Sun Bike NiceThings to Do in Nice with Friends: 10 Ideas from a Local
Planning a trip to Nice with your friends? Good choice. The city is compact, sunny most of the year and made for groups: you can walk almost everywhere, eat well for a fair price and go from the beach to the bars in a few minutes. I was born in Nice and I run the Sun Bike, so here are the things I recommend to friends who visit, plus a ready-made plan for your day.
1. Ride a beer bike through the city
Let me start with the one I know best. The Sun Bike is a beer bike (also called a pub bike or party bike): up to 15 friends pedal together around a bar counter, with music and two karaoke mics. The electric motor does most of the work, so nobody needs to be fit.
The one-hour ride starts outside the Anantara Plaza hotel on avenue de Verdun and goes through Place Garibaldi, the Port, the Promenade des Anglais and Place Masséna. It is one of the most fun group activities in Nice, and people on the street wave and dance along with you.
- Duration: about 1 hour, departures every day from 8 am to 8 pm
- Price: from €20 per person, €35 with 6 drinks and socca, or €350 to hire the whole bike for your group (6 drinks per person and socca included)
- Perfect for: bachelorette parties, hen dos, stag dos, birthdays and friends' trips
2. Walk the Promenade des Anglais
The famous seafront promenade runs for about 7 km along the Baie des Anges. Walk it, run it, or rent bikes and ride it together. Stop at the blue chairs for the classic Nice photo.
3. Climb Castle Hill for the best view
Castle Hill (Colline du Château) gives you the best view over the bay and the Port. Take the stairs for the workout, or the free lift at the end of the quai des États-Unis, and enjoy the waterfall at the top.
4. Eat socca and Niçois food in Old Nice
Socca is a thin chickpea pancake baked in a wood-fired oven, eaten hot with pepper and your fingers. Add pissaladière (onion tart), panisses and petits farcis (stuffed vegetables): Niçois food is made for sharing, which makes it perfect for a group.
5. Wander the Cours Saleya market
In the heart of Old Nice, the Cours Saleya hosts a flower and food market most mornings, and an antiques and flea market on Mondays. A great place to start the day with a coffee on a terrace.
6. Watch the sunset at Rauba Capeu
Between Old Nice and the Port, the Rauba Capeu viewpoint is one of the best places to watch the sun set over the Promenade. Locals call it "the hat thief" because of the wind. Get there 20 minutes early in summer.
7. Spend the evening in the bars of Old Nice and the Port
Old Nice, around the Cours Saleya, is the centre of the nightlife, with pubs, cocktail bars and terraces next to each other. For a more local vibe, head to the Port area and rue Bonaparte. Several companies also run organised pub crawls from Old Nice if you want to meet other travellers, or you can start your night on a beer bike before hitting the bars.
8. Get out on the water
From the Port, boat trips head along the coast towards Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat. In summer, kayaks and paddleboards are a fun way to explore the coves east of the Port.
9. Swim at the rocks east of the Port
Instead of the busy pebble beaches in the centre, follow the coast east of the Port to the rocky spots of La Réserve and Coco Beach: clear water and a more local crowd.
10. Take a day trip along the Riviera
Regional trains run along the coast, so Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco and Menton are easy day trips. Èze, the hilltop village, is a short bus ride away. Be back in Nice for the evening.
A one-day plan for a group of friends in Nice
- Morning: coffee and the market on the Cours Saleya, then up Castle Hill for the view.
- Lunch: socca and Niçois specialities in Old Nice.
- Afternoon: beach or boat trip, depending on the season.
- Late afternoon: a one-hour beer bike ride, from Place Garibaldi to the Promenade.
- Sunset: a short walk to Rauba Capeu.
- Evening: dinner in Old Nice, then the bars of the Cours Saleya or the Port.
Practical tips
- Stay central: Place Masséna, Old Nice, the Port and the Promenade are all within walking distance.
- Book group activities and restaurants in advance, especially at weekends and from April to October.
- The tram links the airport to the city centre, which makes arrivals easy for a group.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Nice with friends?
Walk the Promenade des Anglais, climb Castle Hill, eat socca in Old Nice, ride a beer bike through the city, watch the sunset at Rauba Capeu and spend the evening in the bars of Old Nice or the Port.
What is a fun group activity in Nice?
A beer bike ride: up to 15 people pedal together around a bar counter, with music and karaoke, for about an hour through the city. With Sun Bike, it starts from €20 per person, or €350 for the whole bike.
Is Nice good for a bachelorette party or a stag do?
Yes. Nice combines sun, beaches, good food, nightlife and group activities like the beer bike, all within walking distance, which makes it a popular destination for hen dos, bachelorette parties and stag dos.
Do we need to book in advance?
For groups, yes, especially at weekends and in summer. The Sun Bike can be booked online or by calling +33 7 68 02 78 24.
Ready to ride? Book your Sun Bike tour: see you at the Anantara Plaza.
Book your ride
Pick your day and time slot online, or give us a call for a tailor-made request. Departures every day from 8 am to 8 pm, outside the Anantara Plaza.