Planning a trip to Nice or the surrounding area? Come and visit the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), a true reference in Nice! From the 1950s to the present day, we’ve walked through the museum’s prestigious and avant-garde collections. Indeed, it honors, among others, the creations of Niki de Saint Phalle, Yves Klein or Marcel Alocco.
The MAMAC offers a visit on 4 floors, with a terrace that offered us a 360° view on the capital of the Côte d’Azur, the mountains and the sea.
In this article, discover our opinion and our immersive experience in images at the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain de Nice to best prepare your visit.
This review is completely independent, we visited the area anonymously and paid our bills in full.
Why visit Nice’s Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art?
Is Nice’s MAMAC Museum worth the effort? Our review
If you’re passionate about modern and contemporary art, the MAMAC is a must-see in Nice. An emblematic place of the city in our eyes, we lived an artistic experience mixing creativity, innovation and emotions. This is truly one of our favorite museums in this city to:
- The richness of its collection: more than 1400 works by 370 artists exhibited on 4 floors where, among others, New Realism, Pop Art and Minimalist Art interact.
- A tribute to two major figures of 20th century art: Yves Klein and Niki de Saint Phalle constitute the heart of the MAMAC collection.
What’s the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC) in Nice famous for?
This famous museum welcomes nearly 140,000 visitors each year. There are several reasons for its notoriety:
- Collection of avant-garde works: innovative art pieces by renowned artists such as Yves Klein, Niki de Saint Phalle and Andy Warhol. But also art installations that capture the attention and push the limits of the traditional perception of art.
- Original temporary exhibitions: featuring contemporary artists with varied themes and experimental approaches that provoke thought and stimulate emotions.
- Modern architecture and panoramic view of the city: The MAMAC building, designed by architects Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal, is a work of art in itself. Large picture windows gave us a breathtaking view of the city of Nice, the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountains.
- Educational program and cultural events: guided tours, lectures and creative workshops for all audiences, including children and families, are offered. The museum also organizes art performances, concerts and film screenings that enrich the overall cultural experience.
Our visit to this museum was a real immersion in the captivating world of modern and contemporary art, which has a special place in Nice. The bold creations, the diversity of artistic expressions and the emotion generated by the works really transported us!
Our favorite moments
Later in this article, we’ll give you the details of our visit but we couldn’t wait to share our favorite moments with you:
- Colorful and bold, Niki de Saint Phalle ‘s works took us into a fantastic world filled with organic forms and surreal characters. His famous “Nanas” have aroused in us a deep admiration for his militant spirit and his boundless creativity.
- As forYves Klein‘s works, they captivated us by their simplicity and their power. His monochrome canvases in the deep blue of Klein Blue (or IKB) enveloped us in a mystical atmosphere and plunged us into infinity. We were fascinated by his performance art, such as his body prints or “Anthropometries”. A pioneer artist to free himself from the brush!
The encounter with these collections was an inspiring moment, leaving us in awe of the talent and artistic vision of these two masters of modern and contemporary art.
A little history
Inaugurated on June 21, 1990, the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC) was created in Nice after several cultural projects were proposed during the 2nd half of the 20th century. It was 3 years ago that the city of Nice and the French government signed an agreement to finance this major project, a new showcase for modern and contemporary art on the French Riviera. The museum will then gradually build up its collections to which it owes its reputation, by purchasing art objects and receiving donations of numerous paintings.
The Archives of the artist Yves Klein, managed by his foundation, have made it possible to design the permanent room dedicated to the artist. In 2001, Niki de Saint Phalle donated 190 works to the museum a year before her death. The entirety of this donation constitutes a retrospective of the artist’s work.
DISCOVER Nice
- Best things to do in Nice
- Where to stay in Nice: 15 best hotels
- Where to eat in Nice: 20 best restaurants
- The 12 best museums in Nice
- Best beaches
- Visit the Palais Lascaris
- Visit the MAMAC Museum
- Visit the Museum of Photography
- Itineraries: 1 day – 2 days – 3 days – 5 days – 7 days
- Rent a car in Nice (airport or train station)
- Most beautiful villages around Nice
Councils: Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Nice, France
Where is the MAMAC Museum?
