Quick answerNice is a city in France, with 357,737 people inside the city limits in 2023. It is best known for the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), the Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town (Vieux Nice). Its official language is French, and its currency is the Euro.
Nice is the fifth-largest city in France, with 357,737 residents in 2023, and the unofficial capital of the French Riviera. It sits on the Mediterranean coast in south-eastern France, near Monaco and the Italian border.
Key facts
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 357,737 (2023) |
| Time zone | Europe/Paris |
| Language | French |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 43.7034° N, 7.2663° E |
Overview
Nice lies on the French Riviera in south-eastern France, about 13 kilometres west of Monaco and 30 kilometres west of the Italian border. With 357,737 residents inside the city limits in 2023, it is the fifth-largest city in France, and its wider urban area holds nearly one million people.
The city began as the Greek trading post of Nikaia, founded around 350 BC, and later became a winter retreat for European royalty and artists, drawn by its mild climate and the light on the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). The seafront Promenade des Anglais, built in the 19th century, is still the city's most famous walk. Behind it lies the old town, Vieux Nice, with its markets, baroque churches and narrow lanes, and above it Castle Hill, which offers the best view over the bay. Nice is also known for its museums, including the Musée Matisse and the Musée Marc Chagall.
What Nice is known for
- French Riviera (Côte d'Azur)
- Promenade des Anglais
- Old Town (Vieux Nice)
- Mild Mediterranean climate
- Matisse and Chagall museums
Landmarks
- Promenade des Anglais
- Vieux Nice (Old Town)
- Castle Hill (Colline du Château)
- Cours Saleya market
- Musée Matisse
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nice?
Nice had 357,737 residents inside the city limits in 2023, according to INSEE, making it the fifth-largest city in France. The wider urban area around Nice holds nearly one million people. The city covers 71.9 square kilometres on the French Riviera.
Where is Nice and what is it known for?
Nice is on the French Riviera in south-eastern France, about 13 kilometres west of Monaco and 30 kilometres west of the Italian border. It is the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department and is known for the Promenade des Anglais, its old town and its mild Mediterranean climate.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- France — the country Nice is in
- Paris — another city in France
- Marseille — another city in France
- Lyon — another city in France
- Marie Curie — Polish-French science figure
- Pierre Curie — French science figure
- All cities in France
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.