Best activities for your children in Nice

Top 5 family activities in Nice

1. What can you do for free in Nice with kids? Visit the Promenade du Paillon

The Promenade du Paillon is the easiest family outing to organise from the hotel: it is just 800 metres away and an 11-minute walk via Avenue Jean Médecin. This 12-hectare urban park stretches from the Théâtre National de Nice to the sea and features 128 water jets, spacious lawns and nearly 700 m² of playgrounds.

The play areas are designed for different age groups. Toddlers can discover a giant turtle with a slide; children aged 3–6 can explore dolphins and other sea creatures; and children aged 6–12 can climb inside a 30-metre whale and make their way across rope features. Permanent artworks and the reflecting pool add an artistic dimension to this free family activity provided by the City of Nice.

A morning visit offers a relaxed start to the day, while an early-evening visit fits perfectly into a walk towards Place Masséna and Nice Old Town. From 1 April to 30 September, the park is open from 7 am to 11 pm. From 1 October to 31 March, it is open from 7 am to 9 pm.

2. Illusion Nice, a playground for the eyes and mind

Illusion Nice is located at 5 Rue Masséna, just 600 metres from the Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice. It takes nine minutes to walk there via Avenue Jean Médecin and Passage Émile-Négrin. Its convenient central location makes it an ideal indoor activity during a day of sightseeing, on a hot afternoon or when looking for things to do in Nice with kids on a rainy day.

More than 50 interactive illusions invite families to test their perception, take surprising photos and compare their reactions. The experience is suitable for all ages and lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes. Younger children enjoy the eye-catching settings, while teenagers and adults can explore the puzzles and explanations of how vision works.

Illusion Nice is open Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm and Friday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm. On public holidays, during French school holidays and throughout July and August, it is open from 9 am to 8 pm. Booking online is recommended to secure your preferred time slot during busy periods.

Illusion Nice – Photo credit: Summer Hotels Group

3. Le Petit Parfumeur at Molinard, a creative workshop with a fragrance to take home

Maison Molinard’s Le Petit Parfumeur workshop offers a creative, hands-on sensory activity in the heart of Nice. Guided by a perfume expert, children discover 18 essences, learn how to combine them and create their first 30 ml fragrance. The workshop takes place entirely indoors, making it particularly well suited to a rainy day or the hottest hours of the afternoon.

Each child leaves with the bottle created during the session. Molinard also offers other fragrance-making experiences for teenagers and adults, making it easy to choose a workshop suited to every member of the family.

The Molinard boutique is located at 20 Rue Saint-François-de-Paule, near the Opéra de Nice and Place Masséna. From the Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice, it is approximately 1.2 km away and a 17-minute walk via Avenue Jean Médecin. Workshops must be booked in advance and are offered according to the time slots available online. When booking, make sure you select the experience suited to each participant’s age.

4. Nikaïa Water Sport: see Nice from the Mediterranean

Nikaïa Water Sport adds an exciting seaside experience to your family holiday in Nice. The water sports centre is located on the beach in the Beau Rivage and Opéra area, with access at 99 Quai des États-Unis. From the Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice, the one-kilometre walk takes around 15 minutes and passes through Place Masséna before reaching the seafront.

Parasailing is a spectacular family experience: the flight lasts approximately 10 minutes and offers panoramic views over the Baie des Anges. Children can take part from the age of six.

For the 2026 season, Nikaïa Water Sport is open every day from 15 June to 20 September, between 10 am and 6 pm. State-certified instructors also supervise waterskiing, wakeboarding, inflatable rides, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, depending on the programme.

Parasailing in Nice – Photo credit: Summer Hotels

5. Parc Phoenix: discover 2,000 animals

Set across seven hectares opposite the Mediterranean, Parc Phoenix brings together nature, wildlife and botany. Its 2,000 animals and 2,500 plant species create a fascinating visitor trail for all ages. The vast tropical greenhouse, birds, lemurs, reptiles and landscaped gardens give every member of the family something new to observe.

Parc Phoenix is located at 405 Promenade des Anglais, 5.8 km from the hotel. The 27-minute journey combines a short walk to the Jean Médecin tram stop, tram line L2 or L3 to the Parc Phoenix stop and a final few minutes on foot.

The park is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm between 1 April and 30 September, and from 9:30 am to 6 pm between 1 October and 31 March.

This top five list offers a varied answer to the question “What can you do in Nice with kids?”: visit the Promenade du Paillon for free outdoor play, share visual challenges at Illusion Nice, create a personalised fragrance at Molinard, soar above the Mediterranean with Nikaïa Water Sport and discover wildlife at Parc Phoenix. All five family activities are less than 30 minutes from the Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice, with straightforward journeys on foot or by tram.

Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice: an ideal base for families

The Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice enjoys a central location at 44 Avenue Maréchal Foch, between Nice-Ville train station and Place Masséna. Most of the family activities in this guide can be reached in 15 minutes or less. This convenient city-centre location leaves more time for exploring Nice and makes it easy to return to the hotel between outings.

Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites can accommodate up to three guests, with a cot available on request and subject to availability. The VIK “Very Important Kids” welcome, high chair and bottle warmer make stays more comfortable for families with young children. The 24-hour reception, free luggage storage and e-concierge service help with arrivals, departures and planning your days in Nice.

Breakfast is served from 7 am to 10:30 am on weekdays and until 11 am at weekends. Early-rising families can reach the gardens as they open, while a slower start works perfectly with an indoor attraction or creative workshop. You can discover the hotel’s services and compare rooms at the Best Western Hôtel Lakmi Nice.

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