10 Things to Do in Nice in Summer

If you haven't yet decided when to travel to Nice, you should be aware that summer is the ideal time of year to do so. Being close to the sea, Nice is known for its luxurious beaches and resorts, as well as a host of activities that make the most of the good weather.

That's why, in addition to all the attractions that you can find in Nice on a regular basis, in summer you can join festivals, water activities or simply relax on the beaches.

If you like jazz and good music, you can't miss this event, which has been held every summer in Nice since 1971. Although it was first organised in 1948 with the participation of musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhard, it took some 23 years for it to be held again. Since then it has been a fixture of the city's summer.

Today, it is one of the most renowned music festivals in Europe, having featured artists such as Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Harbie Hancoock and many others.

Although the festival originally only featured musicians from the jazz scene, in recent years it has been changing its aesthetic to include other musical genres. If you look at the line-up of previous editions you can find artists from all genres: jazz, funk, rock, reggae, indie and even rhythm & blues.

Because of this, Jazz Music Festivals are a great opportunity to broaden your musical tastes.

It is usually organised in the second half of July and the location varies from year to year. Previous events have been held at the Jardinsde Cimiez, the site of an ancient Roman amphitheatre.

Useful facts

• When: Third week of July
• Duration: Between 3 and 5 days
• Where: To be confirmed, usually held at Jardin du Monastère de Cimiez and Place Masséna
• Prices: The 5-day pass costs approximately 180 euros. A ticket for any day costs approximately 50 Euros.

If you've come to Nice for fun and beach parties, then I recommend you attend the Crossover Music Festival. This festival brings together the best DJs and artists from the house, experimental electronic music and psytrance scene.

The festival is usually held in late August and early September, so keep an eye out for the dates as tickets sell like hot cakes.

The event usually lasts between 3 and 5 days, during which DJs and artists from all over the world will make you dance and enjoy their shows for hours.

The event is held simultaneously on the city's most select beaches, stages and clubs. It aims to equally represent both emerging artists and the most acclaimed of the scene.

Also during the first days of August, the Plages Electroniques is usually organised in nearby Cannes. While Cannes is famous for its independent film festival in May, the Plages Electroniques is no less popular.

I also recommend that you consider a trip to Cannes from Nice, as it is only 40 kilometres from Nice, so you can enjoy both cities.

If you are a fan of competitive sports, a highly trained athlete or would like to see how many people give 100% to reach the finish line, the Ironman is an ideal choice for a summer visit to Nice.

This famous triathlon is organised every year in the last week of June and attracts athletes from all over the world. While some seek glory and a new record, the demands of this competition are such that most compete to push their own limits and simply make it to the finish line.

Like all triathlons, the event is extremely difficult and is divided into 3 sections: It starts with a 4km swim in the Bay of Angels, then a 180km bike ride around the Côte d'Azur and finally a 42km run for an epic finish on the Promenade des Anglais, facing the Mediterranean.

In case you prefer to watch rather than race, I recommend that you keep an eye on the arrival date and time. This will allow you time to reserve a spot near the finish line to join in the winners' festivities.

If you are interested in this type of sporting event, you can participate or be a spectator at the Prom'Swim. This open water swimming race is organised every year in the last days of summer, in mid-September.

This competition consists of swimming the entire length of the "Baie des Anges" and has the advantage of having many categories so that everyone is encouraged to participate. The 7 categories to participate are:

• 500 metres: competition for children
• 500 metres relay race (3 relays)
• Individual races (1, 3, 5 or 10 km)
• 10 km relay (3.3 km each)

This race is a very fun event, both for those who compete and for those who watch from the beach. During the competition you can enjoy the fast-paced warm-up activities, attend the beginner courses to learn how to swim in open water and watch the prize giving.

This part is the most fun and takes place on the last day of the competition, when a spectacular beach party is held, with plenty of food, music and inflatable games for the little ones.

Useful facts

• When: Second weekend in September
• Where: Promenade des Anglais
• Prices: Between approximately 10 and 60 euros, depending on the category you sign up for.

If you like sea tours or want to see the splendour of the Côte d'Azur from the Mediterranean, I recommend you consider this fantastic option.

Some tour companies offer day tours of the French Riviera from Nice, either by road or on board a cruise ship. One of the advantages of doing the tour in summer is that the weather is ideal for all the activities you can do on board.

You can snorkel to discover the different underwater species thanks to the turquoise colour of the water, discover hidden beaches and coves, swim in the warm waters of the Baie des Anges or simply sunbathe from the deck of the boat.

If you choose the option of a sailing boat, this is an ideal activity if you have travelled in a large group, as the boat has space for 6 to 12 people. As the sailing boat is not large, it does not have a restaurant, so I recommend that you pack food and drink.

On the other hand, if you opt for a sightseeing cruise, you will have the opportunity to see the most beautiful sights of the coastal towns in the area in a very relaxed way.

The Verdon Gorge is an ideal option to get to know the incredible geography of the region: with elevations of up to 700 metres, this river canyon of almost 25 kilometres in length is an ideal option for lovers of adventure sports and hiking.

This trip also offers the possibility of visiting the beautiful lake of Sainte-Croix, where you can swim in its turquoise waters, paddle, kayak and do many other water sports. It also has some beautiful lakeside beaches to relax on after any hike.

