:

Nice – Studette confort sur les toits au cœur du Vieux Nice≫ – apartment for two in Old Nice, city center, beautiful view, clean, with air conditioning.
Appartement Vieux Nice S≫ – Nice apartment in a great location, close to the main square, but very quiet.
Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice≫ – The hotel’s location is excellent and convenient on the edge of Old Nice, close to the beach, Garibaldi square, Lympia port, and Masséna. Very good transport links, as trams stop a few blocks from here. It’s very easy to get to and from the airport and train station by public transport.

Gambetta district—where to stay in Nice on a budget

Gambetta is a small neighborhood on the west side of Nice, adjoining the Promenade des Anglais (excluding the promenade itself). Gambetta stretches from the railway station to the Mediterranean coast. In this vibrant area, you’ll find plenty of excellent restaurants, pristine beaches, and many places to visit in Nice.

This is mainly a residential area, with apartments on upper floors and shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes on the ground floor. Many people live here, and although it’s pleasantly lively and there’s nightlife, it’s much calmer than in the center or Old Town.

There is quite heavy traffic in this area, and also many buses run here. There’s also tram L2, which directly connects the city center and the airport, making this district very convenient for getting around.

In Gambetta, travelers will also find a wide selection of affordable accommodation options. From hostels for backpackers to boutique hotels in Nice—here you have plenty of choices for every taste and budget.

What to do in the Gambetta district

Visit the famous Hotel Negresco and enjoy the incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea from its terrace.
Relax and enjoy the sun on Nice’s beaches.
Walk along the Promenade des Anglais marveling at the beautiful sea views.
Admire art in the Masséna Museum, Museum of Art and History.
Admire the architecture and details of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice, the largest church in Nice.

Where to stay in the Gambetta district

Studio meublé. Proche mer et centre ville≫ – Nice, cozy apartment close to the sea, as well as the train station. Cozy comfort with tableware, dishes, kitchen utensils. Especially nice little balcony.
Nice Signature Baumettes≫ – apartment for two with private kitchen, located 350 meters from the promenade.
Cosy – Negresco – AC – 5 min walk to Beach≫ – Excellent apartment location near the beach, the host provides everything you need. Nearby shops, bakeries, beaches and public transport stops. A great advantage is a beautiful view from the window.

Promenade des Anglais—beautiful & luxurious

I want to add this famous promenade in Nice separately—the Promenade des Anglais. This is a very long seafront boulevard in Nice, stretching from the western part of the city (around the airport) all the way to the Old Town. It was designed and funded by English tourists in the 1800s, who wanted to enjoy walks by the Mediterranean Sea.

Today it’s a very busy street with heavy traffic. But at the same time, it still has a wide pedestrian area along the sea, where there’s plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The advantages of staying anywhere along the Promenade are obvious: excellent and endless views of the blue sea, fresh air, and the promenade and beach located right across the road from your accommodation.

If you’re visiting Nice during the warm season and planning to spend a lot of time at the beach, it’s hard to imagine a better base than the Promenade. From the upper floors of hotels in the morning, on a clear day, you can sometimes even see the outline of the island of Corsica far in the distance.

This area is also known for its historic luxury hotels, many 4- and 5-star hotels located right along the promenade. The most famous is the Hotel Negresco, which is almost a city landmark, with its iconic dome-roofed tower, but there are many others. If you want to be by the sea and stay in a glamorous hotel, you’ll find it here. There are also many more affordable hotels, located a bit further into town, a few streets from the promenade.

Choose a hotel on the Promenade des Anglais:

Promenade & Beach≫ – a small studio on the promenade, freshly renovated, mini-kitchen, a good option for two if you come to Nice for the beach and are looking for affordable accommodation.
Promenade des Anglais panoramic sea view≫ – Apartment location is perfect. The sea is right across the road, and the tram stop is around the corner (it connects with the airport, city center, and port). Bakery and supermarket are also very close. The apartment has everything needed for a family of 5 (two bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room), air conditioning.
Hôtel West End Promenade≫ – hotel on the promenade with views of the beach and sea, good value for money.

Jean-Médecin (Jean-Médecin)—shopping and bars in Nice

Jean-Médecin is a district in the New Town of Nice, located in the city center. This district features grand avenues and boulevards lined with trees, known for their upscale boutiques and street shops. Plus world-class museums, first-rate restaurants, and charming cafes.

It also offers a truly interesting mix of architecture, mainly Belle Époque, Art Deco, and Modernist styles, with densely located apartment buildings alternating with grand old villas and large and elegant hotels, most of which were built here before the area was incorporated into the city and became heavily urbanized.

To the east, the Jean Médecin area is centered around the city’s main street of the same name—Avenue Jean Médecin—which runs from south to north, connecting the Old Town and the Promenade des Anglais with the Libération district.

Avenue Jean Médecin is the city’s main shopping street, featuring numerous popular brands, including Zara, H&M, and Sephora, as well as the Nice Etoile shopping center. Fortunately, the street is almost entirely pedestrian, and the former car traffic has been redirected to make way for tram line 1, which runs down the middle of the street (incredibly convenient for getting around the city).

