What to Do in Nice When It Rains: 10 Things to Do

Wondering what to do in Nice when it rains? Don’t let a wet forecast ruin your French Riviera plans. Nice has plenty to keep you busy indoors, from art museums and historic sites to covered markets, restaurants, cafés, and bars.

We learned that firsthand when our French Riviera trip started and ended in the rain. Our last day in Nice was particularly chilly and wet, so we spent it ducking into indoor attractions, eating our way around the city, and making the best of it.

Here are the things I’d recommend doing in Nice when it rains, based on what we experienced, plus a few bonus options if you’re really unlucky with the weather.

Rainy Day in Nice: A Quick Itinerary

Only have one rainy day in Nice? Here’s how I’d spend it:

• Morning: Sweet treats at Bio Brod or La Maison de Céline
• Late morning: Musée Marc Chagall or Musée Matisse
• Lunch: Socca at Chez Pipo
• Afternoon: Palais Lascaris or Molinard perfume workshop
• Evening: Drinks at Hotel Negresco or Les Distilleries Idéales

Does it rain a lot in Nice?

Nice has a Mediterranean climate, so rain is more common at certain times of year than others. October is typically the wettest month, while summer is generally much drier. November can also bring plenty of rainy days.

That said, rain doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll spend your entire day stuck indoors. Showers can come and go, which is why it’s worth having a few indoor options in mind when visiting Nice outside the summer months.

And if you do get one of those properly rainy days? That’s what the rest of this guide is for.

What to Do in Nice When It Rains

Nice in the rain likely means off-season travel, one of my favorite things about being flexible with my time. Despite any wet weather, you’ll be well-cultured, well-fed, and perhaps a bit tipsy.

READ MORE: Want more options? I have a detailed itinerary for Nice when the weather is better, too.

Visit Nice’s art museums.

Nice has been and remains an inspirational city for artists, what with that Mediterranean vibe it’s got going for it. It’s the cultural capital of the Côte d’Azur. That means when it rains, it pours…opportunities to visit the city’s art museums.

Nice, right? Oh dang, I did it again!

Note: If you’re only working with one rainy day, you should take advantage of the city’s 24-hour French Riviera Pass. It gives you access to dozens of the city’s municipal museums.

That’s a deal when you consider that many museums you visit on trips cost more than that, just for one.

Double-check museum hours before you go, as those can change by the season. Most of them have one day where they’re closed, as well. It’s often Tuesday, because Tuesday is the new Monday, and you can’t tell me I’m wrong.

Here are some of the best art museums, as you decide on what to do on a rainy day in Nice:

• Musée National Marc Chagall: If you’re a fan of Chagall’s work, it’s not to be missed, as the museum has the largest collection of his work. This one is not on the museum pass.
• Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain: Even Brian, one of the world’s harshest contemporary art critics, enjoyed this one. The science-based Lars Fredrikson exhibit was excellent. This modern art stop is on the museum pass.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice: We bumped into a man outside who said this was the greatest museum he’d been to in Nice. Once inside, it seemed a bit small. What we did see were many breasts. Oh, I get it now. This one is on the museum pass.
• Musée Matisse: This ode to Henri Matisse is north of the city center in the Cimiez area. It includes the artist’s sketches, sculptures, and paintings, as he was a Jacque of all trades. It’s on the museum pass.

Fun fact: If you’re really a fan, you can visit where he’s buried, across the park at the Monastere Notre Dame de Cimiez cemetery.

Tour an archaeological site.

You’ll pass by the Roman ruins on your way to the Musée Matisse, but there’s also an accompanying museum of items excavated from the site over the years.

Note: Musée D’Archeologie is French-only inside, but you’ll get the idea.

This was a stop that exceeded expectations, as what I read online prior to our visit wasn’t exactly glowing.

You’re not in Rome, but I’m a sucker for archaeological sites, and I thought the whole thing was very cool.

It’s the perfect place to linger as you ponder the city’s lengthy history. If you’re traveling with kids as curious about this stuff as we are, I’m sure they’d appreciate this, too.

This one is on the museum pass.

Explore Nice’s markets.

Despite the rain, we visited two of the city’s food markets while exploring on foot.

You’ll be under an awning for much of your exploring, so the drizzle shouldn’t stop you from checking out the local wares.

The selection was probably more limited because of the weather, but fresh fish was still on display at Le Marché le Libération.

The Cours Saleya Market still brought its best fruits and veggies. Have you ever seen a long radish, by the way?

Eat at the best restaurants in Nice.

One of my favorite rainy day activities in Nice is to eat your way through the city. Nice and its surrounding towns were delicious and surprisingly affordable.

You can easily bust your budget while in Nice by going to the fanciest of the fancy. That’s not usually us unless we’re hitting up a bucket list foodie experience like The French Laundry.

Fun fact: Keep in mind that there’s essentially a dead zone of time between the hours of 2-7pm at most places where you have to fend for yourself and hit up the snack bag you hopefully brought.

