Helpful Guide: Is Nice in Monaco? Where Is Nice Located? (2024)
Nice is known widely across the world as a premier seaside destination, famous for its gorgeous beaches and laid-back atmosphere. But where is Nice exactly located? Is Nice in Monaco? Is it part of France or Italy? Many people are confused about what country Nice is a part of and where its exact location lies. As someone who loves visiting Nice, I’m here to answer all of these questions and provide you with helpful information if you’ve been thinking of planning a trip to Nice! So let’s get started!
Is Nice in Monaco?
The short and sweet answer is no. Nice is not in Monaco. Monaco, officially recognized as the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and micro-state. In simpler words, it’s essentially a tiny country within Europe. There are 10 cities or wards within the extremely small and compact country. These include: Monte Carlo, La Rousse, Larvotto, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Fontvielle, La Colle, Les Révoires, Moneghetti, and Saint Michel. So, despite their very close proximity to one another, Nice is not part of Monaco.
How Far Is Nice From Monaco?
Nice is a mere 12.7 miles or 20.4 km away from Monaco. As such, visiting Monaco is a pretty popular thing to do when visiting Nice.
Getting from Nice to Monte Carlo
For those who might be interested in experiencing the beauty of Monaco, it takes about half an hour to drive the distance between the two places. That said, if you don’t plan on renting a car during your vacation, there are other ways of getting from Nice to Monte Carlo. For example, you can do a private tour or take the train. I’ve outlined these different options for doing an easy day trip to lovely Monaco here if you’d like to learn more!
Where Is Nice Located?
Now that you know Nice is not in Monaco, you’re probably wondering where Nice is located. Nice is a city located in Europe. There are currently 44 countries that make up modern-day Europe.
Some of the other countries within Europe that I’ve personally had the pleasure of visiting include Andorra, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. To see a full list of countries recognized as part of Europe by the United Nations you can check out their official website.
But, more specifically, Nice is in the south of France, along the French Riviera – a stretch of coastal area along the southeastern border of France!
Where Is Nice France on the Map?
To give you a better idea of where Nice is in relation to other cities, you can see where Nice, France is on the map. Feel free to zoom in, zoom out, or drag around to find your bearings! As you can see, Nice is just to the west of Monaco, Villefranche-sur-mer, and Èze and to the east of Cannes.
But, if you aren’t familiar with those reference points, perhaps you’ve heard of Lyon and Toulouse — two other popular destinations in France. Lyon is the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the third most populous city in France, behind Paris and Marseille. It is nearly 300 miles or 471km away from Nice, which takes about 4.5 hours to cross via train.
Meanwhile, Toulouse is the capital of France’s southern Occitanie region and the fourth most populous city. It is almost 350 miles or 560 km away from Nice and takes a little over 6 hours to reach via train.
Is Nice in France or Italy?
When talking about Nice’s location, two common questions are, “Is Nice in France or Italy?,” and “Does Nice belong to Italy? If you look at the map, you’ll see the pin furthest to the right represents the Italian border. Everything to the right of the pin represents Italy. Thus, since Nice is to the left of that pin, Nice is in France and does not belong to Italy! But, that doesn’t mean that Nice isn’t connected to Italy.
When Did Nice Become Part of Italy?
With Nice being only 20 miles away from the Italian border, it’s understandable that the history between Nice and Italy is a little complicated. However, in an effort to summarize, Nice became part of the House of Savoy in 1388. The House of Savoy eventually became known as the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which is now a part of modern-day Italy.
Therefore, technically speaking, Nice never belonged to Italy. However, the city was once included in the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which eventually joined forces with the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 to begin creating the Italy we love and recognize today. Also, it was at this time that Nice was ceded to France under the 1860 Treaty of Turin. So, Nice has been considered part of France since 1860!
Is Nice in Provence?
Yes, Nice is in Provence! The full name of this southeastern region is Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, but most people just shorten it to Provence. And, for those who don’t know or are feeling completely lost, France is split up into 18 different administrative regions. 13 of these administrative regions are located in Europe, while the other 5 are overseas regions… because yah know, colonization.
