Nice, France is an excellent home base for families exploring the French Riviera. We found this city offered a great number of family-friendly activities with excellent transportation connections to other French Riviera destinations. I recommend staying for a week. This will give you the perfect amount of time to really explore Nice and be able to take a few day trips to other fun spots in the French Riviera. Now for the fun part, deciding where to stay while you’re there. Use this complete guide to help you find the best family friendly places to stay in Nice.
Best Family Friendly Places to Stay in Nice, France
Promenade des Anglais
Promenade des Anglais is one of the best known seafront promenades in the world. Stay along the promenade where kids can enjoy the pebble beaches with ease. This area offers many seafront hotels with family rooms and easy access to restaurants and attractions.
Pros: Close to the beach, restaurants and activities. Easy walking with stroller along the promenade. Best views of the Mediterranean.
Cons: Expensive, loud with busy road and constant activities on the promenade
Budget: $$$$
Nearby: Public beaches, beach clubs, carousel
Best For: Smaller families that can all stay in one hotel room, those with little kids planning to spend a good amount of time at the beach and want shorter walks
Our Favorite Hotels in Promenade des Anglais
- Hotel Le Negresco | $$$$: An iconic Nice hotel right on the Promenade des Anglais. They offer a deluxe family room that sleeps two adults and two children. This beachfront hotel is a short 15 minute walk to Old Town and the Nice-Ville train station.
- Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée | $$$$: This perfect Promenade des Anglais hotel features beautiful coastal views with an indoor and outdoor pool. For families they offer a deluxe queen room with two queen beds that sleeps two adults and two children.
- Hotel La Villa Nice Promenade | $$$: While not directly on the Promenade, this hotel is only one block from Promenade des Anglais and the beach. There is one family room available on the ground level that sleeps four.
Our Favorite Apartments/Rentals in Promenade des Anglais
- Possibly the Best Address in Nice | $$$: Part of the residences of the exclusive Palais de la Mediterarnée with direct access to the Promenade des Anglais. This flat has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and sleeps five.
- Panoramic Sea View with Terrace | $$$$: This three bedroom, two bathroom is very spacious and provides an awesome view of the Mediterranean.
- Fiora Paradise Terrace Apartment | $$$$: A two bedroom apartment that sleeps four and offers an awesome location right by Promenade des Anglais.
Old Town (Vieux Nice)
Immerse your family in authentic French culture while staying within walking distance of markets, cafes, and the beach. Here you’ll find many apartments and boutique hotels with kitchenettes, perfect for families with kids.
Pros: Very charming area right in the middle of everything
Cons: Touristy, many buildings don’t have elevators
Budget: $$$
Nearby: Old Town, Cours Saleya Market, Castle Hill
Best For: Families preferring an apartment over a hotel as there are many more apartment options, those planning to spend a good amount of time at the beach and want shorter walks to all kid-friendly activities, those planning to frequent the Cours Saylea Market
Our Favorite Hotels in Old Town
- Hotel Palais Saleya | $$$: Located at the entrance to Old Town this 18th Century building has a number of larger rooms to fit your family and is only a five minute walk to the beach.
Our Favorite Apartments/Rentals in Old Town
- Luxury Apartment with Balcony in Nice’s Old Town | $$$: This three bedroom apartment sleeps six and is conveniently located in Old Town only a four minute walk to the beach.
- Stylish Apartment with Two Balconies in Old Town | $$: This two bedroom, two bathroom sleeps six and is in the perfect spot in Old Town with easy access to the Cours Saleya Market, beach and Castle Hill. Two balconies make a great spot for evenings while the kids are asleep. Note – this flat is on the third floor and like most buildings in Old Town, there is no lift. Not recommended for families with strollers.
- Exceptional – Heart of the Old Town | $$$$: Stay at this three bedroom, three bathroom apartment that sleeps six and is right in the heart of Old Town for easy access to all the local hot spots.
