A winter guide to Nice and Marseille
Escape to the sun-drenched Mediterranean this winter on a journey through the seasonal sights, ancient attractions, and southern-French flavors of Nice and Marseille.
When it comes to finding the perfect winter escape in Europe, we all seek the same things: crisp, sunny skies, breathtaking architecture, irresistible local cuisine, and cultural treasures that leave us lost for words. It might sound like a lot to ask—but in the south of France, it’s just another day of life on the Mediterranean.
As coastal getaways go, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dazzling duo of destinations than the port cities of Nice and Marseille. Nestled respectively on the pristine Côte d’Azur and Provençal coast, and set against the turquoise depths of the Mediterranean Sea, these ancient cities have long brought joie de vivre to winter, offering more than 300 days of shimmering sun per year.
A great place to start your journey is Nice. Founded by Greek colonists, the city stands today as a testament to its charming Belle Époque heritage. This influence is perhaps most apparent in the city’s grand buildings and ornate hotels, which once served as plush winter holiday homes for wealthy European and British elites, earning the city the nickname Nice la Belle (“Nice the Beautiful”).
Find your flavor in Nice
If Nice’s architecture reveals its Belle Époque soul, its cuisine lays bare its Mediterranean heart. And winter brings with it a whole new depth of flavor. From rich Daube Niçoise (Niçoise beef stew) and Estocaficada (stockfish stew) to Pasta “Merda de Can” (gnocchi stuffed with chards), the brisker months offer comforting, homely dishes, served from sun-drenched cafés, bustling markets, and rustic bistrots.
For an authentic taste of local life, seek out the city’s “Cuisine Nissarde” restaurants—an official label awarded to those upholding traditional recipes and techniques. Family-style eateries like La Table Alziari and Restaurant A Buteghinn’a should top your list for sit-down dining in Vieux-Nice (Old Town), while the likes of Cours Saleya Market and Chez Thérésa are ideal for sampling street food staples like socca, panisse, and tourte de blettes on the go.
Top tips for visiting Nice and Marseille
Know before you go
Winter in Nice and Marseille brings mild weather, smaller crowds, and plenty of festive charm. Pack layers and comfortable shoes for cobbled streets, plan walking routes in advance, and use trams, buses, or bikes to get around. Parking in the city center can be tricky, so avoid car rentals unless you plan a longer road trip. Parles-tu français? A couple of basic French phrases go a long way, as does carrying some cash for small cafés and markets.
Explore more for less
For those looking to see more of the Côte d’Azur—from Cannes to Monaco—the French Riviera Pass gives access to over 60 tourist attractions, experiences, and activities in the region, plus exclusive shopping perks and discounts. Choose from 24-, 48-, and 72-hour pass options and enjoy highlights like the hop-on-hop-off Nice Le Grand Tour bus, the Nice Tourist Train, and complimentary entry to museums, galleries, and historic sites along the glittering coast.
Get easy city access
Available to purchase online or at the Tourist Office near the Old Port, the Marseille City Pass offers entry to major museums and attractions across the city, plus unlimited access to public transport (available as an option). With 24-, 48-, and 72-hour passes available, the initiative generally offers one-time access to the city’s biggest tourist sites, including Mucem, the boat trip to Château d’If, and the Little Tourist Train, starting from just €32 for adults.
See spectacular city sights in Nice
Beyond its elaborate façades and sunny disposition, Nice boasts a melting-pot culture shaped by centuries of Mediterranean living, Italian influence, and artistic inspiration. The best way to experience it all is by walking or biking the city’s sights. Start at the iconic Promenade de Anglais, a seven-kilometer walkway tracing the sweeping, pebbly shores of the Baie de Anges.
Take in the Beaux-Arts elegance of Le Negresco Hotel before detouring to the nearby Musée Masséna, where you’ll discover how hivernants (winter visitors) influenced local culture, architecture, and tourism—a legacy that helped earn the city its UNESCO designation as the “Winter Resort Town of the Riviera.” From here, detour to the main public square, Place Masséna, a green-belt gateway to Vieux-Nice (Old Town).
Continue to the year-round flower and vegetable market of Cours Saleya, just steps from the Baroque Cathedral Sainte-Réparate, which shades the picturesque cafés and bistrots of Rosetti Square. For panoramic coastal views, head to the urban oasis of Colline du Château (Castle Hill), or wander further to the hilltop forests of Parc du Mont Boron.
And then there’s the art. Visit Musée Matisse in Cimiez to marvel at the largest collection of works by the Fauvist master, get inspired at the Musée National Marc Chagall, explore eastern antiquities at the Asian Arts Museum, or learn about Impressionism at Musée Renoir. Finish your cultural tour at the Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, a Belle Époque palace surrounded by nine meticulously maintained gardens.
