How to enjoy Nice on a budget: the best transportation tickets, meal deals, and cheap experiences
May 4, 2022 鈥 6 min read
From hitting the beach to staying somewhere on the cheap, you can have a fun time in Nice on a budget 漏 Carol Yepes / Getty Images
The French Riviera might be known for its glitz and glam, its old-world opulence and its elegant villas, but Nice needn鈥檛 be an expensive destination to visit.
Getting around is easy and inexpensive, entry to the main sights and attractions doesn鈥檛 cost much (if anything at all), with plenty of free things to see and do. You can also dine on delicious Mediterranean and Ni莽oise cuisine without breaking the bank. Follow our tips to make the most of your visit to Nice on a budget.
Avoid traveling to Nice in peak season or during carnival
Summer 鈥 August especially 鈥 is the worst time to visit Nice if you want to remain budget conscious. Most of Europe is on vacation, and prices for flights and accommodations tend to skyrocket. Popular tourist spots get very crowded, and even the heat can get too much. You should also avoid visiting during carnival season in February (unless you鈥檙e specifically visiting to see Nice鈥檚 rightly famous) 鈥 flights might seem affordable but accommodations get booked up fast and prices tend to rise accordingly.
Visiting Nice in May, June, or September is a safer bet, with pleasant weather, fewer crowds and more wallet-friendly flight, food, and accommodation costs.
Consider staying in a hostel or self-catering apartment
Let鈥檚 be honest, hotels in Nice are seldom cheap, but there are ways to save. If your budget can stretch a little, there are many worthy boutique hotels and lovely hip places to stay 鈥 although a double room will often cost you at least 鈧 50鈥100 per night at best.
Travelers on a tighter budget (think 鈧20鈥40 a night) should opt for a cozy guesthouse such as, a stylish hostel like or, or a self-catering apartment with.
Buy the transportation or sightseeing pass that鈥檚 right for you
Buy your pass wisely, factoring in how long you鈥檙e going to be in the city for, how you鈥檙e planning on getting around, and what sort of attractions you鈥檙e going to visit.
For example, if you鈥檙e only in town for 2 or 3 days and are thinking of packing in as many cultural attractions and activities as possible, you should consider getting a (1 day 鈧26, 2 days 鈧38, 3 days 鈧56), which gives free access to many of the city鈥檚 top sights, including the MAMAC, the Mus茅e Matisse, the Palais Lascaris and more 鈥 from walking tours to electric scooter hire. For an extra 鈧4 per day, the pass can also cover unlimited travel on the city鈥檚 trams and buses. Alternatively, the is a steal, at only 鈧15 for 3 days of unlimited access to the city鈥檚 museums and galleries.
If you're not much of a culture vulture and want to spend your time shopping or laying on the beach, you'll want to buy the 鈧10 for 10 rides transport ticket from. It's valid for transportation to and from the airport, as well as travel between different parts of the city using the local bus and tram network. If you鈥檙e staying for longer, then the 鈧15 7-day transport pass is better value, with unlimited travel on the bus and tram network for a week.
Browse the stalls at local food markets for the perfect picnic
Head to the city鈥檚 famous March茅 du Cours Saleya or March茅 de la Lib茅ration to cobble together a tasty lunch for under 鈧10. From colorful fruits and vegetables, to creamy cheeses, olives and breads, find the best local produce and treat yourself to a gorgeous picnic on the beach or in one of the city鈥檚 many green spaces.
At both markets, you can also buy cheap and delicious Ni莽ois street snacks (under 鈧5 a pop), including socca (chickpea-flour pancakes), 辫颈蝉蝉补濒补诲颈猫谤别 (caramelized onion and anchovy tart), and pan bagnat (round-shaped sandwich filled with tuna, raw veggies, eggs, and olive oil). Try Chez Th茅r茅sa at Cours Saleya and Kiosque Tintin at Lib茅ration.
Choose restaurants wisely
Generally, avoid restaurants in busy, touristy spots with lengthy menus and eye-watering prices. Prefer places favored by locals and anywhere with a 香港六合彩即时开奖 sticker. Lunch menus can often offer excellent value, too.
For a special treat, here are a few places with excellent grub and reasonable prices that are definitely worth checking out: in the old town (excellent 3-course menu for 鈧34), in the city center (3-course Ni莽ois menu: 鈧27.90; 2鈥3-course lunch menu: 鈧17.90鈥21.90), and near the port (go at lunchtime for the great-value, 2鈥3-course lunch menu: 鈧18鈥23).
Make the most of discounted happy-hour drinks
Most pubs and bars in Nice, especially those in the old town, by the beach, near place Garibaldi and in the port district, offer discounts on pints, bottled beers and cocktails during 鈥渉appy hour鈥, which is usually between 5pm and 8pm (sometimes from 6pm to 9pm in summer). That鈥檚 a whole three hours to enjoy an 鈥渁p茅ro鈥 drink or three in the sunshine for around 鈧5 a pop. We鈥檒l cheers to that!
Avoid Nice鈥檚 private beaches
Nice鈥檚 seafront is split between 15 private beaches and 20 public ones (including two that are wheelchair accessible). The rows of perfectly lined comfy sun loungers on the private beaches may look appealing, but they will set you back a good 鈧20 a day. If you鈥檙e budget-conscious, they鈥檙e not worth splashing your cash on.
Nice鈥檚 beaches are all pebbles, with the exception of a sandy beach-volleyball court at the eastern edge of the seafront. Our tip? Bring along a beach mat or a fold-up mattress. You can ask your accommodation if they could loan you one (hostels and hotels often do), or buy one for next to nothing in a tourist shop near the beach, most supermarkets or a sports store like Decathlon. Jelly shoes might come in handy too!
Make the most of Nice鈥檚 free sights and scenery
Nice is a lovely city to explore on foot, and taking in all the beautiful scenery along the way is of course completely free.
Stroll along the palm tree-lined Promenade des Anglais, climb up to the Colline du Ch芒teau for unparalleled views of the city and the azure sea, explore every corner of the quaint old town and relax in the city鈥檚 many free parks and gardens.
Daily costs in Nice
Hostel room: 鈧20鈥30 (dorm bed)
Basic hotel room for two: from 鈧50鈥60
Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): from 鈧30鈥40
Public transport ticket: 鈧1.50 for 1 ride, 鈧10 for 10 rides, 鈧5 for 1-day pass, 鈧15 for 7-day pass
Coffee: 鈧2鈥4
Sandwich: 鈧4鈥5
Dinner for two: 鈧40鈥60
Beer/pint at the bar: 鈧7鈥8 (around 鈧5 during happy hour)
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