We will be in Nice for four nights during the first week of May. The only thing planned so far is our reservation at the Hotel Windsor. Any suggestions on how we should spend our time? Any restaurant suggestions?

From Nice you can easily visit Antibes by train. We also went to Portofino by bus, then took a boat to the San Fruttoso beach monastery.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...iviera_Li.html

For restaurants, just wander around the old town section of Nice. Plenty of choices there.

In Nice you should try the original local nissarde cuisine. Look for items like squash blossom beignets, miniature stuffed vegetables, socca, daube, pissalardiere, tian de courgettes, poche de veau farcis. La Cantine de Lulu and Lou Balico will be the most traditional. Other very good places include Poupon et Marinette, La Table Alziari, and La Fourchina d'Aqui. All of these places will be unlike what you will find elsewhere in France.

You could go up in the hills one day--St. Paul de Vence, Vence (Matisse chapel), Grasse, etc.

Cannes, Vallauris (Picasso war and peace mural), Eze, to the east, are easily reachable by train. Monaco/Monte Carlo not a favorite of mine but quite close, just beyond Eze.

In Nice itself, the Matisse museum and Chagall museum are interesting, both can easily be seen on the same day. An extensive Roman excavation is next to the Matisse museum, part of which is in his villa.

It is easy to do day trips from Nice by bus and train-Antibes, Villefranche, Cap Ferrat and Villa Ephussi, Monaco, St-Paul de Vence.
Nice offers a lot to see and do as well. Your guide book can help you make decisions.

In addition to excellent suggestions above, there is also a wonderful tiny train - Chemins de fer de Provence - that takes you into the hinterlands of Provence and a whole different atmosphere with sleepy small towns - Annot is a nice town to go to - nice walking too - can walk between stations.

http://trainprovence.com/accueil-2/

https://www.google.com/search?q=chem...w=1536&bih=759

For lots on that train and trains along the Riviera check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

In Nice you should try the original local nissarde cuisine.>

Yes and for a snack try the famous Pan Bagnat - a specialty of Nice and sold as street food in places like the Old Town near the port - this is the really neat part of Nice- the Latin Quarter of Nice - really nice at night. Be sure to dine there once.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_bagnat

We did a food tour there, and it was excellent! I also took the bus to Eze and did a tour at Fragonnard and then just wandered the town. Another day I took the train to Antibes. The other days we just wandered Nice and all that it has to offer.

Wondering why no one has mentioned either the Chagall or Matisse Museums, but since I have no idea as to your interests, it may not matter.

Cimiez high above Nice has the Matisse and Chagall Museums and stellar Roman ruins but no need to be into any of that to enjoy the ethereal views over Nice and the coast from this high-up perch -in summer popular outdoor concerts. Short bus ride from Nice or strenous hike as I did.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cimi...w=1536&bih=759

Antibes has a van Gogh Museum in some kind of old fort or castle on the sea and is a really neat town - many would prefer staying here than much bigger and busier Nice - just a 20-minute train ride away.

We loved the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (villa and gardens) and nearby Villa Kerylos. Both in Beaulieur-sur-Mer. Can be reached by train, then walking.

I did mention the Chagall and Matisse museums in Nice and can add additional info if OP has any interest.

Also meant to add Fondation Maeght just outside St. Paul de Vence. There are so many good, imo, small art museums in the area:

http://www.fondation-maeght.com/en/

I believe the Villa Ephrussi can be reached by city bus from Nice. We toured the gardens, then walked down the hill to St Jean Cap Ferrat, and caught the city bus back to the center of Nice.

Another vote for Villa Euphrissi and Villa Kerylos - both just wonderful!

Not much point recommending what to do without input from the OP.

Plenty of good tips here, except for the one about visiting Portofino by bus; why would you spend most of a day on a bus, when there's so much to do and see in and near Nice.
And I've never heard of a Van Gogh museum in Antibes. Must have missed that in the countless times I visited - can you post a link PalenQ?

I'm sure you mean Picasso, PalenQ.

According to via michelin, Nice to Portofino is a three hour trip by car. How long that would be on a bus is frightening. Six hours + to see a small cove with very expensive shops is not my idea of a day out.

It is the Picasso Museum in Antibes. No Van Gogh.

Yes Picasso I meant. Picasso lived in a hill town near it. Thanks for correction.

Maeght Foundation is another acclaimed art museum/outdoor statue garden - just outside St-Paul-de-Vence:

http://www.fondation-maeght.com/en/

St-Paul is of course one of the most popular hill towns in the region- totally mobbed in summer but in May probably nicely mobbed.