The Baie des Anges, the Promenade des Anglais and the red roofs of old Nice from Castle Hill
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Luxury in France

Nice

The capital of the Riviera: the Promenade des Anglais along the Baie des Anges, the Negresco, the baroque old town, and Matisse and Chagall on the hill of Cimiez.

The Baie des Anges from Castle Hill, NicePhotograph: Antoine Gravier

Bienvenue

The winter capital of the Riviera

Nice belonged to the House of Savoy for most of five centuries and became French only in 1860, which is why its old town looks Italian, with baroque churches and ochre façades. The flower and food market of the Cours Saleya fills its main square every morning.

From the eighteenth century the English came for the winters, and in the 1820s they paid for the seafront walk that became the Promenade des Anglais. In 2021 the city was named World Heritage as the winter resort town of the Riviera.

Matisse lived in Nice for nearly forty years and is buried at Cimiez, where his museum stands beside the Roman ruins, and Chagall’s museum of the Bible is nearby. The Negresco, opened in 1913, still keeps its pink dome on the Promenade.

A few words of French
EnglishFrenchSay it
HelloBonjourbohn-ZHOOR
PleaseS'il vous plaîtseel voo PLAY
Thank youMercimair-SEE
Good eveningBonsoirbohn-SWAHR
The bill, pleaseL'addition, s'il vous plaîtlah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLAY

Where to go

Nice at a glance

When to go, the one best hotel and table, and how to arrive privately.

Nice and Cap Ferrat

Best time to visitLate May to June and September are ideal: the sea is warm, the days are long and the coast is calmer than in July and August. October still has a 19°C (67°F) sea, but brings more rain.

  • Stay
    Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotelone of the 25 Finest Resorts

    A Belle Époque palace in six hectares of gardens at the tip of the Riviera's most exclusive peninsula, with a funicular down to its Club Dauphin seawater pool.

  • Dine
    La Chèvre d'Or

    In the perched village of Èze, minutes from both Nice and Cap Ferrat, chef Tom Meyer holds two MICHELIN stars.

  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE / LFMN), about 20 minutes by car to central Nice and about 30 minutes to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Sky Valet and DC Aviation G-OPS run private aviation terminals (FBOs) at the airport.
By helicopter
Not needed for the short drive; Nice airport is the Riviera's helicopter hub, with flights on to Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez operated by Héli Sécurité and Monacair and booked through BLADE.
By sea
Port de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, for yachts up to 50 metres; in the village itself, and about 30 minutes by car to central Nice.

Stay

Luxury hotels in Nice

The finest hotels in and around Nice: each rated Forbes Five-Star, holding two or three MICHELIN Keys, or among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean.

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

  • Le NegrescoNice

    The Promenade des Anglais palace hotel, a classified historic monument, holds two MICHELIN Keys. Visit website ↗

  • La Réserve de BeaulieuBeaulieu-sur-Mer

    A Belle Époque hotel on the water between Nice and Monaco, with two MICHELIN Keys.

Private villas and estates

  • John TaylorCannes

    Founded in Cannes in 1864 by a young British gardener who had settled on the Riviera, the house rents luxury seasonal villas from its own Riviera offices, among them Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Nice and Monaco. Visit website ↗

Cruises

Nice by sea

How the ships arrive in Nice, and the luxury lines that call.

Most ships anchor in the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, about 6 km east of Nice, and bring guests ashore by tender; only small ships may use the port of Nice itself. From 2026 a state order for the Alpes-Maritimes limits the calls of the largest ships, leaving the Riviera more and more to the small luxury ships.

Ten of the luxury lines below begin and end voyages here.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Travel

First-class travel in Nice

First-class rail and the chauffeurs at our standard. Private jet arrivals are covered in the questions below.

First-class rail

The top class on the scheduled high-speed trains, from city to city.

  • SNCF TGV INOUI, Optimum (Paris to Marseille and Nice)

    The top class on France's own high-speed trains to the Riviera, in first class with a quieter area and fully flexible tickets. Visit website ↗

Chauffeurs and self-drive

  • Elite Rent-a-CarNice, Cannes and Monaco

    A Geneva-based luxury and supercar hire firm with agencies in Nice, Cannes and Monaco on the Riviera, and delivery and collection across France. The fleet includes Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Porsche. Visit website ↗

  • Car4RentMonaco, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Nice Airport

    Luxury and sports car hire with agencies at 9 boulevard Albert 1er in Monaco, 10 rue Hibert in Cannes, 15 place Vieille in Grimaud for Saint-Tropez, and at Nice Airport, as well as in Paris. Visit website ↗

  • MC Luxury RentalMonaco

    Supercar and luxury car hire from 30 boulevard Princesse Charlotte in Monaco, delivering to Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and further afield. The fleet includes Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Porsche and Maserati. Visit website ↗

Shop

Luxury shopping in Nice

The ateliers of Nice.

