How to Visit Nice Solo: My 3 Nights on the French Riviera (+ Why I Didn’t Want to Leave)

There are some cities that impress you. And then there are cities that invite you to slow down. Nice was the latter.

After spending a few days in Paris rushing between museums, train stations, cafés, and almost missing my entire Europe trip because I lost my passport, arriving in Nice felt like exhaling. The pace was different. The people were different. Even the air felt different.

If you ask me, I’ll say that Paris felt cinematic, but Nice felt effortless and romantic in a way that words can’t quite capture.

And while I originally planned this stop as a chance to see the French Riviera, what I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy simply being there.

If you’re planning a solo trip to Nice, this guide walks you through my 3 nights on the French Riviera, including where I stayed, my beach day at Ruhl Plage, a guided trip to Monaco and Èze, and the lessons I learned from slowing down for once.

Where I Stayed in Nice

For my stay in Nice, I checked into The Deck Hotel by HappyCulture.

Compared to the Hotel Gabriel in Paris, the room was definitely smaller. But if you’re working with a reasonable budget and care more about location than luxury, I’d absolutely recommend it.

The hotel was clean, comfortable, and had everything I needed for a short stay. The staff were incredibly welcoming and even left a bottle of wine in my room, which immediately earned them points in my book. The biggest selling point, though, was the location. The hotel sits right in the heart of Nice, surrounded by restaurants, shops, pharmacies, and just about everything you could need within walking distance.

One thing you’ll quickly realize about Nice is that it’s a very walkable city, and staying somewhere central made exploring incredibly easy. The hotel also has a rooftop terrace, which eventually became one of my favorite places to sit and take in the city.

Arriving in Nice by Train

On my final morning in Paris, I took things really slow.

I enjoyed breakfast, spent a little extra time on the terrace at Hotel Gabriel, and tried to soak in the last few moments before leaving. Eventually, it was time to head to Paris Gare de Lyon for my train to Nice.

Now, before this trip, everyone warned me about one thing. Dragging luggage around Europe. And I was determined to prove them wrong.

I planned this trip very strategically. Hotels close to stations. Uber whenever possible. Minimal transfers. And somehow, I still ended up hauling my suitcase up a flight of stairs. Apparently, some European travel experiences are unavoidable. Thankfully, navigating the station was much easier than I expected.

Even though everything was in French, there were plenty of other tourists looking equally confused and enough kind Parisians willing to help point people in the right direction.

I booked a first-class ticket with outlet access and fully convinced myself I was about to spend the next five hours editing videos and being productive. Instead, I took one of the best naps of my life.

By the time I woke up, grabbed a light snack, and looked out the window, the South of France had arrived. And honestly? It looked like a postcard. The blue water, the sandy beaches, and the people were moving as though they had absolutely nowhere urgent to be.

That’s my kind of vacation.

Day 1 – Settling Into Nice

The drive from the train station in Nice to my hotel was only about thirteen minutes long, but it was enough to notice something that would become a recurring theme throughout my stay.

Nice felt alive. The energy didn’t feel chaotic and fast, nor did it feel slow and dull. It is just alive and vibrant.

After checking in, unpacking, and taking what was admittedly another vacation nap, I headed into the city for dinner by about 9 PM. And somehow the city felt busier than ever. The streets were filled with locals, tourists, couples lingering over wine, and groups of friends enjoying long dinners. Almost every restaurant seemed full, but everyone walked around with a leisurely energy.

Eventually, I found a table at La Favola in Old Nice. And if you take one food recommendation from this article, let it be this:

Order the seafood spaghetti, pair it with a glass of dry red wine, and it was easily one of my favorite meals of the trip. It was all fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.

After dinner, I spent the evening wandering through the streets of Nice, watching people laugh over meals, stroll through the city, and enjoy the warm summer evening. It felt like everyone had collectively agreed that there was no rush. And honestly, I loved that. It was the perfect introduction to Nice.

And somehow things only got better from there.

Day 2 – My Favorite Day in Nice

The next morning, I did what would become my favorite activity in Nice. Absolutely nothing…okay, not literally nothing. But close enough!

I woke up around 10 AM and didn’t leave my hotel until almost 1 PM. There was no museum to rush to. No reservation to make, and my only goal for the day was to spend as much time as possible at the beach.