The museum is located on Place Yves Klein, near Vieux Nice and Place Garibaldi. It is centrally located and easily accessible in the city. The exact address is: Place Yves Klein, Nice (06364 Cedex 4), France.
The Nice neighborhood map is coming soon!
- Driving time from Marseille: 02h20min.
- Driving time from Montpellier: 03h40min.
- Driving time from Toulon: 01h50min.
- Driving time from Avignon: 02h50min.
- Driving time from Aix-en-Provence: 2 hours.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there
In the heart of the city, the museum is relatively easy to access. To get to Nice, you can choose to travel by train or by plane from Paris, Lyon, Cannes, Marseille, Toulon, and many other European cities.
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now.
Once in Nice, all you have to do to get to the MAMAC on foot is head for Place Yves Klein. If you prefer to travel by public transport, the nearest streetcar stop is “Garibaldi – Le Château” on line 2 or “Garibaldi” on line 1, which are less than 5 minutes walk from the museum.
Parking
The museum is extremely close to the Promenade des Arts parking lot, located at 267 Tunnel André Liautaud in Nice, with space for bicycles. This parking lot offers convenient proximity to the museum, making it easy for visitors to get there by car.
You can park in peace and enjoy your visit. In front of the museum outside, you will find a parking area reserved for motorcycles.
You will also find charging stations for electric vehicles:
- at 7 Rue Delille in Nice, a 3-minute walk away,
- at 2 rue Sincaire, Nice, a 5-minute walk away,
- at 2 allée Sandro Pertini, Nice, a 7-minute walk away.
Best time to visit the museum
This museum in Nice can be visited all year round. However, there are quieter times to avoid the crowds and make the most of the experience.
The summer months, from July to August, are generally considered the busiest due to the influx of tourists to Nice. If you want to avoid the big crowds, it is recommended to plan your visit outside these months.
During the day, we advise you to visit the museum in the morning or late afternoon. These times of day are generally less crowded compared to lunchtime and the afternoon.
The MAMAC is a popular museum, particularly because of its rich collections and its reputation in the field of modern and contemporary art. As a result, even during non-peak periods, we have seen some crowding.
By planning your visit during less busy times of the year and choosing strategic visiting hours, you will be able to fully enjoy MAMAC’s exhibitions in a quieter and more pleasant atmosphere.
How long to visit and main difficulties
The length of the tour may vary depending on your interest in each era, style and collection presented. On average, we recommend that you allow between 1h30 and 2h30 for a complete visit.
The museum is accessible through the main entrance with stairs. However, elevator access to the museum for people with limited mobility and strollers is located across the sidewalk from the main entrance.
Finally, if necessary, you can leave some of your belongings at the museum’s locker on the first floor upon arrival. Do not hesitate to request access to the lockers at the reception desk.
Tips for visiting
The direction of the visit to the MAMAC is not imposed. You are free to choose your own course. We chose to start on the terrace and work our way down. Each floor can be visited separately in the desired direction. The exhibits are well marked, making it easy to navigate through the various sections of the museum.
Take the time to appreciate the works that captivate you the most and immerse yourself in the artistic universe of the museum at your own pace and in the direction that suits you best. The map of the museum is available here.
The MAMAC with children
Visiting this museum can be an enriching and entertaining experience to stimulate children’s curiosity and artistic sensitivity. Various resources are adapted by age to make the visit more accessible and fun. To begin, age-appropriate educational booklets are available on each floor just before entering the room.
These booklets offer activities, games and information specially designed to help children better understand the museum’s collections. On Wednesdays, the museum offers “Môm’Arts des mercredis” workshops that provide an interactive and educational approach to discovering works of art in a fun way. Don’t hesitate to ask for more information at the reception desk before starting your tour or visit the official website to learn more about the guided tours, workshops and booklets for children.
