A 4-Day Family Trip to Nice

Check into your hotel on or near the Promenade des Anglais. Spend some time relaxing by the pool (the Hyatt has one) before venturing out to explore Place Messena and the surrounding area. Take your pick of any lively restaurant for dinner. Sit outside to enjoy some people watching. After dinner, grab some gelato at one of the many spots and take a stroll down the promenade.

Start your day by grabbing delicious breakfast pastries and coffee at Bio Brod. They offer vegan baked goods if you're looking for vegan options. After breakfast, take a 10-minute walk or Uber to the train station. You can buy tickets at the station or before on the website. The station does get somewhat chaotic and there are lines for the ticket kiosks, so give yourself time (especially in the summer). Head to spend your day in Antibes.

If you are visiting any other day but Monday, plan to make your way to the Marché Provençal, which is a popular market. Spend some time sampling and admiring the food options and grab lunch if you're hungry. Afterwards, walk through the town and do some window shopping, passing through several boutiques. Make your way toward Plage du Ponteil for some beach time. If you don’t have any beach supplies with you, there are several vendors on the promenade that sell blankets and umbrellas. Just don’t forget to negotiate. After the beach, stop at Gelateria Albert 1er for a delicious gelato treat. Then, make your way back to the train station to return to Nice for dinner and a nightcap.

Once again, start your day with a patisserie breakfast at Maison Armand—there are a few locations in Nice, so pick whichever is most convenient. Next, head back to the train station to visit Monaco. Once you arrive, head to Place du Palais to watch the changing of the guard, which most kids find fascinating. Beware: It is uphill for a while and it can get hot. I recommend bringing an umbrella for some shade. Enjoy some nice views of the yachts from the top.

Then, walk through Monaco, stopping for some food along the way. In about 10 minutes, you will reach the aquarium (Musée océanographique de Monaco) which is a huge hit for all ages and a nice reprieve from the heat. If you’re not ready to head back to Nice yet, you can catch the big red tour bus right outside of the aquarium to take you through the highlights of Monaco and stop at the famous casino square.

Afterwards, walk back to the train station to head back to Nice. Enjoy some refreshing pool time back at the hotel before dinner at Chez Pipo, known for their socca, a type of chickpea pancake Nice is known for.

Today, take a relaxing day to enjoy Nice. Start your day with the hotel breakfast (VIP perk) or another local bakery. Then, find the train stop on the promenade for Trains Touristiques de Nice, which will take you on a 45-minute journey through some Nice highlights and will stop at Colline du Château, a hilltop park offering fantastic views and a waterfall. Spend the afternoon lounging and having lunch at one of the beach clubs.

After resting and freshening up, venture back out toward vibrant Old Town Nice. Get dinner at Chez Acchiardo for a classic Niçoise salad or grilled meats. Make sure to stop at Fenocchio for some ice cream!