Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has lured artists, sailors, and dreamers for centuries. Along its coastline, Nice shines with Belle Époque facades, palm-lined boulevards, and a daily market perfumed by lavender and basil. The city’s roots stretch back to the Greeks of Massalia and the House of Savoy; its modern soul is all Riviera ease—promenades at golden hour and long lunches that drift into the afternoon.

Over three days, you’ll savor Nice’s Vieux Ville (Old Town), climb to Castle Hill for sweeping sea views, and nibble through the Cours Saleya flower-and-produce market. Day trips are effortless: hilltop Èze offers cobbled lanes and perfume ateliers, while Antibes pairs rampart walks with the Picasso Museum and a classic Provençal market. Trains and buses are frequent and inexpensive, so you can travel light and often.

Practical notes: pack comfortable shoes for stairs and stone lanes; carry a refillable bottle (fountains are common); and watch for pickpockets in crowded markets. Beach pebbles in Nice favor water shoes; summers are busy (reserve dining ahead), and winter is mild with clear light ideal for photography. For intercity transport in Europe, compare schedules on Omio trains and Omio buses.

Nice

Nice is the French Riviera’s gentle showpiece: the curve of the Baie des Anges, pastel shutters in Old Town, and a museum scene that swings from Matisse and Chagall to contemporary installations at MAMAC. It’s also deeply tasty—think chickpea socca, pan bagnat tuna sandwiches, and icy scoops from Fenocchio’s famous gelateria.

• Top sights: Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill (Colline du Château), Cours Saleya Market, Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, Matisse Museum, Chagall National Museum.
• Best bites: Socca at Chez Pipo; Niçoise small plates at Le Bistrot d’Antoine or Le Comptoir du Marché; seafood towers at Café de Turin; creative Mediterranean plates at Peixes.
• Fun fact: Socca, a wood-fired chickpea pancake, was the original fast food for dockworkers. Today, locals still dust it with black pepper and eat it burning hot.

Where to stay (central + beach access): Browse apartments near the Old Town or Promenade des Anglais on VRBO Nice, or compare boutique and beachfront hotels on Hotels.com Nice. Aim for Vieux Nice, Carré d’Or, or the seafront for walkability.

How to get to Nice: Fly into NCE (Nice Côte d’Azur). Compare routes and prices on Omio flights. From Paris, the TGV INOUI to Nice-Ville takes ~5h40–6h45 (from ~€39 if booked early); check times on Omio trains. Tram Line 2 runs NCE ⇄ Jean Médecin in ~25 minutes (~€1.70).

Day 1 — Nice Old Town, Market Tastes, and Castle Hill Sunset

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, grab a light brunch at Marinette Kitchen (fluffy pancakes, eggs, and proper cappuccinos) or Paper Plane (vegetarian bowls and excellent espresso). Drop bags at your lodging.

Afternoon: Dive into Cours Saleya Market (Tue–Sun for flowers/produce; Mon antiques). Snack your way through: try socca and pissaladière at Chez Thérésa or detour to Chez Pipo for the city’s cult-favorite socca, blistered at the edges and peppery. Wander Vieux Nice’s lanes—Rue du Collet and Rue de la Préfecture—then step into the cool nave of Sainte-Réparate Cathedral.

Evening: Climb or elevator up to Castle Hill for Riviera panoramas as the light turns honey-gold. Dinner at Le Bistrot d’Antoine (Niçois classics, chalkboard menu) or Peixes (seafood with zest—think ceviche and octopus). Gelato nightcap at Fenocchio (try thyme or olive flavors), then drinks at Movida overlooking the surf or a glass at historic wine cellar Cave Bianchi 1860.