Schedules and prices
The MAMAC is open:
- from May to October: every day except Monday from 10 am to 6 pm,
- from November to April: every day except Monday from 11am to 6pm.
The museum is closed on Mondays, January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, and December 25.
Please note that the box office closes at 5:30 p.m., the terraces at 5:40 p.m. and the exhibition halls at 5:45 p.m.
The full price ticket is 10€.
Free (except for groups) for:
- Children under 18 and students.
- Job seekers.
- Beneficiaries of social minima.
- Persons with disabilities and their companions.
- Museum curators.
- Journalists.
- Teachers (upon presentation of the Education Pass).
- Lecturer guides.
If you’re planning several visits to museums in Nice, you can buy the 3-day Museum Pass (€15, access to all municipal museums and galleries for 72 hours). For more information on prices, visit the dedicated page on the MAMAC website.
Nearby restaurants
Nice is home to some very (very) good restaurants. Here is our selection:
- Restaurant JAN – a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers fine dining and a remarkable sensory experience.
- Restaurant La Rotonde of the Hotel Le Negresco – an unforgettable moment in an elegant setting in the heart of the legendary palace on the Promenade des Anglais.
- Restaurant Peixes – a menu based on fish and seafood for an original and refreshing experience.
- Restaurant La Storia – Mediterranean cuisine on the Cour Saleya: typical of the south of France!
- Maison Joia Restaurant and Delicatessen – an establishment that showcases 100% French products.
- Restaurant Les Épicuriens – a gastronomic meal in a welcoming and refined setting.
- Restaurant Sentimi – a culinary journey to Italy through traditional flavors.
WHERE TO STAY IN Nice
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
On the waterfront, with sea view:
Anantara Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
In the new town, close to the sea:
Hotel Apollinaire, elegant and bright – See prices, photos and availability
In the old town, with all the charm:
AparthotelAMMI Vieux Nice very practical and pleasant – see prices, photos and availability
The MAMAC: a work in itself or a mise en abyme of art
The building of the Musée d’Art moderne et d’Art Contemporain de Nice, also known as the MAMAC, is an artistic performance in itself. The architects Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal designed it in the form of a tetrapod arch straddling the Promenade du Paillon and the axis of the old National 7.
This museum links the Lympia port and Vieux Nice neighborhoods to those that developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The architects succeeded in reconciling the city’s urban planning with the exoticism of the Belle Époque style, an architectural feature of the Côte d’Azur capital.
The square plan of the building and its series of small arcades are inspired by Classicism and echo the design of Garibaldi Square, a few minutes’ walk from the museum. This construction is based on 4 square towers of 4 elevated levels where 10 art exhibition rooms are displayed. The architects sought to create an optical play between the shapes and colors of the museum to contrast with the ochre hues of the city, and the nature that surrounds it between the Promenade du Paillon, the green corridor and the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, the terraces are designed as belvederes offering a panoramic view of the city.
Start of the visit: from the MAMAC terrace
In the universe of Flora Moscovici, visual artist
We chose to start our visit by the terrace on the 5th floor at the very top of the museum and then to go down little by little towards the exit. We were witnesses to the work of the artist Flora Moscovici, known for her interventions in situ.
She appropriated part of the terrace to reveal an abstract painting, colored and contrasted to soften the raw and concrete material of the building. For us, this colorful walk on the roofs of the museum was a very good beginning of the visit, under the Nice sun and this soothing blue sky.
Nice or the City of Dreams
Characteristic of the cultural offer of this famous museum, Flora Moscovici’s artistic intervention entitled Ville Songe combines imagination and reality. Indeed, she transports us into a poetic universe thanks to her color palette and her creativity in revisiting a 160m2 gray concrete space.
We very much appreciated this marriage between the urban, even raw character of the museum in the heart of the city and the softness, the light and the colorful variations of the artist’s abstract painting.
