City centre, near Place Masséna

Villa Saint Exupéry Beach

★★★★★

For travellers on a budget, Nice is a tough city to sleep cheaply in, which is why the Villa Saint Exupéry Beach has become a Riviera institution. It is a large hostel of around two hundred beds on Rue Sacha Guitry in the city centre, a few minutes from Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais and within easy walking distance of the old town, the Cours Saleya and the beaches. It carries the label of the French youth hostel association affiliated with Hostelling International, and it is open every day, all year round. Accommodation runs from dormitories of various sizes to private rooms for couples, friends and small groups, giving solo backpackers and budget-minded couples alike an affordable foothold in one of Europe's priciest coastal regions. The hostel is known for its social atmosphere: a busy bar and common areas where travellers swap tips for day trips to Monaco and Eze, organised activities and events, and staff who are used to helping guests plan the Riviera by train and bus. Facilities typically include luggage storage, Wi-Fi and help with tours and transport. The central location is its big advantage: Nice-Ville station, the hub for trains to Monaco, Menton, Antibes and Cannes, is a short walk or tram ride away, and the tram stops nearby connect to the airport. As with any big, sociable hostel, expect some noise, especially at weekends and in summer, and book early for peak dates such as Carnival in February and the summer holidays, when beds sell out. Check the hostel's own listing for current room types, prices and any age or group policies before you book.

Who it suits: solo travellers, students, backpackers on a European rail trip, and young couples or groups of friends who want to spend their money on day trips and dinners rather than on a room. It is also a practical choice for festival and event dates when hotel prices spike. It is less suited to light sleepers and to families with young children, who may prefer a budget hotel or apartment.

Making it work: choose a private room if you want privacy but still want the social scene and the price advantage; choose a smaller dorm if you value quiet. Bring a padlock for lockers, earplugs and flip-flops, and use the luggage storage on your departure day for a last afternoon on the Promenade. Eat cheaply in the old town — socca, pissaladière and pan bagnat from the stalls, or a picnic from the Cours Saleya market — and buy your bus and tram tickets in advance or via the app. The regional bus and train network makes it easy to see the whole Riviera from here for very little.

Base math: from the hostel, the Promenade des Anglais is a few minutes' walk, Place Masséna about five to ten, the old town fifteen, and Nice-Ville station about ten to fifteen. Monaco is about twenty-five minutes by train, Antibes twenty to thirty, Cannes about forty and Menton thirty-five. For a budget Riviera week, few bases are as convenient, and the people you meet in the bar may become your day-trip companions.