It was a Thursday morning, I was sitting at work thinking about my (non-existent) weekend plans. I opened up Google Flights, searched for the cheapest flights out of London and that’s how I ended up in Nice, France for a weekend! I wanted to make the most of my first time in France, but didn’t want to break the bank. While Nice isn’t the cheapest destination, I did my research and had such a great time. Hopefully my recommendations below will help you enjoy a budget-savvy trip to France too!
Where to stay
- Budget-conscious solo traveller: check out Hotel Ozz by HappyCulture, a nice and modern hostel that’s about a 10/15min walk from the main boardwalk in Nice. I stayed here on my quick weekend trip to Nice and it was clean, staff were friendly and pretty reasonably priced (the real winner)!
- Treat-yo-self solo traveller/group/couple: if you’re travelling with friends or have a bit more cash to spend (or just want to splurge), I’d recommend staying closer to Old Nice. You’ll be right in the hustle and bustle of Nice, with beautiful restaurants and bars at your door step – perfect for a quick stroll home after a vino or two.
Where to eat, drink and be merry
Like most of France, eating out can be a bit exxy in Nice. Luckily, a lot of restaurants have lunch and dinner deals that offer a main and entree or dessert for around €20/€25 so definitely keep an eye out for these promotions on menu boards throughout town. I’ve also put together a list of cafes, restaurants and bars that will hopefully keep your wallet happy!
- Creperie la Trimaran: it wouldn’t be a trip to France without indulging in some mouth-watering crepes. If you’re feeling a little naughty, go ahead and order a sweet AND a savoury crepe, you won’t regret it.
- Cafe de Max: This is a great spot to get a morning coffee and croissant that won’t break the bank, setting you back just a few euros all up.
- Workhouse Cafe: Another coffee spot to add to your list (can you tell I love a good coffee?) with a lovely terrace to sit and soak up some sun. Try the scrambled eggs and the eggs benny
- Cafe Marche: I’m a sucker for good quality/local/organic eats and while this doesn’t normally equal budget-friendly, Cafe Marche does a super reasonably priced Sunday brunch. Located in Old Nice, this farm-to-table cafe is a must-try with quality food and delish coffee
- Le Makassar: Do you love juice? Do you love coffee? Do you love UNLIMITED juice and coffee?? If your answer is yes, then Le Makassar is the spot for you with a great brunch menu complete with all-you-can-drink juice and coffee from 11am on weekdays (yaasss)
- La Femme du Boulanger: Ok, ok, ok – last brunch recommendation in this list, I swear. Located just off the Promenade des Anglais, La Femme du Boulanger will make your french bread and homemade jam dreams come true. Do yourself a favour and try the caramel spread (I’m not drooling, you are)!
- Bababoom Bistro & Juice Bar: If you’re feeling like maayybe you’ve overdone it on the cheese, wine and good times and are craving some veggie-goodness, then head to Bababoom for a smoothie, acai bowl, raw treats and just generally healthy eats.
- Waka Bar: If you’ve walked along the Promenade des Anglais, then chances are you’ve seen this bar with its dreamy green shutters and bustling balcony, overlooking Nice’s pebbly beach and crystal blue waters. It’s a great spot for a sundowner before you head to dinner in Old Nice.
- Movida: Walk about 2 mins down the Promenade from Waka Bar and you’ll stumble across Movida, another popular bar with a balcony that overlooks the beautiful bay. Watching the sunset over the ocean with a glass of French wine in hand, does it get much better than that? (No, the answer is no)
- Beer District: Sure, France might be all about wine but Beer District is (surprisingly) all about beer and with about 16 microbrews on tap, there’s a brew to suit everyone.
Things to do
- Wake up early and make your way to Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya, Nice’s stunning flower market. You’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to flower heaven! If you’re in town on a Monday, unfortunately there’s no flower market but there is a great antique market in it’s place, which is also absolutely worth a visit.
- It may not be the most comfortable beach to lie on, but a trip to Nice wouldn’t be complete without making time to relax and soak up the sun on the iconic pebble beach. There are various bars along the beach where you can hire sun-beds (slightly more comfy), however there are also plenty of spots where you can pull up a towel for free
- Visit the ‘I Love Nice’ sign and get that classic tourist shot. Go on – do it for the ‘gram!
- One of the best value activities in Nice is, surprisingly, visiting the wide variety of museums and galleries that are dotted across the town. You can purchase a 24hr pass for just €10 that gives you access to 14 museums across Nice. The Matisse Museum is a personal fave and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is also a winner.
