33 Less Touristy Things to Do
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Matisse Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Matisse | Self | Paid |
| 02 | MAMAC | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Contemporary Art | Closed | Paid |
| 03 | Fine Arts Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Fine Arts | Self | Paid |
| 04 | Naïve Art Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Naïve Art | Self | Paid |
| 05 | Palais Lascaris Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Decorative + Music | Self | Paid |
| 06 | Villa Masséna Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | House Museum & Garden | Self | Paid |
| 07 | Coastal Path | ★★☆☆☆ | Walking Around | Self | Free |
| 08 | #ILoveNice | ★★☆☆☆ | Panorama | Self | Free |
| 09 | Hill Cemetery | ★★☆☆☆ | Panoramas | Self | Free |
| 21 | Lympia Marina & Dike | ★★☆☆☆ | Walking Around | Self | Free |
| 10 | Observatory | ★★☆☆☆ | Astronomy + Panorama | Guided | Paid |
| 11 | Mont-Boron Park | ★★☆☆☆ | Hike / Panoramas | Self | Free |
| 12 | Vinaigrier Park | ★★☆☆☆ | Hike + Panorama | Self | Free |
| 14 | Botanical Garden | ★★☆☆☆ | Garden | Self | Free |
| 13 | Phœnix Park | ★★☆☆☆ | Garden | Self | Paid |
| 26 | Asian Arts Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Asian Arts | Self | Free |
| 16 | Gésu Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 17 | St. Martin Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 18 | St. Nicolas Cathedral | ★★☆☆☆ | Orthodox Cathedral | Self | Free |
| 19 | Notre-Dame Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 20 | Notre-Dame Basilica | ★★☆☆☆ | Basilica | Self | Free |
| 15 | St. François Church | ★☆☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 22 | Lympia Gallery | ★☆☆☆☆ | Art Gallery | Self | Free |
| 23 | Charles Nègre Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Museum - Photography | Self | Paid |
| 24 | Cimiez Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Museum + Thermae Ruin | Self | Paid |
| 25 | Cimiez Arena & Park | ★☆☆☆☆ | Arena Ruin + Park | Self | Free |
| 27 | Tourist Train | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Train Tour | Tour | Paid |
| 28 | Hop-on Hop-off Bus | ★☆☆☆☆ | Bus Tour | Tour | Paid |
| 29 | Albert 1er Garden | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Park | Self | Free |
| 30 | Vigier Park | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Park | Self | Free |
| 31 | St. Joan of Arc Church | ★☆☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 32 | Terra Amata Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Museum - Paleontology | Self | Paid |
| 33 | Lazaret Cave | ★☆☆☆☆ | Prehistoric Cave | Self | Free |
01. Matisse Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Matisse Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
The museum is dedicated to the work of French artist Henri Matisse, late 19th to early 20th century, renowned for his bold use of color in his artwork.
However, depending on the time of year, the museum may not primarily feature Matisse’s works but sometimes showcases pieces by other artists connected to his style.
The museum is housed in a 17th-century villa.
02. MAMAC
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Contemporary Art Museum
Visit Closed
Cost Paid
The museum is currently under renovation, with its reopening scheduled for 2028.
MAMAC is a space dedicated to avant-garde and contemporary art, offering a variety of exhibitions featuring both French and international artists. The building itself, with its striking design of concrete and glass, is a modern architectural statement amidst the classical cityscape.
03. Fine Arts Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Fine Arts Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
The museum houses paintings, sculptures, and other graphic arts spanning from the 12th to the 20th century, along with temporary exhibitions.
It is located in a 19th-century villa.
04. Naïve Art Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Naïve Art Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum offers an eclectic collection of Naïve art, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures that trace the history of this artistic movement from the 18th century to the present day.
The museum is housed in an 18th-century château surrounded by a park where some of the sculptures are also displayed.
05. Palais Lascaris Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Decorative Art + Music Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
A museum dedicated to decorative arts, featuring furniture, tapestries, and various objects, as well as ancient musical instruments.
The museum is located in a 17th-century baroque palace.
06. Villa Masséna Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type House Museum & Garden
Visit Self
Cost Paid
Originally, the place was a luxurious villa built around 1900, featuring Belle Époque style with Italian influences.
The site now functions as a museum focusing on Nice’s history from the Napoleonic era to the present day.
The building also includes a landscaped garden with flowers and palm trees.
07. Coastal Path
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Walking Around
Visit Self
Cost Free
A scenic walk along Nice’s coastline, offering stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The path winds through rocky cliffs and quiet coves, providing a peaceful retreat from the city.
08. #ILoveNice
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Panorama
Visit Self
Cost Free
The iconic #ILoveNice sign has become a popular spot for tourists seeking the perfect photo opportunity, with the city’s name and the Mediterranean panorama in the background.
09. Hill Cemetery
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Panoramas
Visit Self
Cost Free
Located next to the famous Hilltop of Nice, the elevated cemetery offers panoramic views of Old Nice on one side and the Marina on the other.
