What's on in Nice (French Riviera), France through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Christmas village and rink (28 Nov – 4 Jan (usually)), Ski day trips open (5 Dec – 10 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Carnaval de Nice, Winter (February) holidays in France

• Festival

  Carnaval de Nice

  10 Feb – 5 Mar · usuallyCarnivalCrowdedBook early

  A fortnight of float parades and flower battles on the Promenade and Place Massena, running at the same time as Menton's lemon festival half an hour along the coast. Source ↗

Still on: Ski day trips open (5 Dec – 10 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Carnaval de Nice

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Carnaval de Nice (10 Feb – 5 Mar (usually)), Ski day trips open (5 Dec – 10 Apr (usually))

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Ski day trips open (5 Dec – 10 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Cannes Film Festival, Spring holidays in France

• Festival

  Cannes Film Festival

  10–28 May · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  The festival is forty minutes down the coast, but the hotel market is regional: Nice reprices for the fortnight and the airport transfer queue doubles. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Forest access closures

  15 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallySmoke seasonClosures

  The department grades fire risk daily through the summer and closes the massifs behind the city — the Esterel, the approaches to the Mercantour — to walkers on the worst days, decided the evening before. Source ↗

• Nature

  Lavender in Provence

  20 Jun – 25 Jul · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The Valensole plateau and the Sault fields usually peak between late June and the third week of July, and are cut soon after. It is a long day trip inland rather than an afternoon. Source ↗

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  25 Jun – 15 Oct · usually

  The Mediterranean here holds its heat into October, well after the crowds have gone. Bring something for your feet: the beach is pebbles the whole way along.

Peak crowds — Nice Jazz Festival, Summer holidays in France

• Festival

  Nice Jazz Festival

  23–25 JulMajor festivalCrowded

  Several nights in the second half of July in the gardens and squares off the Promenade. It is the oldest festival of its kind in Europe and the programme now stretches well past jazz. Source ↗

Still on: Forest access closures (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Lavender in Provence (20 Jun – 25 Jul (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — French holiday peak, Summer holidays in France

• Season

  French holiday peak

  1–25 AugSchool holidaysCrowded

  France takes August off and a good share of it comes here. The corniche roads back up, the beach clubs sell out days ahead, and the family restaurants in the old town raise their prices with the demand.

Still on: Forest access closures (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Forest access closures (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (25 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France

• Festival

  Christmas village and rink

  28 Nov – 4 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New Year

  The gardens between the old town and Place Massena take a market, a big wheel and an outdoor rink for five weeks, in the mildest winter of any city in France. Source ↗

Busy — Christmas holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Ski day trips open

  5 Dec – 10 Apr · usuallySki season

  Isola 2000 and Auron are about ninety minutes from the seafront and run from December to early April. It is the one thing that makes a winter week here different from the rest of the coast. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas village and rink (28 Nov – 4 Jan (usually))