Gay Guide to Nice
France decriminalized homosexuality in 1791 and opened marriage to same-sex couples in 2013. Nice, the capital of the Cote d'Azur, pairs Riviera glamour with a small but lively gay scene tucked into its old streets near the port.
The gayborhood is the Petit Marais, the cluster of lanes around rue Bonaparte and Place Garibaldi toward the port, where gay-owned bars, cafes, and restaurants sit close together. A short walk away, the pebble beaches and the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais give the city its postcard backdrop.
The scene is intimate rather than sprawling, built on a handful of long-running bars and a strong summer rhythm as visitors pour into the Riviera. In August, a street party in the Petit Marais raises funds for the local LGBTQ+ center.
Nice has staged its Pink Parade every July since 2004, rolling along the Promenade des Anglais and through the center before a large open-air party. The city also hosts the IN&OUT LGBTQ+ film festival, adding a cultural anchor to the calendar.