Nice is a genuine paradise for those who prefer to spend their free time outdoors. A multitude of parks and gardens offer a wonderful opportunity for a pleasant stroll in the soothing shade of centuries-old trees. Carpeaux Square and Parc de Cimiez are particularly good locations for a whole-day picnic or afternoon tea in an outdoor café. Parc du Chateau boasts a spot from which you can admire a fantastic view of Nice and its coastline. There’s also a waterfall producing a pleasant breeze on summer afternoons. The large playground here features many attractions for children, including a rope-labyrinth.

The city's most impressive botanical garden, Phoenix Parc Floral, has the Green Diamond, one of the largest greenhouses in Europe. The latest technological innovations have facilitated the creation of a 7,000-m² artificial jungle, including a tree fern forest and a beautiful collection of rare orchids. The Louisiana, Thai and Austral African Gardens present flora characteristic of the regions after which they were named. The Butterfly Jungle is an astonishing gathering of thousands of exotic butterflies. A high-quality sound system provides realistic background audio, featuring the rustle of the breeze and the humming of jungle streams. The nearby Monastery Garden, with its multitude of fruit trees, are a miracle to behold in the springtime.

One of nearly 200 French cities with legalised gambling, Nice has two excellent casinos. The Casino de Nice–Ruhl and Palais de la Mediterranee offer a total of over 400 gaming machines and 40 table and poker games. Both establishments boast some of the most luxurious hotel rooms in the city, heated indoor and outdoor pools and exclusive piano bars.