10 Best Parks in Nice

The Jardin Botanique de Nice (Botanical Garden of Nice) features over 3,500 plant species from the Mediterranean and all over the world in an area that covers 3 hectares. It is located on the eastern side of the city and has been here since 1983.

The flowers and other plants you'll see here include examples from Greece, Spain, the Canary Islands, California, South Africa, Mexico and other regions. The gardens are famed for their ethnobotanical collection, which not only showcases lovely plants but also provides education into how various nations use flora as part of their culture and medicine.

Parc de la Colline du Chateau offers dramatic views of the ocean and city below, a cascading artificial waterfall, and a café where you can relax in elegant surroundings. It sits at the highest altitude in Nice rising 92 metres above sea level, is about 15 minutes southeast of the city centre, and is the place where you can view the ruins of the former Chateau de Nice.

This park’s history dates to the early 19th century when the city decided to change the former castle site to a leisure area for locals and visitors. Today it is both a vantage point and an archaeological site where you can see many local historic landmarks.

The Promenade du Paillon offers a large green space with plants, trees, a reflecting pool, fountains and a play area for kids. It's located in the heart of the Nice city centre and connects two iconic arts and cultural institutions.

The reflecting pool covers 3,000 square metres and is equipped with 128 jets which create spray and occasional synchronised water fountain displays. The park offers free broadband Wi-Fi for all visitors so you can relax and stay connected at the same time. Whether on a romantic getaway or on a break with the kids, it's a fun place to visit.

Parc du Mont Boron is a few minutes east of the Nice city centre and offers panoramic mountain views of the surrounding areas with major historic attractions along its slopes. In the arboretum itself, you'll find wild olive and carob trees, and the park offers meandering alleyways taking you through lush green space, picnic areas and sports areas. It's one of the largest parks in the city.

Along the way up the slopes, you'll want to visit the Chateau de l'Anglais and Grotto of Lazaret, two of the more popular attractions in the park. You can catch great views of the city below and the neighbouring bay.

Parc Phoenix is located at the far east entrance to the city of Nice, and offers 7 hectares of greenhouses, gardens, an artificial lake and a bamboo forest. This park is chock full of highlights that draw thousands of visitors to its serene grounds every year.

You can explore the bamboo forest on the Island that Time Forgot, walk the shores of the artificial lake that bursts with colour, exotic plant life and bird species. The park also offers Mediterranean waterfalls. The park's greenhouse is among the largest in Europe and offers 7 different tropical climates to explore.

Le Jardin Albert 1er is a 19th-century public park with trimmed lawns, pools, an open-air theatre, a bandstand and shaded paths lined with mature trees. It's among the oldest gardens in the city and runs from the shore to the Place Masséna in the city centre.

During the summer, the park hosts public events and live entertainment. It's also known for L'Arc de Venet, a black metal arc that stands 19 metres high, a gift presented to the city in 1988 by artist Bernar Venet. Here you can see everything from palm trees to rose gardens.

Jardin Des Arenes de Cimiez offers a vast olive grove with trees that date back centuries and hosts a multitude of public events every year. It's located just 8 minutes north of the city centre and is on the grounds of the historic Monastery of Cimiez.

It's most famous for both the ruins of the 5,000-seat Roman amphitheatre and for the annual May Festival. Live entertainment, historic attractions and regular festivals draw thousands here all year long. It's also a pet-friendly attraction so you can bring Fido along.

Vigier Park is one of the hidden gems of Nice, offering native Mediterranean greenery, palm trees and the spot where the very first Phoenix canariensis was planted in France. It's located on the eastern side of the Port de Nice and covers just 1 hectare of ground.

The park is on the spot of a former viscounty, that of Achille Georges Vigier. It's a wonderful place to go with your family or beloved just to get away from the city's hustle and bustle for a little while, have a picnic, and get back to nature.

Parc Chambrun is an elaborately landscaped garden that today is a social and cultural hub of Nice as well as offering monuments, shaded walks and kids' playgrounds. It's known for the historical remnants of the former private owners like the Temple of Love monument, built by the Count of Chambrun.

The park became the property of the city in 1920, but its origins date back much further. The species of trees that line the shaded walking paths include yew, pine, cypress and cedar. It's located in the heart of the Nice city centre.

Parc du Castel des Deux Rois is a family-oriented park with leisure and fun activities abounding from playgrounds and mini-golf to a swimming pool. It runs from the seashore up to another park for nearly endless stretches of green space in the city centre.

You can easily spend a whole day in this park which also offers food stalls and snack bars to grab a bite to eat. It's a good option for adults and kids of any age. If you're a pet owner, you'll love to know that the park is completely dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged family friends along for a day of fun.