It’s long been a running joke that many Europeans tend to point the finger at Americans for a smorgasbord of world issues, but one famed French beach city certainly has us to blame for the sudden tourism boom in their beloved paradise.
According to a new report, U.S. tourists are the key reason behind a record-breaking year surpassing 15 million total visitors.
Whether or not it’s Parisians’ snarky attitudes pushing Americans south to pristine coastlines remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the allure of the gorgeous French Riviera is too good to pass up no matter the reason.
Plus, they have ample sidewalk cafes with turquoise sea views — something impossible to find in Paris.
Home to the iconic Promenade des Anglais, pastel-hued facades, and an unmatched Mediterranean seascape, Nice’s postcard shores and vibrant cityscape have made this phenomenal city France’s trendiest destination for 2026, no matter which time of year you choose to burn through your PTO.
Nice Is So Nice, We Said It Tweece!
How’s that for a tongue twister?
Nice is incredibly nice to visit, but don’t worry, we’re not here to write a Dr. Seuss book about one of France’s most sought-after getaways.
Pronounced like “niece”, as you might’ve surmised by now, this vibrant Mediterranean escape is coming off a record year with no signs of slowing down.
In fact, if you’re in need of culture and winter sun, what better place to grab a hot coffee and take in the stunning views of the Côte d’Azur?
Known for its year-round splendid weather, mesmerizing Old Town (Vieux-Nice), picturesque narrow walkways, and world-renowned Cannes Film Festival close by that draws a crowd from A-listers to normies like you and me, you can innie-minnie-minie-moe your calendar and never be disappointed when you book your trip.
Winter sun is hard to come by. Even certain “sunny” destinations in the U.S. don’t live up to the hype, but not Nice.
This gleaming stretch of coastline has one of the mildest winters and only gets better throughout the year, but just know locals love to let it all hang out, so don’t say we didn’t warn ya!
The Perfect Base For French Riviera Adventures
Nice isn’t the cheapest place on Earth, but it’s not the most expensive locale in the French Riviera either.
With fellow paradises St. Tropez, Cannes, or even fun-sized Monaco nearby, that’s why Nice is the perfect spot to enjoy all the delights of the city itself while being able to hop around as much as you’d like.
If you ask me, Marseille is a must-visit, but it does have a reputation as being sketchy.
That said, it didn’t make the cut of places I’ll never go back to again — it’s actually one of my favorite European cities, and I see why famed traveler Anthony Bourdain said he wanted to retire there.
In fairness, I’m sure there’s an endless amount of people who would cut off their pinky toe to retire in Nice as well — it’s a textbook dreamscape.
Of course, an adventure through Europe always seems to involve trains at some point, and that’s no different here.
Nice is well connected to other worthwhile beach destinations, including Monaco, if you want to add another country to your bingo card.
Direct Flights Make Nice More Enticing Than Ever
It seems just about any major U.S. city flies direct to Paris, but what about Nice?
While this popular beach city is no secret, it’s undoubtedly become an American favorite.
It turns out not only are more adventurous Americans seeking new shores to relax, but culture as well.
Florida just doesn’t cut it in that sense.
According to Flight Connections, U.S. travelers are taking advantage of 6 flight options from major airports:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Philadelphia (PHL)
- Washington D.C. (IAD)
- Newark (EWR)
- New York City (JFK)
- Boston (BOS)
As such, it’s being reported that Americans are the driving force behind Nice’s 2025 surge. The newest of the bunch is Delta’s Boston route to Nice (NCE), with more surely to follow if the upward trend continues.
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