Nice · Month comparison

July vs January

July ranks #1 overall vs January at #12. Peak Riviera — Nice Jazz Festival, Bastille Day fireworks and absolute maximum crowds

Nice beach packed with sunbathers and the turquoise Baie des Anges in July

July

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Peak Riviera — Nice Jazz Festival, Bastille Day fireworks and absolute maximum crowds

  • ↑Nice Jazz Festival (mid-July, 10 days) at Cimiez Amphitheatre — world-class artists in a Roman garden
  • ↑Bastille Day (July 14) fireworks over the Baie des Anges are among the most spectacular in France
Nice Promenade des Anglais quiet in winter with mountains behind

January

#12 of 12 months

Worth considering

The Riviera in hibernation — budget prices, empty promenades and the occasional winter sun day

  • ↑Hotel rates at their annual floor; Promenade des Anglais is yours alone on a weekday morning
  • ↑Vieux-Nice's morning market (Cours Saleya) at its most authentic — just locals buying flowers and cheese
FactorJulyJanuary
Weather score
9
4
Value score
3
8
Crowd score
9
2
Events score
8
3
Atmosphere
8
4
Avg high temp29°C12°C
Monthly rain17mm64mm
Daily sunshine13hrs5.3hrs

July trade-offs

  • ↓Absolute peak crowds — the Promenade and Old Town are wall-to-wall tourists in July
  • ↓Hotel rates at their annual maximum; booking last-minute is essentially impossible

January trade-offs

  • ↓Cool and sometimes wet (8–12°C); the beach is not a realistic activity in January
  • ↓Many restaurants and beach clubs on the Promenade close for the season
See all 12 months for Nice →July in detail →January in detail →
Scores compare months within Nice. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →