Promenade des Anglais
A 7-kilometer seafront boulevard along the Baie des Anges, with blue chairs, palm trees and the pink dome of the Negresco Hotel, the symbols of Nice.
The Promenade des Anglais runs along the Baie des Anges from the airport to the edge of the old town, about 7 km in all. It was built in the 1820s with funds raised by British residents who wintered in Nice, which is how it got its name. In 2024, 'Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera' was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with this promenade at its core. On the seaward side are a wide walkway and a bike lane, with rows of blue chairs (Chaises bleues) facing the sea, the signature image of Nice. On the inland side is a line of hotels in Belle Époque and Art Deco styles. The most famous is the Negresco, opened in 1913 with its pink dome, and the facade of the Palais de la Méditerranée is also worth a look. The beach is pebbly. Public beaches are free, while private beaches such as Blue Beach and Castel Plage charge about €25 to 40 a day for loungers. The sea is good for swimming from June to October. The best way to experience the promenade is to rent a shared bike (Vélo Bleu) or walk east from the Negresco to Quai des États-Unis beside the old town, a route of about 40 minutes. Along the way, pause at the Jardin Albert 1er and Place Masséna, with its black-and-white checkerboard ground and seven night-lit sculptures called Dialogue. Evening is the best time, when the setting sun turns the sea and hotel facades gold. Castle Hill at the east end makes a good climb to finish the walk. Note: in summer there is little shade at midday, cycling should stay in the dedicated lanes, and on busy beaches you should keep your belongings with you.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
- Place Masséna
- Vieux Nice / Cours Saleya
- Marc Chagall National Museum
- Nice Cathedral (Sainte-Réparate)
- Castle Hill
- MAMAC Nice