Are you looking for ways to spice up your usual beach day with your family and friends? Then, allow me to suggest some fun nautical activities to try in Nice and its surroundings.
Jet Ski
Rte du Bord de Mer, 06270 Villeneuve-Loubet
This summer, ride a jet ski at full throttle along the Villeneuve-Loubet beach.
The jet ski is a definite must-do and probably the best nautical activity to share an unforgettable moment with your loved ones.
Head to Villeneuve-Loubet (a 15-minute drive from Nice) to experience the sensational feeling of sailing the sea that you will not soon forget.
We love:
- Being able to drive the jet ski yourself
- Riding the jet ski on your own or with a friend
Price: €60 for 15 minutes / €70 for 20 minutes / €80 for 30 minutes (extra €10 per additional person)
Booking information (website in French)
Flyboarding
Plage « Bay Star Beach », 176 Promenade des Flots Bleus, 06700, Saint Laurent du Var
Are you bored with your usual beach days? Are you looking for a truly unique experience? Then, you should definitely give flyboarding a try.
You are standing on a board that rises a few meters above the water’s surface – a guaranteed thrill!
Visit Saint-Laurent-du-Var (a 10-minute car ride from Nice) to test out this unique nautical activity.
It is a beginner-friendly activity, so I recommend you check the Glisse Paradise watersports center to get your first flyboard experience.
We love:
- The breathtaking view of Saint-Laurent-du-Var seafront
- Getting a video of your performance as a souvenir
Price: €80 for a 20-minute long beginner-friendly lesson / €100 for a 30 minute long beginner-friendly lesson / €130 for a 30 minute long beginner-friendly lesson and a videotape
Booking information (website in French)
Snorkeling
What about exploring the Nice seabed?
Snorkeling is usually practiced in shallow water and does not require any particular experience. This is the perfect activity for beginners and children!
Basically, snorkeling is a stimulating and fun activity to do with the whole family, and it contributes to raising awareness among children about the marine ecosystem.
Put on a diving mask and a snorkel, and go discover marine life!
We love:
- Discovering the seaboard
- Going snorkeling on your own
- Spot different marine species up close
Price: €45 per person for 3 hours (minimum 12 years old)
Booking information (website in French)
Inflatable Water Park
Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var, 06700 Saint-Laurent-du-Var
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Create unforgettable memories for your children with this inflatable water park set up by the sea. This is the perfect way for them to have fun and enjoy the marine setting.
The Digue du Sud water park is located near the Saint-Laurent-du-Var Port (10 minutes away from Nice) and operates annually from June to September.
Children – starting from 6 years old – can have fun with dozens of unique and entertaining inflatable structures (e.g.: slides, a climbing wall, a trampoline, etc.).
We love:
- The course diversity
- The secured environment
Price: €12 per person for 1 hour (in the afternoon) / €20 per person for 2 hours (in the afternoon) / €18 per person for 3 hours (in the morning)
Booking information (website in French)
Stand Up Paddleboard
Going paddleboarding is a fun way to combine sport and laughter.
But how does it work? You are standing on a paddleboard and you must keep your balance while paddling. You will be given a life jacket beforehand so don’t worry if you end up falling in the water.
I suggest you plan a lesson with friends and challenge them to a balancing contest. No doubt there will be a ton of laughter!
We love:
- Sailing through Saint-Laurent-du-Var surroundings
- The fits of laughter
Price: €15 per person for 1 hour
Booking information (website in French)
Tubing
Port de la Darse, 06230, Villefranche-sur-Mer
Slalom between waves at full throttle as you feel the wind blowing.
Head to the watersports center Milla Boat in Villefranche-sur-Mer (a 15-minute car ride from Nice) to discover this thrilling experience.
I recommend the “sofa” for children because it provides more balance.
To top it off: the instructor adapts the intensity according to your preference. If you want them to speed things up, let them know and they will immediately step on it.
Convinced? Then, put on a life jacket and give tubing a try!
We love:
- The attentive instructors ensuring a unique experience
- Choosing between the different types of towable tubes depending on what you are looking for
Price: €25 per person for 15 minutes
Booking information (website in French)
Parasailing
This has to be the most extravagant water sport to try out in Nice.
You can go parasailing on your own or with a friend to share the experience of rising into the air 100 meters above the sea. Up there, you will even be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.
From the Nice Port, you will board a remarkable boat that will take you to the sky as you fly over the French Riviera.
We love:
- The outstanding view on Baie des Anges and la Promenade des Anglais
- Sharing the experience with a friend
Price: €72 per person for 10 minutes (1-hour total trip)
Booking information (website in French)
Wakeboarding and Water Skiing
Riviera Nautic Sport, 31 Promenade des Anglais
Enjoy the feeling of winter sports by the sea!
