Nice City Tours

If your next trip in France will take you to beautiful Nice, congratulations! Considered the capital of the South Coast of France, there are plenty of things to see, do and enjoy. Nice is a favourite holiday destination for the French and also for the millions of tourists who visit this country year after year.

The city is famous for its year-round warm weather, beautiful old town and excellent food and drink; consequently the options for excursions in Nice are plentiful and diverse. Here is a list of some popular alternatives in the hope that on your next holiday you can include as many of them as possible in your itinerary.

Bon voyage!

No visit to Nice would be complete without a stroll through the streets of its beautiful old town. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nice's streets and monuments are full of significant historical events.

The tour is offered by numerous local companies in an educational and entertaining format; so that any traveller exploring the city for the first time will feel involved and moved by its history.

Please note that the specific details of the itinerary may vary slightly depending on the company you ultimately hire for the experience. However, most local companies include the following monuments or sights in their itinerary: Place du Palais de Justice, Les Ponchettes, La Opera de Nice, the Promenade des Anglais promenade; the Art Deco masterpiece Casino Du Palais and more.

This tour format is usually conducted in several languages and in small groups of approximately 8 participants. The group is accompanied at all times by a certified expert guide, usually an art historian. It is the perfect tour to do at any time of the year, even if you decide to visit Nice at Christmas time during the winter holidays.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour: Available from €40 per participant.
• Duration: Varies depending on the company you hire and the itinerary, it usually takes around 3 hours to complete the experience.
• Advantages of this option: It is an economical and traditional tour option that allows you to really enjoy the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is one of the most in-demand tours in Nice, if you are travelling during peak tourist seasons advance booking is almost mandatory to ensure availability.

The gastronomic tour experience in Nice is led by an expert and certified local guide. Small groups of travellers are organised in order to offer a closer and more personalised service.

The guide will take participants through a variety of popular commercial establishments to sample the best of traditional Nice and Mediterranean gastronomy. The tour still allows you to get to know the city but with a different vision, more focused on discovering the best places to eat in Nice.

The gastronomy of the South of France is characterised by a mixture of Italian and French influences. On this tour be prepared to enjoy local wines, amazing cheeses, dried meats, sauces and pâtés, fruit vinegars and much more. On the confectionery side of things, there are pastries and chocolates, as well as homemade custard ice cream.

Travellers with allergies or special dietary requirements should contact the tour company and communicate these details so that a specific menu can be designed for them.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour: Around €90 per participant. The price usually includes various tasting dishes.
• Duration: You should reserve about 4 hours of your itinerary for this excursion.
• Advantages of this option: It is a good alternative to do around lunch or dinner time.
• Disadvantages of this option: The main disadvantage of this alternative is the price, it is one of the most expensive city tours in Nice.

Another popular way to explore the highlights of the Capital of the South is on a bike or Segway tour of Nice. These vehicles allow you to cover long distances in a short time so you can get a good overview of Nice in just a few hours of exploration; it's a great alternative if you're in Nice in the summer or during good weather.

The experience is one of the most popular adventures for visitors, which is why many local companies offer the experience in small groups of just a few participants. You'll see the beautiful architecture of the Bellé Epoque, pass the trendiest bars, walk along the Promenade des Anglais and much more, all while listening to the most exciting local stories.

Depending on the company you hire, this adventure is usually offered in two different formats: a bike tour or a segway tour, both in very similar price ranges. The choice of one or the other will depend mainly on the traveller's tastes.

It is a way to explore the highlights of Nice in a short tour. Highly recommended for those travelling friends who are going to the city for a short period of time, for example 3 days to get to know Nice.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour: The price to pay is approximately €35 per participant. This price includes all the necessary equipment for the experience and the guide.
• Duration: Varies depending on the company you hire, you will need to book around 2 to 3 hours to do this tour.
• Advantages of this option: It's a quick and easy way to get to know the city, as well as being economical.
• Disadvantages of this option: Segway tours tend to have age restrictions. Many companies do not allow children under the age of 10 to participate.

Going to Nice to enjoy the city's vibrant nightlife is one of the best things to do once the sun goes down. As a result, many local companies organise the famouspub crawls; a sightseeing tour that takes in the area's most popular entertainment venues.