Reservations are also highly recommended at most restaurants. Wet weather may make reservations even harder to come by as there’s less patio space to work with.

Here are our favorites:

• La Rossettisserie: This restaurant in Old Nice was our Thanksgiving meal, and it couldn’t have come closer to the real thing. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food given, too. Reservations are available via their contact form.
• Olive et Artichaut: Our travel pals treated us to this Old Nice restaurant because we are awesome and they are awesome. Prices weren’t exorbitant, but this wasn’t our budget meal. Book using their online booking system.
• Voyageur Nissart: This long-running local favorite has set menus at budget prices. Their online booking form has been down for as long as I’ve been blogging, but you can be brave and give them a call for a booking.

Try socca, a local specialty.

Socca is a traditional dish in Nice that is essentially a flatbread made of chickpea flour. It’s simple and delicious.

We had a tapas-style meal at Chez Pipo, basically ordering double of everything on the menu because it was that cheap and we like to eat that much.

I noticed they offered different toppings for their socca at some point, including seafood, so inquire about that if you visit.

We only had the plain available to us, perhaps because it was lunchtime, but that was enough. Reservations aren’t necessary unless you’re traveling in a large group.

If you want to compare with other options, Chez Theresa is a popular option. They were on holiday for the week we were there, so I can’t vouch for this one.

Apparently, when this one’s open, the lines form down the street. You can’t get reservations here.

Visit Palais Lascaris.

We only popped inside the lobby, but even that quick look is worth it for the lavish Baroque interior.

The 17th-century palace was built for the Lascaris-Vintimille family. The grand staircase, ornate ceilings, chandeliers, and decorative details give you a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at before you even enter the museum.

With more time, you can tour the rest of the palace, which houses a collection of hundreds of musical instruments along with period furnishings and artwork.

Take a perfume workshop.

Make your signature scent at Molinard. I don’t wear perfume much, but if I did, it’d be one made just for me.

There are a few locations of this historic French perfumer around the country, with workshops where you can learn how different fragrance notes work together. From there, you can create a scent based on your own preferences.

The experience is a fun option for a rainy day in Nice because you’re not just shopping for perfume. You’re actually getting to mess around with different scents and leave with something you’ve created yourself.

The Nice location is in the heart of the Old Town, so it’s also easy to work into a day of wandering around Vieux Nice when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Go shopping.

I’ve mentioned the local markets as a good option, but Nice has plenty of independent shops if you’re looking for something beyond the usual tourist souvenirs.

Trésors Publics is a cute spot for French souvenirs that aren’t trash, with everything from small gifts to design-y French goods. Nicolas Alziari is another popular stop if you want to bring home something edible, particularly its olive oils.

Vieux Nice is a particularly good area to wander into shops when it’s raining, since you can duck in and out of stores without committing to a full outdoor shopping excursion. It’s also a good excuse to buy something you absolutely did not need.

Have a drink at Hotel Negresco.

The bar inside the more than 100-year-old Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais is legendary for its ambiance and expensive cocktails. I made that second part up, but it’s not cheap to snag a drink here.

We went for it because it’s vacation and it’s the Riviera, and we probably had two bottles of cheap wine in us by that point, which can affect decisions.

Also, you get some fancy savory nuts and breadsticks with your order and the view, so there’s that going for you.

They’ve got a long list of cocktails. The Champagne varieties and martinis are especially fun…until you get the bill, of course.

READ MORE: Cannes was one of our sunny stops. Check out my day trip guide!

Find more affordable bars in Nice.

In addition to the cheap wine that you’ll find basically anywhere in Nice, the city has quite a few bars for cocktails with character.

We loved Les Distilleries Idéales. The atmosphere inside the bar was all very steampunk. They offer snacks, but we were there for the beer and wine, of which they have plenty.

While there, we also observed a Hawaiian-themed bar crawl take a bunch of shots and disperse cheek kisses all around. If you’re there before late night, happy hour specials are available from 6-8pm. 

Here are a few more ideas if bar stops are on your agenda:

• Cave de la Tour: This was one of those places that was open online but closed once we got there. There wasn’t any explanation on the door, so I couldn’t tell you why. If you’re able to make it inside, it’s one of the oldest wine bars in Nice.
• Beer District Libération: This beer hall has over a dozen microbrews on tap, along with additional international beers if you don’t want to drink local. We opted for cocktails and wine on our trip, but it looked like a good time.
• Le Shapko: It’s hard to make it to a bar after dinner when eating happens later than you’re used to, and you’re old. I have some regret about missing this one, as I think a funk/soul/jazz bar in France would’ve been quite the scene.

Is Nice worth visiting in the rain?

Absolutely. I wouldn’t plan a trip to Nice because of the rain, but I also wouldn’t let a forecast scare me off.

Between the museums, markets, food, bars, and historic buildings, there are enough things to do in Nice when it rains that you can still have a very good day. Nice is the second most-visited city in France for a reason!

And, honestly, seeing the French Riviera in the rain gave us a completely different experience from the sunny postcard version of Nice.

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• Learn About My Favorite Versailles Dupe

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