Nice would have taken the name of Nikaia from the goddess Athena Nikê "victorious Athena" after a victory of the Greeks of Marseille over the Ligurians. Another hypothesis is that "Nice" comes from "nis", a Ligurian radical meaning "spring" in reference to the drinking water spring that gushed out at the foot of the Castle hill. Between the azure sea and the green hills, Nice is the5th most populated city in France. It occupies an area of over 7,000 hectares (including 300 hectares of green spaces) and has about 10 km of coastline, two-thirds of which are pebble beaches. The metropolis of Nice even extends inland to the ski resorts of the Mercantour massif. Many rankings designate it as one of the cities where the French would like to live, because of its annual sunshine which brings an exceptional climatic softness. The surrounding mountains form a natural barrier against the winter cold, while the cool coastal air moderates the heat in summer. This attraction for the Côte d'Azur city is not only due to its climate: it is also due to its unique architectural heritage, its gentle way of life, its fresh and colorful gastronomy, but also, and above all, to its dynamic economic performance. The Nice-Côte d'Azur airport gives a phenomenal boost to Nice's activity and helps attract the Arénas business district with more than 10 million passengers per year. The port of Nice is also the leading French cruise port with over 300,000 passengers per year. Nice is thesecond largest tourist and hotel centre in France, with more than 4 million visitors per year.

What to visit Nice?

When to go to Nice?

The best time to go and visit Nice is in spring or autumn, during the low season. The prices of hotels and restaurants are much lower than in summer at this period and the beaches are almost deserted. As for the climate, it is ideal, warm but not too hot, and you can often swim from spring and sometimes until the end of November in autumn. Winter is the very low tourist season but the climate remains mild with the possibility of doing many hikes under the sun. The high tourist season is of course the summer, in July and August, the roads are crowded and the prices can easily triple. It is then really necessary to book your stay early if you want to have a place and not to leave all your savings there. Nice is indeed one of the most touristic cities in France and it is not only popular with the French but also with a large number of foreign tourists. If you go to Nice in the summer, it is a good time for outdoor festivals and you can easily find an exhaustive list of these festivals at the tourist office.

Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

The climate in Nice is Mediterranean. Winters are mild and sunny with temperatures averaging 15°C and moderate rainfall with occasional snow in the mountains. But in the summer, the heat can be scorching in Nice with temperatures up to 35°C on the coast in August during the high tourist season. In spring, nature is in bloom and the weather is pleasant. In autumn, the weather is mild and the landscapes are colorful. These low season periods are therefore very popular.

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Pictures and images Nice

Pointus amarrés au Port de Nice. Jean Charles DUSANTER
Place Masséna Marta - Fotolia
Palais des ducs de Savoie Virgil PRUDHOMME
La promenade des anglais vue depuis le Château de Nice. Virgil PRUDHOMME

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When to travel?

The best time to go and visit Nice is in spring or autumn, during the low season. The prices of hotels and restaurant...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

The climate in Nice is Mediterranean. Winters are mild and sunny with temperatures averaging 15°C and moderate rainf...
Read more about it

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