Start on the Promenade des Anglais, ideally around 9:00, when the seafront is lively but not yet crowded. Walk east along the broad pavement toward the Old Town, taking in the blue chairs, striped beach umbrellas, and the Baie des Anges; allow about 1½ hours, or hire a Vélo Bleu bicycle if you prefer to cover more ground. In May, mornings are usually excellent for this stretch, but bring sun protection and comfortable shoes—the polished seafront can feel surprisingly warm later on.
Continue to the Musée Masséna, an elegant Belle Époque villa set just behind the promenade in the Carré d’Or. Allow about an hour for the period rooms, gardens, and exhibits tracing Nice’s history. Check the museum’s official opening days and hours before leaving, as schedules can change; admission is generally around €10, with reduced or free access under certain conditions. From here, Place Masséna is a pleasant 10-minute walk through the city centre, where you can pause for 30 minutes beneath the red-ochre arcades and see the contemporary seated figures above the square.
Have lunch at Le Safari, on the edge of Vieux Nice, roughly 10 minutes on foot from Place Masséna. It is a convenient introduction to Niçoise cooking, with dishes such as salade niçoise, petits farcis, pissaladière, and local fish; budget approximately €25–45 per person, and reserve if you want a table at a busy lunchtime. Afterward, spend the rest of the afternoon wandering through Old Town (Vieux Nice) rather than following a strict route: explore the shaded lanes around Rue Pairolière, look into the Baroque churches, and browse small food shops for socca, olives, candied fruit, and regional cheeses. Most of the centre is pedestrianised, so allow extra time for slow walking and remember that many smaller shops close for part of the afternoon or earlier on quieter days.
Start at Cours Saleya Market around 9:00, before the Old Town lanes become busy. Browse the flower stalls, seasonal produce, olives and local specialities, allowing about 1½ hours; the exact mix of vendors and opening days can vary, so check the market schedule closer to your visit. Pick up something small to taste as you wander, but save room for socca. From the market, walk east through the Old Town toward the port in roughly 15–20 minutes, following Quai des États-Unis and the waterfront.
Have your socca stop at Chez Pipo, near Port Lympia. It is a straightforward, local institution rather than a polished restaurant: order the chickpea pancake fresh from the oven, perhaps with a simple salad or another Niçois speciality. Allow about an hour and roughly €10–20 per person; queues are possible around lunchtime, and payment arrangements can change, so carrying a card and a little cash is sensible. Afterward, walk back toward the foot of Castle Hill, or approach it from the port side.
Spend the early afternoon on Castle Hill (Colline du Château). The climb is manageable but includes steep steps; the free lift is useful if it is operating, particularly on a warm day, though queues can form. Allow around two hours for the viewpoints, shaded paths and the waterfall, with the best panoramas looking back across the rooftops and Baie des Anges. Continue to Cimetière du Château, where ornate family tombs and quieter paths offer a more contemplative side of the hill; give this about 45 minutes. Wear shoes with a good grip and bring water, as there are limited places to refill once you are uphill.
For dinner, make your way west along the coast to Le Plongeoir at La Réserve, about 25–35 minutes on foot from the port or roughly 10–15 minutes by local bus depending on traffic. The restaurant sits dramatically above the Mediterranean and focuses on seafood, so reserve well ahead—especially for a sunset table—and confirm the dress policy and menu prices before going. Expect around €60–100 per person before drinks. Arrive a little early to enjoy the sea views; after dinner, the seafront is pleasant for a gentle walk back toward the centre, while buses and taxis are more practical if you have stayed late.
Leave Nice around 8:00–8:30 AM, allowing 45–75 minutes door to door for the TER to Èze-sur-Mer and the uphill bus or footpath to Èze Village. Check SNCF Connect and Lignes d’Azur the evening before, as connections can be infrequent. Once there, spend about two hours wandering the medieval lanes around Rue du Barri and Place de l’Église. The village is steep and cobbled, so wear shoes with good grip; arriving early makes the narrow lanes much more enjoyable and gives you better views from the terraces.
Continue to the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, at the summit, for roughly an hour. Its cacti, succulents and viewpoints over the Cap Ferrat coastline are the highlight, but the garden involves steps and uneven paths. Check its 2027 opening hours and ticket arrangements shortly before travelling; allow extra time if timed entry or a queue is in place.
Descend towards the village entrance for the Fragonard Perfumery – Èze, allowing about 45 minutes for the guided production visit and shop. It is a good place to learn how local fragrances are made, and you can usually browse without pressure to buy. For lunch, settle into Le Nid d’Aigle in Èze Village for a relaxed Provençal meal—roughly €25–60 per person depending on drinks and choices. Reserve if you want a terrace or are visiting during a busy Saturday; otherwise, eat a little earlier or later than the main 12:30–1:30 rush.
Leave Èze Village in the mid-to-late afternoon rather than waiting until evening. Take the bus downhill to Èze-sur-Mer, then the TER back to Nice-Ville, allowing another 45–75 minutes door to door and checking the final connection in advance. Keep a little margin: the village bus and train do not always line up perfectly, and the coastal station has limited shelter and facilities.
After arriving from Èze, aim to reach Port Lympia by about 9:00–9:30 AM. The direct bus from Èze Village is simplest, though checking Lignes d’Azur the night before is important because Sunday services can be spaced out; if timing is poor, the downhill bus to Èze-sur-Mer followed by the TER is usually more predictable. At Port Lympia, take a relaxed hour along the quays, admiring the ochre and yellow façades around the basin and the yachts. From the port, walk or take a short local bus ride toward Terra Amata; allow extra time for the uphill streets.
Late morning, visit the Musée de Paléontologie Humaine de Terra Amata, a compact archaeological museum built around evidence of some of Europe’s earliest inhabitants. Sunday opening is the key dependency, so verify the current hours before setting out; if it is closed, keep the port walk leisurely rather than trying to force another museum into the day. Admission is generally modest, around €5–10, and an hour is enough.
Continue to Mont Boron, reached from the port area by a local bus toward Mont Boron or by a steep 25–35-minute walk. The woodland paths are pleasantly shaded, but wear proper shoes and carry water: this is more rugged than the seafront. Spend around two hours following the marked trails and stopping at the viewpoints over Nice, the Mediterranean and Cap-Ferrat. Descend toward La Réserve for a quieter coastal pause at Plage de la Réserve, where the rocky shoreline is better suited to sitting and swimming than to a long sandy-beach stay; bring water shoes if you plan to enter the sea.
Finish around the Le Plongeoir area, a striking landmark perched above the water. Have a drink, aperitif or light meal nearby, budgeting roughly €15–30 per person, and arrive early if you want a waterside table—Sunday afternoons can be busy. This is a good point to end without adding another major sight: from La Réserve, buses toward central Nice take roughly 10–20 minutes, while a taxi is more comfortable if you are tired or carrying beach things.
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