© Ali Shayler
Discover the top Nice activities
Whatever you choose to do on your summer holiday you are sure to find a huge range of activities across the Nice area.
From relaxing to full on adrenaline there is something for everyone, every ability and every age in Nice. Check out the selection of things below for some holiday inspiration!
With some stunning beaches along the coastline you will not be at a loss for places to go and things do by the shore in Nice. From beach clubs to watersports, sailing and boat trips, to just sunbathing and enjoying the scenery there is something for everyone.
Explore the beautiful coastline around Nice on a boat. Many of these trips include stops for swimming in the crystalline Mediterranean waters, as well as snorkelling and even scuba diving.
Kayaking is a fun watersport that can be enjoyed as a team or on your own. Unlike canoeing, paddlers face forward and have a double bladed paddle. Using the paddle you can control the speed, direction and enjoy the experience and wonderful views in your own time. There are some watersports centres and adventure companies who can take you out for your kayaking experience.
Nice is without a doubt one of Europe’s most beautiful and varied sports climbing venues. An abundance of top quality limestone means that the island has an unparalleled variety of routes of all grades - suitable for experienced and beginner climbers.
Explore the best that Nice's has to offer with an expert local guide. From natural tracks to traditional buildings and crafts, food and drink... there's lots to be discovered in Nice.
Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Nice and what better way to explore Nice than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Nice without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.
Dive into the beautiful waters & discover the world below, scuba diving is a fantastic way to explore the water, wildlife and what lies below. If you are a beginner to scuba diving there are a number of diving schools in Nice that can teach you the ropes and get you started. For those more experienced there are plenty of excursions in Nice where you can dive into the beautiful blue waters and explore the depths below.
You can dangle a fishing rod in most places and it's often something you can do by yourself, or with friends, from a harbour wall, from the beach or from a boat. There are literally hundreds of places you can go. Why not speak to some of the specialist companies who offer guided trips and excursions or yacht charters for coastal or deep sea fishing, for a bit more of an adventure.
There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Nice! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!
Excellent courses and beautiful scenery across the entire Cote d'Azur region, make this a perfect place for a round of golf. There are also a number of golf specialist hotels and resorts that you stay in if a holiday filled with golfing is what you are looking for!
Horse ride through the nature reserves, gorges, vineyards and mountain top towns and the beautiful coastline of the French Riviera is the perfect way to explore the area. Nice and the surrounding area is an attractive destination for horse riding, trekking & lessons.
Race around the tracks in go-karts or try something more powerful! With a number of karting tracks near Nice it will be great fun for everyone.
Explore and discover the best markets and shopping in Nice! A dream for any sort of shopper and in all the villages dotted around you are sure to stumble across some fantastic shopping. The markets in Nice are also something not to be missed, explore the many stalls and purchase anything from local food to nic nacs and souvenirs. Check out our guide to shopping in Nice for more information on all the shopping hot spots and markets.
Mountain biking is a challenging and fun activity whether you are an experienced biker or new to the sport it has something to offer everyone. If you are new to mountain biking let a guide take you out for the day and show you the ropes. If you are experienced then seek out the best routes and tackle the steep and rocky tracks.
Heading to a Nature Reserve you can explore all the beautiful wildlife and soak up all the beautiful scenery. Take a walk around the park, spot the unusual wildlife or even do a spot of birdwatching. There are a number of wonderful nature reserves in Nice that you can explore.
Paddleboarding is a great way to explore the stunning coastline of Nice. No previous experience is needed, just hop on the board and start paddling.
Nice is the perfect place to pop on those running shoes and head out to explore. With the beautiful scenery and wonderful landscape you can run for miles or simply head out for a short jog. There are a number of trails to follow and even some events that you can participate in. Check out our running guide for more information on running in Nice.
With plenty of coastline to explore you would be silly not to hire a boat, charter a yacht or join one of the many boat trips up and down the French Riviera to some of France's best beauty spots.
With its warm climate and dry months, tennis is very popular across the region. Significant investment in the sport means that there many tennis clubs and courts available for the enthusiast or the amateur. The courts are generally clay or hard courts, and you can book courts as a non-member at most of the clubs.
Try an adventure playground or a theme park for a day of family fun. There are a number of adventure playground and theme parks, where both adults and children can play for hours.
Swing through the trees high above the forest floor on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges, ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. Tree-top adventures can be fun for both adults and kids and with most courses having a few options of varying difficulty anyone can participate in the tree swinging fun.
Hikes in the Alpes-Maritime region can generally be split into two categories: coastal and mountain. The coastal routes are all very accessible and mostly very easy, more like strolls than hikes, but still worth doing for the unbeatable views of the coastline and access to fabulous beaches along the way. The mountain trails take a little more effort. They are a great way to explore the terrain behind Nice and the many medieval villages that are dotted around the countryside.
Nice is perfect for water sports with its warm summers, gentle breezes and interesting coastline. There are plenty of watersports centres where you can learn to sail or enjoy thrilling rides in speedboats, and everything in between.
Take a tour around one of the beautiful vineyards in Nice. Taste the carefully made wines, learn more about them, the grapes and the wine making process whilst enjoying the wonderful vineyard scenery.
Whilst many visitors to the French Riviera seek a leisurely vacation of wining, dining, and sunbathing, we know that some of you seek something a bit more daring during your break than sneaking in a cheeky glass of rosé before midday.
The Train des Pignes runs on the Chemins de Fer de Provence railway line and connects the Riviera town of Nice with the historic city of Digne Les-Bains, taking you from seaside to snowy mountains in just three hours and 30 minutes.
