Summer or winter? Hotel or apartment? High season or low? Find out when is the best time to visit Nice

When is the best time to visit Nice? There is a lot to bring in account when visiting a new destination – and Nice is no exception.
On one hand, you would like to visit it on a sunny period, when there is a clear view of the city and the sea is warm.
On the other hand, there are some events that are worth seeing, and some restaurants are not open all year.

Now we are here with some answers. Our criteria is composed by flight prices, accommodation rates, sunny days, events and holidays. Here we go!

One thing is for sure

Let’s get fast on this one: we do not recommend on landing in Nice between mid-July and the end of August.
Although tempting by default, it is a very busy timing to visit Nice. Plus, temperatures are rising to up to 35°C, humidity is heavy and traffic by car is ridiculous.

How about accommodation? Hotels capacity is high (80-90%), flight prices are sky-high (unless you buy them 6+ months in advance) and masses of people are everywhere. This means that public transport is packed with many tourists on top of the working people.
The worst part is when the cruise-line ships are harboring.
Nice is one of the most popular destinations for them, bringing numbers of additional tourists that the city can barely cope with. This is even more noticeable on smaller towns like Villefranche-sur-mer and Monaco.

Add these together and you will quickly see how the vacation of your dreams could transform to a hot and crowded nightmare.

Getting the hang of it

Getting around this is simple. You just need to choose between 2 periods:

April-June

This period is the sweet-spot of visiting Nice.
Shops are already back from their ‘winter sleep’ (mostly back to activity from March), the sea is getting worm (22-24°C), sun is mostly up and humidity is still low.
Public transport and roads are relatively clear and you can also enjoy the view of the streets and landmarks of the city.

A big advantage to think about is that you can see some mountains still covered in snow in the background of Nice.

Another plus is of course the accommodation prices. Instead of paying 150-200€/night you can find some fine rooms for under 90€!

Click the image below for this staggering apartment in the heart of Nice:

September to mid-October

After the summer rush ends and the gigantic cruise-lines are almost out of the coast – it is time to have a visit in the city.
Weather is rather comfortable (22-25°C), the air is dryer, restaurants and beach clubs are still open, and traveling prices are back to normal.

There are even some cool activities to do around the area in this period such the Food Festival of Eze, the Cannes and Monaco yacht shows, SJCP Prestige auto-concours and many more.

Bonus: the timing no one is talking about

Nice may be a city for summer lovers, but there is a lot to do in it during the Winter!

The period between the end of December the end of February is epic. Temperatures not as low as the rest of Europe, and sun is still mostly up. Here are two events that makes this time a lovely one to visit:

1. On the end of February, the Carnival of Nice will once again open its gates and show its visitors what art combined with joy is like. This year, the festival’s theme will be <<The Fashion King>>.
Traditionally, it will host the grand parades and the famous “flower battle”.
Entry is free for those who will wear costumes from head to toe!

2. During Christmas there is a magical atmosphere in town, thanks to the big fair happening on the Promenade du Peillon. Like each year, it features many pop-up shops from all over Europe that bring products and tastes from other cultures.

Moreover, you will find there attractions for all the family like a Ferris Wheel, Ice skating rink and various play facilities.

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