This is what she translates through the title of her work Ville Songe which spoke to us a lot. Nice, a city between dream and reality, where culture, history, concrete, Belle Époque architecture, Italian influence, nature, greenery and coastline all combine to create a beautiful polychrome balance. This is what we understood and his approach fully resonated with us during this visit.
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To the permanent collection galleries
Post-World War II abstract art
We then discover the permanent collections located on the 3rd and 4th floors. The immersive art experience proposed by the museum invites us to (re)discover post-World War II art up to the present day.
These works translate the daily reality of the post-war world in which the artists evolve: cerebral hypersollicitation, consumer society, industry and manufactured products.
We were able to admire artistic approaches that appropriated the advertising and audiovisual codes of the time when television, cinema and comics held a central place.
Late 1950s to 1970s: Pop Art and New Realism
We continue our journey to immerse ourselves in the origins of Pop Art, which comes to life in the United States, in New York City to be precise. Many artists who initiated this movement are exhibited at the MAMAC, such as Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann.
In Europe, many artists like Martial Raysse, Yves Klein or Arman Fernandez founded the New Realism from 1960. This movement translates a will of reappropriation of technology, the industrial and urban universe.
The artists were able to seize the banal and the daily on the same principle as Pop Art to (re)give them life by working the textures and dynamics.
We really liked this museum set where raw materials, color variations and (almost deformed) shapes coexist in harmony. Isn’t art in all its forms surprising?
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From Andy Warhol to today
Niki de Saint Phalle and Modern Art
In the early 1960s, great names of this movement took over from Andy Warhol, nicknamed the king of Pop Art. The next stage on this floor is dedicated to Niki de Saint Phalle, a committed French-American artist. Before arriving in front of the permanent collection, take the time to admire all the period photographs and to read the timeline dedicated to the artist. A very educational foretaste of what we were to discover next!
In 2001, Niki de Saint Phalle decided to donate 190 works to the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain in Nice. This has allowed the design of this permanent collection space, a tribute to the approach of the visual artist who considered her art as a real therapy and a form of outlet.
Niki de Saint Phalle began writing poems and drawing at the age of 12. A passion that will never leave her until her death. On this floor, you can discover his work in all its forms: sculptures, paintings, engravings and other objects.
And all the components that inspired his imaginary world: snakes, trees, spiders, birds, fantasy forms and invitation to dream.
She shares with us her hymn to life, to freedom and to universal love. Moreover, we were delighted to find his famous series of “Nanas”, sculptures with bright colors and generous forms, symbols of the modern and liberated woman.
Between 1961 and 1963, Niki de Saint Phalle realized “les Tirs”, 12 artistic actions mostly organized in Paris in the impasse Ronsin. Like a real staging, she executes her paintings meticulously prepared with several objects in wood, plaster or plastic. She then fires a rifle at these works that come to life through the explosion of colors.
Performances that have undoubtedly marked the art world! We were fortunate to be able to view some of these paintings on display here.
Yves Klein or the liberation of the brush
We then went from the very colorful, passionate and form-filled world of Niki de Saint Phalle to Yves Klein’s fascinating Monochrome Adventure, also on the 2nd stage. To get a feel for his philosophy and perception of art, we walked down the hallway reading the panels of the frieze dedicated to the artist. Chronological landmarks illustrated by beautiful black and white pictures to look at on this route!
An emblematic figure of modern art, Yves Klein is honored in this museum located on the eponymous square in Nice. The terraces of the MAMAC exhibit, in collaboration with the artist’s estate, the “Wall of Fire” made of 2 metal elements and 10 rows of Bunsen burners running on town gas as a tribute to Yves Klein.
Known as the creator of a new color “IKB” for International Klein Blue, Yves Klein had a lively and moving approach to art. Through his works exhibited at the MAMAC, we have grasped his daring work of “liberation of the brush” and creation in communion with the nature that surrounds him.
