French Riviera Museums

Art, history - and a place to get out of the sun. The Riviera has some of the world's finest museums, and here you can find out how to make the most of them...

The Côte d'Azur has, quite literally, hundreds of museums, sites of historical interest and art galleries with something for everyone. One need not be a tourist to get pleasure from all the sights.

Museum Passes

There are various discount passes and packages focusing on different subjects or regions in the Alpes-Maritimes.

  • Côte d’Azur Card: The Carte Côte d’Azur allows unlimited, priority entry into museums, historic sites and gardens for three days over a period of six days. This pass can be bought online, at participating museums or certain Tourist Offices. Find participating museums
  • The French Riviera Pass: Valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours, allows free access to a number of museums and sights across the Côte d’Azur. This pass is available online, at museums, Tourist Offices and certain hotels. Find participating museums and sights
  • Nice’s Museum Pass: The Carte Passe-Musées Nice, available to residents of Nice only (regardless of nationality), allows access to all the municipal museums. Information and the card are available from museums and the Nice Tourist Office at 5 Promenade des Anglais.
    Museums and galleries within the City of Nice are open 10:00 to 18:00, 6 days a week
  • Cannes Culture Card : The Cannes Pass Culture, available to residents and tourists, allows half price entry to the Musée de la Castre and the Musée de la Mer. It can be purchased at the tourist office or La Malmaison, 47 La Croisette
  • Find museums on the French Riviera

All the Tourist Offices have comprehensive guides available in English, and English-speaking staff to help.

Museums in Monaco

Monaco does not offer an equivalent short-term museum pass. However, the tourist office have Le Club Diamant Rouge de Monaco, which is a luxury travel club (only for U.S. and Canada) providing members with exclusive benefits in hotels, shops restaurants and museums throughout the Principality. More information is available through the Tourist Office.

  • Monaco Tourist Office guide to the museums in the Principality
  • Monaco Tourist Office
    At: 2A Boulevard des Moulins
    Tel: +377 92 16 61 16 
    Fax: +377 92 16 60 00

Museums on the French Riviera

There are a great number of museums on the French Riviera. Here are just a few:

Musée Océanographique de Monaco: Founded in 1920 by Prince Albert 1er, this museum is entirely dedicated to the sea with an aquarium and exhibitions of the Prince's historical collections.

  • At: Avenue Saint-Martin, 98000 Monaco
    Tel: +377 93 15 36 00
    Fax: +377 93 50 52 97
    email
  • Open: All year except Christmas Day and the day of the Monaco Grand-Prix

Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain de Nice: Nice's museum of modern and contemporary art houses a collection of contemporary and avant-guarde art from Europe and the US from the 60s to now.

  • At: Promenade des Arts, 06364 Nice
    Tel: 04 97 13 42 01
    Fax: 04 97 13 42 02
    email
  • Open: Every day from 10:00-18:00 from June to October and 11:00 to 18:00 during the winter months. Closed on Mondays and some public holidays

Musée Matisse: Visitors can discover the collections of works by Henri Matisse and the Hotel Regina where Matisse lived.

  • At: 164 avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, 06000 Nice.
    Tel: 04 93 81 08 08
    Fax: 04 93 53 00 22
    email
  • Open: Every day except Tuesday from 10:00 to 18:00 from June to October and 11:00 to 18:00 during the winter months.

Musée Terra Amata: Reconstruction of prehistoric camps and shelters on two sites, Terra Amata and Cimiez, discovered in the Nice area. Audio-visual tours of the excavation process available.

  • At: 25 boulevard Carnot, 06300 Nice and 160 avenue des Arènes, 06000 Nice.
    Tel: 04 93 55 59 93 / 04 93 81 59 57
    Fax: 04 93 89 91 31 / 04 93 81 08 00
  • Open: Every day from 10:00 to18:00 from June to October and 11:00 to 18:00 during winter. Closed Tuesdays and some public holidays.