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Explore 5 Must-See Attractions in Nice's Revamped French Riviera
Discover Nice's timeless charm with refreshed coastal promenades, Mediterranean beaches, and Belle Époque architecture awaiting 2026 travelers.
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Nice sits at the heart of the French Riviera, a city where Belle Époque grandeur meets Mediterranean ease. The Promenade des Anglais remains the city's iconic artery, a sweeping coastal boulevard that invites leisurely strolls past pebble beaches and vintage hotels. In 2026, the promenade has been refreshed with new cycling lanes and shaded rest zones, making it more accessible than ever for visitors arriving from across Europe and beyond.
The Vieille Ville, or Old Town, is an essential stop for anyone serious about understanding Nice. Narrow ochre-tinted lanes open unexpectedly onto baroque churches and sun-drenched piazzas. The Cours Saleya market runs every morning except Monday, overflowing with local flowers, socca flatbreads, and the region's celebrated black olives. The Musée Matisse, perched above the city in the Cimiez hill district, holds one of the world's finest collections of the artist's work and is free on the first and third Sundays of each month.
Day trips from Nice have never been more practical. The scenic train line west reaches Monaco in 25 minutes and Menton in 35, while the A8 autoroute connects to Cannes in under an hour. For those drawn to altitude, the Mercantour National Park offers dramatic gorges and alpine villages a short drive north. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, the second-busiest in France, handles direct flights from more than 100 destinations, cementing the city's status as the gateway to the Riviera.