10 Best Museums and Galleries in Nice

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art houses a vast collection of modern and contemporary artwork spanning the late 1950s to the modern day. The museum is located near Place Garibaldi in Nice.

The primary focus of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is avant-garde works, which encompass different movements and locations. Some of the highlights of the collection include American pop art from Lichtenstein and Warhol, the European New Realists like Raysse and Klein, and Art Povera, which features artists like Michelangelo Pistoletto. You’ll also see American minimalist and architectural artifacts.

The Musée Archéologique de Nice-Cimiez is a fascinating archeology museum that displays artifacts related to the life of Cemenelum and the Alpes-Maritimes. Located east of the city centre, the museum features artifacts dating back to the Neolithic, antiquity and Middle Ages.

When you visit, you can see an amphitheater and baths that date back to the third century, ancient infrastructure and a fifth-century paleo-Christian complex. The museum also displays ceramics, coins, jewelry, sculptures, and tools from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.

The Marc Chagall National Museum is a national museum dedicated to the artist's renowned religious paintings, sketches, sculptures, and stained glass. Located on Avenue Docteur Menard in Nice, the museum is home to a series of Chagall’s religious paintings that illustrated the books of Genesis, Exodus, and the Song of Songs.

One of the unique features of the Marc Chagall National Museum is that Chagall himself provided input into its design and curation. He also helped design the garden and created a mosaic and stained glass for the museum. Other contributions from Chagall include early sketches, stained glass works, sculptures, and gouaches.

The Terra Amata Museum of Human Paleontology is a museum on the archeological site of the 400,000-year-old Terra Amata. Located on Mont Boron in Nice, the archeological site revealed tools and shelters from the lower paleolithic period. The museum is found nearby on the east side of the Port of Nice.

Tools, animal bones, hearths and other archeological artifacts are on display at the museum. Another significant find at Terra Amata was the early domestication of fire, an important development in human advancement.

Musée National du Sport is a national sports museum that showcases sports artifacts and memorabilia dating back to the 16th century. Located in the Grand Stadium of Nice, about 10 minutes from the city centre, the museum was established in 1922 by the French minister of war.

The museum displays over 100,000 artifacts that document sporting events from the 16th century to the present day. One of the highlights is a collection celebrating the history of the modern Olympic Games. When you visit, you’ll see sporting equipment, sculptures, paintings, drawings, advertizing, magazines, books, and stamps related to sports.

The Museum of Photography Charles Nègre showcases the works of prominent photographers and trends in the industry. Located in the heart of Old Nice at Place Pierre Gautier, the museum favors photographs that tell the history of the city and the region.

All types of photography are on display at the museum and its adjoining gallery, from vintage photography to newer digital formats. In total, the museum and gallery have a collection of over 1,700 images and 220 objects.

Massena Palace Museum of Art and History is a spectacular museum on a villa on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The house-museum features formal manicured gardens that you can explore and vast natural grounds.

Inside, you can see artifacts, artwork, and period furnishings from the Massena family, the former homeowners. On the second floor, you’ll find exhibits on Nice history from the 19th century, including militaria that predates World War II. One of the highlights is memorabilia from Napoleon and Josephine, including his death mask.

The Nice Matisse Museum (Musée Matisse) features an extensive collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs made by Henri Matisse, a prominent French Fauvist artist. The museum is housed within the Villa des Arenes, a 17th-century villa in Cimiez in Nice.

Matisse and his heirs donated many works to the museum, so it's now home to 68 paintings and gouaches, over 200 drawings, over 200 prints, 57 sculptures, and nearly 100 photographs. You'll also see nearly 200 objects owned by the artist, including ceramics, stained glass, and documents. Some of his more famous works showcased at the museum include Woman Reading, Le Bonheur de Vivre, Blue Nudes and The Dessert: Harmony in Red.

The Museum of Asian Arts is a modern museum that showcases the spectrum of Asian arts from antiquities to contemporary work. Located in Phoenix Park on Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the museum features all manner of Asian artwork, including performing, visual, and applied arts.

While the museum’s fine-art collection is a highlight, many visitors enjoy experiencing the ‘Tea Ceremony’ on the Tea Pavilion. The Gestes d’Aste, or Asian Gestures, is a popular performing arts experience that features Asian artists. The museum also has a gallery with sundry items for purchase.

The Galerie Eva Vautier is a lovely art gallery that promotes artist Eva Vautier’s works and the works of emerging artists. Those showcased at the gallery also have an opportunity to present fellow artists. The gallery is located on Rue Vernier in Nice.

In addition to the gallery, Galerie Eva Vautier has its own publishing house to produce limited-edition works from the represented artists. After looking through the gallery or attending an event, you can browse the publishing house and purchase some artwork as a souvenir. The gallery always has interesting events and exhibitions.