Is the beach in Nice sandy or pebbly?

Pebbles. Nice's famous beaches along the Promenade des Anglais are pebble beaches, not sandy. Walking on them barefoot is uncomfortable. Pack sandals or water shoes for comfortable beach access, and bring a beach mat or towel with a firm base — lying directly on pebbles without padding is tiring.

Is a day trip to Monaco worth it from Nice?

Yes. Monaco is only 30 minutes by train from Nice and makes an excellent half-day trip. The principality is very expensive for food and drink. Pack a smart outfit if you want to enter the Casino de Monte-Carlo — formal dress is required and enforced. Otherwise smart casual is fine for the harbour, the palace district, and the old town.

What is easyJet's carry-on policy at Nice Airport?

Nice is one of easyJet's largest European bases. Under easyJet's current policy, all passengers get one small personal item (45 × 36 × 20 cm) for free under the seat. A larger cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm) requires either an easyJet Plus membership or a fare that includes cabin bags. Check your specific fare when booking.

When is the best time to visit Nice?

May, June, and September offer excellent beach weather between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius with smaller crowds than July and August. July and August are peak season: beaches are crowded and accommodation is most expensive. Winter (December to February) is mild at around 12 to 16 degrees but not beach weather — better for exploring the old town and day trips inland.

Carry-On Packing List for Nice: Côte d'Azur Guide

Nice and the French Riviera are well suited to carry-on only travel. The Mediterranean climate means you need less clothing volume than destinations with variable weather, and the combination of beach, old town, and excellent rail connections to Monaco and Cannes keeps logistics simple. The main packing adjustments are for the pebble beaches, strong sun, and the modest dress upgrade needed for Monaco.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE): easyJet's Major Base

Nice Airport is the third busiest in France and one of easyJet's most significant European hubs. This matters because easyJet's carry-on fare structure — where only higher fares or Plus members get a full cabin bag — affects a large proportion of passengers arriving at NCE.

If you are flying easyJet to Nice:

All passengers get a free underseat personal item (45 × 36 × 20 cm)
A full cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm) requires purchasing it at booking or having easyJet Plus membership
Buying cabin bag allowance at the airport is considerably more expensive than adding it online

Other carriers operating at NCE include Air France (with standard full-service allowances), Vueling, Transavia (strong from Amsterdam and other northern European cities), and British Airways. Each has different carry-on policies — check before booking if you are considering alternatives to easyJet.

The airport sits between the sea and the city; the journey to central Nice by bus (line 98 to the main bus station) takes around 30 minutes and costs a few euros.

The Beach: It Is Pebbles, Not Sand

This is the most important practical fact about Nice that surprises first-time visitors. The beaches along the Promenade des Anglais — the famous sweep of seafront that defines Nice — are pebble beaches. The stones vary from small gravel to fist-sized smooth rocks.

Walking to the water barefoot ranges from uncomfortable to genuinely painful depending on the beach section. Lying directly on pebbles without adequate padding is tiring after about 20 minutes.

What to pack for Nice's beaches:

Water shoes or sandals — essential for walking from towel to water
A thick beach towel or mat — a standard thin travel towel provides inadequate padding on pebbles; a beach mat or a folded full-size towel works better
Swimwear — the sea temperature is excellent from June through September

One practical advantage of pebble beaches: no sand gets into your bag, camera, or food.

The bay at Villefranche-sur-Mer, 10 minutes from Nice by train, has clearer water and a small sandy section at one end — worth the short journey if crystal-clear water matters to you.

Sun Protection: Mediterranean Sun Is Intense

The French Riviera sits at 43 degrees north latitude with clear skies for most of the summer. UV radiation is significantly higher than in northern Europe, and burns happen faster than many visitors expect.

High SPF sunscreen is essential. A standard SPF 50 tube is subject to carry-on liquid rules (100 ml limit per container, all liquids in a 1-litre clear bag). You have two sensible options:

Pack a 100 ml travel-size tube and buy a larger bottle at a pharmacy or supermarket in Nice on arrival
Buy sunscreen entirely once you arrive — French pharmacies (pharmacies) carry excellent sunscreen brands (La Roche-Posay and Avène are widely available)

A sun hat is useful but takes up volume. A compact packable sun hat works well; alternatively buy one in Nice's old town market.

Packing for the City and Old Town

Nice's old town (Vieux-Nice) is a dense grid of narrow baroque streets with excellent restaurants, the famous Cours Saleya market, and socca (chickpea flatbread, the local street food). The streets are paved but manageable in most footwear.

Casual dress is the norm for Nice during the day. The French Riviera has a reputation for glamour, but in practice Nice day-to-day is relaxed and casual — shorts and light tops are entirely appropriate.

One smarter outfit is useful for better restaurants in the evening. Nice has a good restaurant scene and some places lean toward smart casual in the evening.

Comfortable walking shoes — the Promenade des Anglais runs 7 km and is eminently walkable; the old town is flat; the hill up to Castle Hill (Colline du Château) requires only ordinary shoes.

A light layer for evenings — even in July, sea breezes along the Promenade can make evenings cooler than expected. A light cardigan or linen jacket is sufficient.

Monaco Day Trip: The Outfit Decision

Monaco is 30 minutes from Nice by train (the Thello/SNCF regional service runs frequently and costs around 4 to 7 euros). The principality is compact enough to walk around in half a day: the harbour with the Formula 1 circuit, the palace district (Palais Princier), the Oceanographic Museum, and the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo.

The Casino dress code is enforced. Men need smart trousers and a collared shirt at minimum; jeans and trainers are typically turned away at the entrance. Women are expected in smart attire. If visiting the Casino is on your itinerary, pack one smart outfit rather than assuming you can visit in beach clothes.

The rest of Monaco can be explored in smart casual attire without issue. Note that Monaco's restaurants and cafés are extremely expensive — budget accordingly.

Cannes Day Trip

Cannes is 40 minutes from Nice by regional train and costs around 7 euros. The Palais des Festivals (home of the Cannes Film Festival), the Croisette boulevard, beach clubs, and the old port (Le Suquet) are the main sights. Casual dress is fine for Cannes outside of festival weeks (the main festival is in May). Beach clubs along the Croisette charge for sunbeds.

Hill Villages: Comfortable Shoes Required

The hill villages of the arrière-pays (backcountry) are among the best day trips from Nice. Eze (25 minutes by bus or train) is a medieval perched village at 427 metres elevation with an exotic garden at the summit and views across the Mediterranean. Saint-Paul-de-Vence (1 hour by bus) is an artists' village famous for the Fondation Maeght contemporary art museum.

Both villages have cobblestone streets with significant elevation changes. Comfortable shoes with grip are necessary — smooth-soled sandals manage but are not ideal.