So I slipped into a bright blue swimsuit, layered it with my yellow NAO tank from Kai Collective, and a white maxi skirt, and headed out into the city. The blue and yellow combination felt like the perfwct summer combination, or even summer itself.

Within minutes, I found myself back in the middle of Nice’s vibrant energy. People were everywhere, shopping, eating, walking, heading toward the beach. And before long, I arrived at Ruhl Plage.

A leisure day Ruhl Plage, Nice, France.

For the rest of the afternoon, thia became my home. I rented a cabana, ordered fresh fruit, poured myself a glass of wine, and spent hours doing something I rarely allow myself to do. Nothing productive; no emails, no deadlines, no content planning, just enjoying the sun, sea, and the occasional reminder to reapply sunscreen.

And somewhere between my second glass of wine and another bite of fresh fruit, I realized something;

The Beauty of Solo Travel

One of my favorite things about solo travel is that people often assume you’ll be lonely, but I’ve found the opposite to be true.

While I was at Ruhl Plage, I ended up chatting with another solo traveler named Sophia, and before long, we’d formed what I can only describe as a Nice Exploration Alliance. We spent part of the afternoon talking over lunch and eventually made plans to meet up later that evening.

One thing I’ve learned from traveling alone is that you’re rarely actually alone if you’re open to conversation. Some of my favorite travel memories have come from random conversations with strangers, whether it was the girls I met over dinner in Paris, the honeymooning couple I would later meet in Nice, or Sophia, who went from stranger to dinner companion in the span of a few hours.

That evening, after spending most of the day at the beach, I headed back to my hotel to get ready before meeting Sophia again. We spent the night wandering through the city, taking in the performances, music, and energy that seemed to exist on every corner.

For a city that feels relatively small, Nice somehow manages to feel endlessly alive. Musicians were performing in the streets, dancers drawing crowds and restaurants packed with people enjoying long dinners well into the night. If Paris felt cinematic, Nice felt social.

Day 3 – Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Èze

By my third day in Nice, it was finally time to leave the city for a little adventure.

I booked a guided tour via GetYourGuide that included Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Èze Village, and I can confidently say it was one of the most organized tours I’ve ever taken. The company reached out ahead of time to coordinate pickup, and our guide, Kate, collected us directly from our hotels before we set off for the day.

Our group consisted of about nine travelers, and from the moment we got into the van, Kate was a wealth of information. She was knowledgeable, funny, and somehow managed to keep everyone engaged while sharing stories about the history of the region.

Our first stop was Monaco.

Monaco was absolutely beautiful. It felt incredibly clean and polished, but unlike some luxury destinations that can feel sterile, it still had character. Walking through the city, taking in the views from The Rock of Monaco, and looking out over the Mediterranean was one of the highlights of the day.

I also visited Monaco Cathedral and spent some time exploring the old town before picking up a souvenir for my niece. There was something about Monaco that felt elegant without trying too hard.

My Honest Thoughts on Monte Carlo

Now Monte Carlo? I know this might be controversial, but it wasn’t my favorite stop.

Was it beautiful? Absolutely.

The famous casino, Hotel de Paris, Café de Paris, luxury boutiques, and immaculate gardens were all exactly as grand as you’d expect. Every corner looked expensive, and every car looked like it cost more than my first apartment.

But if I’m being honest, it felt a little soulless to me. I appreciated the architecture and enjoyed exploring, but I never quite felt settled there. It felt like a place designed to impress rather than a place designed to linger.

If you asked me where I’d spend an extra day, I’d choose Nice every single time.

Why Èze Was My Favorite Stop

Of all the places I visited during my time on the French Riviera, Èze was my favorite. And it wasn’t even close.

The medieval village felt like something out of a storybook. Every narrow pathway seemed to lead to another discovery, whether it was a tiny restaurant, an artisan shop or a beautiful stone staircase covered in flowers.

What I loved most was that Èze didn’t feel like it was trying to entertain you. It simply existed, and you were invited to slow down and experience it.

Of course, I couldn’t visit Èze without making the hike up to the Jardin Exotique d’Èze. But let me tell you something…this walk is not for the weak.

