Before you plan a day
The museums in Nice each take a weekday off and they do not agree on which. Any plan built around one of them should be checked against that museum's own page first — this is the single most common way a day here goes wrong.
Everything outdoors — the old town, the hill, the seafront, the port — is open whatever the day, so a closed museum costs you an hour of rearranging rather than the day.
One day
The old town in the morning, out through the Cours Saleya, up the castle hill before lunch for the view, down the far side to the port. Afternoon on the Promenade.
Two days
Day two goes up to Cimiez for the Roman site and the Matisse museum, then back down for the Russian cathedral on the way.
Three days
Add the Beaux-Arts, the Palais Lascaris, and a long slow walk out along the Paillon gardens and the western seafront.
Five days
Add two day trips — Èze and Villefranche make an easy pair, and Antibes fills a day on its own. Keep one afternoon free for Mont Boron and the long view.
A week
Add Menton and the Italian border, Parc Phoenix on a hot afternoon, and the time to swim properly rather than looking at the sea on the way past.
