Nice is the Côte d'Azur's vibrant capital, a buzzing year-round city on a striking stretch of coastline. Glitzy Cannes and St-Tropez may vie for the attentions of visitors with their glamorous summer calendars, but Nice is a thriving melting pot with stacks to see and do as a couple, or with friends and family in the spring and autumn, too. Accommodation options are wide-ranging, reflecting the vast array of tastes and budgets of those who choose to holiday in the city. Our pick of the best places to stay in Nice reflects exactly that, offering everything from simple B&Bs to chic boutique boltholes.

A popular seaside resort since the 18th Century, Nice was once a hotspot for consumptive Brits seeking to soak up the restorative sea air. The impressive Promenade des Anglais — named for these historic holidaymakers — is now a lovely place for a stroll, some shopping and a superb seafood lunch. Hit the beach for sunbathing, swimming and sailing, or venture inland to explore Vieux Nice.

The opulent townhouses and enormous squares of the old town feel timeless. Pick a perch in Place Garibaldi for some people-watching with your coffee, choose flowers or cheese at the Cours Saleya Market, or head up to the ruins of Castle Hill for panoramic views. Cultural highlights include the Musée Massena, Saint-Nicolas Cathedral, Sainte-Reparate Cathedral, the Matisse & Picasso Museum and the Marc Chagall National Museum. Don’t miss discovering the gardens of the Phoenix Parc Floral, either.

The best places to stay in Nice offer a remarkable opportunity to discover the capital of the Côte d'Azur, teeming with life throughout the year.

The Best Places to Stay in Nice

For an Intimate Bolthole

• Le Castel Enchanté is a bougainvillea-clad Italianate villa with a lush garden, a small pool and beautiful sea views. Provençal in style, its four simple bedrooms offer excellent value and privacy. Breakfasts of home made jams and garden grown fruits are wonderful.
• Les Suites Masséna offers a small selection of modern rooms right on the imposing Place Masséna. Pick this place for the Scandi-chic interiors, soft grey and cream hues and all the mod-cons. Some suites have space for additional beds, and the best have free-standing baths.
• Villa Kilauea sits on a quiet hill outside the city with great views of Nice and the bay beyond. There are just four guestrooms, a gorgeous pool and beautiful grounds. For an intimate rural escape.

For a Seaside Stay

• Welcome Hotel is a chic seaside spot in charming Villefranche-sur-Mer, just a few minutes from Nice. Expect elegant blue-and-white interiors, private ocean-facing terraces, big breakfasts and a lively little bar for sundowners overlooking the ocean. Stroll to the pebble beach for a swim!
• Hotel Le Suisse is a smart, four-star property on Nice's Baie des Anges. Rooms are bright and airy, with wooden floors and crisp, white linens; the best suites have panoramic city & sea views from private balconies with pretty metal tables. Great for couples or solo travellers eager to hit the beach.
• Hotel La Perouse offers a surprisingly lovely stay just across the road from the beach on the far corner of the Baie des Anges. 40 of the 60 rooms have magnificent views of the sea, many with wide, sit-out terraces boasting inviting sun loungers. With a small swimming pool, courtyard eatery and bar, this is a very pretty little hotel — much more inspiring that it appears from from outside!

For Boutique Chic

• The Jay is a hip, Gatsby-themed hotel with plush blue velvet armchairs, Chesterfield sofas and bold wallpapers in 38 rooms and suites, many of which have private balconies. Well-heeled guests congregate at the swanky bar for cocktails in the evening. A boutique gem.
• Villa Otero oozes classic glamour, with velvet upholstery and potted palms in the chequered black-and-white tiled lounge, and bird-of-paradise wallpapers in the bedrooms. Breakfasts and high teas are excellent, and you're within walking distance of a plethora of bars, eateries and attractions. Very cool.
• Hotel Villa Rivoli offers a unique boutique stay in a private Belle Epoque mansion, dating back to 1890. 24 individually decorated rooms ooze classic French charm, with pretty chintz wallpapers and inviting balconies. Access to a nearby private beach is a great perk. Restful and romantic.
• La Malmaison is a sophisticated property on a tree-lined boulevard. Ideal for a couples' escape, the hotel has spacious rooms with velvet furnishings in soft grey tones, big windows and elegant wrought-iron balconies. Relax in the chic lounge or at the well-stocked bar.
• Le Windsor bursts with individuality, its rooms bedecked with whimsical murals painted by contemporary artists. Unwind in the exotic gardens, take a dip in the pool or enjoy superb spa treatments at the Moroccan hammam. An unusual stay for couples or friends, with a real sense of history.

For Foodies

• Negresco Hotel is an opulent Nice landmark, set moments from the coast. Kick back in splendid rooms with antique furnishings and jewel-like drapery after tucking in to innovative dishes crafted from hand-picked local produce at Michelin-starred Le Chantecler, headed by Chef Virginie Basselot. A top hotel for serious foodies.

For Families or Groups

• Palais Saleya offers cool, contemporary studios and apartments with kitchens and sitting rooms. Sleeping up to 6 guests, the apartments are ideal for family or group trips. Housed in a renovated 18th-century palace, interiors are swish and modern, with bold wallpapers and geometric prints.
• Deck Hotel is a bright, modern spot for groups of friends or families. Nautically inspired interiors promise lots of white and blue, with pops of yellow in flexible guestrooms and suites. The games room — complete with pool table and table football — will be a hit with friends and teenage guests, whilst the rooftop bar is great for unwinding. A short walk from the beach. Live music nights are great fun.
• Hotel Nice Excelsior draws inspiration from the neighbouring Nice-Ville train station, with postcard-themed walls and travel trunks in bright guestrooms. Book a family room with space for little ones, and relax at the courtyard bar after days of sightseeing together. Perfeclty located for those arriving by train.
• Hotel Gounod is an excellent family choice, with two-bedroom suites offering twin or double beds, as well as access to a rooftop pool and restaurant. Grown-ups can enjoy rejuvenating massages at the spa, whilst the whole family will adore the nearby beach club.
• Le Grimaldi fuses Belle Epoque charm with a modern twist in rooms and suites with classic wallpaper, wrought iron bedsteads and contemporary bathrooms. Family rooms sleep up to four guests, buffet breakfasts have something for everyone, and you're steps from the Promenade des Anglais and the Golden Square. Great for a group or family trip.

FOR AN APARTMENT OR HOLIDAY COTTAGE

• If you'd prefer a self-catering option, we suggest that you visit our online partner Booking.com.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

• Fly to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and catch the shuttle bus or a taxi into the city. Alternatively, take the overnight train from Paris — book a couchette — or arrive by boat.
• The Côte d'Azur is famously wonderful for a road trip! Contact our online partner Rentalcars if you would like to hire a car.
• Travel during the spring or summer for the warmest weather, with temperatures peaking around 27°C in June to August — although this is also the busiest time of year in France's second-most popular city. The Mistral winds keep the air fresh, and the rain showers relatively short. May or September are ideal for quieter trips, and winters are still lovely if you're not planning to swim.

STILL NOT SURE?

• Explore our list of all the best places to stay in Nice.
• Alternatively, expand your search to see our pick of the best places to stay in the Côte d'Azur.
• Or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

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