If you're visiting the French Riviera for the first time, Nice is one of the easiest places to base yourself. It has the airport, the train connections, the restaurants, the sea, the old town, and enough going on that you don't feel like you're simply sleeping there between day trips.
But the real appeal of staying in Nice is that you can see a lot of the Riviera without changing hotels every night. In three days, you can get a proper taste of the region: pastel-colored Menton near the Italian border, a little Monaco glamour, a full day in Nice, the old town and ramparts of Antibes, and the art-filled village of Saint-Paul de Vence.
This itinerary is for people who want the highlights without trying to do absolutely everything. It is full, but realistic, and it keeps Nice as your base the entire time.
Is Nice a Good Base for the French Riviera?
Yes, especially for a first trip. Nice is central, walkable, well-connected by train, and has more going on in the evening than many of the smaller towns along the coast. You can spend the day exploring somewhere else, then come back to Nice for dinner, a drink by the sea, or a simple walk along the Promenade des Anglais.
It also gives you flexibility. Some Riviera towns are beautiful but very quiet at night, while others can feel a little too polished or expensive for a full stay. Nice has a bit more balance. It feels like a real city, but you still have the Mediterranean right in front of you.
Do You Need a Car for This Itinerary?
You can do a lot of this itinerary by train, especially Menton, Monaco, Nice, and Antibes. The coastal train line is one of the best things about traveling around the French Riviera.
That said, the easiest version of this itinerary is with a car, especially for the final day when you combine Antibes with Saint-Paul de Vence. Saint-Paul de Vence is inland, and while it is reachable by public transport, it is much simpler to visit with a car or taxi.
So think of this as a flexible itinerary:
- No car: focus on Nice, Menton, Monaco, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, or Cannes by train.
- With a car: add inland villages like Saint-Paul de Vence and make the pacing much easier.
- Mixed version: use trains for the coastal towns, then take a taxi or rideshare for harder-to-reach places.
3-Day French Riviera Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Menton, Monaco, and an evening in Nice. Best for colorful buildings, sea views, and classic Riviera glamour.
Day 2: Nice. Best for markets, local food, Old Town wandering, and a slower day by the sea.
Day 3: Antibes and Saint-Paul de Vence. Best for art, old towns, coastal walks, galleries, and one very special final dinner.
Day 1: Menton, Monaco, and an Evening Back in Nice
Start your first full day early and head east of Nice toward Menton. Menton is one of the prettiest towns on the French Riviera, sitting close to the Italian border with colorful buildings, mountain views, and a seafront that almost feels too good to be real.
It is also one of those places that is much better before the middle of the day. Go early, wander, and give yourself time to enjoy the old town before it gets too busy.
Start with a lemon tart from Mitron Bakery, then spend the morning walking through the old streets, along the seafront, and up toward the views over the town. Menton is famous for lemons, and you can find lemon flavored everything here.
For lunch, you have two good options.
You can keep things casual in Menton and embrace a slower day, or you can stop in Monaco on the way back to Nice. Monaco is not necessarily the strongest food stop on this route, but it is worth seeing once, especially if you have never been. It is small, shiny, and almost absurdly polished.
For a more stylish lunch stop, Giacomo in Monaco works well if you want something beachy and polished without making the whole day feel too formal.
After lunch, spend a little time walking around Monaco. You don't need to overdo it. See the harbor, admire the views, take in the slightly surreal atmosphere, then head back to Nice by late afternoon.
Back in Nice, keep the evening easy. For a drink or light snack by the sea, Babel Babel is a good option, especially if you want that golden-hour feeling without committing to a big meal right away.
For dinner, La Villa Massenet is a comfortable but elegant choice. It feels right for the first night: polished enough to feel special, but not so intense that you're exhausted before the trip has properly started.
Day 2: A Full Day in Nice
After a busy first day, spend day two focused on Nice itself.
Start with coffee and a pastry. La Base Bakery and Bonjour Amour are both good options, depending on where you are staying and what kind of morning you want. From there, head toward Cours Saleya, Nice's famous market in the Old Town.
Cours Saleya is touristy, yes, but it is still worth visiting. Go in the morning, walk through the flowers and produce stalls, and then take time to wander through Vieux Nice. The Old Town is colorful, busy, and a little bit of a maze. It is also one of the most atmospheric parts of the city.
