minx

We will be in Nice and taking day trips along the coast during the last week of May. My hubby thinks spending time at the beach will be an option. I think it's still too chilly at that time. Fodorites and former Riviera travellers....what say you?

adrienne

It all depends on where you are from and how much you need hot weather. It would be plenty hot enough for me in late May (or in late April too) but I hate hot weather.

You'll get everyone else's opinion on this so why don't you wait until you get there and see if you still want to lie on the beach.

BTW - the beach in Nice is rocks so if you want sand you'll have to go elsewhere. Antibes perhaps.

kellyee21

I agree with adrienne, it depends on you. I live in Nice. The weather should be fairly warm but you won't catch me going in the water in late May, but then I rarely go in even in July/Aug. There are lots of others braver than me and who will start going in mid/late-April on nice days. Give it a try and see what you think.

scatcat

In May the beaches are usually full of sun worshipers and there will be people in the water...not me.

danon

We were in Nice in early May...some were swimming including my husband - but, he is Canadian!

tdk320n

I was there last year at that time. There were many people sunbathing in Nice. I remember having a lovely lunch at a restaurant on the beach. Some people were in the water, however since I almost never go to the beach to swim, I do not know about the temperature of the water. I enjoy the people watching and sunbathing.
The weather was glorious, even hot some days. I do not know if this is usual or a fluke.
I loved Nice so much I am returning late May and early June this year.

Skip01

Although I loved Nice; the beach was indeed all rocks. It certainly is not a "beach" as you might anticipate in other parts of the world. It was actually somewhat difficult to even walk down to the water due to rocks unless you had something on your feet.

Echnaton

The sun will be burning hot, the air agreeable, the nights balmy. Water temperature should be 18° to 20°C by late May. In shallow bays, water will generally be somewhat warmer. We were always swimming in May, but if you are from Florida, it might be too cold for you.

As Skip has said, the beach of Nice is the ugliest beach in the world. However, if you drive a few minutes, you easily find perfect picture-book beaches, e.g. on St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cap d'Antibes, Juan-les-Pins and Cannes. IMO, the most beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) beaches (albeit pebbles) are on the Cote de l'Esterel (between Cannes and St. Raphael). I keep writing that, although most Fodorites seem to have a preference for Nice which is basically a large city at the least desirable location on the whole coast.

Pvoyageuse

You'll be lucky if water temperature reaches 17°C in May but if the weather is nice it will be sheltered enough to sunbathe.