Nice LGBTQ+ travel guide: where to stay, eat, party and explore on the French Riviera
In partnership with BA Euroflyer
Sun-kissed, seductive and effortlessly chic, Nice pulses with a swagger that’s as vibrant as its Riviera sunsets. Here, glamour comes with an edge: picture sunbathing on pebble beaches, before sipping cocktails on rooftop terraces overlooking the Promenade des Anglais, and spending lively evenings in sultry bars tucked away in narrow streets lined with pastel-hued buildings.
Beyond the postcard-perfect façade lies a city unafraid to embrace its flair — a playground where queer culture thrives, mingling effortlessly with Mediterranean allure. Nice is calling and is ready to flirt.
What to do in Nice
No visit to Nice would be complete without sauntering along the famous Promenade des Anglais. These four dazzling miles of palm-fringed pavement are where chic locals go for a stroll and jocks take their jogs. In the adjacent Baie des Anges, swimmers enjoy the sapphire waters all year round.
Another highlight is Vieux Nice, the city’s intoxicating Old Town, with its maze of citrus-painted buildings, winding alleys and buzzing cafés. Check out the colourful displays at Cours Saleya market, where flowers, spices and local produce spill onto the streets every day except on Mondays, when treasure-hunters descend on the same location for an-tiques and vintage finds at the weekly flea market.
From the Old Town, scale the stairs — or glide effortlessly up in the free lift — to Colline du Château, where a castle once watched over the stunning Baie des Anges. Today, this lush, leafy park offers breathtaking panoramic views that even Napoleon declared in 1860 as “the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen.”
Culture vultures should head to the elegant Matisse Museum, which houses nearly 600 pieces by the 20th-century master, alongside fascinating personal objects that add an intimate touch to your art fix. Also worth visiting is Librairie Vigna, a fiercely independent bookshop known for its progressive, queer-friendly curation of literature, zines and graphic novels, with a focus on radical and alternative voices.
Where and what to Eat in Nice
Nice is a feast for foodies, offering a delicious array of dishes that proudly represent this region’s intangible cultural heritage. Start with socca, a crispy chickpea-flour pancake best enjoyed piping hot from a wood-fired oven. Savour pissaladière, an irresistible onion tart drizzled with the region’s golden olive oil, and don’t miss the iconic pan bagnat, essentially a Niçoise salad nestled inside crusty bread, or the fragrant, focaccia-like fougasse.
Seafood lovers are in paradise, especially at Castel Plage beach club, a beloved haunt of Nice’s established gay community that’s perfect for a spot of sunbathing while indulg-ing in exquisite seafood dishes. For authentic French dining with welcoming charm, the gay-owned Le Sunset-Nice restaurant along the Promenade des Anglais is unbeatable, offering delectable cuisine paired with delightful service and refreshing cocktails.
Craving culinary excellence? Nice boasts an impressive eight Michelin-starred restaurants across its flourishing culinary scene. Standouts include Les Agitateurs, where the chef passionately crafts menus from local produce, and Le Chantecler, the sophisticated dining room inside the iconic Le Negresco hotel, where exquisite dishes meet stunning architecture, creating an unforgettable dining experience.
Nice LGBTQ+ nightlife
With one of France’s liveliest LGBTQ+ scenes outside Paris, Nice has no shortage of places to let your hair down. Dip into the colourful streets of Vieux Nice to find the proudly “hetero-friendly” Blitz Bar, or sip cocktails at the shabby chic Coco Bar. Closer to the port, Ramdam Bar blends superb cocktails with an edgy gallery space. And when the weekend arrives, dance floors at L’Oméga Club, Le Glam, and Le Six pulse with electrifying energy all night long.
Events in Nice
Nice also knows how to throw a flamboyant festival. The two-week Nice Carnival, held every February for over 150 years, includes Lou Queernaval, a loud and proud LGBTQ+ evening parade and party in the city’s central square, attracting over 10,000 spectators each year. Late April brings In&Out, a dynamic 12-day queer film festival that delivers a cultural buzz for cinema enthusiasts. The Nice Rainbow Festival, organised by Centre LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May, features everything from a lively drag picnic to food trucks, concerts, DJs and a spirited march for respect. And let’s not forget Nice Pink Parade, the city’s energetic Pride celebration that floods the Promenade des Anglais with joyful rainbow-flag-bearing marchers in July or August.
Best time to travel to Nice
Nice is one of France’s five sunniest cities and it enjoys a quasi-subtropical Mediterranean climate that makes it ideal for holidays all year round.
Nice insider’s tip
A short train ride will take you to the medieval hilltop village of Èze — make sure not to miss the exotic botanical garden. Continue east along the coast and you’ll reach Monaco, the world’s second smallest sovereign state. Here, you can get a taste of glitz — from the casino to the harbour of gleaming mega yachts.
Getting to Nice
Attitude flew with British Airways from London Gatwick to Nice. Flights operate from March to October, departing from London Gatwick. Book the best prices at ba.com/gatwick.