Nice Hotels and Accommodation

(Nice, Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur, France)

There are plenty of places where you can lay your head in Nice, ranging from privately owned backpacker hostels, to high-rise accommodation fronting the beach, with balconies offering unbeatable views across the Mediterranean Sea. Lodging prices rise during the summer, when Nice is especially busy with beach-goers and holiday makers, and hotels rapidly fill up.

February is another time when available accommodation is more limited, when the famous Carnaval de Nice (Mardi Gras Carnival) takes place and its processions fill the streets. Even the city's campsite can be heavily booked up in July and August, like many others along this stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Visitors are therefore advised to plan well ahead in order to avoid disappointment. The Nice tourist office is based at the main train station and offers an invaluable hotel room reservation service.

Where to Stay

The most expensive hotels in Nice tend to be those that are closest to the seafront. As you'd expect, those fantastic sea views, smart rooms and impeccable service do come at a price. Some of Nice's luxury hotels continue to offer top-of-the-range accommodation and lodging in splendid belle époque surroundings, complete with antique furniture and works of art that could be equally at home in one of the city's fine art galleries. However, onsite parking in often hard to come by, so do check first. Alternatively, public parking is usually never far away.

The Hotel Negrésco remains an old favourite amongst traditional winter holiday clientele staying in Nice. Over the past few years, however, a different style of luxury accommodation has also emerged in Nice, offering more in the way of hi-tech minimalism and modern art. Examples include the Hôtel Beau Rivage and the ultra-stylish Hôtel Hi.

Further inland, toward the centre of Nice, are a good number of more down-to-earth hotels that offer a reasonable standard of accommodation for the money. Whilst facilities may vary from hotel to hotel, it is perfectly possible to find rooms that are quiet, clean and tucked away in a good location for both sightseeing and beach lounging.

The area around Nice's train station is also a popular location for hotels and hostels. Fairly close to Nice city centre and many of the main tourist attractions, these are particularly convenient if you're planning to use public transport to visit other towns and cities in the Côte d'Azur region. Many of the lower budget hostels in Nice do not operate a curfew, and so have an advantage over the city's traditional youth hostel, which is located just out of town. As in other large cities, however, hostel accommodation in Nice can be noisy, and is best avoided if you're looking for a peaceful break.