What to Do in Nice When It Rains for a Delightful Trip

Wondering what to do in Nice, France, when it rains? Don’t fret. This city is full of indoor delights, from world-class art museums and historic sites to cozy cafés and local markets. With the right plan, a rainy day in Nice can be just as memorable as a sunny one.

On our trip to the French Riviera, we arrived and left in the rain. Our last day there was especially chilly and wet, leading us snowflakes to retreat to a series of indoor activities.

If you’re worried about the same, here’s a guide to what to do in Nice when it rains, including where to indulge in some of the city’s best cuisine.

Rainy Day in Nice: A Quick Itinerary

• 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?

Rainfall varies in Nice throughout the year. You’re more likely to have wet weather days in the fall, while summer is sunnier and drier.

Temperatures are consistently mild, so there really isn’t a bad time to visit Nice if you’re prepared for rainy conditions.

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.

You’ll have a delightful time nonetheless, as you decide what to do in Nice when it’s raining.

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

Start with sweet treats at the city’s best cafes.

Rainy days tend to get a little indulgent around here. Stuffing your face with croissants and pain au chocolat is a great way to stay dry on a rainy day.

They’re basically all good in Nice, but Bio Brod and La Maison De Celine Pâtisserie are two delicious options.

The latter has won awards for its baked goods, so you won’t want to leave there with just coffee.

Visit the city’s best 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 indoors.

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 archaeological 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.

Hit the city 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 Markets still brought their 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. In some cases, it’s mandatory, even as you look for what to do in Nice on a rainy day. 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 the contact form on their site. 
• 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. Reservations are available via 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.

Chez Palmyre was also high on my list for authentic local cuisine. It sounded small and busy and loud and like an experience we wanted to partake in.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get through to them to make a reservation. We didn’t have luck calling the restaurant for a reservation, nor do they have an online booking system. I’d suggest stopping by physically during open hours if you’re really interested.

Try socca, the 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.

Enjoy fancy drinks 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.

Enjoy more reasonably-priced drinks elsewhere.

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 in 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.

More Things to Do in Nice on a Rainy Day

We spent nearly a week on the French Riviera, so we did manage to get some sun in between ducking for cover.

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

If your time in Nice is limited but showers are on the horizon, there is more to do in the city to make good use of that time.

Here are a few more ideas for things to do in Nice when it rains:

• Go shopping. I’ve mentioned the local markets as a good option, but Nice has niche shops, no matter what you’re after. Trésors Publics looks like a cute spot for French souvenirs that aren’t trash. Nicolas Alziari is a popular gourmet grocery.
• Make your signature scent at Molinard. I don’t wear perfume, but if I did, I’d love to create one just for me. There are a few locations of this perfumerie around France, all with workshops on treating yourself to the art of scent-building.
• Tour the Palais Lascaris. We only popped inside the lobby, something I’d recommend to check out its luxe interior. With more time, you can check out exhibits of hundreds of musical instruments.

Rainy Days in Nice: FAQs

Nice is fantastic, rain or shine.

Nice is the second most-visited city in France for a reason.

While much of that tourism happens thanks to its beaches and scenic waterfront, there’s enough to do on a Nice rainy day if that’s what it’s in the cards for you.

While I’d love to go back in the heat for more sunshine, I’m glad our introductory visit allowed us to experience Nice in a different way.

If you’re wondering whether an off-season visit is worth it, this should be proof that there are lots of things to do in Nice in the rain.

Planning more travel in France? Use these guides:

• Plan a Spring Trip from Paris to Giverny
• Love Holiday Markets? Check Out Strasbourg
• Want to Move to France? Here’s How!
• How to Play at Le Golf National Near Paris
• Learn About My Favorite Versailles Dupe

Explore more adventures in and around France:

• A Guide to the Best Castles in the Loire Valley
• A Guide to the Magical Cliffs of Étretat
• How to Spend One Perfect Day in Lille
• Planning Your Next Trip to Avignon
• Things You Pick Up After Life in France

Want to see more?