We absolutely loved our recent trip to Nice, France. After spending a few days in the busier city of Paris, it was so nice to see the turquoise waters of the coastline. We took some amazing day trips around Nice, most of which cost nothing but a bus ticket. Here are 5 free things to do around Nice to show you that you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy your time in the French Riviera!
Known for exclusive beaches and fancy yachts, the South of France can be quite expensive. However, it does not necessarily have to. We found many affordable options for accommodations within Nice. If you’re looking for somewhere close by that is a little quieter check out Villefranche-sur-mer. Only a couple kilometers from the center of Nice, it is a small village where you can enjoy less crowds.
1. Hike Castle Hill
Cost: Free
Located on the eastern edge of Nice, Castle Hill (or Colline de Chateau) was the home of a Chateau that long ago was destroyed. A short hike up to the top leads to you a waterfall, a small park and some ruins of what used to sit atop the hill. The reason most people hike up, however, is for the amazing view point looking out onto the city of Nice and the curve of Nice Beach.
It was a quick 10-15 minute hike up so you really don’t need to be a hiker to do it! There are even elevators that go to the top if you are unable to walk up. Be prepared though as it can be a bit tight when big group tours are all trying to get a picture at once!
2. Eze Village & Eze Beach
Cost: Free (to walk around the village and the beach)
A roundtrip bus ticket from Nice will cost you ~3 Euros.
Eze Village is a medieval village that sits on top of a hill about 12 km east from Nice. It is very small, however, the stone pathways are beautiful and lead up and up to a beautiful view. You will get views of Eze Beach as well as nearby Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula. You don’t need too much time to walk around the village but it is definitely worth checking out!
There is a dirt pathway to walk from Eze Village down to Eze Beach that many people take. To walk down, with many stops, took us 50 minutes. It was steep and uneven in places and we both wore sneakers but we thought it was totally doable and loved it!
At the end of the path if you cross the street (over the train overpass) you will find a public access point to Eze Beach. Although rocky, we practically had the beach to ourselves and it was a nice change from the busier beaches in Nice!
Read More: Day Trip to Eze & Mala Beach
3. Mala Beach Coastal Path
Cost: Free!
A roundtrip bus ticket from Nice will cost you ~3 Euros.
Mala Beach (or Plage Mala) is a beautiful beach in Cap d’Ail with limestone cliffs one one side and access to the Mala Beach Coastal Path on the other side. The beach itself is small with two restaurants and a very basic bathroom but it is absolutely beautiful! Beware you do have to walk down to the beach so be prepared for some stairs and downhill before getting there.
The Mala Beach Coastal Pathway starts at Mala Beach and follows the coastline to Plage Marquet which is just before the Monaco border. It is 2.5 km one way and should take about 45 minutes, depending on how fast you go and how many times you stop. It was one of our favorite things we did while in the Nice area!
Read our post comparing both coastal pathways in terms of distance, amenities and views!
4. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Coastal Path
Cost: Free!
A roundtrip bus ticket from Nice will cost you ~3 Euros.
Right beyond Nice is Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small village with colorful pathways and a nice view of the Port and nearby Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a peninsula in between Nice and Eze. The Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Coastal Pathway follows the coastline of the peninsula and is about 5 km one way from Plage de Passable walking east and ending near Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Village. You can continue on and make it longer but its a U-shaped path that allows you to see the entire peninsula!
- #3 and #4 are both coastal pathways. We found both easy to get to using the public bus, easy to walk, and had amazing views throughout. We loved that they got us outside and gave us a chance to see more of the surrounding areas!
Read More: Day Trip to Villefranche & Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
5. Walk around Old Town Nice
Cost: Free
Old Town Nice, even if you are not staying there, is worth walking around and exploring. The colorful streets and rows of cafes and restaurants has a Parisian feel mixed with palm trees and coastline.
The Promenade is a walkway that runs along the beach where you will see people walking, running and just enjoying themselves. Bring a hat or sunglasses as during the day it can get very hot!
Or if walking along the beach isn’t your thing, walk inland a little and check out the Cours Saleya Market. It is a big open air market at the Cours Saleya in Old Town Nice. You will find everything from fresh produce, to paintings and furniture, to traditional dishes from the area. Just walking through and seeing the products for sale accompanied by both locals and fellow travelers was really interesting and we felt no pressure to buy anything!
Regardless of where you go in Nice or the surrounding areas in the South of France, remember it does not have to completely break your budget! There are plenty of less expensive or even free things to do to enjoy this amazing place!
