Train to Nice - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Best time to go: September or April–May – warm, less crowded and lower accommodation prices than in summer

• City tickets: A single ticket costs a few euros and a daily ticket costs around ten euros

• How long to go for: A weekend is enough for the Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice, Castle Hill and Cours Saleya; a week allows you to add Cannes or Monaco

• Practical tip: In July and August, accommodation prices rise by 30–50%, so summer accommodation should be booked well in advance

September and May are best for a city break in Nice – daytime temperatures are warm, the crowds are smaller than in summer and accommodation prices are lower.

Spring (March–May)

• In May, daytime temperatures reach 12–21°C with plenty of sunshine, making it great for strolling along the Promenade des Anglais and through Old Nice.

• In April, the Cours Saleya market is filled with flowers and the streets of Vieux Nice are not yet crowded.

• In March, the sea is still only a dozen or so degrees, so it is better to focus on sightseeing than sunbathing.

Summer (June–August)

• In July and August, daytime temperatures reach 18–27°C, the sea is warm and the beaches and restaurants are at their busiest.

• The Nice Jazz Festival takes place in July, so concert tickets are worth buying in advance.

• In the evenings, restaurants along the Promenade des Anglais fill up quickly, so a table reservation makes it easier to dine at a popular hour.

Autumn (September–October)

• September combines warm weather, a warm sea and fewer tourists than at the peak of the season.

• In October, daytime temperatures are 11–18°C, ideal for walking around the city and visiting museums.

• In September and October, accommodation prices drop by 20–30% compared to summer.

Winter (November–February)

• February sees the Nice Carnival, one of the biggest carnivals in France, so it is worth booking accommodation 2–3 months in advance.

• Outside the carnival, visiting monuments and museums in winter is easier without queues and crowds.

• Even in winter, Nice enjoys many sunny days, so walks along the Promenade des Anglais remain pleasant.

You travel from Poland to Nice with a transfer in Paris.

From Wrocław to Nice

• From Wrocław Główny station you travel 25–30 hours to Nice with a change in Paris.

• On the section to Paris you will find day and night services.

• From Gare de Lyon to Nice the TGV takes 5–6 hours.

From Katowice to Nice

• From Katowice Główne station to Nice you travel 25–30 hours with a change in Paris.

• You can reach Paris by day or night service.

• From Gare de Lyon to Nice the TGV takes 5–6 hours.

From Poznań to Nice

• From Poznań Główny station to Nice you travel 27–32 hours via Paris.

• You can plan the first leg of your journey by day or night.

• From Paris to Nice the TGV takes 5–6 hours.

From Kraków to Nice

• The route from Kraków Główny station to Nice via Paris takes 29–35 hours.

• Day and night services are available on the section to Paris.

• From Gare de Lyon to Nice the TGV takes 5–6 hours through the south of France.

From Warsaw to Nice

• From Warsaw Central station to Nice you travel 30–36 hours with a change in Paris.

• From Warsaw to Paris you will find day and night connections.

• From Gare de Lyon to Nice the TGV takes 5–6 hours.

Seat reservations are compulsory on the international section, including TGV trains in France. You can buy your ticket on Europodróże without registration - all you need is your email address and phone number, and you will receive your ticket by email and SMS. 30 minutes before departure you will receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy your TGV ticket, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price - ideally 4–8 weeks before your journey. See the refund and exchange policy for details; with PKP Intercity you can request a refund up to 20 minutes before departure and an exchange up to 30 minutes before departure.

From Gare de Nice Ville station, you can walk to the city centre and the Promenade des Anglais in just a few minutes.

Public transport in Nice is operated by Ligne d'Azur. Trams and buses run regularly throughout the city. A single ticket costs a few euros and a daily ticket costs around ten euros. If you are making several journeys a day, a daily ticket will be more convenient.

Taxis and Uber are available outside the station and via their apps. A ride from the station to the outlying districts costs around ten to several dozen euros, depending on the distance and time of day.

Nice has a public bike-sharing scheme. You will find docking stations in the city centre and near the main attractions. A ride along the Promenade des Anglais takes you along several kilometres of flat, easy cycling.

The main attractions are within a few kilometres of the station, so you can explore the centre on foot.

Where to stay:

• Old Nice (Vieux Nice) - close to the beach and the Cours Saleya market, with the charm of narrow streets and period townhouses.

• The area around the Promenade des Anglais - close to the sea and beach, but accommodation prices are higher here than further inland.

• Garibaldi Square area - fewer tourists, more local eateries and a good tram connection to the rest of the city.

Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais is 7 km long and runs along the Mediterranean coast. Entry is free. Walking the full length takes 60–90 minutes, but you can walk just a section – for example from Old Nice to the Hôtel Negresco and back in 30–40 minutes. It is quieter here in the morning. In the evening, the promenade fills with walkers, joggers and cyclists.

Castle Hill (Colline du Château)

From Castle Hill you will enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Nice, the harbour and the Mediterranean. Admission is free. The visit takes 60–90 minutes, including the ascent and descent. You can climb the hill on foot from Old Nice or take the lift. It is best to come before sunset, when the city is bathed in warm light. At the top you will also find a waterfall and the ruins of a medieval castle.

