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Albert I Garden (Le Jardin Albert 1er), located in the heart of Nice, is a three-hectare park that connects Masséna Square (Place Masséna) to the Walkway of the English (Promenade des Anglais). Created in 1852, it is one of the oldest public gardens in Nice and has a rich history. The park is adorned with lush lawns, fountains, art pieces, and a variety of plant species, making it a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to bask in the sun.

At the southern entrance of the park stands a magnificent statue that has been there since 1896. The statue, which depicts a winged Victory, commemorates the accession of the County of Nice to France. Over the years, many other monuments have been erected within the park, including the beautiful Bandstand, the impressive Arc 115º5 sculpture by Bernar Venet, and the enchanting Fountain of the Three Graces.

The Albert I Garden hosts many cultural events throughout the year, with the Théâtre de Verdure, inaugurated in 1946, being the focal point. Some of the popular events that take place at the park include the Book Festival, the Côte d'Azur Garden Festival, and numerous concerts. However, the most sought-after event is the Nice Jazz Festival, held in the park since 2011.

In the center of the park, the Greek-inspired Théâtre de Verdure adds a magical dimension to the garden. Built in 1946, the theater is surrounded by a stone wall at the back of the stage, overhung by two statues of antique style and amphitheater steps. The Tragedy and The Dance, two monumental statues sculpted by French artist Victor Nicolas, stand tall within the theater, adding to its charm.

In the late 1700s, English aristocrats developed a fondness for the city of Nice, spending their winters along the shore. During the harsh winter of 1820, English visitors found themselves surrounded by a wave of beggars. The solution? Build a walkway along the seashore—funded by the Anglican Church. A brilliant idea that benefited everyone.

The city leaders took the plan further, greatly expanding its scope. After Nice was annexed by France in 1860, the “Promenade Path” became known as the English Promenade. Today, locals simply call it La Prom, and it remains a favourite spot for walkers, families, skateboarders, and cyclists.

The Promenade stretches for about four miles around the Bay of Angels”. On the seaside, private and public beaches stand side by side, often crowded during summer months. Don’t be surprised if you have to share your patch of sand. Above the coastline, in the hills of Nice, former aristocratic villas have been transformed into grand hotels and museums.

Tip:
Restaurants along the seafront tend to be more expensive. For a more authentic experience, try the traditional eateries a little farther inland. One of the most vibrant stretches lies between Boulevard Gambetta and the Old Town, where you’ll find the grand Belle Époque hotels, elegant residences, and plenty to explore.

The Fountain of the Sun (Fontaine du Soleil) is undoubtedly one of the most iconic landmarks in Nice. Located at the heart of Massena Square, the fountain is a popular tourist spot and a must-visit for anyone who finds themselves in the vicinity.

This impressive fountain features a magnificent statue of Apollo, the god of the sun, who stands tall and proud at the center of the sculpture. The statue of Apollo is completely naked, symbolizing the strength and beauty of the sun. The statue of Apollo was originally installed in 1956, the same year that the fountain was inaugurated. It was removed in 1970, but has since been restored and can be seen in its entirety today.

The fountain also features five bronze statues that represent planets - Earth, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn. These statues were created by French sculptor Alfred Janniot and are positioned around the statue of Apollo in a circular formation, symbolizing the solar system.

The Fountain of the Sun is a truly breathtaking work of art, and its location in Massena Square only adds to its beauty. The square is a bustling hub of activity, with street performers, vendors, and locals all coming together to create a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

The Statue Massena is a prominent landmark in Nice and is included in the Paillon Promenade (Promenade du Paillon). It was created by the French sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. The bronze statue depicts Marshal André Masséna during the battle of Essling, on the Danube. Masséna is standing in his full uniform of a Marshal of France, bareheaded, with his right foot on a cannon thrown to the ground. He makes an imperative gesture with his right hand and squeezes the hilt of his sword with his left hand.