Artisan ateliers

  • MolinardGrasse

    A Grasse family perfume house in its fifth generation, making its perfumes in Grasse and keeping its historic Bastide as a heritage site, with perfume-creation workshops in Grasse, Nice and Paris. Visit website ↗

Experience

Events and things to do in Nice

The finest things to do in and around Nice.

The great museums

Sport and motoring

  • Mouratoglou AcademyBiot, France

    Founded by Patrick Mouratoglou near Paris in 1996 and on the Riviera since 2016, at Biot between Nice and Cannes, where he coaches leading tour players. Visit website ↗

Weddings and celebrations

  • Villa Ephrussi de RothschildSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

    Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild's Belle Époque palace stands between Nice and Monaco with nine themed gardens over the sea. It takes private receptions and weddings. Visit website ↗

Live

Luxury real estate in Nice

A home in Nice: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

  • Michaël Zingraf Real EstateCannes

    Founded in Cannes in 1977 and the exclusive Christie's International Real Estate affiliate for Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur since 2012, with agencies in Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cap d'Antibes, Mougins and Nice. Visit website ↗

All the leading agencies in France ›

Looking for a home in Nice? Write to [email protected] and we will introduce you, in confidence, to the right agency.

International schools

  • International School of NiceNice

    An IB World School for ages 3 to 18 with IGCSE in the upper years, accredited by CIS and the Middle States Association, and part of the Globeducate group. Visit website ↗

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Nice and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

Plan your journey to Nice

Where is Nice?

On the Côte d’Azur in south-eastern France, between Cannes and Monaco. Nice airport, the busiest in France outside Paris and a hub for private jets, is about 20 minutes from the centre.

What is Nice famous for?

The Promenade des Anglais and the Baie des Anges, the Negresco, its old town and markets, the Matisse and Chagall museums, Carnival in February, and its place at the heart of the Riviera.

When is the best time to visit Nice?

Late May to June and September are ideal: the sea is warm, the days are long and the coast is calmer than in July and August. October still has a 19°C (67°F) sea, but brings more rain.

Where are the best luxury hotels in Nice?

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel (one of the 25 Finest Resorts).

How do you arrive in Nice by private jet?

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE / LFMN), about 20 minutes by car to central Nice and about 30 minutes to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Do you tip in Nice?

Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so a tip is a gesture: about 5% (€1 per €20), and 5–10% for exceptional service at high-end restaurants. Round up taxis. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a concierge who goes out of their way.

What should you wear in Nice?

Dress respectfully in churches. On the Riviera, several towns, including Nice, Cannes, Menton, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël, ban swimwear and bare chests in town, with fines. On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart, polished dress for fine dining.

Beyond Nice

More in France

Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cap Ferrat and Corsica, and the Mediterranean beyond.

FranceLuxury French Riviera Holidays & HotelsExplore FranceThe MediterraneanTwenty-two countries and Gibraltar, first class onlyExplore the MediterraneanPlan your journeyFrom your home to Nice, with the costsOpen the trip planner

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Nice

How France does things.

Language
French. English is widely spoken in luxury hotels and leading restaurants on the Riviera and in Paris.
Greetings
A handshake on first meeting. Among friends, la bise (cheek kisses); the number varies by region, two being most common. Always say bonjour (or bonsoir in the evening) on entering a shop or speaking to staff; use monsieur / madame.
Dress
Dress respectfully in churches. On the Riviera, several towns, including Nice, Cannes, Menton, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël, ban swimwear and bare chests in town, with fines. On yachts, soft-soled or bare feet on deck. Smart, polished dress for fine dining.
Dining
Lunch typically 12–2 pm; dinner from about 7.30–8 pm. Book ahead at good restaurants. The bill comes when you ask.
Tipping
Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so a tip is a gesture: about 5% (€1 per €20), and 5–10% for exceptional service at high-end restaurants. Round up taxis. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day, €10–20 for a concierge who goes out of their way.
Good to know
Many shops close on Sundays, and in smaller towns for a long lunch. Restaurants often stop serving lunch around 2 pm.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.