Nice neighborhoods

Posted by lizzy_travel (Minnesota) on 02/14/26 11:36 PM

We are spending 9 nights in Nice next month - our first time visiting. We like a kitchen for longer stays, so doing an apartment rental. I'd love to stay near the water for long daytime walks, but that comes with a hefty price tag. So, I currently have a place booked in Central Nice - a few blocks east of Av. Jean Medecin, about 10 min walk to Nice-Ville, and from what I can estimate on Google Maps, a 15-20 minute walk to the water.

I'm seeing some places available for similar prices over in the Port area - including one just a block away from the port. Seems like it's much closer access to the waterside walks I'm envisioning, but also a ways away from the rest of Nice, and fewer shops/eateries than what I see in Central Nice.

For folks who have spent time in Nice, do you recommend the Old Port neighborhood for a first timer, or should we stay central and commit to longer walks to the water?

Posted by Suki

New England

02/15/26 12:19 AM

12107 posts

Stay central, that’s what we did.

Posted by AbbyO

Atlanta, GA

02/15/26 01:16 AM

233 posts

Absolutely stay central - the magic of Nice lies on the Promenade des Anglais. We always look for something around the Alsace-Lorraine tram stop. It's close to the water but also not far from the gare, the vieille ville, the port, or the Jean-Medecin shopping district.

Posted by Gooster

Nice, France & San Francisco

02/15/26 01:28 PM

820 posts

The port has some excellent eateries, with some top, non-touristy restaurants in the area at the base of the port and up through Bonaparte/Place du Pin. The downside its that you have to extend your walk to get around to the Prom. The tram line 2 has two convenient stops, but the train station (a second Nice stop) is a bit further. If you are too far down the sea side front of the port, it can be limited (due to lack of services like a grocery store or boulangerie).

You may have booked in the heart of the Musiciens neighborhood. The lower two blocks next to Blvd Victor Hugo are the best. There is an only area in the central city some find a bit dodgy near the Notre Church and the intersection of Rue d'Angleterre and Rue de Belgique is a city focus area for improvements. The easier access to the train station will be a benefit, and there are plenty of shops and eateries from there down to the water (but just avoid eating directly on Rue Massena, the pedestrian zone, as they tend to be touristy).

Posted by Elizabeth

L'Occitanie, France

02/15/26 01:55 PM

11629 posts

Gooster is a Nice expert, but I do have to give a plug for the Pizza Cresci on the pedestrian rue Massena that our family has be going to for fifty years. We now have our 4th generation eating there.

Posted by lizzy_travel OP

Minnesota

02/15/26 03:00 PM

68 posts

Thanks all for your helpful feedback! I don't think the neighborhood we're booked in is Musiciens - it's east of that, near the intersection of Rue de Lépante and Av. du Marechal Foch. I actually can't find a whole lot of information on this area of the city, but from Google Maps it looks like there are a lot of shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc. I think ideally, we'd be a bit closer to the water, but we love walking, so I'm not too concerned about that - more so just curious about the area.