The statue's base features several bronze sculptures, including a young woman personifying Victory or History, holding a saber in her left hand and engraving Masséna's name on a medallion with her right hand. On the left side, a bronze bas-relief represents Masséna on horseback during the Battle of Zurich, and on the right, a second bas-relief represents the Marshal during the siege of Genoa.

The statue was inaugurated on August 15, 1869, which was Saint Napoleon Day, a national holiday of the Second Empire, and the year of the centenary of the birth of Napoleon I. The monument signifies Nice's attachment to France and the Second Empire.

The Statue Massena was listed as a historical monument in 2009, and it continues to be a significant attraction in Nice, drawing visitors from all over the world to admire its beauty and pay homage to Marshal André Masséna.

The charming square known as the Courthouse Square lies quietly yet prominently between the bustling pedestrian lanes and the inviting cafés of the city. Its name is derived from the Courthouse of Nice, which has stood since the early 1890s overlooking the square. Built between 1890 and 1892, this neoclassical-style edifice features an imposing façade and broad staircase that contribute significantly to the character of the space.

The surrounding setting is also noteworthy: the square is flanked by restaurant terraces and lies just a short stroll from the picturesque flower and produce market at Cours Saleya as well as the elegant shopping zone along Avenue Jean Médecin. One of the special features of the square is its Saturday market. On the first and third Saturdays of each month, you’ll find stalls selling vintage books, rare editions, art prints and postcards.

From a tourist's perspective, the square works well as a strategic “breather” between major sights. The square’s colourful pavement, coupled with the neoclassical architecture of the court building, make for a relaxed yet scenic stop.

A trip to Nice absolutely must include a stroll around the Cours Saleya Markets. This lively stretch once served as the city’s main square, but today it’s an open-air market bursting with colour, fragrance, and energy. The sights, sounds, smells, and friendly bustle make it one of the highlights of any visit.

Every Monday morning, the area transforms into an antique market where you can hunt for the perfect piece of Art Deco design or a one-of-a-kind souvenir. From Tuesday through Sunday, the market is devoted to flowers and seasonal produce. The selection changes with the time of year, but everything sold here is fresh and full of Mediterranean flavour.

If your accommodation includes a kitchen, don’t miss the fresh fish stalls — the taste of fish caught just hours before is incomparable, especially when paired with local herbs, bread, and wine.

During summer evenings, the Cours Saleya becomes a craft market. You can shop for flowers, fruit, cheese, olives, and bread in the morning, then return after sunset to browse handmade jewellery, art, and souvenirs. The surrounding cafés and restaurants make it easy to linger — the perfect way to spend a summer day in Nice.

For early birds, this market is a delight. Bring reusable bags for your purchases, along with small bills and coins — the vendors are busy and often prefer quick transactions.

Tip: Be there around noon. You’ll hear the daily cannon fired — a long-standing tradition that began with the Duke of Nizza, who used it as a reminder for his shop-loving wife to come home for lunch.

The Vieux Nice, also known as the Old Town, is in many respects the most colorful area in the whole city. There are lots of small streets that can be wondered for a very long time, most of which end in a shop, or a great place to eat, or an art exhibit. There are lots of pastels that have been used in the paint. Just to make things even more romantic in design, the locals still hang their laundry out across the street on long clotheslines.

Part of the allure of the area comes from the fact that this once was a very poor part of town, so you really get to see a piece of the real city here. There are two main attractions you will also want to check out: the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate (named after the saint of the town) and the famous Fenocchio ice-cream parlor.

You may also want to visit the Chapelle del’Annonciation, home of a famous local museum that has been built inside an exquisite old 17th-century space. Along the whole way, you will find many good cafés and coffee shops, along with places to buy lots of souvenirs. The southern end of the Old Town is home to the Cours Saleya, which is a marketplace well known for its flowers, fish and produce.

Why You Should Visit:
Almost all aspects of this historic and characterful Old Town are just superb!
Not only is it classically French but also has some unique and/or idiosyncratic features such as in Place Garribaldi.
You can spend more than a few days strolling around and visiting whichever bars take your fancy…

Tip:
It's highly likely that you'll have to book in your preferred choice(s) as the bars and restaurants throughout the area are busy during most of the evening.
Otherwise, do not plan a lot or any of it! Just immerse yourself and indulge.

