Where to stay in Nice France – A detailed guide to hotels in Nice

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Mail

Are you planning a trip to France and want to know where to stay in Nice?

Last year, we spent a month in Nice, combining work with travel and taking the opportunity to explore the French Riviera. Nice is a great city to use as a base for travelling around the French Riviera with a great mix of city & beach, modern living with Old Town charm and just a short train from some amazing locations.

The great thing about taking a trip to Nice is that the city itself has so many things to do, while also giving you access to some of Europe’s most idyllic coastal locations.

This guide on where to stay in Nice will take you through a complete breakdown of the best areas to book a hotel in Nice, as well as providing some useful information to help you plan your trip. We will also provide you with a map of the locations we recommend to help you plan out your trip to France.

How to get to Nice City Centre from Nice Airport

Tram

This is the option we would recommend taking to get from the airport to Nice city centre. There are obvious drawbacks to taking the tram to Nice city centre. It can get very busy at peak times and there is not a lot of space for large luggage or prams.

If you can manage it though, the tram runs every 7-8 minutes and stops ay Jean Medecin, which is very close to Place Massena or else Port Lympia, which is also a popular area to stay. A return tram ticket costs only €10

Bus

The bus from the airport is a good cost efficient option to reach the city centre. It may also be more manageable depending on the bus you get as some will have storage compartments.

You will be looking for bus line 12, which departs from just outside Terminal 1, opposite the Sheraton hotel and has stops throughout the city centre.

Taxi

Unless you can’t avoid it, we would not recommend taking a taxi from Nice airport. The taxi journey is very short but still can cost upwards of €50. If you have large suitcases/baby equipment etc. it may be unavoidable but do try to avoid this option where possible.

Private Transfer

Naturally, a private transfer is more expensive but saves a lot of the hassle of navigating public transport etc. If you do want to arrange a transfer, we would suggest Welcome Pickups, who have really strong reviews for reliability online.

How many days do you need in Nice

In our experience, 3 days in Nice is enough time to see Nice and enjoy most of activities the city has to offer. Nice is a reasonably big city but is very easy to get around on public transport. Our 3 day Nice itinerary provides with a complete itinerary for spending 3 days in Nice, including recommendations for a day trip.

While 3 days is perfect for Nice alone, if you want to use Nice as base to explore the French Riviera more broadly, we would recommend spending at least 7 days in Nice. We cover off the best ways to use a week in the French Riviera in our 7 days in the French Riviera guide.

If you do only have 3 days in Nice and don’t know where to choose for a day trip, we have also put together a list of someone of the best day trips from Nice to help you decide. If you simply can not decide which day trip to do from Nice, then there also some great tours like this one that cover the French Riviera in a day. Make sure to book well in advance as these tours fill up fast, especially during the summer.

Where to stay in Nice

If you are planning a trip to Nice, the best way to choose where to stay in Nice is it’s proximity to the tram line. You don’t necessarily have to get a hotel in Old Town Nice or along the Promenade des Anglais to be really central.

The hotels in Nice that we recommend below are either in Nice city centre or else within a short walk of the tram stops to get you to the main attractions really quickly. In terms of the best areas to book a hotel in Nice, we would suggest either Old Town Nice, Jean Medecin area, Garibaldi, Promenade des Anglais or Port Lympia.

Below, we will breakdown our favourite places to book a hotel in Nice to make sure you get the most out of your time in the city.

Hotels on the Promenade des Anglais

When you go to choose a hotel in Nice, you will naturally be drawn to choosing one along the Promenade des Anglais. Choosing the promenade for your accommodation offers you stunning views of the picture perfect blue water as your backdrop so there is a clear appeal to this area.

That being said, the key thing to consider is that the Promenade des Anglais is 7km long so choosing a hotel here doesn’t necessarily mean you will be close to the action. When we talk about staying along the Promenade des Anglais, we are really focussing on two main areas: Carre D’or & Gambetta.

Carre D’or

Carre D’or is the most exclusive area in Nice and where you will choose if you are looking for the best luxury hotels in Nice. In this area, you will find some of Nice’s most iconic landmarks like Le Negresco Hotel and Villa Massena, as well as some of its best beach clubs.

If you want easy access to the main attractions in Nice, a luxury feel and great nightlife, Carre D’or is the place for you. Carre D’or is also a great area to stay in Nice with kids due to its close proximity to the beaches and lots of great bars/restaurants. Naturally, choosing a hotel in Carre D’or comes with a premium and this area is particularly expensive.

Gambetta

Gambetta is another great area to choose for a tay in Nice. This area is a little bit further down the Promenade away from Old Town but still close enough to be within walking distance of the main attractions.

Within Gambetta, you will also find some of our favourite places to visit in Nice. The first of those being Cathedral Saint Nicholas, an Eastern Orthodox church with an incredible design. This beautiful church is free to visit and is well worth adding to your itinerary regardless of where you choose to stay in Nice.

Equally, we would highly recommend combining this with a visit to the Garden cafe, which is about a 10 minute walk from the cathedral. This is a really popular cafe with lots of great breakfast/brunch options so visiting these two would be a great way to spend a morning.

If you want to visit Nice on a budget but still be in the heart of the action then Gambetta would be a great option.

If you would like to stay in a luxury hotel in Nice, we would highly recommend La Perouse, which sits on right on the Promenade des Anglais.

Hotels in Old Town Nice (Vieux Ville)

If you’re looking for hotel with Old Money charm, easy access to the best bars and restaurants in Nice, then it is difficult to look past Old Town Nice.

We very rarely spent a day in Nice without spending at least part of it wandering around the colourful streets of Old Town Nice. This area has stunning style, great food and a relaxing feel despite how busy it gets. In Old Town Nice, you will find popular attractions like Cours Saleya, the street markets that operate throughout the day.

The Old Town is only a short walk to Castle Hill and Plage des Ponchette and also has some of Nice’s best places for breakfast/coffee like Maranna and Marinette.

If you are only spending a few days in Nice, we would highly recommend basing yourself in Old Town Nice to make sure you are at the heart of the action throughout your stay.

Hotels in Jean Medecin

If shopping is what you are looking for, then choosing a hotel in Jean Medecin is the way to go. This area is super convenient, with the tram running directly along it and also offers an easy connection to the train station.

If you plan to rely on public transport during your trip to Nice then Jean Medecin is a great practical option. Jean Medecin has lots of great shops and the Galeries Lafayettes shopping centre so you won’t have to travel far if you need anything.

It also leads directly into Place Massena and the Fontaine du Soleil, one of the most popular areas to explore in Nice. Again, Jean Medecin is an area lined with bars and restaurants so if you want to do some shopping and have easy access to the other parts of the city, Jean Medecin is a great option.

Hotels in the Port Nice

The Port area is another great option, particularly if you are looking for some good nightlife, with lots of great bars in this area.

The Port leads from the foot of Castle Hill into Place Garibaldi, two places well worth exploring when you visit Nice. Take the trip to Castle Hill at sunset where you will get incredible panoramic views of both the Promenade des Anglais and the Port.

Place Garibaldi is a lively area as well with some great restaurants and bars. In this area we would recommend visiting Rue Bonaparte where you can get a great breakfast at Clay cafe and there are lots of great bars lining this street – a great place to spend an evening in Nice.

Overall, we would recommend this area if you want some good nightlife or if you plan to go on a day trip by boat.