For lunch, La Merenda is one of the classic choices in Nice. It is small, traditional, and very well-known, so you will need to plan ahead. This is the kind of place that makes sense for a Nice-focused day because it gives you a proper taste of local cooking without turning lunch into a huge production. But be aware that La Merenda is cash only and requires reservations in advance.
After lunch, keep the afternoon flexible. Walk along the Promenade des Anglais, head up to Colline du Château for the views, or continue wandering through the Old Town. Colline du Château is one of the best viewpoints in Nice, and it is worth the climb, especially on a clear day.
By late afternoon, head toward the water for apéro. Le Plongeoir is one of the most iconic places in Nice, but not many people know that the restaurant actually has a bar on the lower level where you can enjoy a drink with a view, without needing to book a reservation at the restaurant. It sits dramatically over the sea, which makes it feel a little more special than a standard pre-dinner drink.
For dinner, you have a few directions you could go. For something very local, Le Bouchon is a strong choice. For something more central, a wine bar with small plates can be perfect, especially if lunch was long or you are not in the mood for another full meal.
This is also the night where I would let yourself enjoy Nice without rushing. Walk by the water after dinner, get a gelato, or simply sit somewhere and people-watch.
Day 3: Antibes and Saint-Paul de Vence
For your final day, head west of Nice.
Start in Antibes, one of the most charming towns on the Riviera. It has an old town, a port, ramparts, sea views, and a slightly more relaxed feeling than some of the more famous coastal stops. Spend the morning wandering through the Old Town, walking along the ramparts, and taking in the seafront views.
For coffee, stop at Petit Monsieur. For something sweet, Lilian Bonnefoi is a good pastry stop and feels like a worthwhile little detour while you are in town.
Keep lunch casual. This day works best when you don't lose too much time to a long lunch before heading inland. Kaaké is a good option for a Lebanese sandwich to take away, or you can sit down at Le Phenicia for mezze-style bites if you want something slower.
After lunch, continue to Saint-Paul de Vence. This is where having a car makes the day much easier.
Saint-Paul de Vence is one of the most famous hilltop villages in the South of France, and while it is popular, it is still beautiful. The village is known for its galleries, public art, stone streets, and views over the surrounding countryside. It is the kind of place that can easily feel overly polished, but it also has a real sense of history and atmosphere if you give it time.
Spend the afternoon wandering the village walls, looking into galleries, and taking in the art tucked throughout town. For a coffee or afternoon pick-me-up, Selah Atelier is a nice stop before dinner.
For your final dinner, book La Colombe d'Or and do not rush it.
La Colombe d'Or is one of the most special places in the region. It is not just a restaurant, but a piece of Riviera history, known for its long connection to artists and writers. This is the dinner to make the final night feel memorable. Go slowly, enjoy the setting, and let it be the splurge of the trip.
If you don't have a car, there are plenty of great dinner options in Antibes, or you can make your way back to Nice for an easy evening.
What to Skip With Only 3 Days
With only three days, you cannot see the entire French Riviera, and trying to do so will make the trip less enjoyable.
I would not try to fit in Cannes, Èze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez, Grasse, and the inland villages all in the same three-day trip. They are all worth considering, but not all at once.
For a first visit based in Nice, this route gives you a good balance: one day east, one day in Nice, and one day west. You get seaside towns, markets, old villages, good food, and a few classic Riviera views without spending the whole trip in transit.
Where to Stay for This Itinerary
Stay in Nice. More specifically, stay somewhere that makes it easy to walk to restaurants, the Old Town, the sea, and the train station.
Final Thoughts
Three days is not enough to see everything on the French Riviera, but it is enough to understand why people love this part of France.
Base yourself in Nice, keep the itinerary focused, and resist the urge to add too many stops. Spend one day east in Menton and Monaco, one full day enjoying Nice, and one day west in Antibes and Saint-Paul de Vence.
You will get color, coastline, old towns, art, good food, and a little bit of Riviera glamour, without having to repack your bag every morning.
This is the highlights version of the route. For my full French Riviera planning companion, including extra restaurant swaps, map notes, and alternate versions of the itinerary, you can find the full guide on Substack.