The French region that most people are familiar with is Île-de-France since that’s the region that Paris is in. But, Provence is a pretty major one as well since the capital of the region is Marseille, which is the second most populous city in France.
Provence is also known for its diverse landscapes, which include everything from the Southern Alps and Camargue plains to beautiful vineyards and wineries. In fact, 88% of Provence wine production is dedicated to rosé. So, if you love rosé, you’ll want to take a wine-tasting tour and see a vineyard or two!
And then, of course, this region is home to the stunning Côte d’Azur or French Riviera. The French Riviera includes chic seaside towns like Cannes and Saint Tropez and offers coastal views of unbelievably blue waters. Thus, if you’re looking for some breathtaking sights, majestic mountain peaks, lush vineyards, and luxurious beach towns… Provence is the place to be!
Where to Stay in Nice
If this post has convinced you to book that trip to Nice because it definitely pumping me up for my return in June… here are some places I recommend for housing! They are based on where I’ve stayed in the past as well as my thorough outside research. Furthermore, each hotel is centrally located and has overwhelmingly positive reviews. 😉
Low-Cost Stays
- The Deck Hotel by Happy Culture — Lovely 4-star hotel near beach | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- Hotel de France — Highly rated, affordable 3-star hotel w/ buffet breakfast | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
Mid-Range Stays
- La Pérouse — Relaxing 4-star hotel with bar, gym, pool, and room service | ⭐️ 8.8 / 10
- Hotel Nice Côte D’Azur — Fun, boutique 4-star hotel w/ terraces | ⭐️ 9 / 10
Luxury Stays
- Hotel Palais Saleya — Great 4-star hotel near Castle Hill | ⭐️ 9.6 / 10
- Le Negresco — Famous 5-star hotel along Promenade des Anglais | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
Feel free to use these buttons to go directly to your favorite booking platform and explore additional housing accommodations.
Visiting Nice: FAQ
This will depend on your financial background and what your reference point is. But, personally, I didn’t think Nice was super expensive. In fact, it was such a refreshing break for my bank account after visiting Paris and doing significant damage in places like Stockholm. On average, you should expect to spend around $30 – $60 per day on food. For activities, you can spend as little as $0 since there are lots of free things to do. But, you can also easily spend more by opting to do a boat tour or another more immersive experience.
Crime rates aren’t high, but they aren’t low. I personally didn’t experience or see anything, so I think Nice, France is relatively safe, especially in comparison to crime in Paris. But, you’ll definitely want to stay vigilant and keep a close watch over any of your valuable items.
If you recall, Nice was part of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which is now modern-day Italy. Thus, you’ll notice a lot of Italian influence around the city, both in the local food and in the architecture.
In Nice, France, the language they speak is French! But, considering it is a major tourist destination, you will find that a good portion of the locals also know basic English.
Nice is roughly 590 miles or 950 km away from Paris, so I wouldn’t say Nice is close to Paris. By train, it takes 6 – 7 hours to transit between the two cities.
Wrap-Up: Where Is Nice Located? (2024)
Is Nice in Monaco? No, Nice is not in Monaco. Nice has been part of France since 1860 and is located in the Provence region of France along the French Riviera. The region offers visitors unparalleled coastal views, lush mountain ranges, and flourishing vineyards. Moreover, this destination can be surprisingly budget-friendly!
So, if you’re looking for an escape from the chaos of life, the cold winter season, or just need a little vacation, Nice is perfect for those seeking a rejuvenating getaway! Either way, I hope this post was insightful and you are now confident in the whereabouts of Nice!
Explore France
- 🏄♀️ Biarritz: If you’re looking to head to France’s lesser-known west coast, don’t skip out on visiting the small yet picturesque town of Biarritz! There are plenty of activities, perfect for a relaxing getaway!
- 🗼 Paris: Thinking of visiting Paris and looking for recommendations. Some of my favorite I’ve done across 9 trips to the French capital include: traveling to charming Giverny, seeing Monet’s iconic paintings in this small museum, touring the famous Opera House, and attending the incredible Roland Garros tennis tournament!
- 🍷 Lyon: Passing through Little Paris? Be sure to venture beyond the city to the rich vineyards for a little wine tasting! You won’t want to miss out on tasting these prestigious wines!