The Saint Reparate Cathedral is one of the most interesting and beautiful cathedrals in Nice. It sits on the site of a small church called Saint Mary of the Castle that dates back circa 1049. The current structure was built in the middle 17th century, and dedicated in 1699. The building is magnificent and contains 10 chapels maintained by private families, and three organs.

The name comes from a young Palestinian boy who was martyred for his Christian faith. Saint Reparate was 15 when he was beheaded and his body set adrift in a small vessel. According to legend, the boat floated up to the shores of Nice and he is now buried at the cathedral.

There have been additions over the years; the Baroque facade was added in the early 1800s. This hides the original cupola which is still there, but a bit hard to see. However, the cupola is covered in colored tiles and is beautiful standing guard over the transept.

The inside also carries on the Baroque theme with plentiful use of marble and gold. The barrel ceilings only add to the huge splendor of the cathedral which is built in the style of the Latin cross. This is definitely a must see when in Nice.

If you’re looking for a place to spend a leisurely day simply watching the world go by, head to the famous Rossetti Square. This charming public square is reached by several winding streets of the Old Town, each leading into a lively open space centred around a beautiful Baroque-style fountain.

The surrounding buildings are centuries old, their façades slightly tilted with age, giving the square its distinctive old-world charm. Look up and you’ll often see laundry strung across balconies — a touch of everyday life that adds to the atmosphere.

While you’re here, be sure to treat yourself to a scoop of artisanal ice cream from Fenocchio, a beloved local institution. And when it’s time to sit down for a meal, take your pick from one of the inviting cafés or restaurants bordering the square. Bon appétit!

Church

Castle Hill is a must see with its breathtaking views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. This area is where Nice was founded in the third century BCE. From high on the hill a trading post was established and then a defensive post was maintained. A large wall was built around the city only to be torn down in the early 1700s.

Don’t go to the hill expecting to see the “Castle”, as a few ruins still remain but that is all. The area is still intriguing nonetheless. Aside from the exquisite views, there is a beautiful park, the Naval Museum, stepping stones that depict the Odyssey by Homer and a beautiful old cemetery filled with gorgeous headstones.

There is also a man-made waterfall along the way, which sometimes gets shutoff in the late afternoon, so be sure to visit early if you want to see it. There are plenty of benches around the area so take a few minutes to revel in the Mediterranean splendor of the park. This is a great place to pack a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon. There is a small cafe in the area too.

Getting to the hill can be accomplished several different ways depending upon time constraints and fitness. For those who like to walk, take the steps up to the observation platform. There are 213 steps but the view is spectacular along the way. For a fee, there is also an elevator or a motorized train. The train does not really allow for any wandering, so for those who like to stroll and look on their own schedule, take the steps or the elevator or a combination of the two.

Place Garibaldi, designed by architect Antoine Spinelli and completed in 1773, is one of the oldest and most distinguished squares in Nice. Conceived while the city was still under Sardinian rule, it served as the royal gateway along the route connecting Nice to Turin. Its harmonious proportions and classical layout make it a fine example of 18th-century urban design on the French Riviera.

The square is framed by elegant Baroque-style buildings, three storeys high, painted in warm shades of ochre and terracotta. Their graceful arcades and trompe-l’œil frescoes evoke both the Mediterranean light and the Italian influence of the House of Savoy. At its centre rises the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the celebrated general and native of Nice, who played a defining role in the unification of Italy. The statue, installed in 1891, shows Garibaldi standing proudly atop a pedestal adorned with coats of arms and lions.

Place Garibaldi is intersected by Jean Jaurès Boulevard, Republic Avenue, and Cassini Street, placing it at a crossroads between the old town and the modern city. Around the square stand several landmarks, including the Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher, the historic Turin Café, and the National Theater of Nice, each adding to the square’s rich architectural and cultural landscape.

