28 Unusual, Fun and Original Activities to Do in Nice

I selected the most unusual and fun activities to do in the charming city of Nice and in its surrounding areas (for all budgets).

 

Original Visits

Culinary trip – try the local specialties

nicoise salad
Salade niçoise – Credits: Katrin Gilger via Creative Commons 2.0

Have a guided tour of the old town and taste the local specialties. You will get to know more about the local cuisine and the best markets to shop at. Discover how to cook an authentic Nicoise salad.

This culinary trip is limited to 10 people at a time to make it more enjoyable.

Booking and further information

 

Trip to the lavender fields and the Verdon Gorge

lavender fields

Go on a trip to the French Riviera and see the best places in Province. Your guide will show you the Verdon Gorge, the city of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the Sainte-Croix lake, the Valensole plateau and the famous lavender fields.

Since you will ride on mountain roads, this trip will not suit people that have motion sickness.

Booking and further information

 

Rent a boat with or without a skipper

Discover Nice, the sea, and the waves by renting a boat.

If you prefer a skipper to come with you, Marko’s 6-seater sailboat is an ideal choice. Marko, a passionate captain, will take you to discover the best places around Nice and will be happy to pass on his knowledge of navigation.

6 seater sailboat
Marko’s 6-seater sailboat

If you have a boating license, other rentals are also possible, such as Eric’s 10-seater semi-rigid boat. Wakeboarding equipment, fins, masks, snorkels and even cookies are included in the price! This is the perfect option for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.

10 seater semi-rigid boat
Eric’s 10-seater semi-rigid boat

Price:

 

Sunset yacht trip

sea coast view
Cap d’Ail – Credits: acebal sous Creative Commons 2.0

Have a nice sunset two-hour trip on a Sunseeker Superhawk 34 yacht of 11 meters in length. You will see the village of Eze, the Cap-d’Ail and the port of Monaco.

This private trip is commented in French or in English. You can have some free champagne and snacks on board.

Booking and further information

 

Trip to Monaco and Monte-Carlo

monaco coast view

Go on a journey to Monaco and Monte-Carlo in a minibus from Nice. You will have the chance to see the French Riviera during the ride and stroll in the small medieval village of Eze. You will visit the Fragonard perfume shop with a guide.

The next stop of your journey will be at Monaco, where you will be free to visit the city and its luxurious boutiques. Your last stop will be at Monte-Carlo where you will see the famous Place du Casino and the Formula 1 circuit.

Booking and further information

 

Unusual Sporting Activities

First time flyboarding on the French Riviera

flyboard sea activity

Discover flyboarding, a fun water sport that I am sure you will not forget anytime soon.

After receiving some instructions, you will have twenty minutes of fun flyboarding on the French Riviera and about an hour of standup paddle boarding.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

First time paragliding near Grasse

Baptism of the air

Paraglide for the first time above the sea and the mountains. Enjoy an amazing view on the Cap Ferrat and the Esterel Massif. There are different flights to choose from (15 minutes to 30 minutes long).

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Canyoning in the Gorges du Loup

Canyoning

Canyoning is a water sport that can be practiced by everyone, no matter the age and physical condition.

Go down the Gorges du Loup by gliding and jumping and swimming in the river. You will have the chance to see wonderful landscapes including the natural park of the Préalpes d’Azur.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Jet ski ride on the French Riviera

jet ski activity

Enjoy the coastline with this two-and-a-half hour jet ski ride towards Monaco or Cannes.

Admire the Mediterranean coast with its villas, yachts, bays, ramparts and much more.

At the end of this jet ski trip, you can do some standup paddling (including in the service).

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Stand up paddling with an instructor on the Eze beach

paddle activity

During this one-hour-and-a-half, an instructor will teach you how to standing paddle and will take you on a “paddle tour” near the beach of the medieval village of Eze.

Enjoy an incredible view of the coastline and the Cap d’Estel. Enjoy the fresh sea air during this original stroll.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

First time snorkeling

snorkeling

Discover marine life during this snorkeling activity. It starts with a boat ride to enjoy the coastal scenery and ends with a snorkeling adventure. You will be accompanied by a marine biologist who will show you the beauty of the marine life.

Booking and further information

 

Fun And Original Activities

A320 flight simulator

flying simulator

Have you always dreamt of becoming a pilot? Then this activity was made for you.

Learn how to take off and land an A320 and how to control the aircraft in bad weather conditions. You will be supervised by a professional pilot, making you feel like you are in an authentic cockpit.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Unusual Means of Transport

Discovery tour of the city on a segway

segway tour

Discover the city of Nice with a passionate guide during a private tour on a segway. You will see the main landmarks and places of the city in a small group. You will spend some time at the market in the old town of Nice. The city will no longer hold any secrets for you.

This is a fun stroll for all ages (minimum age 12).

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Tour of the city on a delivery tricycle

sea coast view

The delivery tricycle is an original means of transport to visit the city. During this 30-minute ride, you will see the main tourist sites of Nice such as the Place Masséna or the Old Nice.