Whether you go wakeboarding or water skiing, glide on the water surface at full speed while being towed by a certified instructor in a motorboat.
The Riviera Nautic Sport watersports center offers wakeboarding and waterskiing lessons for both beginners and advanced people.
We love:
- The location: you can go wakeboarding or water skiing along la Promenade des Anglais
- The beginner-friendly lessons
Price: €35 per person for 10 minutes (advanced only) / €90 per person for a 20-minute long lesson
Booking information (website in French)
Windsurfing
Ecole de voile de Cagnes-sur-Mer, Rue du Capitaine de Frégate Hippolyte Vial, 06800 CAGNES-SUR-MER
Windsurfing combines the excitement of watersports with reflection.
Going windsurfing is an opportunity for you to develop your balancing skills as well as your ingenuity. You will need to take advantage of the wind to move across the surface of the water.
If you are a complete beginner in windsurfing, I suggest you book a lesson with an instructor to get your feet wet.
We love:
- The reduced price if you live in Cagnes-sur-Mer
- The private lessons with an instructor to help you get familiar with windsurfing or work on your progression
Price: €15 per person for 1 hour (on your own) / Starting from €50 for a 1-hour lesson (minimum 16 years old)
Booking information (website in French)
Boat Trip
Set off on a 4-hour boat trip in the vicinity of Nice.
During the trip, the boat will stop by 3 exceptional spots.
First, you will get aboard the boat from the Nice Port and sail through les Calanques de l’Estérel (the Esterel creeks) to discover incredible natural caves.
You will then be able to swim in the Lérins Islands located off the Cannes coast.
Eventually, the boat will pass by la Baie des Milliardaires (the Billionaires Bay) near the city of Antibes.
We love:
- The snorkeling equipment is available for free
- The unique experience and the breathtaking scenery
Price: €90 per person for a 4-hour trip
Sea Kayaking
Are you looking for a fun and convivial nautical activity? Then, you should give sea kayaking a try.
Get on a kayak with a partner and peacefully paddle together along the Mediterranean sea.
Going kayaking is a great opportunity to spend time with your family during the afternoon and chat together as you enjoy the tranquility of the ocean.
We love:
- How calming and convivial kayaking is
- The kayak ride with an instructor including a swimming break
Price: €35 per person for a 2-hour trip with an instructor / €35 per kayak for half a day (no instructor)
Booking information (website in French)
Underwater Scootering
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Explore the Mediterranean sea completely free and effortlessly by renting an underwater scooter in Saint-Laurent-du-Var (10 minutes away from Nice by car).
Put on a diving mask and dive into the ocean up to 40 meters under the surface of the water as the water scooter guides you.
You can adjust the water scooter’s speed up to your preference by tapping on a screen and choosing between the 3 different speed modes.
We love:
- Being able to put a GoPro camera on the water scooter and leave with a videotape as a souvenir
- The different speed modes
Price: Starting from €70 for a 1-hour session (a single battery provided) / €100 for a 2-hour session (2 batteries provided)
Booking information (website in French)
Scuba Diving
Have you ever gone scuba diving before? Come get your first scuba diving experience on the French Riviera and enjoy the outstanding setting.
You will get on a boat from the Nice Port as expert divers drive you to an exceptional diving site located on the Cap of Nice.
Go scuba diving with friends or family and dive up to 6 meters down the surface as you discover the seabed.
We love:
- The impressive view from the boat on the way to the diving site
- The diving equipment suitable for children (minimum 8 years old)
Price: Starting from €95 per person for 20 minutes
Booking information (website in French)
E-Foiling
1081 Chem. de la Garoupe, 06160, Antibes
Discover a remarkable way of sailing the water by visiting this watersports center in Antibes (a 20-minute car ride from Nice).
You are standing on a board up to 30 meters above the water surface and you must try to keep your balance.
You will feel the adrenaline rush through your body as you ride the waves.
We love:
- The incredible feeling of levitating
- The speed: the foil can go up to 35 km/h
Price: Starting from €120 per person for 1 hour (minimum 12 years old)
Booking information (website in French)
Kitesurfing
110 Boulevard du Midi, 06150, Cannes la Bocca
Head to Cannes, a 25-minute car ride from Nice, to try this remarkable watersport called kitesurfing.
Kitesurfing consists of gliding on the water with a board using a kite to help you navigate with the wind.
If you’re looking for a challenging nautic activity that will quickly turn you into an expert: try kitesurfing now.
We love:
- The 2-day long intensive course
- The quick progress you will be able to make
Price: €140 for a 3.5-hour long session (advanced only) / €390 for three 3.5-hour lessons
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