It’s always busy here. People go out at any time of day and night, office workers fill the offices and shops during the day, and later in the day people go out for drinks, dinner, evening walks or shopping. Tourists and locals flock to this area of the city to eat, drink and dance in one of Jean-Médecin’s many great nightlife spots.

Features of the Jean-Médecin district

If you stay anywhere in the Jean-Médecin district, you can walk to most of Nice in just a few minutes, but there are also excellent public transport options, with many tram stops, bus routes passing through the area, and bike rental stations. You’ll also be very close to the main train station, which makes this a good base for day trips along the Riviera.

But if you decide to stay here, it’s better to find accommodation a bit away from the train station. Because this is one of the not very pleasant area, especially at night. You are also likely to have difficulty finding a parking spot. So, if you are traveling by car, it is worth looking for another place or finding a garage where you can leave your car while you stay in Nice.

What to see and do in Jean-Médecin

Shop and enjoy shopping at Galeries Lafayette and Nice Etoile and other department stores in the city.
Enjoy a sunny day and people-watching on the Promenade du Paillon.
Grab a drink and enjoy the views from the terrace on the 9th floor of the iconic Le Meridien hotel.
Enjoy a pleasant evening listening to jazz at Le Kosma.
Climb to the top of Colline du Château for beautiful views of Nice.
Visit the Museum of Modern Art (Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain). The museum building is a model of modern architecture, and a walk around its grounds is the best opportunity to test your relationship with conceptual art.

Where to stay in the Jean-Médecin district

Aparthotel AMMI Nice Massena – ex Ajoupa≫ – location—1 minute to the central square. The rooms are separate, modernly equipped apartments in an old building with high ceilings, there is every possible appliance—from microwave and fridge to iron and toaster. The hotel has good value for money, but choose rooms with windows not facing the busy street, then it will be quiet.
Best Western Hotel Lakmi Nice≫ – Excellent location, clean, comfortable room with everything you need, delicious breakfasts, friendly attentive staff, there is a lounge with unlimited tea/coffee, water with lemon and mint in the lobby. The rooms have a great city view. Close to the sea, restaurants, attractions, and the train station.
Hotel Le Grimaldi by Happyculture≫ – Very convenient location (near the sea, train station, and district with shops and restaurants), historic building, very tasty breakfast.

Le Port—the port district of Nice

Le Port is one of the best districts of Nice. Located just behind the Colline du Château hill from the Old Town. Le Port extends on both sides of the charming city marina—a rectangular recess of the sea into the land, with buildings stretching around it on three sides.

It’s not just a great spot for cool yachtsmen. But also a wonderful area for daytime strolls and nighttime city fun. In Le Port, you’ll find plenty of stylish and lively restaurants and bars, as well as several great nightlife venues. One of Le Port’s best features is its amazing views.

Le Port is extremely convenient in terms of public transport. It’s directly connected to the airport and city center by tram line №2. It has a well-served bus service and is only a few minutes’ walk from Nice-Riquier train station (from where trains run throughout the Riviera).

Tips for choosing accommodation in Le Port

And if you choose your accommodation well, you can find a place with a sea view, from which you can watch the boats arriving and departing from the port.

As in the Old Town, the buildings here are quite old, so if you decide to stay in an apartment, keep in mind that it likely won’t have an elevator and may not have air conditioning. And the numerous bars and restaurants mean that this is another of the noisiest areas in the city. Although there are far fewer than in the Old Town, so usually it’s quite quiet here by midnight.

If you want to avoid noise and crowds, but still want to be close to the action, it’s better to look for accommodation east of the port, between Nice and the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. There is much more residential development here, and this area is also next to a small number of rocky beaches. They are somewhat wilder than the city beaches, and generally much quieter than the beach along the Promenade des Anglais.

What to see and do in Le Port

Visit Puces de Nice, an open air collection of antique shops where you are sure to find one or two treasures.
Walk through the charming Old Port.
Head east from Le Port to the Réserve diving platforms, where you’ll find a public beach—perfect for relaxing on the sand or swimming in the sea.
See unique and interesting works of art in the LYMPIA gallery.
Walk to Place Ile-de-Beauté and enjoy the iconic views of Nice and the magnificent Old Harbor.

Where to stay in the Le Port district:

Joyau rare port de Nice≫ – apartment quite spacious, very clean and comfortable, and the kitchen has plenty of space with all amenities you might need. Location is very convenient for the port side, Riquier station, shops and restaurants.
L’Abeille – Boutique Apartments≫ – Thoughtfully designed, well-equipped apartment. Luggage storage in the foyer with shower facilities, which guests can use even after check-out.
La Mansarde du Port FAMILLY HOME≫ – attic apartment by the yacht harbor has a great location: tourist sites and public transport stops are within walking distance. Has conveniences: dishes, Wi-Fi, and especially valuable air conditioning to save from the heat on the top floor.

Useful links for travelers:

Car rental – we booked a car at Nice airport. We found an affordable option through Rentalcars.com
Hotels – I traditionally book via Booking.com
Insurance online at Hotline.Finance.

Where to stay in Nice – the best districts for tourists