Skip to main content

Museum / Gallery Sights in Nice

Discover and book the top Nice sights

Spectacular views from the rooftop

Modern & contemporary art Museum

Location
Nice

The museum of modern and contemporary art was opened in 1990 and features artworks from the 1960s to the present day.

A small town sits on top of a hill surrounded by trees

Chateau Museum Grimaldi, Cagnes sur Mer

Chateau Grimaldi may take you somewhat by surprise if you are expecting the usual historical museum experience - it also holds regular exhibitions of contemporary art and isn’t afraid of displaying bizarre and sometimes challenging installations. The artworks are incongruous in such a traditional context and the collection changes regularly, so you never know quite what you’re going to get when you visit!

Mont Agaisen Fortress, Sospel

Mont Agaisen Fortress, Sospel

Learn about the French defences from the Germans and the strategic position of this fort in the battle for Nice in World War two.

Musee de la Mer, Ile Sainte-Marguerite

Musee de la Mer, Ile Sainte-Marguerite

Location
Cannes

Situated within the Royal Fort on Ile Sainte-Marguerite in the Bay of Cannes, this museum is a place not only of learning but also of rich history.

Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, Monaco

Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology

Location
Monaco

The area around the Cote d'Azur is rich in prehistoric artefacts, many of which can be found in this fascinating museum.

Provence Art & History Museum, Grasse

Provence Art & History Museum, Grasse

Location
Grasse

With items from prehistoric times, and fine arts and decorative arts from as early as the 17th century, all the way up to the first half of the 20th century.

a large stone house housing a museum

Musee Renoir, Cagnes sur Mer

The world-famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir lived at La Ferme des Collettes with his family from 1907 until his death in 1919. Renoir moved to Cagnes-Sur-Mer in the hopes that the warm climate would improve his arthritis, which eventually confined him to a wheelchair. The house in which he spent the last 12 years of his life is set in a beautiful estate full of citrus and olive trees, looking out along the coastline all the way to way to the Cap d’Antibes.

Natural History Museum, Nice

Natural History Museum

Location
Nice

Founded by Jean Baptiste Barla in 1850 (locals know it as Museum Barla), this museum showcases a rich collection of zoological, botanical and geological specimens.

Musee et Site Archeologiques Nice-Cemenelum

Musee et Site Archeologiques Nice-Cemenelum Museum

Location
Nice

This museum moved to its current location in 1989 though it has been open since 1960. It houses a variety of objects, from ancient times to the Middle Ages, including the Roman town of Cemenelum.

Musee Escoffier de l'Art Culinaire

Musee Escoffier de l'Art Culinaire, Villeneuve Loubet

This museum was set up by outstanding chef Auguste Escoffier who worked as head chef at the Savoy in London. He founded this museum which is dedicated to culinary art.

Fondation Maeght

Maeght Fondation Museum, St-Paul de Vence

Location
Vence

Just outside Saint-Paul de Vence lies one of France's most famous modern and contemporary art museums. Surrounded by pleasant gardens, this is a nice place to spend your afternoon.

Marc Chagall National Museum, Nice

Marc Chagall National Museum

Location
Nice

Housing the largest collection of the Russian painter, Marc Chagall, the Chagall museum is one of Nice's top attractions.

Parfumerie Fragonard, Grasse

Parfumerie Fragonard, Grasse

Location
Grasse

This historic perfume factory is in the heart of the Old Town and is one of the oldest in Grasse, constructed in 1782.

Cote d'Azur Observatory, Nice

Cote d'Azur Observatory

This astronomical observatory is located on top of mont Gros. It was built in 1881 and was designed by Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera House, and Gustave Eiffel, the celebrated creator of the Eiffel Tower.

Fine Arts Museum (Musee des Beaux Arts), Nice

Fine Arts Museum (Musee des Beaux Arts)

Location
Nice

Located in the Baumettes neighbourhood, this Fine Arts museum is housed in an impressive 19th-century villa and contains an important collection of paintings and sculptures.

Prieure du Vieux-Logis

Prieure du Vieux-Logis Museum

Location
Nice

This priory owned by Father Lemerre was converted into a museum at the end of the Second World War and houses his collection of objets d'art from the late Middle Ages and early modern period including French furniture, glass, sculptures and religious paintings.

Musee Nationale de Fernand Leger, near Biot

Musee Nationale de Fernand Leger, near Biot

Location
Biot

A few months before his death in 1955, artist Fernand Léger acquired a farmhouse at the foot of the village of Biot. It was here that his widow Nadia Leger, decided to create a museum to honour him and showcase his life's work.

Museum of trains, transport and vehicles, Breil-sur-Roya

Eco Musee, Breil-sur-Roya

Museum charting the history of transport in the area, with lots of old vehicles to look at. Located in an old rail warehouse in Breil.