I recommend that you visit the Verdon Gorge in summer as this is the time when all the wild flowers in the area are in bloom, and especially the lavender fields are in full colour.

Useful facts

• How to get there I recommend that you book a tour for this activity, as although it is about 150 kilometres from Nice, there is no bus or train that will take you directly. Most will take you as far as the village of Castellane, where you'll have to take a taxi. This can take up to 4 hours.
• When is the best time to visit: You can do this walk at any time of the year, but I recommend that you go between May and June, when you can enjoy great weather without the crowds of tourists visiting during the summer.
• Bring sunscreen: Remember that this area of France is very sunny and during the whole walk you won't have much shade, so sunscreen is essential to protect your skin.

If you are the type of person who thinks of travelling to relax and enjoy a quiet day of sand, sun and sea, Nice has more than 7 kilometres of beaches to choose from and summer is the best season to enjoy them.

If you choose to spend three days in Nice, spending a few hours simply relaxing on the beach is always the best option.

You may have heard that this city was the summer resort of choice for the aristocracy of England and the rest of Europe. Not only is the water in the bay calm, turquoise and refreshing, but the length of the beach resorts means it's always a peaceful place to relax.

The city has a wide range of beaches to choose from, from very quiet public beaches to more exclusive private beaches, so you can choose the option you prefer. The best known beaches are:

• Playa Carras: One of the longest beaches in the Western sector, it is 350 metres long and has access for disabled people. It has sand courts for playing beach volleyball and places to rent jet skis
• Playa del Centenario: This is the beach next to Carras. It has showers to wash up and mattresses to rent in case the pebbles bother you. Due to its location it does not have a lot of waves and usually has a blue flag all summer.
• Lenval Beach: It is one of the quietest public beaches due to its location. It is located opposite the Casino Ruhl and next to the beautiful Albert 1 Garden.

Do you like fireworks and have you ever witnessed an international fireworks festival? Then this is your chance.

Cannes and Nice, being neighbouring cities, are only 45 minutes away by train or bus. This makes any major event taking place in the neighbouring city very easy to reach from Nice.

In this case, the Cannes Fireworks Festival isa perfect opportunity to enjoy a beautiful summer evening.

This Pyrotechnic Art Festival brings together the best fireworks artists in the world. It has been organised since 1998 on the Croisette beach and you can watch it the last weekend of July and the first two weekends of August.

While it is more common to see fireworks at events or celebrations, this type of festival is completely different. The fireworks are part of a choreography of colours and sounds, reflected in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The height of the fireworks is so great that they can not only be perfectly observed from the 800-metre long beach, but also from boats sailing in the bay.

The 21st of June, as well as the beginning of summer in France, is celebrated with one of the most interesting events thanks to the world famous "Fete de la Musique".

Officially created in 1981 by Jack Lang, the French Minister of Culture, this festival aims to democratise and share music in all its styles, free of charge for everyone.

Nice is an ideal city to celebrate Muisca Day, as you'll see musicians gathering to play in every street, as well as people dancing and taking turns to join in. In addition, the city has been organising free festivals with renowned artists to promote French culture for several years.

The city's restaurants and bars take their tables out onto the streets to make the party even more festive. Don't miss a walk along the beaches along the Promenade des Anglais, where you can dance or improvise with an instrument in the famous musicians' rounds.

I suggest you also stop by the Place Masséna, Nice's main square in the old part of the city. There is always an important event organised here where you will find musicians of all genres all day long and respecting the spirit of this festivity. Admission is absolutely free.

Every 14th of July is a holiday in France, as it is the bank holidays and Nice is no exception. This day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

Since 1880 it has been a bank holiday and activities are held to celebrate the nation of France.

In Nice the celebration usually takes place on the Promenade des Anglais, where parades and street concerts are held throughout the day. You can also find stands and activities for the whole family in Place Masséna.

At night the stage is usually the summer night sky of the Baie des Anglais, where you can watch a beautiful fireworks display.

While Nice's location means it can be visited at any time of the year, summer is an excellent choice for several reasons.

Firstly, although the temperatures are at their highest during this time of year, they are not too hot thanks to its proximity to the sea. Moreover, being surrounded by public beaches, any time is the perfect time to cool off in the waters of the Baie des Anges.

As if that wasn't enough, Nice has a fairly low cloud cover for the region and it drops even lower in the summer. This means that the months of June, July and August have very little rainfall: on average it is estimated that it rains between 1 or 2 days per month.

Finally, summer is when you can find the most hours of sunlight, which is ideal for making the most of your holidays. The sun usually rises between 6 and 7 in the morning, perfect if you are a person who likes to wake up early.

The sun sets between 8 and 9 in the evening, so you'll have plenty of time to stroll or relax on the beach.

Prices during the summer may be a little higher than during the rest of the year. This is because it is a popular holiday destination for many Europeans, especially from southern and central France, as well as northern Italy.

For example, the cheapest accommodation can be found near the oldest part of the city. This is because you often have to climb some stairs to get to them, as they are located in an elevated part of the city. In contrast, the most expensive neighbourhoods to rent in are near the Promenade des Anglais and the Carre d'Or.

While prices in summer are higher than usual, the good thing about Nice is that you will be spoilt for choice. This will give you the possibility to tailor your holiday to suit your budget.