A good portion of our group decided to turn back halfway and honestly, I understand why. The climb was steep, the July heat was doing its thing and my footwear choices certainly weren’t helping the situation.

But every time I thought about stopping, another beautiful view would appear around the corner and convince me to keep going. But when I finally reached the top? It was completely worth it!

The views overlooking the village, coastline and Mediterranean Sea were breathtaking. I spent several minutes just standing there taking it all in because sometimes the only appropriate response to a view like that is silence.

If I ever return to the South of France, Èze will be at the top of my list.

Visiting the Fragonard Perfume Factory

Our final stop of the day was the Fragonard Perfumery, which was one of the experiences I had been looking forward to most.

During the tour, we learned about the history of the brand, how fragrances are made, different scent families, and the differences between various fragrance concentrations.

I’ll be honest, I don’t remember every technical detail because by the end of the tour, I was distracted by how incredible everything smelled. The entire building felt like stepping into a dream.

Naturally, I left with two fragrances because apparently, self-control was not part of my European itinerary.

My Final Night in Nice

After returning to Nice, I headed back to my hotel to shower and reset before going back out for dinner.

This time, I visited La Voglia, a restaurant recommended by our tour guide, and it ended up being another great meal. I ordered the Meunière sea bass fillet with vegetables, paired it with a deep, dry red wine, and spent the evening enjoying good food and people watching.

The service here deserves a special mention because every staff member I interacted with was warm, welcoming, and genuinely happy to answer questions.

At some point during dinner, I ended up chatting with a honeymooning couple who had visited Canada years earlier, and once again I was reminded of how small the world can feel when you travel.

Later that evening, Sophia and I met up one last time and spent our final night wandering through the city. There were performers, dancers, musicians, and crowds gathered around every corner, and by then I had fully accepted that Nice was simply one of those cities that come alive after sunset.

Before heading back to my hotel, I stopped by Nice Étoile for a little shopping. I browsed Zara, Mango, and a few other stores before making what was arguably my most practical purchase of the trip: skincare from a French pharmacy.

I picked up A313 Vitamin A Retinol cream and immediately understood why people rave about French skincare.

My Final Morning in Nice

The next morning, I had brunch at Soho, a restaurant located right next to my hotel. As I sat there finishing my meal, it hit me that my time in Nice was coming to an end. I think in just a few days, I had found a rhythm here.

The slow mornings, long lunches, beach afternoons, late-night walks, and the lovely unexpected friendships…and suddenly it was time to leave.

Soon I was back on the road, heading toward the final stop of my Euro summer adventure: Barcelona.

Travel Tips for Visiting Nice Solo

If you’re planning a solo trip to Nice:

• Stay somewhere central and walkable.
• Give yourself at least three nights.
• Spend a full day at the beach.
• Take a day trip to Èze.
• Don’t overbook your itinerary.
• Leave room for spontaneous conversations and discoveries.
• Bring comfortable shoes if you plan to visit Èze.
• Make time for at least one French pharmacy visit.

Most importantly, don’t treat Nice like a checklist. It’s a city that’s best enjoyed slowly.

How to Visit Nice Solo: Final Thoughts

I arrived in Nice expecting beautiful beaches, great food, and maybe a few nice photos.

What I didn’t expect was how much I needed the pace of the city. Somewhere between the beach days, long dinners, and wandering through the streets at night, I realized how much of my life is spent trying to optimize things. I’m usually focused on the next task, the next goal, or the next thing that needs to get done.

Nice reminded me that not every moment needs to be productive to be worthwhile, sometimes it’s enough to sit in the sun with a glass of wine, and sometimes it’s enough to wander without a destination, and sometimes it’s enough to stay a little longer than you planned.

You might be surprised by what happens when you stop trying to rush through a beautiful place.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Nice Solo

Watch The Nice & South of France Travel Vlog

For More Travel Guides

For more travel recaps, check out my Paris Solo Trip: A Realistic 3-Day Itinerary
For more solo travel experiences, check out my Cabo, Mexico Travel Guide

My Solo Barcelona Travel Guide (coming soon).

If you enjoyed this travel story, you may also enjoy more of my travel experiences.

See you soon
Love,
Anita