Old Nice (Vieux Nice) and Sainte-Réparate Cathedral

In Old Nice you stroll through a maze of colourful streets and small squares. At the heart of the district stands the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, a 17th-century baroque church with a distinctive red dome. Admission to the cathedral is free. A visit to the cathedral takes 20–30 minutes. Check current opening hours before visiting, as the church closes in the afternoon. All around you will find small galleries, bakeries selling socca and picturesque fountains.

Cours Saleya market

Cours Saleya is a traditional market selling flowers, seafood, olives and local produce. Admission is free. It is best to come in the morning when the stalls are fully stocked and the crowds are still thin. On Mondays, the food market is replaced by an antiques flea market. In the evening, the area transforms into a strip of restaurants and bars.

Place Masséna

Place Masséna is Nice's central square, surrounded by red arcaded buildings in Sardinian style. Admission is free. A stroll around the square and its surroundings takes 30–45 minutes. In the evening the square is spectacularly lit up, and on tall poles you will see glowing sculptures of seated figures by Jaume Plensa. The square connects Old Nice with the newer part of the city, making it a useful landmark and meeting point.

Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts)

At the Museum of Fine Arts you will see European painting and sculpture from the 17th to the 20th century. Admission is paid. A visit takes 90–120 minutes. The museum is housed in the former palace of the Duchess Kotchoubey. The collection includes works by Monet, Rodin and Dufy.

Lascaris Palace (Palais Lascaris)

Palais Lascaris is a 17th-century baroque palace tucked away in one of the streets of Old Nice. Admission is free or costs a nominal fee, so check the current price before visiting. A visit takes 45–60 minutes. Inside you will see richly decorated rooms with frescoes, a collection of historic musical instruments and an 18th-century pharmacy.

One-day itinerary

Start the morning with breakfast at the Cours Saleya market – a coffee and a fresh croissant go perfectly with a stroll among the flower stalls. Then walk through the streets of Old Nice to Sainte-Réparate Cathedral. Before noon, head up to Castle Hill for a panoramic view of the entire city. In the afternoon, descend to the Promenade des Anglais and walk along the seafront to Place Masséna. In the evening, return to Vieux Nice for dinner.

Weekend itinerary

Day 1: You can plan the first day in the same way as the one-day itinerary.

Day 2: On the second day, return to Cours Saleya in the morning – if it happens to be Monday, you will find the antiques flea market there. Before noon, visit the Museum of Fine Arts and allow 90–120 minutes. In the afternoon, explore Lascaris Palace in Old Nice. If the weather is fine, spend the rest of the day on the beach or cycling along the Promenade des Anglais. If you have more time, you can easily take the train from Nice to Monaco in 20 minutes or to Cannes in 30–40 minutes.

What to eat

Salade niçoise - a classic salad with tuna, hard-boiled eggs, Nice olives and anchovies. This dish originated here and you will find it in most restaurants in Old Nice.

Socca - a crispy flatbread made from chickpea flour, fried on large griddles. It is a street snack costing just a few euros, available at the Cours Saleya market and around Old Nice.

Pissaladière - the local equivalent of pizza, topped with caramelised onions, anchovies and black olives. Buy it in bakeries and at the market.

Bouillabaisse - a Provençal fish soup with saffron, garlic and tomatoes, served with bread and aioli. This dish works well for lunch or dinner.

Ratatouille - slow-cooked Provençal vegetables: aubergine, courgette, peppers and tomatoes. In Nice you can get it as a main course or a side dish.

Fougasse - Provençal bread with olives, anchovies or herbs. You can buy it to take away from bakeries.

Fenocchio ice cream - a well-known gelateria in Old Nice with dozens of flavours, including lavender, olive and beer. Queues are long in summer, so it is best to come before noon.

Where to eat:

• Cours Saleya and the streets of Vieux Nice - the gastronomic heart of Nice – you will find authentic local restaurants and lower prices than on the Promenade des Anglais.

• Restaurants along the Promenade - more expensive, but more likely to have sea views.

• Garibaldi Square area - a good choice for an evening dinner in a quieter atmosphere.

Souvenirs

• Olive oil from Provence - a local product available at the Cours Saleya market and in shops throughout Old Nice.

• Rosé wine from Provence - the region is famous for its light, dry rosé wines.

• Lavender honey - a classic Provençal product that makes an easy and popular souvenir.

• Soaps and natural cosmetics - handmade olive and lavender soaps, available in shops throughout Vieux Nice.

• Ceramics from the Côte d'Azur - colourful dishes and decorations in Provençal style.

The budget option is based on accommodation in a hostel or budget hotel, street food and free attractions such as the Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill, Place Masséna, Sainte-Réparate Cathedral and Cours Saleya.

The mid-range option includes a hotel in Old Nice or near Garibaldi Square, a mix of restaurant meals and takeaway food, a day ticket for public transport and one or two paid museum entries.

The comfort option involves a sea-view hotel on the Promenade des Anglais, dinners in full-service restaurants, taxis or Uber and a fuller museum programme.

The currency in France is the euro (EUR). In July and August, accommodation prices rise by 30–50% compared to spring and autumn, so September and May offer the best combination of good weather and a reasonable budget.