10 Best Parks in Nice
Explore Nice's Most Beautiful Outdoor Spaces
<p>Nice is known for its beauty and tranquility, which are on full display at the many city and nature parks in and around town. At these parks you can see elegantly-tended botanical gardens, walking paths with hedge mazes, and green shaded canopies.</p><p>If you’re looking for a pastoral place for a picnic meal, a quiet and romantic walk with someone special, or just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, these parks are a great option. Learn about some of the best parks in <a href=“/go/france/nice”>Nice</a> to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor scenery.</p>
1. Botanical Garden
More than 3,500 species of plants
Good for: Families, Budget, Adventure
<p>The Jardin botanique de Nice features over 3,500 plant species from the Mediterranean and all over the world in an area that covers 7 acres. It is located on the eastern side of the city and has been here since 1983.</p><p>The flowers and other plants you’ll see here include examples from Greece, Spain, the Canary Islands, California, South Africa, Mexico, and other regions. The gardens are famed for their ethnobotanical collection, which not only showcases lovely plants but also provides education into how various nations use flora as part of their culture and medicine.</p>
Location: 78 Corniche Fleurie, 06200 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 92 29 41 80
Botanical Garden
2. Castle Hill Park
Dramatic ocean views
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
<p>Parc de la Colline du Château offers dramatic views of the ocean and city below, a cascading artificial waterfall, and a cafe where you can relax in elegant surroundings. It sits at the highest altitude in Nice rising 300 feet above sea level, is about 15 minutes southeast of the city center, and is the place where you can view the ruins of the former Château de Nice.</p><p>This park’s history dates to the early 19th century when the city decided to change the former castle site to a leisure area for locals and visitors. Today it is both a vantage point and an archaeological site where you can see many local historic landmarks.</p> Read more
Location: Mnt du Château, 06300 Nice, France
Open: Sunday–Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 8.30 am to 8 pm
Castle Hill Park
3. Promenade du Paillon
A relaxing reflecting pool with fountains
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
<p>The Promenade du Paillon offers a large green space with plants, trees, a reflecting pool, fountains, and a play area for kids. It’s located in the heart of the Nice city center and connects two iconic arts and cultural institutions.</p><p>The reflecting pool covers 32,000 square feet and is equipped with 128 jets which create a refreshing spray and occasional synchronized water fountain displays. The park offers free broadband Wi-Fi for all visitors so you can relax and stay connected at the same time. Whether on a romantic getaway or on a break with the kids, it’s a fun place to visit.</p> Read more
Location: Plassa Carlou Aubert, 06300 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 7 am to 11 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 97 25 49 00
Promenade du Paillon
4. Parc du Mont Boron
Home to major historical sites
Good for: Budget, Families, History
<p>Parc du Mont Boron is a few minutes east of downtown Nice and offers panoramic mountain views of the surrounding areas with major historic attractions along its slopes. In the arboretum itself, you’ll find wild olive and carob trees, and the park offers meandering alleyways taking you through lush green space, picnic areas, and sports areas. It’s one of the largest parks in the city.</p><p>Along the way up the slopes, you’ll want to visit the Château de l’Anglais and the Cave of Le Lazaret, two of the more popular attractions in the park. You can catch great views of the city below and the neighboring bay.</p> Read more
Location: 4 Boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck, 06300 Nice, France
Parc du Mont Boron
5. Parc Phœnix
The avenues of the Island that Time Forgot
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
<p>Parc Phœnix is located at the far eastern entrance to the city of Nice, and offers 17 acres of greenhouses, gardens, an artificial lake, and a bamboo forest. This park is chock full of highlights that draw thousands of visitors to its serene grounds every year.</p><p>You can explore the bamboo forest on the Island that Time Forgot and walk the shores of the artificial lake that bursts with color, exotic plant life, and bird species. The park also offers Mediterranean waterfalls. The park’s greenhouse is among the largest in Europe and offers 7 different tropical climates to explore.</p> Read more
Location: 405 Prom. des Anglais, 06200 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 92 29 77 00
Parc Phœnix
6. Le Jarden Albert 1er
Take in a live show in a historic public park
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Budget
Le Jardin Albert 1er is a 19th-century public park with trimmed lawns, pools, an open-air theater, a bandstand and shaded paths lined with mature trees. It’s among the oldest gardens in the city and runs from the shore to the Place Masséna in the city centre.
During the summer, the park hosts public events and live entertainment. It’s also known for L’Arc de Venet, a black metal arc that stands 19 meters high, a gift presented to the city in 1988 by artist Bernar Venet. Here you can see everything from palm trees to rose gardens.
Location: 2-16 Avenue de Verdun, 06000 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 7 am to 11 pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 97 13 20 00
Le Jarden Albert 1er
7. Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez
An ancient Roman amphitheater
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Budget
<p>Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez offers a vast olive grove with trees that date back centuries and hosts a multitude of public events every year. It’s located just 8 minutes north of the city center and is on the grounds of the historic Monastery of Cimiez.</p><p>It’s most famous for both the ruins of the 5,000-seat Roman amphitheater and for the annual May Festival. Live entertainment, historic attractions, and regular festivals draw thousands here all year long. It’s also a pet-friendly attraction so you can bring your dogs along.</p>
Location: 184 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, 06000 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 8 pm
Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez
8. Parc Vigier
A hidden gem of Nice
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
<p>Vigier Park is one of the hidden gems of Nice, offering native Mediterranean greenery, palm trees, and the spot where the very first Phoenix canariensis, or Canary Island data palm, was planted in France. It’s located on the eastern side of the Port of Nice and covers just 2 acres of ground.</p><p>The park is on the spot of a former viscounty, that of Achille Georges Vigier. It’s a wonderful place to go with your family or beloved, just to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle for a little while, have a picnic, and get back to nature.</p>
Location: 23 Bd Franck Pilatte, 06300 Nice, France
Parc Vigier
9. Parc Chambrun
A social and cultural hub of Nice
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Budget
<p>Parc Chambrun is an elaborately-landscaped garden that today is a social and cultural hub of Nice, offering monuments, shaded walks, and kids’ playgrounds. It’s known for the historical remnants of the former private owners like the Temple of Love monument, built by the Count of Chambrun.</p><p>The park became the property of the city in 1920, but its origins date back much further. The species of trees that line the shaded walking paths include yew, pine, cypress, and cedar. It’s located in the heart of Nice city center.</p>
Location: 14 Avenue Chateaubriand, Nice, France
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 8 pm
Parc Chambrun
10. Parc Castel des Deux Rois
The spot for mini-golf, bathing, and relaxing
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
<p>Parc du Castel des Deux Rois is a family-oriented park packed with leisure and fun activities, from playgrounds and mini-golf to a swimming pool. It runs from the seashore up to another park for nearly endless stretches of green space in the city center.</p><p>You can easily spend a whole day in this park which also offers food stalls and snack bars so you can grab a bite to eat. It’s a good option for adults and kids of any age. If you’re a pet owner, you’ll love that the park is completely dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friends along for a day of fun.</p>
Location: Corniche André de Joly, 32 Avenue du Mont Alban, 06300 Nice, France
Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 8 pm
Parc Castel des Deux Rois
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