Bear in mind that the itinerary of places to visit will depend largely on the company you hire. These companies organise the adventure in small groups, who accompanied by an expert local guide will visit between 3 and 5 establishments, where they are greeted with a welcome drink.

Although the bars and nightclubs may vary according to the tour, popular areas in Nice for nightlife include the following: the bars of the Old Town, those on the Promenade des Anglais, around Place Masséna, around Place Rossetti, Quai des Etats Unis andothers.

In the establishments you will have the opportunity to dance and enjoy yourself, as well as to meet other intrepid travellers like yourself. At the end of the tour you will always have the option to enjoy the dance floor with the new friends you are sure to make along the way.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour: The price to pay is usually around €30 per participant.
• Duration: The duration of this tour is approximately 4 to 5 hours and takes place at the end of the day.
• Advantages of this option: One of the best ways to party in Nice and meet other travellers.
• Disadvantages of this option: Most tours only include a few welcome drinks, the rest of the drinks will have to be paid for with your money and in Nice's main nightclubs the price is usually high.

Those of you who are passionate about photography will find this tour format one of the best experiences to do in the city. Can you imagine discovering Nice through the lens of your camera? You can do so, while an expert guide in local history and architecture takes you through the highlights of the city.

This photo tour consists of a photography class, ideal for training your skills, and can be taken by both beginners and advanced photographers. At the beginning of the tour the guide chooses a theme (linked to a colour, architecture, street art, etc.) and as a game you and your companions will have to capture images that convey that theme.

Please note that although the tour caters for all levels, some basic knowledge of photography and handling of photographic equipment is necessary. Cameras and tripods are not included, so you will need to bring your favourite camera and accessories.

The guide in charge of the experience is also an experienced urban photographer, so you can expect to learn about composition, colours, light management and other topics.

Details of interest

• Price of the tour: around €70 per participant; the tour is organised in small groups of maximum 6 participants.
• Duration: The tour takes about 2 hours to complete, in this time numerous photo stops around Nice are contemplated.
• Advantages of this option: It is a different way of sightseeing around the city, away from the more conventional lines.
• Disadvantages of this option: Requires specialised knowledge and equipment to participate.

When it comes to discovering new destinations, both alternatives have notable advantages and disadvantages. Here are the main ones, so that you can choose the best alternative according to your needs.

Advantages of a guided tour of Nice...

Hiring a tour or several organised tours is an excellent alternative that allows travellers to save planning time before their holidays; your priority will be to relax at your destination without the worry of a detailed travel itinerary and last minute unforeseen events.

While organised tours are an excellent alternative for first-time visitors to Nice, don't forget that such excursions are a great way to meet other adventurous travellers like yourself.

Advantages of touring Nice on my own...

Self-guided travellers, on the other hand, have the most obvious advantage of all: independent travel is in most cases cheaper than paying for a tour.

This alternative is also recommended for travellers whose stay in the South of France allows them to stay for several weeks, as they have time to explore and the opportunity to go at their own pace.

When the time comes to talk about tours in Nice, it is almost impossible to avoid thinking about the cities, natural attractions or other tourist attractions in this part of the country.

So, taking into account the great beauty and graceful climate of the South of France, my recommendations for tours to do from Nice include the following.

Get to know Provence.

French Provence is a land full of good wine, good food, cultural traditions and history. There are several ancient cities and villages to explore, beautiful beaches and colourful markets.

You can experience Provence from Nice on a day tour as numerous local companies offer this experience in multiple formats.

Get to know the Gorges du Verdon

Departing from Nice you can experience one of the most impressive natural landscapes in Europe: the Gorges du Verdon canyon.

Visiting the Gorges du Verdon from the city is a favourite activity for tourists and locals alike looking for cool, clear waters to take a dip in during the summer.

Explore the French Riviera

The area of France's coastline that interacts with the Mediterranean Sea is called the French Riviera and includes cities such as Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco and Èze and many more.

It is possible to see the French Riviera from Nice on a short trip, as many local companies organise tours that take travellers to the most popular towns. You'll see the beautiful architecture, swim in the fabulous beaches and finally enjoy the fabulous food.