Best time to visit
Best Time to Visit Nice
The heart of the French Riviera, with a long pebble beach, pastel architecture, and an old town of narrow Italian-influenced streets. Its Mediterranean, sun-drenched feel comes partly from its history as an Italian city before joining France in 1860.
Best time to visit: May to June or September, when the Mediterranean coast is warm without peak-season crowds.
Local tip: Try socca, a chickpea-flour flatbread sold at market stalls, and salade niçoise, both born in this city.
Getting around: Central Nice is walkable, with trams connecting the main train station, old town, and port; nearby Riviera towns like Villefranche-sur-Mer are an easy short train ride.
Good to know: Nice's beaches are mostly pebble, not sand — worth packing water shoes if you plan to spend real time swimming or sunbathing.
What to plan your trip around
- Promenade des Anglais
The famous seafront promenade stretching along the Baie des Anges.
- Vieux Nice
The old town's maze of narrow streets, markets, and pastel-coloured buildings.
- Castle Hill
A hilltop park with panoramic views over the city and coastline, on the site of a former fortress.
- Cours Saleya Market
A daily flower, produce, and antiques market in the heart of the old town.
Nice weather by month
Nice weather by month
Average temperatures and rainfall Nice gets in each month (2011–2020). Tap a month for the full breakdown.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 10°C | 59 mm | 72% |
| February | 12°C | 9°C | 68 mm | 73% |
| March | 13°C | 11°C | 88 mm | 75% |
| April | 16°C | 13°C | 65 mm | 77% |
| May | 18°C | 16°C | 54 mm | 78% |
| June | 22°C | 20°C | 36 mm | 76% |
| July | 25°C | 23°C | 25 mm | 74% |
| August | 26°C | 24°C | 24 mm | 72% |
| September | 23°C | 21°C | 41 mm | 72% |
| October | 20°C | 17°C | 104 mm | 75% |
| November | 16°C | 14°C | 162 mm | 74% |
| December | 14°C | 11°C | 75 mm | 72% |
Nice through the year
January · 12° / 10°C · 59 mm
- There's little difference between day and night (around 2°C).
- Only one month is cooler in Nice than January.
April · 16° / 13°C · 65 mm
- Good walking weather for combining Vieux Nice and Promenade des Anglais in one day.
- Days and nights are close, only about 2°C apart.
July · 25° / 23°C · 25 mm
- Humidity near 74% makes 25°C feel stickier than it sounds.
- Rain is well below Nice's usual level (around 63% less).
October · 20° / 17°C · 104 mm
- Keep a flexible plan: if showers roll in, shift Cours Saleya Market to a drier part of the day.
- Days and nights are close, only about 2°C apart.
The best time to visit Nice is June, July and August, when average highs are 22–26°C and rainfall is around 28 mm a month.
At a glance
When to go to Nice, season by season
December – February
Cold12° / 10°C · 67 mm
Cool to cold days. Fine for museums and city breaks, less so for the beach.
March – May
Good16° / 13°C · 69 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
June – August
Best time24° / 22°C · 28 mm
Pleasant temperatures and relatively little rain: the best window for sightseeing and time outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Nice?
- For pleasant, fairly dry weather, go to Nice in June, July and August. Average highs are then 22–26°C.
- Why is June a good time to visit Nice?
- In June, Nice averages 22°C by day and 20°C at night, with about 36 mm of rain and 36% cloud cover: warm enough to be outdoors without the peak heat or the wettest weather.
- What is the warmest month in Nice?
- August is the warmest month in Nice, with average highs of 26°C and lows of 24°C.
- What is the coldest month in Nice?
- February is the coldest month in Nice: average highs of 12°C, dropping to 9°C at night.
- When does it rain the most in Nice?
- November is the wettest month in Nice with about 162 mm of rain. The driest is August, with around 24 mm.
- When is the worst time to visit Nice?
- February is the least pleasant month in Nice, with average highs of just 12°C. It's still fine for museums and fewer crowds.
- Is the shoulder season a good time to visit Nice?
- Yes. May and September sit just outside the best months for Nice, with average highs of 18–23°C and about 48 mm of rain a month. Weather-wise, they are a good alternative to the peak months.
- How can I check the weather in Nice before I travel?
- Compare the live forecast for Nice from three independent weather services on WeatherCompare. When they agree, the forecast is more reliable.
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Best time to visit Nice. WeatherCompare, 2026 (climate averages: NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020). https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/france/nice
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