Day 2 — Hilltop Èze and Monaco, Riviera Glamor by Train/Bus

Morning: Coffee and a croissant at Jeannot in Vieux Nice. Take Bus 82/112 (Lignes d’Azur; ~40–50 minutes, ~€1.70) to Èze Village, a medieval aerie perched over the sea. Wander flower-draped lanes to the Jardin Exotique for cinematic cliff views, and pop into Fragonard or Galimard for a short perfume mini-tour. Hikers can take the Nietzsche Path down to Èze-sur-Mer (steep; 45–60 minutes).

Afternoon: Ride the TER train from Èze-sur-Mer to Monaco (~10 minutes, ~€3–€5; check Omio trains). Stroll the Port, climb to the Rock for the Prince’s Palace and lanes of Monaco-Ville, or visit the Oceanographic Museum. For lunch, book La Salière in Fontvieille (Italian Riviera comfort) or stay in Èze for terrace views at Le Pinocchio (rustic, friendly).

Evening: Return to Nice by TER (~20–25 minutes). Treat yourself at Michelin-starred JAN (South African–Riviera tasting; reserve well ahead) or go casual at Le Comptoir du Marché (market-driven French plates). Finish with a cocktail at Le Relais, the Negresco’s glossy bar with live piano and gilded Belle Époque ambience.

Day 3 — Antibes Art and Ramparts, Promenade Farewell

Morning: TER train to Antibes (~20 minutes from Nice-Ville; ~€3–€7; see Omio trains). Browse the Marché Provençal for goat’s cheeses, olives, and tapenades, then tour the Picasso Museum inside the Grimaldi Château—Picasso worked here in 1946, leaving paintings and ceramics brimming with Riviera color. Walk the ramparts for harbor views and bobbing superyachts.

Afternoon: Head back to Nice for a last seaside stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. Lunch options: classic seafood at Café de Turin (oysters and bulots), a pan bagnat from Lou Pan Bagnat to eat on the pebbles, or wood-fired pizza at Les Amoureux near the Port. Pick up almond calissons or candied fruit at Auer as edible souvenirs.

Evening: If time allows before your afternoon departure, slip into the Chagall National Museum (his Biblical Message cycle glows with Mediterranean light). To reach NCE, take Tram Line 2 (~25 minutes from Jean Médecin; ~€1.70). For longer travel, compare schedules and fares on Omio trains and Omio flights.

Good-to-know extras: Beach clubs resume full service late spring through early fall; public beaches are always open. Monday is antiques day at Cours Saleya rather than food; plan tastings Tue–Sun. A 24-hour Lignes d’Azur pass (~€5) is handy if you’re zigzagging trams and buses.

Optional Add‑On If You’re Routing via Paris (Viator Picks)

If your international flight connects through Paris, consider padding your trip by a half-day or evening. These high‑rating experiences pair well with a Provençal escape:

• Paris Seine River Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary by Bateaux Parisiens

  

  Glide past Île de la Cité, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower on a relaxed 1-hour cruise—easy to slot in before or after dinner.

• Montmartre or Notre Dame Gourmet Food Tour with 7+ Dishes & Wines

  

  Taste through Parisian boulangeries, fromageries, and wine—an indulgent prelude to the Mediterranean flavors awaiting in Nice.

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift

  

  Cap a Paris stopover with sky‑high views before dashing south to the Riviera sun.

Local dining short list (save for later): Breakfast and coffee at Marinette Kitchen, Paper Plane, or Brulerie des Cafés Indiens; casual lunches at Chez Pipo (socca), Lou Pilha Leva (street‑style Niçois), or Peixes; dinners at Le Bistrot d’Antoine, Le Comptoir du Marché, La Petite Maison (classic Riviera), or JAN for a memorable splurge.

In three days, you’ll capture the Riviera’s essence: market mornings, cliffside villages, a sea that changes from cobalt to silver by the hour, and plates that hum with olive oil and lemon. Nice makes an ideal base, with fast trains and buses for effortless day trips and a culinary scene that rewards curiosity. You’ll leave plotting your return—perhaps with a Mistral‑cooled rosé to open when the mood turns Mediterranean at home.