Carré d’Or (Golden Square)
The Golden Square is very cosmopolitan and vibrant, it is also known as the most expensive area in Nice. Here you will find chic cafes, restaurants and shops. This area is a prime city location as everywhere in this area is a 5-7 minute walk to the beach. This is the area we stayed in and absolutely loved it.
Pros: Only a few minutes to the beach, good central location
Cons: Expensive, a bit further from kid-friendly stops than other areas
Budget: $$$
Nearby: Promenade des Anglais, beach
Best For: Families who want a more upscale feel and want to be to be in the heart of the action but also close to the train station
Our Favorite Hotels in Carré d’Or
- Palm Boutique Hôtel Nice | $$: Very close to Avenue Jean Medecin and the city center, this hotel is very well located. Families can book a family suite here that sleeps two adults and two children. However, note there is only one family room so booking early is highly recommended.
- The Jay Hotel by HappyCulture | $$$: This hotel offers rooms that are more like apartments than typical hotel rooms which can be a great option for families that prefer the amenities and culture of hotels instead of typical holiday rentals. They offer a one bedroom apartment or apartment with balcony that sleep four.
- Best Western Plus Hôtel Brice Garden Nice | $$$: This charming hotel is only three blocks from the Promenade des Anglais and beach. There is on family room available called the Prestige Room which sleeps four with a full bed and a king bed. A big plus for families staying at the Best Western is the buffet breakfast!
Our Favorite Apartments/Rentals in Carré d’Or
- Luxury Apartment in Carré d’Or with Two Balconies | $$$: Great location with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Flat is on the fourth floor (with a lift) and is air-conditioned. A great choice for a family of four.
- Luxury 3 Bed in Carre d’Or | $$$: This three bedroom apartment sleeps six and is in a nice central location of Carre d’Or.
- Appartement Carre d’Or | $$$: This two bedroom apartment sleeps five and is in a prime location of the Carre d’Or neighborhood with easy access to the beach and promenade.
Nice Centre
Nice Centre is more of a French area with fewer tourists. If you stay in the southern end of Nice Center you will be very close to the most kid-friendly stops (the Promenade du Pavilion playground and splash fountains, and the Nice carousel). We made our way to these locations most days so staying nearby makes a quick stop to appease little ones that much easier.
Pros: Fewer tourists, cheaper
Cons: Fewer hotels available in this area as it isn’t as designed for tourists, furthest away from the beach
Budget: $$
Nearby: Palace Messina, Promenade du Pavilion, Tram system
Best For: Families who prefer a quieter area and want easy access to the most kid-friendly stops
Our Favorite Hotels in Nice Centre
- Aparthotel AMMI Nice Lafayette | $$: Awesome location for access to Promenade du Pavilion, Jean Médecin pedestrian street and Old Town. This hotel has a couple studio options that sleep four.
Our Favorite Apartments/Rentals in Nice Centre
- Toucan Duplex Terrace | $$: This beautiful duplex apartment has two bedrooms on the second floor and sleeps four. Very easy access to Promenade du Pavilion and the fountains and only a short five minute walk to Promenade des Anglais and the beach.
- Beautiful Apartment with Terrace | $$: Perfect for families wanting easy access to the Promenade du Pavilion and fountains with only a short walk to the Promenade des Anglais and Old Town. Sleeps four with beautiful terrace to enjoy the outside while the kids rest.
- Massena Square | $: Right in Massena Square this apartment is in an awesome location. One bedroom apartment sleeps four and would be a tighter squeeze but it’s a great budget option for anyone looking for cheaper accommodations and don’t mind trading awesome location and price for less space.
How We Chose These Accommodations
I chose these hotels and apartments based on places I would choose to stay with my family. I only chose accommodations that are highly rated by people who have stayed previously. On Booking.com and VRBO I only choose hotels and apartments/rentals that have an 8 rating or above. This ensures wherever you are staying is well vetted for quality. I will also only suggest accommodations that are conveniently located and easy to get to/from with kids.