A true conductor of his art, Yves Klein used parts of his own body to paint his works and became a precursor of performance art. He also uses models who immerse their naked bodies in the Klein Blue paint before leaving their mark on the canvas.
In the center of the set, we plunged into this magnificent Klein Blue monochrome, surrounded by these famous “Anthropometries”.
The innovative dimension of his art was perceptible on this stage in the variety of forms of his works to which we were particularly sensitive.
The intensity and depth of Yves Klein’s creations are undeniable and resonated with us during this visit. We spent time on this floor to contemplate the multiplicity of artistic practices of this avant-garde genius for his time. Admire below the series of sculptures in intense Klein Blue composed of pure pigment and synthetic resin on plaster. The art of precision that leaves us speechless!
Marcel Alocco, between patchwork and fragments of painting
Born in Nice in the late 1930s, Marcel Alocco is also exhibited on this floor. Known for his Fragments and his Patchwork Painting, he liked to paint “differently”. Fabrics, paintings, seams and recompositions… We were transported into the world of the artist dressed in iconic patterns, as here his paintings on woven fabrics!
In the center of the set, you will see the Object Deterioration Box #3 from the very late 1960s. This wooden box is exposed open with several orange shapes attached to 2 lines, spread out one after the other. We felt as if this small wooden chest had opened to reveal a moving treasure!
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Continued on the 2nd floor with the temporary exhibition
Becoming a Flower, a sensory journey through the plant world
Once we reached the 2nd floor after the permanent collections, we discovered a completely different sensory and artistic universe orchestrated by Hélène Guenin and Rebecca François, curators of the exhibition Devenir Fleur. These works invite us to rethink our relationship with nature, with living things and especially with flowers, symbols of resilience and renewal of the environment.
This exhibition put flowers back in our minds as an essential part of our ecosystem, producing both a form of food and oxygen for living things.
Paintings, dried collages, but also drawings and cinematographic exploration as proposed by Dennis Oppenheim in this short film, we crossed this floor decorated with flowers of all kinds and colors. A botanical stroll through the heart of one of Nice’s most important sites for modern and contemporary art!
Each work had its own imprint and sensitivity. The exhibition also invited us to change the way we look at flowers, to consider them as living beings and not just decorative objects. By the way, focus your attention on this tryptic and quadriptych serigraphs The Melancholy of Birds by Lebanese artist Ali Cherri. The softness of the flowers and the elegance of the birds intertwine to give this very poetic result to our eyes!
The Garden of Metamorphoses
The exhibition Becoming a Flower continues on the large plateau of the 2nd floor and took us to discover the Garden of Metamorphoses. We were surprised by the originality of the installation in situ which translates the human influence on the living plant.
From terrariums and huge bowls containing Nice seawater to videos on the links between humanity and nature, prepare to be amazed by the originality of this section! Hicham Berrada, Bianca Bondi, Anaïs Tondeur, Gabriel Orozco… About thirty artists from all over the world have been invited to participate in this exhibition. Their performance shows that flowers and humans can live together to better protect ecosystems.
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End of the visit: the contemporary gallery
Finally, just before you head for the exit, you cross a glass corridor that leads you to the contemporary gallery on your right. You will find yourself in a pastel-colored room, soothing and pleasant to close your course.
After exploring glaciers, ice floes and tropical forests, the artist Irene Kopelman unveils a marine universe on the theme of regeneration. Drawings, paintings, ceramics and glass works give rhythm to your tour in this luminous room that reflects the serenity of the ocean floor.
We appreciated very much the authenticity and the particularity of his artistic and intellectual approach. Indeed, his creations were made and studied in collaboration with scientific laboratories in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer as part of a research project initiated by the museum in 2018. A beautiful translation of the work of the artist winner of the program of Université Côte d’Azur around the life and the marine creatures!
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- Most beautiful cities in Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful beaches of Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful villages of Provence (to come)
- Most beautiful destinations in Provence (coming soon)
