I will not invent an hour-by-hour diary where I did not keep one. Below are the real parts of my trip, arranged in the order I would use now.

Day 1: arrival and an introduction to Nice

I landed close to midnight. The tram was no longer practical for me, so I ordered an Uber through the official app. A car arrived quickly, and the journey to the center cost €21.95. After a late flight, getting straight to my accommodation mattered more than saving a small amount.

Now I would check the last tram and the taxi or VTC pickup point in advance. At the airport, the app may direct you to a designated area rather than the terminal doors. In 2026, the official fixed taxi fare to central Nice is €32, excluding possible surcharges (Nice Airport). Uber prices change at the moment of booking, so my receipt is only a personal example.

For the first full day, I would choose Place Masséna, Nice Old Town, Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill, and the Promenade des Anglais. This gives you a sense of the city without tickets tied to strict entry times.

Day 2: Nice without a compulsory checklist

Nice made me want to do more than tick off sights. I tried French food, stopped at bakeries, and walked around the center. It was my first trip to France, so my personal list included oysters, onion soup, macarons, frogs' legs, and socca.

Socca was a surprise. There were three of us, and none of us liked it. The serving seemed very oily and had a strong fried taste. Perhaps we chose the wrong place. I would not tell anyone to avoid the dish, but I would suggest ordering one portion to share first.

Simple croissants were among the things I remember most. Some were the best I had eaten: crisp and flaky outside, soft inside.

My article on traditional French food has more context about the dishes..

Day 3: Monaco

Of all my day trips from Nice, Monaco impressed me most. My train from Nice-Ville took about 35 minutes. The outbound journey was easy. We bought our tickets, boarded, and arrived without any trouble.

The return was completely different. In the evening, Monaco-Monte-Carlo station was so crowded that we could not properly board the first train and decided to wait for the next one. That train was no better. We spent almost the entire journey standing packed closely together, and this was March, well outside the summer peak.

I would still take the train to Monaco, but I would not wait for the last convenient service. A short distance does not guarantee a comfortable journey. I set out a detailed sequence of stops in my article on what to do in Monaco.

Day 4: Cannes

My journey between Nice-Ville and Cannes took about 25 minutes. Both the outward and return trips were easier than the trip to Monaco.

The city left me with mixed feelings. Cannes seemed overrated, probably because the film festival had created enormous expectations. The contrast between the station area and La Croisette was especially sharp. Near the Carlton, the promenade looked well maintained and the beach clean. I still would not pay for a club simply because of its name.

For a first day, Marché Forville, Le Suquet, the Old Port, the Palais des Festivals, and the stretch of La Croisette as far as the Carlton are enough. My Cannes itineraries offer a realistic plan.

Day 5: Cannes again, Monaco, or another day in Nice?

I decided to spend my fifth day in Nice and not go anywhere else. The weather was sunny, and the day seemed made for slowing down.

I took an unhurried walk along the promenade and through the city, sat by the sea for quite a while, and let myself stop watching the clock. Then I had a good lunch and wandered around some more without a plan.

The day was quiet and relaxed, which is exactly why it stayed with me. Looking back, I think staying in Nice was the right decision.

What I did right

• I chose one base and did not move accommodation with a suitcase.
• I used trains for Monaco and Cannes.
• I did not add Èze simply because it appears on every list.
• I left time for food and ordinary walks.
• I did not rent a car for towns along the coastal railway.

What I would change

I would return from Monaco earlier and check airport transport more carefully before landing. I would also bring a comfortable mat and water shoes. Even outside swimming season, the pebbles affect how pleasant it is to sit by the sea.

Five days are enough for a first trip if you accept that you cannot see the entire French Riviera. Nice, one memorable day in Monaco, and one relaxed day in Cannes give you more than changing cities every day for the sake of a list.