January in Nice averages highs of 13 °C (55 °F) and lows of 5 °C (41 °F), with about 4 rainy days and 9 h 16 min of daylight. The sea is cold, around 15 °C (59 °F).
January weather in Nice at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Nice?
Mixed weather: cold and fairly dry. January is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Nice in January
January's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Promenade des Anglais — walk or bike the seafront outdoors
- Vieux Nice and Cours Saleya market outdoors
- Castle Hill — the best view of the bay outdoors
- Èze and Monaco — by bus or train outdoors
- Villefranche-sur-Mer — a swim in a calm bay outdoors
- Matisse and Chagall museums indoors
Where to stay: Vieux Nice for character; near the Promenade des Anglais for the sea; Port area for value.
What to pack for Nice in January
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 5 °C (41 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Nice costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–140 | €170–350 |
Excluding flights. January is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | 11° / 2° | 9 | Tough month |
| Venice | 8° / 1° | 5 | Tough month |
| Rome | 12° / 4° | 8 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Nice?
By the numbers, January is a mixed month: cold and fairly dry, with average highs of 13 °C (55 °F) and about 4 rainy days. January is usually low season in Nice: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are September.
How warm is Nice in January?
Average highs are 13 °C (55 °F) and lows 5 °C (41 °F) (2015–2024 averages). The sea is cold, around 15 °C (59 °F).
Does it rain a lot in Nice in January?
Expect about 4 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 47 mm in total. It is the 3rd driest month of the year in Nice.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.