9 quieter places to add to the big sights: viewpoints, markets, walks, small museums and local favourites.
9 places in Nice
Castle Hill
A wooded hilltop park with a waterfall and an excellent panorama of the bay.
Daily, roughly 8:30–18:30 (later in summer)
Èze (12 km)
A medieval village perched on a rock, with an exotic garden and views over the Riviera.
Village open daily; garden hours vary
Nice-Ouest
A dazzling Russian Orthodox cathedral of onion domes and painted interiors, a reminder of the Riviera’s Russian past.
Daily; hours vary
Mont Boron
A wooded hill above the port with walking trails and lookouts over the bay, a green escape close to the centre.
Open-air; daily
Villefranche (5 km)
A pastel-coloured fishing port with a medieval covered street, a small beach and a huge natural harbour.
Bus 100 or a local train from Nice
Libération
A neighbourhood market where locals shop for cheese, olives and produce, far from the crowds of the Cours Saleya.
Tuesday–Sunday mornings
Cimiez
A hilltop neighbourhood of Roman baths and an amphitheatre, a Franciscan monastery and a garden of olive trees.
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Saint-Paul-de-Vence (25 km)
A perfectly preserved hilltop village of galleries and ramparts, once home to Chagall and other artists.
Buses run from Nice
Hidden gems are the quieter alternatives to the headline sights. Prices, hours and booking advice are approximate, so check the official site before you go.