Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Nice?

From late August to April, Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace, with the whole Baie des Anges below you. In late fall and winter also the Moyenne Corniche. In summer, the view over the port from the Boulevard du Mont Boron.

Can you see the sun set into the sea in Nice?

No. Even in December, when it sets furthest to the south-west, the sun goes down behind the hills around Cannes and the Esterel mountains on the far side of the bay. From November to February, though, it sets above the Baie des Anges, so from Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace you see it low over the water, with its reflection on the sea.

Where can you watch the sunset in Nice in summer?

From the Boulevard du Mont Boron above the port. From late April to mid-August the sun sets out of sight from Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace, but from the boulevard you see it go down behind the mountains inland, about 20 minutes before the official sunset time.

Can you see the sunset from the Promenade des Anglais?

In winter, yes: the sun then goes down at the far end of the bay, near the airport, roughly in line with the promenade. From spring to fall it sets behind the buildings and hills of the city, so from the promenade you see the evening light over the bay rather than the sun itself.

What time is sunset in Nice?

Between about 16:55 in December and about 21:15 at the end of June. The sun often disappears behind the hills a few minutes earlier.

Where can you watch the sunrise in Nice?

From mid-October to late February on the Promenade des Anglais, where the sun comes out of the sea to the right of Cap de Nice. For most of the rest of the year, from the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Where to watch the sunset in Nice – the best viewpoints by season

Although Nice lies on the Baie des Anges and faces south, many visitors expect that any spot on the seafront will give them a sunset over the sea. In practice the sun never sets into the sea in Nice. Even in December, when it sets furthest to the south-west, it goes down behind the distant hills around Cannes and the Esterel mountains on the far side of the bay. In late fall and winter you can at least watch it sink low over the water, with its reflection across the bay. For the rest of the year it goes down behind the hills west of the city or behind the mountains inland – often several minutes, sometimes twenty, before the official sunset time.

Even though you will not see the sun set into the sea in Nice, the sunset here is still a wonderful and often remarkably colorful show – you just need to know where and when to look.

This guide compares four sunset viewpoints in and above Nice that we have checked on real photos: what you see from each one, in which months the sun sets inside the view and what to watch out for when you go. At the end you will also find the easiest spots right by the water: the Promenade des Anglais, the seafront below Castle Hill and the hotel rooftop bars.

Which viewpoint in which month

The direction of the sunset in Nice moves by almost 70 degrees over the year: in December the sun sets in the south-west, in June in the north-west. That is why no single viewpoint works all year round.

November to February – the best time for sunsets in Nice. The sun sets inside the view from Castle Hill, the Mont Boron terrace and the Moyenne Corniche, and in December it goes down beyond the Baie des Anges, behind the distant hills around Cannes and the Esterel mountains, with its reflection on the sea.
March to mid-April and September to October – Castle Hill, the Mont Boron terrace and the view over the port from the Boulevard du Mont Boron. The sun sets over the hills west of Nice.
Late April to mid-August – only the view over the port from the Boulevard du Mont Boron. The sun sets far to the north-west, behind the mountains inland.
Second half of August – Castle Hill again, and the port view.

Castle Hill

The classic view of Nice. From the top of Castle Hill (Colline du Château) you look west-southwest over the rooftops of the Old Town, the Promenade des Anglais and the whole Baie des Anges.

Between mid-August and late April the sun sets inside this view. In December it goes down on the left, beyond the airport, behind the distant hills on the far side of the bay, about 4 minutes before the official time; around the equinoxes it sets right of center, above the hills of western Nice. From late April to mid-August it sets outside the right edge of the view.

The park on Castle Hill closes in the evening, so check the current opening hours before planning a late sunset.

The Mont Boron terrace

Mont Boron is the forested hill east of the port. From its terrace, higher up than Castle Hill, you see the port, Castle Hill and the Baie des Anges as far as the airport – so Castle Hill itself becomes part of the view.

The sun sets inside this view from late August to mid-April. In midwinter the terrace is high enough that the sun stays visible until about the official sunset time, when it touches the distant mountains beyond the bay. Around the equinoxes and in spring and late summer it disappears behind the hills west of Nice about 10–17 minutes earlier.

Mont Boron is a forested park, so plan your way back before it gets fully dark.

The port from the Boulevard du Mont Boron

This is the sunset view for summer. From the pavement of the Boulevard du Mont Boron, a short walk uphill from the port, you look west over the port of Nice and Castle Hill to the Baie des Anges, with the peaks of the Alps behind the city.

Sunset over the port of Nice from Mont Boron, the sun just above the mountains and its reflection on the sea beside the lighthouse — The port of Nice in late August – the sun just above the mountains inland.

From late February to late October the sun sets inside this view, so it also covers the months when it sets out of sight from Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace. It does not set into the sea, though: around the equinoxes it goes down above the hills behind Cagnes and Antibes, about 12 minutes before the official time, and in summer behind the Cheiron massif, about 20 minutes early.

The road is narrow, so mind the traffic.

