Festivals and Events in Nice
Some of the festivals and events in Nice attract many thousands of visitors.
In February / March, the Nice Carnival explodes onto the streets just as the sun gets higher in the sky, days lengthen, and spring is on the horizon.
The Carnival highlights winter events in Nice with parades, dancing, live music and raucous fun.
Nice Carnival
Nice Carnival is one of the most significant events in Nice, happening every year over two weeks, culminating in Mardi Gras.
It is up there with some of the largest carnivals in the world and is said to attract over one million tourists every year.
Menton Lemon Festival
It can be combined with its neighbour-town Mentons Lemon Festival, often running simultaneously.
Nice Jazz Festival
Another famous festival, Nice Jazzfestival, has been going strong since starting in 1948.
Some of the biggest names in jazz music, including Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong, have performed here over the years.
Today it has more of a mix of music rather than just traditional jazz.
The Nice Jazz Festival usually takes place the second week in July.
Musee Matisse
Culture and Museums
Nice has plenty for culture lovers among its attractions.
There are numerous museums and theatres, and a visit to the Opera De Nice is highly recommended.
The opera
is located within the old town in a very grand building that was initially constructed as the municipal theatre of Nice and then became the city’s main opera venue from 1902 onwards.
There’s a regular programme of performances here, so check their schedule when you’re visiting to see what’s on.
Website: opera-nice.org
Museums
Nice has an excellent selection of museums, some of which feature the works of artists who visited the city for its incredible light.
Matisse was one artist drawn to Nice, and you can see some of his works at the Musee Matisse, which is situated within a 17th-century Genoese villa.
Other works of art are featured in the Museum of Asian Art, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
The early history of Nice as a settlement can be discovered at the Museum and Archaeological Site of Cimiez.
This is where an ancient Roman settlement was situated, and there are still ruins from this period to be seen here.
Another ancient site is Terra Amata, and there’s a museum focusing on prehistoric Nice here.
Parks and Gardens
Nice has a couple of lovely parks and gardens to explore when you want a break from the busy streets.
The Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Nice is a small municipal botanical garden.
There are over 3,500 species of plants here, many of which are Mediterranean, plus 6,000 species of the herbarium.
Parc Phoenix is a more extensive botanic garden and zoo that features one of the largest greenhouses in Europe.
Plant species are displayed according to climatic zones, and you can see pelicans, turtles, and swans around the large pool.