Enjoy seasonal events and shopping in Nice
While many of Nice’s attractions can be enjoyed year-round, winter brings a certain festive charm all its own. From late November through early January, the city bursts to life with unique events, Noël celebrations, and live music and theater. Browse traditional crafts and sample seasonal snacks at the annual Christmas Market in Jardin Albert 1er, or welcome the holidays at Opéra de Nice, home to The Nutcracker and concerts by the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Traveling in February? Don’t miss the two-week Carnaval de Nice, the biggest festival of its kind in France. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the carnival sees the city transform into a parade ground of decorative floats and evocative street theater, providing a colorful backdrop for the historic “Bataille de Fleurs” (“Battle of the Flowers”).
For a spot of retail therapy, winter sales typically run from early January to early February. During this time, you can shop till you drop in the upmarket Carré d’Or district, in retail precincts like Galeries Lafayette, or at NICETOILE. Closer to the airport, Cap 3000 is a retail destination in its own right, with nearly 300 shops, 50 restaurants, and a sea-view promenade.
Journey through history in Marseille
After exploring the wonders of Nice, trace the Mediterranean westward to picturesque Marseille, France’s oldest city. Start your winter sightseeing in the heart of Le Panier (Old Town) at the Gothic Notre-Dame-des-Accoules, then tackle the Accoules climb—a street art-strewn staircase, pleasantly uncrowded in the off-season, that offers sweeping views over terracotta rooftops and the church’s iconic bell tower.
Meander past artisanal ateliers and sun-soaked bistrots en route to La Vielle Charité, a wonder of 17th-century architecture now home to the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology. Nearby, pause to admire the Cathedral de la Major and Saint-Laurent Church, or visit the much-loved Mucem museum, before following the cobbled lanes down to Vieux-Port (Old Port).
Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, then prepare your sea legs for an offshore adventure. Hop on the ferry to Château d’If, the fortress-prison made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo, then continue to the Frioul archipelago, a scattering of nature-rich islands in Calanques National Park that welcome visitors year-round.
Try Mediterranean coastal cuisine
From steaming street food to Michelin-star meals, no trip to Marseille is complete without drinking and dining à la française. Favorite wintertime flavors include bouillabaisse, the city’s rich, aromatic fish stew; panisses, deep-fried chickpea fritters; and navettes, crunchy, orange-blossom-infused biscuits traditionally enjoyed around Candlemas in early February.
A great place to start your culinary journey is Cours Julien, where the city’s Farmers’ Market takes place every Wednesday, just a stone’s throw from hotspots like Café La Muse, Maison Loko, and Prosper. For haute cuisine, Marseille boasts two exceptional three-star restaurants—AM par Alexandre Mazzia and Le Petit Nice Passedat—plus a refined selection of one-star venues. If you’re visiting Mucem, don’t miss its Michelin-star snack bar and restaurant, Bouillant, also run by Chef Alexandre Mazzia.
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Set off on a festive adventure
As the crimson foliage of autumn turns wintery, Marseille ushers in a season of festive celebration. In mid-November, the Foire aux Santons (Santon Fair) sees handmade clay figurines fill the city’s stalls, while the annual Christmas Market transforms the historic Vieux-Port waterfront into a wonderland of craft stands, children’s activities, and tempting food vendors. This year, look out for fireworks and drone displays on December 20.
For more adventurous fun, soak up the seasonal sun in the great outdoors. Take a hike or boat tour in nearby Calanques National Park, go on a coastal walk at Sentier des Douaniers, or enjoy a scenic bike ride through the salt marshes of the Camargue. With time to spare, spend a night among the pine forests of the Giens Peninsula, or hop on a 30-minute train to Avignon.
Nestled in the rolling foothills north of Nice, Château de Bellet is an organic winery producing rich reds, crisp whites, and fruity rosés from its unique pebble-rich terroir. Backdropped by breathtaking mountain views and the sweeping coastline, the vineyard dates to the 18th century and sits in the shadow of a medieval chapel, adding a hint of historic flavor to every winetasting, guided tour, and bespoke event.
Ranking among Nice’s most iconic attractions, the historic Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur has set the stage for many of Europe’s leading operas, ballets, and classical music concerts since 1885. Tickets are available for performances year-round, while guided tours promise a glimpse of the opulent venue’s richly decorated interior. Typical winter programming includes classic operas, philharmonic performances, and special holiday shows.
Set just two miles off Marseille, the Frioul archipelago comprises four distinct islands: Pomègue, Ratonneau, Tiboulen, and If. Framed by sparkling Mediterranean waters and reachable by a 15-minute ferry from Vieux-Port (Old Port), the islands offer dramatic coastlines, abundant wildlife, and ancient ruins. Explore Château d’If, a legendary fortress-prison steeped in history, or hike, swim, and dive among hidden coves and bays.
Built over a 40-year period in the mid-19th century, the Catholic basilica of Notre-Dame de La Garde is a towering, emblematic figure of Marseille, affectionately nicknamed “La Bonne Mère” (“The Good Mother”). Make your way up the 150-meter La Garde Hill by foot, car, or the Little Tourist Train to visit the church. Once there, marvel at its Roman-Byzantine interior, intricate mosaics, and, from December, the newly gilded Virgin of the Basilica statue.