City Guides

Nice Price Guide | How Much It Costs To Visit Nice, France

The daily travel costs to visit Nice, France. How to estimate your budget for food, hostels, hotels, attractions, alcohol & more.

Nice

Located on the beautiful Côte d’Azur (The French Riviera), Nice is a more budget-friendly destination than the region’s other ultra-lux destinations like Monaco and Cannes. This Mediterranean city has a large beach (although it is rocky), beautiful weather, and a relaxed attitude. Prices for food and attractions in Nice are fairly reasonable by Western Europe standards but accommodation (especially hostels) can get expensive. The summers are the busiest and most expensive time of the year so it’s smart to book your lodging early (or visit during the off-season).

In this Nice travel price guide, we’ve outlined the estimated travel expenses for food, accommodation, attractions, alcohol, and other common expenses to help you budget your trip to Nice.

This Nice Price Guide is part of our City Price Guide Series where we break down the travel costs of Europe’s most popular cities.

Average Daily Costs To Visit Nice, France

It costs around €50-€85/day to visit Nice, France comfortably as a budget traveler.

If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another €60-€100/night depending on your level of accommodation. These prices also don’t include big nights out at the bar/pub, club entry fees, souvenir/clothing shopping, tours, random purchases, nicer food, etc.

NOTE: The French Riviera is home to multiple cute coastal towns that are easily accessible via train or bus and they’re popular day trip destinations. Food in these towns tends to be more expensive since they cater to tourists so keep that in mind when you’re budgeting your trip.

AVERAGE DAILY COSTS FOR BUDGET TRAVEL IN NICE: €75 (APPROX. $80)

  • Attractions: €10 (one paid attraction + any free sights)
  • Food: €30
    • Breakfast: €4
    • Lunch: €7
    • Dinner: €15
    • Treat (dessert/beer/wine): €3.50
  • Transportation: €1.50
  • Accommodation (Hostel): €33

DAILY COST OF FRUGAL TRAVEL IN NICE: €50 (APPROX. $55)

  • Attractions: €6 (free walking tour + visit one of the free sights)
  • Food: €20
    • Breakfast: €2
    • Lunch: €6 (street food or takeaway shop fare)
    • Dinner: €10 (make your own meal in the hostel or grab something cheap)
    • Beer: €1.5 (chill out at the beach and have a cold one)
  • Transportation: €0 (walk)
  • Accommodation (Cheap Hostel): €23

Attraction And Museum Prices in Nice

Nice Travel Guide | Castle Hill
Views from Castle Hill

Nice attractions are affordable with an average entry fee of €10 and the public beaches are always free. Want to learn more about visiting Nice? Check out our Guide To Nice On A Budget to learn more ways to save money while visiting Nice.

Prices Of Popular Attractions In Nice:

  • Marc Chagall Museum: €9
  • National Museum of Sport: €7
  • Museum of Contemporary Art: €10
  • Matisse Museum: €10
  • Nice Archeological Museum: €10
  • Monument aux Morts: Free
  • La Crypte Archeologique: €5
  • Walking & Tours: Free- €100

Consider a bicycle tour along Nice’s coastline and through the city; €30-€40 covers bicycle and helmet rental on a tour. Riviera and shore excursions are more expensive but they offer the chance to see Nice and Cote d’Azur from the sea – expect to spend €90-€100 per person on a day trip in the French Riviera. You can also simply rent a bike for a few hours for about €10.


Food Prices in Nice, France

You must try the gelato at Cesar Milano
Nice Travel guide | Farmers Market
Lots of budget-friendly eats at the farmers market.

Traditional Nice cuisine is heavily influenced by Mediterranean cooking — with an emphasis on seafood, olive oil, and fresh vegetables. Try local favorites: socca (a chickpea flour and olive oil crepe) and ratatouille (a tomato, eggplant, and zucchini dish). Cafes are more informal and have less expensive meal options than more formal restaurants. Read more of our strategies for Eating and Drinking in Europe on a Budget.

BUDGET BREAKFAST PRICES IN NICE: 2–€6

  • Many hostels will offer a free simple breakfast that normally consists of cereal, bread/croissant, and maybe milk, coffee, tea, or juice (some hostels will offer more and some less). Hotel breakfasts tend to be overpriced, so skip those in most cases.
  • A cup of coffee and pastry runs €2.50-€4.
  • Kiosque TinTin is a popular local favorite that sells breakfast and lunch sandwiches for €2.50-€5.

Budget-Friendly Breakfast Spots in Nice

BUDGET LUNCH PRICES IN NICE: €4–€10

  • Super budget travelers can make a super cheap lunch of bread, cheese, and fruit from any grocery store for a few euros.
  • Socca from a stand in the city costs €3.50-€4.50
  • Kebabs or falafel from a stand run €3.50-€5.
  • Mediterranean cafés and takeaway are common, with Greek and Turkish food being the most popular. Expect to pay €4-€8 for a meal.
  • Pizza at a sit-down or takeaway pizzeria will run €4-€7.
  • A heartier sit-down meal in Nice is typically €15-€22.

