Planning More of France?
Nice is one of the highlights of the French Riviera, but there's plenty more to discover across the
country. Compare cities, coastal resorts, and cultural destinations in our
Cheap Hotels in France guide.
Where to Stay in Nice — Neighbourhood Guide
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Vieux Nice (Old Town):
The city's historic heart features colourful buildings, lively squares, traditional restaurants,
markets, and charming boutique hotels within walking distance of the beach.
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Promenade des Anglais:
Nice's famous beachfront boulevard offers luxury hotels, Mediterranean views, and direct access to the
beach. Sea-view rooms usually command premium prices.
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Jean Médecin:
The city centre's main shopping and transport district, offering excellent tram connections, nightlife,
restaurants, and a wide choice of hotels.
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Liberation & Borriglione:
Popular with budget travellers thanks to lower hotel prices, local markets, and convenient tram access
to the Old Town and beachfront.
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La Madeleine & Saint-Roch:
Residential neighbourhoods offering some of Nice's most affordable accommodation while remaining well
connected by public transport.
What to Expect in Nice
Nice combines Mediterranean beaches, elegant Belle Époque architecture and a UNESCO-listed historic centre,
making it one of France's most popular coastal destinations.
Visitors can explore the colourful streets of Vieux Nice, browse the famous Cours Saleya Market, relax on
the Promenade des Anglais, visit the Matisse and Marc Chagall museums, or enjoy panoramic views from Castle
Hill.
Nice is also an excellent base for day trips to Monaco, Cannes, Èze and the Italian border town of
Ventimiglia.
Best Time to Visit Nice
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November–March:
Lowest hotel prices of the year, although Nice Carnival in February temporarily increases rates.
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April–June:
Warm temperatures, fewer crowds and excellent sightseeing conditions before the summer rush.
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July–August:
Peak beach season with the highest hotel prices and busiest attractions. Book several months ahead.
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September–October:
Warm sea temperatures, pleasant weather and noticeably lower accommodation prices than summer.
Tips for Finding Cheap Hotels in Nice
- Stay in Liberation, Borriglione or La Madeleine for lower hotel prices.
- Travel during spring or autumn for the best balance of weather and accommodation costs.
- Book non-refundable advance rates if your travel dates are fixed.
- Use Tram Line 2 from Nice Airport instead of a taxi to save money.
- Compare hotel prices including tourist taxes before booking.
FAQs — Nice Hotels
According to momondo 2026 data, the average hotel price across Nice is $143 per night, based on 6,141 operators currently listed on the platform. Prices vary significantly by neighbourhood: the Promenade des Anglais area averages $117/night (paradoxically below the city average, as momondo's sample includes a wider range of distance-from-beach properties), the Jean Medecin city centre averages $117/night, and the most affordable neighbourhood, La Madeleine, averages $95/night. According to BudgetYourTrip data from 316 Nice hotels, the overall average is $97/night with high-season prices around $182. Budget guesthouses in areas slightly removed from the beachfront (Liberation, Borriglione) start from approximately 50-70 EUR per night.
The Promenade des Anglais is one of the most beautiful seafront boulevards in Europe, and staying directly on it delivers immediate beach access, unobstructed sea views (with a premium for sea-view rooms of 20-40% above the base rate), and the full Belle Epoque ambience of the grand hotel facades. Whether it's worth the premium depends on your priorities: for beach-focused summer stays where you want to step out of the hotel and straight onto the Promenade, it is genuinely worth it. For cultural or year-round visits where the beach is secondary to Vieux-Nice, the Matisse Museum, and day trips to Monaco and Cannes, a hotel in the Jean Medecin or Liberation area will deliver equal access at lower cost.
Yes Nice applies a mandatory taxe de sejour (tourist tax) collected at check-out at all registered accommodation. The rate is tiered by hotel classification, ranging from approximately 0.50 EUR per person per night for campsites and hostels up to 4.40 EUR per person per night for palace-category hotels, according to priceline's 2024 Nice accommodation guide. For a typical mid-range 3-star hotel stay of two people for five nights, this adds approximately 10-20 EUR to your total bill. The tourist tax is not always included in the headline price shown on booking platforms always check the taxes and fees breakdown before comparing properties. Budget an additional 15% above your headline nightly rate to account for this and other incidentals.
Tram Line 2 (T2) connects Nice Cote d'Azur Airport directly to Jean Medecin (the city centre) in approximately 20-25 minutes for 1.50 EUR per journey compared to the official taxi flat rate of 32 EUR from the official taxi rank (the only legitimate fixed-rate transfer). The tram runs from the airport's Terminal 2 station; a free shuttle bus connects Terminal 1 to the tram stop. For hotels in Vieux-Nice or along the eastern Promenade, the tram route reaches the relevant city centre stops with onward walking of 10-15 minutes. Never accept transfers from drivers approaching in the arrivals hall only use the official taxi rank or the Tram T2 for guaranteed legitimate pricing.
Nice's position on the Riviera makes it one of the finest day-trip bases in Europe. Monaco is the most popular: 20-25 minutes by regional train from Nice Ville station for approximately 3.80 EUR round-trip, covering the Prince's Palace, Casino de Monte-Carlo, and the Oceanographic Museum. Cannes (famous for its film festival and Boulevard de la Croisette seafront) is 35 minutes by train for approximately 7 EUR. The medieval hilltop village of Eze is 13 minutes by bus 82 and a steep walk up with panoramic views over the coast. The Italian border town of Ventimiglia (30 minutes by train, 5-7 EUR) offers excellent Italian food and a famous Friday market with produce and clothing stalls.
