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Nice Old Town : 400 000 Years of a Carnival of History

8 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 8 reviews collected by Key West Private Charters and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Nice, France
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.

120 to 135 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 2 more
French, Russian
Instant confirmation

Overview

400,000 years of Nice in one walk — with footnotes and a sense of humour.

Explore Old Nice with Aleksandra Savigny of Specimina Academica, a licensed tour guide and researcher who guides in English, French and Russian.

Are you a child? Wonderful. Relive the heroic deeds of Catherine Ségurane, our Nissard-in-chief, find out what people in Nice ate 400,000 years ago, and discover where children used to play — just like you and us (we understand each other).

Are you a parent? Even better. Discover Nice's unique geography, its architecture (not only Baroque!), the story behind the name "Riviera" and the many layers of Nice's identity. Your curiosity keeps us learning too.

Warning: high risk of Alpine avalanches of laughter and Mediterranean waves of (human) warmth.

Nissardly yours,
Aleksandra Savigny – Specimina Academica

What's Included

  • Admission fee

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Place Garibaldi
    06300 Nice, France

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    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    Place Massena
    Nice, France

    Here you are, out safe and sound — and above all… full of curiousity!

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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    Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

    Garibaldi Square

    The starting point of your tour. Your guide will welcome you in this warm spot to immerse you in the waters of the sea and of Mother History — of this place embraced by God. Get ready to meet hunter-gatherers, Greek sailors, and the Dukes of Savoy. Watch your step! Once upon a time, this very place was submerged by the Mediterranean Sea.Benvengut!Yes indeed, you'll hear Nissart during this tour — the place itself demands it.
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    15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

    Rue de la Croix

    Would you like to learn more about the Lascaris Palace, the Niçois heroine Catherine Ségurane, and the White Penitents, but are keen to avoid the beaten path? Nothing could be simpler: follow us.
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    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Centre du Patrimoine - Le Senat

    A beautiful 17th-century building, which once housed the workplace of the strongest men in the Niçois world, and later offered a refuge to those in need. But in between, death sentences were pronounced here. What a story!
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    3 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue Droite (pass by)

    The main street of medieval Old Nice. We’ll cross through it, because otherwise you might not hear your guide… and you’d completely block the way. What a disaster!
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    Rue Benoît Bunico

    How fortunate we are to be able to walk freely through this street, unlike members of the Jewish community in medieval times. This street was once their ghetto. Let’s learn more about their lives, in tribute to all those who have been persecuted, then and now.
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    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue Mascoinat

    Do people always eat well in Nice? No surprise there! But it hasn’t always been the case… So whatever you do, don’t come on an empty stomach!
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    3 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue Colonna d'Istria

    Would you like to learn more about the third most beautiful square in Nice (or the first, according to us), but still prefer to hear your guide without being jostled by lovers of the best ice cream in town? Let’s cross Place Rossetti together and position ourselves behind the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral. A moment of coolness and delightfully crisp anecdotes is guaranteed. Promise.
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    10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue Place Vieille

    All this time, your guide has sensed your burning desire to immerse yourself in the ordinary — and thus authentic — Niçois life. Here we are! Discover the history of Nice’s religious life and its baroque treasures, all while staying hidden from prying eyes. The church of Gèsu speaks to you, even if you’re not yet able to listen. That’s just how it is. That’s Nice.
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    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue du Malonat

    We certainly don’t mean to frighten you, but still, prepare yourself to meet the Black Death, the executioner of Nice… and don’t forget to bring your dirty laundry to dip it into the city’s last washhouse.
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    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Rue de la Préfecture

    When you discover exactly which medieval building became the final refuge of the great Niccolò Paganini, you’ll be scandalized by the splendor of the Palace of the Kings of Sardinia, just a stone’s throw away. But surely that strikes a chord with you.
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    8 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Esplanade Pompidou

    It’s already been two hours since you last saw the sea. Since you’ve missed our beautiful sea so much… here we are! But be careful: you have now definitively left the medieval perimeter of Nice, and you find yourself on the edge of the New Town. By setting foot on the Promenade des Anglais, you’re stepping into the most recent chapter in the history of Old Nice. Be brave! May God watch over you in this bold exploration of all things new…
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    10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Opera de Nice

    How beautiful our Opera House is… It’s a pity it doesn’t face the sea. But look, right across from it — just there. The marvelous late Baroque church: Saint-François-de-Paule. She faces the sea. Or perhaps she’s gazing at the Opera. It’s up to you to decide!
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    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Les Ponchettes

    It's been two whole hours since you last saw the sea. And since you've been missing our beautiful Mediterranean so badly — here we are. But beware! The moment you set foot on the Promenade des Anglais, you step into the most recent chapter of Old Nice's history. Take heart! And Godspeed as you venture into all this novelty...
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    15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Show 12 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Please also remember to bring a bottle of water.
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Nice Old Town : 400 000 Years of a Carnival of History?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-5591943P1

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    5.00
    8 reviews

    Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 8 traveler reviews collected by Key West Private Charters and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    8
    4 stars
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    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
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    1 star
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    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.

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    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Admission fee

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • This tour is not recommended for travelers with mobility difficulties. Please reach out to us so we can explore alternative routes together.
    • Please bring comfortable shoes with non-slip soles (the paving stones of Old Nice can be slippery). A practical tip: the first public toilets are only at the end of the tour, so it's best to plan ahead before we set off.
    • Please also remember to bring a bottle of water.
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

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