If you’re planning a family trip to the French Riviera, Nice is one of the best places to use as your home base — especially when traveling with kids.
We visited Nice with our 3-year-old and 5-year-old and loved how easy it was to explore the city without a car. You can walk to many of the main attractions, spend time along the Mediterranean, and take incredibly easy train rides to places like Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Menton.
And when you’re traveling Europe with little kids, “easy” is a very big selling point!
Here’s our guide to visiting Nice, France with kids, including where we stayed, our favorite things to do and the best family-friendly day trips from Nice.
Where to Stay in Nice with Kids
We stayed at Best Western Hotel Roosevelt and loved the location for exploring Nice as a family.
The hotel is right in central Nice, making it easy to walk to Place Masséna, Old Nice, the Promenade des Anglais and the beach. It’s also convenient to Nice-Ville train station, which is especially important if you’re planning some of the day trips mentioned later in this guide.
For our family, having a central location meant we didn’t need to rent a car. We could walk around Nice and then use the train when we wanted to explore farther along the French Riviera.
If you’re visiting Nice with kids, I would definitely prioritize staying somewhere central rather than farther outside the city.
Best Things to Do in Nice with Kids
1. Ride the Little Tourist Train Around Nice
One of our favorite activities with the kids was riding Trains Touristiques de Nice.
This is such an easy activity with young kids because they get to see the city without having to walk the entire time — and parents get a sightseeing break too!
The electric tourist train departs near the Promenade des Anglais and takes you on a sightseeing route around Nice. The panoramic tour offered through GetYourGuide lasts about 50 minutes and includes a stop where you can get out and enjoy the views over Nice and the Baie des Anges.
It’s a great activity to do near the beginning of your trip because it gives you a better idea of where everything is.
Book the Nice Electric Tourist Train on GetYourGuide
TIP: Use our GetYourGuide discount code WHEREISBRIGGS5 when booking!
2. Play in the Fountains at Promenade du Paillon
If you’re visiting Nice during warm weather, bring swimsuits or a change of clothes for the kids!
Promenade du Paillon is a huge green space running through the center of Nice near Place Masséna. One of the best parts for kids is the giant water mirror and fountains.
The Miroir d’Eau has 128 water jets covering a roughly 3,000-square-meter area. Our kids loved being able to run through the water, and this is such an easy FREE activity to add to a day of sightseeing.
3. Walk the Promenade des Anglais
You can’t visit Nice without walking along the Promenade des Anglais.
This famous waterfront promenade stretches along the Mediterranean and is perfect for a family walk. Grab gelato, find somewhere to eat, and enjoy the views of that unbelievably blue French Riviera water. There’s also a carousel along the promenade that your kids will definitely spot!
Nice has around seven kilometers of beaches along its coastline.
But there’s something important to know before promising your kids a traditional beach day…
Are the Beaches in Nice Good for Kids?
Nice’s beaches are beautiful, but they’re ROCKY!
Instead of soft sand, you’ll find large pebbles along much of the coastline. The water and views are gorgeous, but if you have little kids who want to build sandcastles, dig or comfortably play along the shoreline for hours, Nice itself may not be your favorite beach day.
Water shoes are a great thing to pack if you’re planning on swimming in Nice. I like these ones for the kids!
We actually recommend using one of your days to take the train to Villefranche-sur-Mer or Menton for a more kid-friendly beach experience.
And luckily, getting there couldn’t be much easier.
Taking the Train Around the French Riviera with Kids
One of our biggest surprises was just how EASY it is to explore the French Riviera by train.
You absolutely do not need to rent a car to visit several destinations from Nice.
Regional TER trains run along the coast and connect Nice with Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco and Menton. As an example, current SNCF schedules put the average trips at approximately:
Nice → Villefranche-sur-Mer: 5 minutes
Nice → Monaco: 20 minutes
Nice → Menton: 40 minutes
There are dozens of trains per day on these routes.
With little kids, this was SO much easier than worrying about rental cars, car seats and parking.
Day Trip #1: Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer with Kids
If you want a beach day without traveling far, Villefranche-sur-Mer is probably the easiest option.
The train ride from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer averages only about FIVE MINUTES.
Yes, five!
Villefranche feels completely different from Nice despite being so close. You’ll find a beautiful waterfront, colorful buildings, restaurants and a gorgeous bay.
For families, the big attraction is the beach.
The shoreline here is generally much easier for kids than Nice’s large pebbles, so this is where we’d consider planning a longer swimming and beach day.
Bring towels, swimsuits, sunscreen and everything you need for a few hours by the water.
Another Fun Option: Take a Boat to Villefranche
If your kids would rather ride a boat than a train, GetYourGuide has a one-hour sightseeing cruise from Nice into Villefranche Bay.
See Nice and Villefranche Boat Tours on GetYourGuide
There’s also a longer Mala Caves and Villefranche snorkeling boat tour listed on GetYourGuide, which could be a fun option for families with older kids who are comfortable in the water.
Don’t forget to use code WHEREISBRIGGS5 when booking through GetYourGuide!
Day Trip #2: Nice to Menton with Kids
If your kids really want a beach day, I’d also put Menton high on your list.
Menton sits farther east along the French Riviera near the Italian border and feels like a combination of France and Italy.
The train from Nice to Menton averages around 40 minutes, and SNCF currently lists more than 60 daily round trips on the route.
It’s an easy day trip even with young kids.
Spend some time walking through the colorful old town, grab lunch or gelato and then head to the beach.
Compared with the large pebbles you’ll find on Nice’s beaches, Menton can be a much easier place to plan a traditional family beach day, depending on which beach you choose.
If you’re only visiting Nice for a few days and your kids really want to SWIM, I’d consider making either Menton or Villefranche your designated beach day.
Day Trip #3: Nice to Monaco with Kids
Yes — you can absolutely visit Monaco with kids!
And it’s incredibly easy from Nice.
The train from Nice to Monaco takes around 20 minutes on average, with dozens of trains operating each day.
You can get off at Monaco-Monte-Carlo and spend a few hours exploring the principality.
Walk around Monaco, see the harbor filled with yachts, explore the old town and check out the area around the Prince’s Palace.
Even if your kids aren’t particularly interested in Monaco itself, getting to say they visited another COUNTRY during your France trip is pretty fun.
Can You Combine Monaco and Menton in One Day?
Yes!
If you’re short on time, Monaco and Menton are actually really easy to combine because they’re on the same train line.
Nice → Monaco → Menton → Nice
The train ride between Monaco and Menton averages only around 10 minutes.
You could spend the morning and early afternoon exploring Monaco, hop back on the train to Menton, have dinner and spend some time by the water, then take the train directly back to Nice.
With very young kids, I wouldn’t try to cram TOO much into the day, but this combination is surprisingly doable.
Our Ideal 3-Day Nice Itinerary with Kids
If we were planning a first trip to Nice with little kids, here’s how we’d break it up:
Day 1: Explore Nice
Start with the tourist train so everyone gets an overview of the city. Walk through Old Nice, explore Place Masséna and let the kids play at the Promenade du Paillon fountains. Finish the day walking along the Promenade des Anglais and grab dinner or gelato.
Day 2: Villefranche Beach Day
Take the quick train from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer and spend most of the day swimming and relaxing by the water. Head back to Nice for dinner.
Day 3: Monaco + Menton
Take the train from Nice to Monaco in the morning. Explore Monaco for a few hours, then continue by train to Menton. Spend the afternoon exploring Menton and playing at the beach before taking the train back to Nice.
If you have a fourth day, I’d slow everything down and give Menton its own full day — especially if your kids love the beach.
Is Nice Worth Visiting with Kids?
Absolutely.
Nice ended up being a fantastic home base for exploring the French Riviera with our 3-year-old and 5-year-old.
It’s walkable, there are playgrounds and fountains right in the center of the city, the waterfront is beautiful and — most importantly — you can easily explore several completely different destinations without renting a car.
Our biggest tip is not to plan your entire trip around the beaches directly in Nice. They’re gorgeous, but they’re very rocky. Instead, enjoy Nice for the city, food, fountains, Promenade des Anglais and family activities, then use the incredibly convenient train system to explore the beaches and towns farther along the coast.
Between Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco and Menton, you can pack a LOT into a few days without spending hours in the car.
