Nice is known for its easy-going coastal pace and beautiful scenery, but there are several Nice museums which are well worth visiting. Visitors should keep in mind that most of the museums are closed on Tuesdays.

Perhaps the best known Nice museum, the Matisse Museum, is located on the hill of Cimiez. It is near the Roman amphitheater and where the artist once resided. The museum houses Matisse's own personal collection as well as temporary exhibits. It is located in an olive garden and park, and the setting is just as magical as the artwork.

The area around Nice was once part of the Roman empire, and ruins remain throughout the city. The amphitheater, public baths, and paved streets are found in Cimiez. The Archaeology Museum of Nice--Cimiez--displays some of the objects found over the centuries leading up to the Dark Ages.

In the same block is the Franciscan Museum, Church, and Monastery which displays exhibits representing the life of Franciscan monks from the 13th to the 18th century. It is closed on Sundays.

On the way up the hill to Cimiez, and not far from the Matisse Museum, is the Marc Chagall National Biblical Message Museum. The museum displays a small but unique collection of Bible-themed murals, sculptures, and stained glass by painter Marc Chagall.

The Museum of Natural History was the first official Nice museum, opening in 1863. It displays artifacts from around the world and focuses on preserving the natural environment.

This museum offers both a setting and a collection worth seeing. Facing the Mediterranean, the Villa Massena has period furnishings and decorations in each room. The museum highlights the era of Napoleon through the 1930s.

The fine arts museum displays paintings from the 17th through 19th centuries. The museum is located in a former private home. Unlike most other Nice museums, the Musee is closed on Mondays.

Located on the Promenade des Arts, the Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art displays art since the 1960s. The views of Nice and the Mediterranean from the museum's roof garden are not to be missed.

The newer Asian Arts Museum has an interesting and modern architectural style. It is located in the Parc Phoenix at the western edge of the Promenade des Anglais.