Beneath the southern end of the square lie traces of Nice’s layered past. An archaeological crypt, accessible from Jean Jaurès Boulevard, reveals remnants of the 16th-century fortifications — including sections of the Pairoliere Tower, the Saint Sebastian Bastion, and the Augustins Suburb. These remains remind visitors that this elegant square once stood at the heart of the city’s defensive walls.

The Paillon Promenade (Promenade du Paillon) in Nice is a picturesque green corridor that connects the Walkway of the English (Promenade des Anglais) to the National Theater along the Avenue des Phocéens, the Boulevard Jean-Jaurès, the Avenue de Verdun, and the Avenue Félix-Faure. The promenade spans 1.2 km and follows the course of the Paillon-covered river. Designed by the landscaper Michel Péna, it features 1,600 trees, 6,000 shrubs, and 50,000 perennials.

The project to create the promenade began in 2010 with the demolition of the Nice bus station and its hanging gardens. It was inaugurated on October 26, 2013, and has since become a popular destination for locals and tourists, especially children who enjoy playing on the various attractions.

The Paillon Promenade includes a 3,000 square meters water mirror equipped with 128 jets and a 1,400 square meters mist plateau. It offers several scenarios to the spectators and is a sight to behold. Park regulations prohibit sitting on the lawns.

The Paillon Promenade is a part of the Green Belt (Coulée Verte), and in January 2020, the mayor of Nice presented a project to extend it. This extension will lead to the demolition of the National Theater of Nice and the Acropolis Congress Center (Palais des Congrès Acropolis) and will cover an area of just under 8 hectares. The extension is set to be completed by 2025.

Masséna Square, named in the honour of André Masséna, a Marshal of France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, was designed by Joseph Vernier in 1844. It is spacious and bordered by ochre-coloured Italianate buildings, palm trees, and stone pines.

It is a popular venue for concerts, public events, and festivals. The Carnival Parade, Bastille Day celebrations, and other traditional festivities are often held here. One of the square’s most distinctive features is the Open Sky Museum — seven sculpted Buddhist figures perched on high stilts above the square. At night, they glow in shifting colours, adding a dreamlike atmosphere.

The Open Sky Museum also includes a display of blue-green “fairy” lights arranged in a kind of poetic Morse code. Opposite the lights stands “Nine Oblique Lines”, a monumental sculpture created to mark the 150th anniversary of Nice’s annexation to France. Nearby, in the Sun Fountain, the god Apollo stands proudly, watching over the city — and the city, in turn, seems to watch him.

Beside the square lies the Paillon Promenade, a lush green park lined with palms and flowering shrubs. Its Mirror Fountain features jets of water that spray in rhythmic bursts from the ground, creating reflections on a polished stone base. Children — and often adults — delight in running through the misty water clouds.

Facing the Paillon Promenade is the Albert I Garden, a public park dating back to the 1880s. Stretching from Masséna Square toward the English Promenade and Old Nice, it hosts summer festivals, including the renowned Nice Jazz Festival. With its fountains, exotic flowers, and shaded paths, it offers a calm, green retreat.

The Notre Dame Church of Nice is the largest of the churches located in the city. It is also one of the main Old Town attractions, representing the first of the churches built in the area in a more modern architectural style. You can find the building on Avenue Jean Medecin, in the very heart of that part of Nice.

By far, most of the religious buildings in Nice have been designed in an Italian Baroque manner. So, in 1848, when the Basiliquee Notre-Dame was built, its very Gothic style represented something totally new. The design was created by the well known architect C. Lenormand. The style lends an old and majestic kind of look to this house of worship that transcends the building's actual age.

The Avenue Jean Medecin is a very busy street in old Nice; therefore, it shouldn't be too difficult for anyone to find things to do along its whole length, making a stop at the famous church a must-do for your trip.

Why You Should Visit:
The architecture is impressive, especially when the exterior is lit up at night and reflects in the glass windows next door and across the street. Serene, with beautiful rose windows and stained glass on the inside, it offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Nice.