BUDGET DINNER PRICES IN NICE: €6–€15

  • Pretty much all the options from the ‘Budget Lunch’ section above will also apply for dinner.
  • Niçoise salad, a cold salad with anchovies, shallots, tuna, and – sometimes – potatoes, is a Nice culinary staple. Expect to pay €9-€14 at a sit-down restaurant for this traditional favorite.
  • Farcis, hollowed-out zucchini or eggplant stuffed with meat, garlic, and breadcrumbs, is another local dish. €9-€13.
  • Takeaway sandwiches, burgers, and kebabs run €4-€8 for a cheap dinner.
  • Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) is a popular local choice and runs €4-€7.

Budget-Friendly Lunch and Dinner Spots in Nice:

  • Illia Pasta: It’s a small barebones restaurant but the owner/chef serves up fresh, affordable, and tasty pasta. There isn’t much ambiance inside so snag one of the outdoor tables for some lovely alfresco dining. You can also get your pasta to go. Great Old Town location.
  • Chez Palmyre: An excellent place to get traditional, home-style French cooking. We recommend their €18 three-course menu. Reservations encouraged.
  • Creperie Le Trimaran: A nice little crepes place. You can get a savory and dessert crepe for under €10.
  • L’Atelier de Julien: Friendly pizza joint that’s a bit outside Old Town.
  • Made in Sud Pizzeria: Neopolitan pizza place near the Port.
  • Chez Pipo: The most popular place to get socca.
  • A Buteghinna: A small restaurant in the middle of Old Town serving up traditional “certification Cuisine Nissarde” dishes. The restaurant is run/owned by three sweet French women. Mostly outdoor seating. They also have preprepared takeaway food if you’re on the go. Reservations recommended. Cash only.
  • Lou Pilha Leva: Outdoor picnic-style seating at this takeaway restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Stop by for a quick traditional snack and cold beer. The chicken and fries for €8.50 is a solid deal.
  • Chez Rene Socca: A chaotic and no-frills place in Old Town that serves up local street food at affordable prices. There are tables outside available but you’re required to buy a drink. There is always a line but service is quick.
  • Badaboom Bistro And Juice Bar: Hip hole-in-the-wall restaurant serving organic vegan food and juices. Nice owners. It’s a bit expensive but the quality is solid.
  • Farmers Market: The Farmers Market is a great place to get all kinds of fresh produce and prepared food — from cheese and bread to bruschetta and fruit. Open every day, from 6 am to 5.30 pm except Mondays, Sunday afternoons, and public holidays.

DRINKS AND ALCOHOL PRICES IN NICE

  • Expect to pay €4-€5.50 for a beer out.
  • At a grocery, beer runs €.90-€1.75, and a bottle of wine is about €6.

Public Transportation Prices in Nice, France

Public transit in Nice is served by bus and trams throughout the city. The city’s trams run every 4 minutes, starting at 4:25 am.

Public Transportation:

  • One ticket: €1.50
  • 10 journeys: €10
  • 7-day unlimited pass: €15

Airport transit from city center: 

  • via Tram: €6 (line 98 and 99)
  • via bus: AERO line, €6
  • via taxi: €25-€30

Bicycle rental: VeloBleu bicycles are available for 1 day/week/month rentals (€1/€5/€10) throughout the city.


Hostel, Hotel, & Rental Apartment Prices in Nice, France

Best Hostels in Nice, France

Accommodation in Nice is pretty pricey — especially in the summer since Nice is a beach destination. Expect to pay a premium on the weekends, so visit during the early week if you want to save. Furthermore, you may want to book ahead in the summer since demand is high.

Hostel Prices in Nice: €22-€36

The nightly price of a well-rated hostel in Nice starts around €23-€33/night per person—although many hostels raise their prices on the weekend. Remember, these prices are for a bed in a shared dorm room. Private rooms start are around €70-€120. Check out the latest hostel prices at Hostelworld.

The Best-Rated Hostels in Nice:

Check out The Savvy Backpacker’s guide to The Best Hostels in Nice to get a more in-depth look at the city’s various hostel options.

Budget Hotel Prices in Nice: €80-€150

A decent budget hotel near the city center will cost around €100-€130/night. You can find cheaper hotels if you want to stay farther away from the center of the city or if you don’t mind staying in a super low-budget place.

We suggest checking out Booking.com to see hotel prices for your dates since they’re always changing.

Rental Apartment Prices in Nice: €80-€135/night

You’ll find quite a few apartment rentals in Nice. They can be a good option for large groups or travelers who want a little more space (and a kitchen). On the other hand, you may also have to deal with inconvenient check-in processes and things like extra cleaning fees and service charges. For short stays, we prefer hotels/hostels but rental apartments can be a nice option for longer stays.

Airbnb is always popular but you can sometimes find cheaper/better options on our list of Airbnb Alternatives.


Get More Budget Travel Tips For Europe

Check out our guide on How Much It Costs To Backpack Europe to learn more about budgeting your entire trip (including many more city price guides).


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James Feess
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