The Moyenne Corniche

The view for the shortest days of the year. From the Moyenne Corniche, the road that climbs out of Nice toward Èze, you look south-west over the whole city: the east of Nice, Castle Hill, the Baie des Anges and the airport, with the Esterel mountains far in the distance.

From late October to late February the sun sets inside this view. In December it goes down just right of the airport, behind the Esterel mountains; in November and January a little further right, behind the hills west of Nice. Because the viewpoint is high above the city, the sun stays visible until 2–4 minutes before the official sunset time.

The Moyenne Corniche is a busy road: stop only where there is a pavement or a safe place to stand off the road.

The Promenade des Anglais and other spots by the water

You do not have to climb to a viewpoint. The easiest sunset in Nice is a walk along the Promenade des Anglais from Castle Hill toward the airport, with the Baie des Anges on your left. The promenade is almost 7 km long, so go as far as you like, then sit on one of the blue chairs or go down to the pebble beach.

It helps to know what to expect. The promenade runs south-west, roughly the direction in which the sun sets in December. In winter it therefore goes down in front of you, at the far end of the bay, near the airport. From spring to fall it sets further north, behind the buildings and hills of the city, and from the promenade you then see the evening light over the bay rather than the sun itself.

The seafront below Castle Hill – the road right above the sea that leads around the hill between the promenade and the Old Port, with the “I Love Nice” sign. You look the same way as from the top of the hill, over the whole Baie des Anges, only from sea level. A good spot once the park on the hill has closed.
Castle Hill in the late afternoon – the stairs start right next to the promenade, beside the Bellanda Tower, and so does the free elevator in the rock, which usually runs from 10:00 to 18:00. The most beautiful light over the bay comes in the late afternoon; for the sunset itself you can walk down to the promenade.
Hotel rooftop bars on the promenade – for a drink with a view of the bay, for example La Terrasse at Le Méridien (1 Promenade des Anglais), Farago on the roof at the AC Hotel (59 Promenade des Anglais) or Calade Rooftop at the Radisson Blu (223 Promenade des Anglais). Check that the bar is open in the season before you go.

Sunset times in Nice

In Nice the sun sets earliest in early and mid-December, at about 16:55, and latest at the end of June and in early July, at about 21:15. Approximate times in the middle of each month:

January 17:19, February 18:00, March 18:36,
April 20:14, May 20:49, June 21:14,
July 21:10, August 20:34, September 19:41,
October 18:47, November 17:05, December 16:54.

You will find the times for every day of the year on the page Sunrise and sunset in Nice. Remember to subtract the minutes the sun loses behind the hills – for each viewpoint we show the exact moment it disappears in the view.

Sunrise in Nice and nearby

If you are up early, the easiest sunrise in Nice is on the Promenade des Anglais: from mid-October to late February the sun comes straight out of the sea to the right of Cap de Nice. For most of the year you can also watch it rise over the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a few minutes east of the city.

The sun rising out of the sea from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, under orange clouds, with the lighthouse of Cap de Nice on the left — A November sunrise from the Promenade des Anglais – the sun comes out of the sea to the right of Cap de Nice.

For a winter sunset from higher up, Tête de Chien above La Turbie looks over Cap Ferrat toward the Baie des Anges; the sun sets inside that view from mid-October to late February.

How to prepare

Choose the viewpoint for the month. On each viewpoint page you pick a date and see, on a real photo, where the sun will set and when it disappears behind the hills.
Check the forecast. For every view we show the chances of seeing the sun and a colorful sky over the next few days.
Arrive half an hour early. Castle Hill and Mont Boron mean a walk uphill, and the best light often comes before the sun touches the horizon.
Stay after sunset. The most colorful sky often comes ten to fifteen minutes after the sun has gone, and then the lights of the Promenade des Anglais come on.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Nice?: From late August to April, Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace, with the whole Baie des Anges below you. In late fall and winter also the Moyenne Corniche. In summer, the view over the port from the Boulevard du Mont Boron.
Can you see the sun set into the sea in Nice?: No. Even in December, when it sets furthest to the south-west, the sun goes down behind the hills around Cannes and the Esterel mountains on the far side of the bay. From November to February, though, it sets above the Baie des Anges, so from Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace you see it low over the water, with its reflection on the sea.
Where can you watch the sunset in Nice in summer?: From the Boulevard du Mont Boron above the port. From late April to mid-August the sun sets out of sight from Castle Hill and the Mont Boron terrace, but from the boulevard you see it go down behind the mountains inland, about 20 minutes before the official sunset time.
Can you see the sunset from the Promenade des Anglais?: In winter, yes: the sun then goes down at the far end of the bay, near the airport, roughly in line with the promenade. From spring to fall it sets behind the buildings and hills of the city, so from the promenade you see the evening light over the bay rather than the sun itself.
What time is sunset in Nice?: Between about 16:55 in December and about 21:15 at the end of June. The sun often disappears behind the hills a few minutes earlier.
Where can you watch the sunrise in Nice?: From mid-October to late February on the Promenade des Anglais, where the sun comes out of the sea to the right of Cap de Nice. For most of the rest of the year, from the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer.