Nice, France Travel Guide Fall 2022

Nice, France is one of those travel spots I’ve always wanted to see. Its beautiful waters and colorful houses are constantly showing up on my Pinterest feed. With it being just an hour flight from Paris and less than $50 it seemed like a no-brainer to head there for a few days. 

With that being said, I visited in late November. The weather was still beautiful with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the sixties; however, this is a coastal beach town so there’s not a ton to do without going to the water. Nonetheless, we still had a blast exploring this quaint area + taking in all of its beauty.

Nice was one of those places I just loved. Hope to be back again someday in the summertime! Sharing my 3-day itinerary complete with the cutest hotel, some yummy restaurant recommendations, packing tips, things to do, and more. I hope you enjoy!

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Transportation

Nice is one of those destinations that’s super easy to hit once you’re already in France. I flew from Paris Orly to Nice in just an hour and a half. Flights for this route are super cheap if you book in advance so just keep an eye out. Once arriving at the airport, there is a tram that takes you into the city. It’s about a 20-minute ride and is super easy to navigate with Maps.

Once in the city center, almost everything is within walking distance. It seemed all of the things we wanted to hit were just fifteen minutes from one another. Within a day I was familiar with my surroundings which made navigating so much easier—I wish every city were like this! 

Where To Stay

We checked into the cutest Best Western I’ve ever seen—Hotel Massena was a five-star hotel in my eyes. We stayed in one of their Triple Privilege Rooms (With Balcony) and it was perfect for our two nights in Nice. 

I was greeted with the warmest welcome—champagne, cupcakes, and the hugest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever received. Florals are one of the things Nice is known for so these roses, hydrangeas, and babies’ breath were such a treat. Truly the sweetest gesture!

Our room had a king bed and a twin, comfortably sleeping the three of us for another busy weekend of travel. We had cozy linens, fluffy pillows, and the most comfortable beds! Enjoy these photos of Lauren and me in our matching feather pajamas—we’re getting down to our last few study-abroad travels together and are so sad about it. 

Our bathroom was also super nice with a huge mirror, lots of counter space, and a giant tub. Like many European hotels, the toilet is separate, in its own room.

Our room also had its own balcony with a gorgeous view of the city. There were two chairs and a table out here which was the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee + let the light in. This aspect always makes or breaks a hotel stay for me!

This hotel also had breakfast included, free luggage storage, and the sweetest employees who were incredibly accommodating throughout our stay. They have several other properties throughout Nice but we were less than a ten-minute walk to the beach which sold me on Hotel Massena even further. Cannot say enough good things + hope to be back soon!

If you’re interested in booking this property, click here for availability and best rates. 

Things To Do 

After four months of European travel, I’ve learned that I love these quaint coastal towns more than anything. Nice is interesting because it’s full of waterfront restaurants, farmers’ markets, and the ocean but it’s also got bigger city elements with plenty of popular chain stores and well-known favorites.

While I do enjoy sightseeing and packed days of “tourist things”, I much prefer a day full of exploring. That’s exactly what we did in Nice.

Each morning we would leave our hotel—not set plans, just seeing where the day took us. Admittedly, we didn’t do a ton, and yet I enjoyed this slower quality time so much. December is Nice’s low season so it was rather dead during our visit. However, with such a gorgeous beach I can imagine it gets pretty crowded during the summertime!

Postcard Pickup  

If you keep up with my content then you know I’m a postcard collector. I get one every place I go and write little snippets from my travels on the back of each one. I have to say, of all the places I’ve been, Nice definitely has the cutest postcards. I picked up at least ten—some for myself, some to send, and some to frame because I thought they’d make the cutest prints. You can find these in pretty much every souvenir shop. 

Top of The Castle 

One of the most popular things to do here is head to the top of the castle, one of the highest viewpoints in the city. It’s roughly 300 steps to the top and the views are just breathtaking. A beautiful view of the coastline and an amazing place to catch the sunset. If you keep walking up a few more flights of stairs there are also places you can sit and have a picnic. So fun! 

Hit The Farmers Market 

There’s an adorable farmers market in the city center that’s open every day until noon. It’s full of local vendors selling different goodies. Whether you’re looking for a huge bouquet of fresh flowers, produce, or spices you can grab them here. They’ve also got lots of soaps, tote bags, watercolored prints, and more. I picked up quite a few souvenirs here to bring back home. Everything was just too cute and most things were under $10.

They do accept cards here but there are a few that are cash only so I’d recommend bringing euros with you just in case. 

Watch Sunset On The Beach 

Regardless of what time of year you find yourself in Nice, hitting the beach is an absolute must. The views here are phenomenal. We ended up bringing a bottle of wine and a towel to sit and watch the sunset and the vibes were immaculate. You can also see their airport in the near distance so there are constantly planes flying over and it’s so cool.

I will say—this is a true European beach meaning there is no sand just huge rocks. Prepare yourself if you are coming in the summertime—water shoes and a chair are going to be your best friend. 

Wander Through Old Town 

Old Town is the cutest area full of small vintage shops, colorful buildings, and the most amazing architecture. So many people we met throughout the weekend recommended spending time over this way as it feels a bit more authentic. There are lots of restaurants and bars so it’s the perfect way to indulge in the “European experience” which means long, slow meals. 

Where To Eat

Speaking of long, slow meals… eating is by far my favorite thing to do on a trip. We found ourselves at a handful of cute restaurants throughout our time here. I will say, there’s not a ton of traditional French food here. You can tell this is a bigger tourist destination with such a wide variety of cuisine. 

100% Tacos

On our first night, we were dying for Mexican food so we found this cute little spot with good reviews. It was a little rinky-dink restaurant where most people come to take out but the food was so yummy. We got their chips and guac + beans and they were amazing. For my meal, I ordered a pork quesadilla with pineapple and it was so flavorful. All three of us got a pink margarita as well—poured nice and strong but still super fruity. It was cheap too—less than $20 a person which is always a perk. 

✈ Menu // Directions

Casa Leya 

Casa Leya was recommended to us by a fellow study broad student and it did not disappoint. This restaurant has a waterfront view and is nestled between the cutest columns. I loved the vibes here + the inside of the restaurant was gorgeously decorated. 

This place had a lot of simple dishes. I got a pesto, burrata, tomato pizza and pasta to go with. They were no where near as good as our traditional Italian but they were still yummy + the perfect meal to split with a friend. I also got a mojito here to celebrate a lost loved one who used to love them. They came in the cutest mason jars with a 10/10 presentation. I preferred the fruity over the regular!

✈ Menu // Directions

Babel Babel

We stopped at this spot to have a drink while watching the sunset. There is an amazing balcony that overlooks the water. You typically need a reservation for this however we got lucky. The service was so slow but the drinks were good! 

✈ Menu // Directions

Pop O Thym 

You can’t go to France without trying a crepe. This place was known for its savory ones so I ordered a ham and cheese. I have to say, I was a bit underwhelmed after hearing so much hype about them. I think I’m more of a Nutella and strawberry girl when it comes to this traditional treat…

✈ Menu // Directions

La Lupitas 

This spot had tons of locals in it and was rated so highly that we decided to stop in while the World Cup was playing. Such a lively atmosphere and the food was amazing. Lauren and I split the loaded nachos and the chicken burrito with peppers, cheese, and guacamole. I was so impressed with this—definitely the best Mexican food I’ve had since being in Europe! 

✈ Menu // Directions

Au Bureau Pub

The World Cup was going on all weekend and with France being in it, a lot of the restaurants were packed full of people watching. I never knew people got this excited about soccer but it was actually really cool to experience. We went to a pub on our last night to be around this crowd and had a ball! 

We tried a bunch of different things—fondeau (a French favorite), mac and cheese with onion straws (so yummy), and a barbecue cheeseburger (so delicious). France is well known for its meat so any chance you can get to eat ground beef, I recommend taking it. Such a fun vibe here!

✈ Menu // Directions

Things To Pack

I was shocked at how warm and sunny Nice was despite it being the end of November during our visit. It’s warm enough for a skirt during the day but temperatures do dip in the evenings, especially by the water. Layers will be your best friend!

Not sure what to wear? I left all of the outfits I wore with links to shop in this blog post so you can recreate them! Be sure to check it out. 

• Light Jacket: I found that I was just fine in a sweater throughout the day here but needed a light jacket over top in the evenings. A denim or even a shacket are the perfect things to pack! 
• Scarf: A scarf is my go-to piece; I recommend bringing one on any European travel. This one is so warm and matches everything. 
• Skirts: This is the perfect place to break out your skirts and sweater dresses. It was warm enough to keep my legs bare which I was shocked by! I was thrilled to wear some of my favorite summer-y pieces one last time. 
• Your French Accessories: I had a few “French” accessories (including this beret) that I had yet to wear. This was the perfect place to channel this European style. I’m obsessed! 

Watch The Week

Want to see our weekend in France on camera? Be sure to check out my travel vlog for all of the fun + behind the scenes of these photos. I’ve been sharing new travel vlogs every single week to my channel so if you’re not subscribed be sure to hit that button and join the fam.

Although my trip to Nice was short, it was one of my favs! I’m so glad I had the chance to experience this beautiful area and hope to make it back someday. In the meantime, I’ve got more places to see. Stay tuned for my Amsterdam content coming your way next. 

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: 8 Outfits To Wear In France This Fall
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