In this guide, dollar symbols are as follows :
- $ – 1 or 2 Star Hotels or $100-200 average per night for apartments
- $$ – 3 Star Hotels or $200-300 average per night for apartments
- $$$ – 4 Star Hotels or $300-400 average per night for apartments
- $$$$ – 5 Star Hotels or $400+ average per night for apartments
Our Recommendations
While this list can help narrow down your options for where to stay on your trip to Nice with your family, it can still feel overwhelming to choose. While I truly think any of these spots are a great choice for a family vacation, if you need more help deciding, here is my recommendation:
We stayed in Carré d’Or and absolutely loved it. It was quiet, close to a lot of take out restaurants, a quick walk to the beach and a 15 minute walk to the train station. Overall, I would stay here again. However, the only thing I didn’t love was how far it was from Old Town and the Cours Saleya Market. We visited the market most days so it was a 20 min walk one direction then 20 minutes back (if we wanted to put food in the fridge). For that reason, if we returned I would likely try and stay in Old Town. For families I think that’s the best location to be right in the middle of everything.
Practical Tips for Choosing Family Accommodations
Amenities
When choosing accommodations for your trip to Nice, keep in mind which amenities should be prioritized to make your time more enjoyable. Some people will prefer the vibe of a hotel that provides easy breakfast options and front desk staff availability. Others will prefer an apartment rental that provides more space and other amenities like kitchen facilities and laundry. Some items I usually prioritize for my family when choosing accommodations include:
- Kitchen: Even basic kitchenettes help with meal flexibility and cost savings
- Air Conditioning: Especially if traveling during summer months, this is essential for traveling with kids
- Laundry: Crucial for longer stays with little kids and can help you pack lighter
Booking Strategies
When booking accommodations, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you are and can book the right place for your family:
- Consider Shoulder Season: Travel during shoulder season (April/May, September/October) for cheaper rates and fewer crowds
- Check Cancellation Policies: Consider booking accommodations with more flexible cancellation policies especially when traveling with kids.
- Research Location: While there can be many places that work for your family, some may be better for the activities you’re planning to do. If you plan to visit the beach every day, maybe choose to stay closer to the beach. If you plan to visit the market every morning, then maybe accommodations closer to the market make more sense for you.
- Read Recent Reviews: Before booking make sure to read reviews for honest feedback about child and family friendliness. Most booking websites allow you to filter reviews by ‘family’ ‘child’ ‘kid’ so you can find the reviews relevant to you.
Budget Considerations:
- Apartment Rentals: When traveling with a family – especially in Europe – apartments tend to provide a better value for families staying more than a few nights
- Choose a Less Popular Location: While I think paying more for a better location is ideal, sometimes it isn’t practical. Choosing a location a bit further away can provide a decent cost savings. If you don’t mind walking a little further, stay further away to save money. In this case, staying in Nice Centre would be your cheapest option even though it’s furthest away from the beach.
Making the Most of Your Stay
The French Riviera has so many amazing family-friendly activities beyond the beaches. Plan accommodations that provide easy access to Promenade du Pavilion, the carousel and beach for kids. Remember that the region’s train system makes it easy to explore multiple destinations even when staying in one base location. Whether you chose to stay in the vibrant area of Nice, the relaxed beaches of Antibes or the off-the-beaten-path city of Menton, the right accommodation will serve as your perfect home base for creating unforgettable Mediterranean memories with your family.
Other French Riviera Guides
- One Week French Riviera Itinerary with Kids: How to See the Best of the Côte d’Azur
- Complete Guide to the French Riviera with Little Kids
- How to Get Around France with Kids: Trains, Cars, and Strollers
- One Magical Day in Menton France with Little Kids
- Things to Do in Monaco With Kids: The Perfect Family-Friendly Guide
- The Ultimate Family Day Trip to Ventimiglia, Italy: Kid-Friendly Activities on the Italian Riviera
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