Adjacent to it is also a Jewish cemetery.
10. Lympia Marina & Dike
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Walking Around
Visit Self
Cost Free
Lympia is the marina of the city, featuring colorful boats docked against the backdrop of pastel-colored buildings.
Just past the port, there is also a dike where you can walk, but only halfway, so you cannot reach the lighthouse at the end.
11. Observatory
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Astronomy + Panorama
Visit Guided
Cost Paid
The observatory, founded in 1881, has played a key role in astronomical research. Visitors can explore the site through a guided walking tour, learning not only about the observatory itself and its functions but also about astronomy in general.
Located on one of the highest points in Nice, the site also offers stunning panoramic views.
Guided tours in English are available only at certain times of the year and can be booked via this page.
12. Mont-Boron Park
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Hike / Panoramas
Visit Self
Cost Free
Mont-Boron Park is a vast natural park that offers hiking trails with spectacular views over the city of Nice on one side and the Cap-Ferrat peninsula on the other.
The appeal is mainly the viewpoints rather than the hikes themselves. The viewpoints are also accessible by car.
In the middle of the park stands a small 16th-century military stronghold, named Fort Mont-Alban. If you wish to visit it, be sure to read the information on this page beforehand.
13. Vinaigrier Park
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Hike + Panorama
Visit Self
Cost Free
The Vinaigrier Park is another large park located to the north of Mont-Boron Park. It is similar in character and offers hiking trails and, above all, panoramic views of Nice on one side and the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the other.
14. Botanical Garden
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Garden
Visit Self
Cost Free
The botanical garden, situated quite far from the city center, covers an area of over 3 hectares and mainly features plant species from the Mediterranean region.
15. Phœnix Park
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Garden
Visit Self
Cost Paid
Phoenix Park is a botanical garden located at the western edge of the city, near the airport. It features an extensive greenhouse, among other attractions.
16. Asian Arts Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Asian Arts Museum
Visit Self
Cost Free
A modern museum, located at the western edge of the city near the airport, is dedicated to the art and culture of Asia. Featuring minimalist architecture, its collection spans various Asian countries and time periods.
17. Gésu Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
Gésu Church, also known as Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur Church, is a 17th-century Baroque-style church with an interior richly decorated with frescoes and statues.
18. St. Martin & St. Augustin Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
The current church dates from the 17th century and is in the Baroque style. Its interior is characterized by its abundant decoration.
19. St. Nicolas Russian Cathedral
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Orthodox Cathedral
Visit Self
Cost Free
A Russian Orthodox cathedral built in the 19th century, it boasts onion domes and intricate, colorful decoration.
20. Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
Notre-Dame Church is the largest church in Nice. Built in concrete in the 1920s, it features an Art Deco style.
21. Notre-Dame Basilica
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Basilica
Visit Self
Cost Free
The Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Basilica was built in the 19th century in a Neo-Gothic style.
22. St. François de Paul Church
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
The church dates from the 18th century and is a blend of Baroque and Neoclassical styles.
23. Lympia Gallery
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Art Gallery
Visit Self
Cost Free
A contemporary art gallery located near the port, showcasing rotating exhibits from local and international artists.
It is located in a former prison.
24. Charles Nègre Photo Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Photography Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
Dedicated to photography, the museum offers a rotating display of works by both local and internationally renowned photographers.
The museum is named after Charles Nègre, a pioneering 19th-century photographer from the region.
25. Cimiez Museum & Thermae
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Museum + Thermae Ruin
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum offers a glimpse into Nice’s Roman history, with artifacts and remains found during archaeological excavations in the surrounding area.
The site is located on the Cimiez Hill, once a Roman town known as Cemenelum.
Behind the museum are the ruins of ancient Roman baths.
26. Cimiez Arena & Park
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Arena Ruin + Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
Next to the Cimiez Museum are the remains of a Roman amphitheater that could hold up to 5,000 spectators.
Behind the ruins of the amphitheater, there is a city park featuring many trees planted in neat rows.
27. Tourist Train
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Train Tour
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
The Tourist Train offers a guided, leisurely ride around Nice. It’s a simple yet convenient way for first-time visitors to get acquainted with the city’s layout.
28. Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Bus Tour
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
An open-top bus tour provides a convenient way to explore Nice’s major sites as well as the nearby town of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
29. Albert 1er Garden
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
A central city park dating back to the 19th century, located next to the Masséna square, featuring fountains, statues, and shaded walking paths.
30. Vigier Park
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
A small city park near the sea, composed of numerous palm trees.
31. St. Joan of Arc Church
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
A church built in concrete in the early 20th century, influenced by Art Deco style.
32. Terra Amata Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Paleontology Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
Terra Amata is a prehistoric site discovered in the 1960s. The museum built at this location houses elements from the excavations, such as tools and animal bones.
33. Lazaret Cave
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Prehistoric Cave
Visit Self
Cost Free
This site includes a cave that was intermittently occupied during prehistoric times, as well as a small exhibit space providing related explanations.
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