- If you do visit the Matisse Museum, you have to head to the Jardin du Monastére de Cimiez (Cimiez Monastery Garden). I found this spot by happy accident as I was exploring the streets around the Matisse Museum (there are some crazy fancy houses in the area) and it was such a peaceful and calming spot. The monastery garden is perched on top of a hill and boasts an insane view of the Nice coast, so take your book and spend some time soaking up the serenity.
- If you do spend a day museum-hopping, the best (and cheapest) way to get around town is by bus. The local buses and trams are €1.50/ride or you can get a day pass for €5. Simply buy your ticket on the bus/tram with cash and you’re good to go!
- Pretty much a given but exploring Vieux Nice (Old Nice) and Le Vieux Port (Old Port) is a great way to spend a day. Sure, they’re tourist hot-spots but the stunning architecture and quaint streets will transport you back in time, making you feel like you could run into Henri Matisse or Pierre Renoir at any turn.
- Do as the French do – pack a picnic, hire a bike and cruise along the Promenade des Anglais. You can pick up budget-friendly cheese and wine from Monoprix in the city centre and hire a Velo Bleu self-service bike for just €1 a day (remember to dock and change bikes every 30mins or you’ll be charged more).
- I hope you packed your walking shoes because a walk up Collinede de Chateau (Castle Hill) is a must in my opinion. The panoramic views from the top are breath-taking and it’s a great way to work off the French delicacies you’ll undoubtedly be enjoying. If you’re feeling really game, set your alarm early and make it to the top in time to watch the sunrise.
- Want a great view of the bay but not keen on physical activity (I mean, you’re on holidays after all)? Never fear, La Tour Bellanda is the place for you! Located towards the end of the promenade towards to ‘I Love Nice’ sign, La Tour Bellanda also boasts great panorama views of Nice, but doesn’t involve as much sweat as Castle Hill. If you’re really really not keen on climbing up the stairs, there is a free lift (whaat) that operates at different times depending on the time of year.
- You’ve spend the day laxin’ by the ocean, you’ve got a great tan going on and want to show it off. Stop by Le Shapko after a dinner in Old Nice, a groovy bar that plays jazz, funk and soul every night.
Day trips
If you’re in Nice for a few days, you’re perfect situated to take day trips to some of France’s most popular spots. Even better, Nice is really well connected with public buses to take you to other coastal towns, with tickets setting you back just €1.50 each way.
- Monaco – Head to Max Barel bus stop (near Old Nice Port) and take the #112 bus towards Monte Carlo, the bus ride will take around 45mins to reach Monaco. If you’re time poor, you can also catch the train to Monaco for around €15/€20, which takes just 20 minutes. You can catch the #100 bus back to Nice, which leaves every 15mins until 8pm.
- Eze – Eze is an iconic, picturesque French village perched on top of a steep mountain and is also really easy to get to from Nice. You’ll want to catch either the #112 bus towards Monte Carlo or #82 bus towards Plateau de la Justice from the Max Barel bus stop. The bus will take around half an hour each way. Side note, you can check out both Eze and Monaco in the same day – just get back on the #112 bus towards Monte Carlo in Eze and you’ll be in Monaco in about 10mins.
- Cannes – You can take the #200 bus from rue Verdun/Albert 1ere bus stop (located between the Meridian Hotel and the start of the Promenade du Paillon gardens). While definitely the cheapest option for reaching Cannes, the bus trip will take about 2 hours each way (ouch)! If you’re after a quicker journey and have a few extra euros to space, you can book a train online for €6 each way that will only take half an hour.
- St Tropez – Definitely not a budget-friendly day trip, but just so you know all your day-trippin’ options, St Tropez is also accessible from Nice via boat. The boat trip is a €63 round trip and takes 2.5hrs to reach St Tropez. While it’s an expensive mode of transport, it’s actually quite a bargain when you consider the amazing coastal cruise that’s included!
Useful phrases
I’ll be honest, I knew next to no French before I visited Nice so I tried to brush up on some super basic phrases before my visit. I always like to try and learn a little of the language when I’m travelling in a new country, as I feel it shows respect and appreciation for the culture/people (mustering up the courage to actually speak it is a whole other ball game, but I’m working on it). These are the phrases I found most helpful…
- Bonjour – hello
- Merci – thank you
- Au revoiir – goodbye
- Si vois plait (si vu play) – please
- Une table pour un/deux/trois/quatre – a table for one/two/three/four (etc, etc, etc)
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