Booking and further information (link in French)

 

Guided tour of Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer on an electric bike

sea coast view
Villefranche-sur-Mer – Tom Corser www.tomcorser.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 UK, via Wikimedia Commons

This three-and-a-half-hour stroll on an electric bike will have you discover or rediscover the French Riviera in a pleasant setting, showing you breathtaking views on the most beautiful panoramas of the region.

You will ride along the Promenade des Anglais and the cap de Nice. You will see the Citadel of Saint-Elme and the streets of Villefranche-sur-Mer. A guide will accompany you and comment on the landscapes seen in French or in English.

The tour is suitable for children (child-sized bikes are available).

Booking and further information (in French)

 

Tour in a miniature car

small car city tour

Rent a miniature car for a two or four-hour ride. The instructor will give you the itinerary to follow for your visit.

You will see the famous casino of Monte Carlo, the village of Eze or the Ephrussi villa (depending on the tour you have chosen).

Mileage is unlimited and included in the service. A driving license is required to drive the cars.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Quirky Workshops

Cocktail making

cocktail lemon workshop

Discover how to make cocktails during this activity and impress your friends with the new skills you will have acquired.

A professional bartender will tell you about the history of a drink before introducing you to the different ingredients and utensils that will be needed. It will then be your turn to make a cocktail following the bartender’s instructions.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Painting with an international artist

paint workshop

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced painter looking to improve your skills, you are welcome to join this three-hour painting workshop, led by an international artist.

Stéphane Blanchard, whose work has been exhibited in several countries, will help you improve your skills or discover the art of painting. You will paint one or several paintings and will discover some techniques, allowing you to vary the textures and colours of your art.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Perfume making at the Molinard perfume shop

perfume creation workshop

Since 1849, the Molinard house has been creating perfumes that mix tradition and modernity. This creative workshop allows you to make your own fragrance with an expert who will share her knowledge with you.

You will leave the workshop with a 50 ml sample of the perfume you will have created.

The workshop is available in French and English.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Mediterranean cuisine class and tasting

charcuterie and cheese board

Taste the local cuisine at a Nice inhabitant’s place, who is passionate about the cuisine of her region, and learn how to prepare these Mediterranean dishes.

You will receive advice on the city (what to visit, when etc). You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and perhaps make friends.

Booking and further information

 

Entertaining Paperchases

Treasure hunt in the old town of Nice

game city pirates

Visit the emblematic places of the old town of Nice through a two-hour team treasure hunt.

A treasure has been hidden in the city for centuries and nobody has been able to find it until now. On your way, you will have to solve riddles that will take you through the most popular tourist sites of the city.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

The cursed wizard

harry potter game

Plunge into a magical world similar to the one of Harry Potter during this escape game.

A witch named Delphine wants to reverse the course of time in order to bring her parents back to life. To do so, she will not hesitate to use evil magic.

Your mission, as a witch, will be to prevent Delphine from fulfilling her wish. You will have to use your magic skills.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Paperchase outdoor

tour city

Discover the city of Nice during a two-hour treasure hunt that takes place entirely on a smartphone (Android only, no guide on site).

You will be able to choose between different scenarios for your game (Sherlock Holmes to solve a murder, Bank robbers to carry out a robbery, Bounty hunters for the more sport-oriented ones and an urban Escape room to find hostages).

This interactive and fun game gives you a unique experience since the real and the virtual meet.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

To be locked

This escape room offers three scenarios. You can choose between:

  • The “detention time” room, where you find yourself in detention time in a school. Your objective: avoid exclusion.
  • The “Masha in Wonderland” room, where the aim is to help Masha, a little girl, get out of her nightmare
  • The “Virtual Reality” room where you can play two games: the game of the month (currently house of fear) or jungle quest (adapted for children).

Booking and further information

 

Quest Agency

This escape room plunges you directly into the 20th century with its games: the Robert Hart and the Nice Resistance case.

Choose either to join Robert Hart’s team in his marine exploration or to join the resistance in 1944 to prepare a sabotage.

You will spend great time with your friends or colleagues in immersive settings.

Booking and further information (website in French only)

 

Driving a Sports Car

Ride in a Lamborghini Gallardo (drive or be the passenger)

lamborghini

Discover the luxury of the French Riviera during this Lamborghini Gallardo ride. Drive around the city of Nice, in the medieval village of Eze and along the Promenade des Anglais. If you do not want to drive, you can sit in the passenger’s seat.

Perfect for car lovers or those who want to show off.

Booking and further information

 

Ride in a Ferrari F430 Spider

ferrari garage
Credits: Simon Lieschke sous Creative Commons 2.0

Drive or enjoy a ride as a passenger in a beautiful Ferrari F430 Spider on the French Riviera. Drive along the Promenade des Anglais and the Grande Corniche road to the village of Eze in this luxury convertible.

A fun activity for luxury car lovers.

Booking and further information

 

Original Restaurants

Le Plongeoir

Enjoy traditional Mediterranean cuisine in a friendly setting and an atypical location in le Plongeoir. Part of its terrace is located on a rock, connected by a bridge to the rest of the building. The place gives an exceptional view on the sea.

The courses are prepared with fresh and seasonal products, so the menu changes regularly.

Website: https://www.leplongeoir.com/en/home