# Refuge de Nice, France: what it is and when to go

> Refuge de Nice is a mountain hut in France (Nice), at 2,232 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is July to September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 15 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 42. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/refuge-de-nice/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Mountain hut in France · Mountains, Hiking
- **Where:** France
- **Elevation:** 2,232 m
- **Best time:** July to September.
- **Nearest airport:** NCE Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, 52 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [refugedenice.ffcam.fr](https://refugedenice.ffcam.fr/)
- **Beds:** 54
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français
- **Coordinates:** 44.10439, 7.40038

## What it is and where

Refuge de Nice is a mountain hut in France (Nice), at 2,232 m above sea level. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Le refuge est gardé toute l'année. L'hiver sur réservation au 06 61 97 59 38. L'été, sur réservation internet. Possiblité de restauration le midi sans réservation. Pour le repas du soir, la réservation est obligatoire.

It is in [Nice](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/niza/), where this site lists 212 more places to see, 45 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 44.10439, 7.40038; the nearest main airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes), 52 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=44.104394%2C7.400375)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.104394%2C7.400375)

- **Beds:** 54
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français

It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/senderismo/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Refuge de Nice is **July to September**, and the season is short because it sits at 2,232 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 9 h 03 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 14 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 38 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 14 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 34 |
| June | Possible | 15 h 17 |
| July | Best time | 15 h |
| August | Best time | 13 h 50 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 17 |
| October | Possible | 10 h 45 |
| November | Better not | 9 h 23 |
| December | Better not | 8 h 42 |

In June there are 15 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 42. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mountains | July to September | June and October |
| Hiking | July to September | June and October |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Refuge de Nice has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to France

To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Mont Colomb](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-colomb/): Summit · 1.0 km
- [Caïre Cabret](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/caire-cabret/): Summit · 1.4 km
- [Tête du Lac Autier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-du-lac-autier/): Summit · 1.5 km
- [Mont Ponset](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-ponset/): Mountain in France · 1.6 km
- [Via Alpina Red](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/via-alpina-red-r145/): Via Alpina Red Hiking Trail · 1.8 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## More in France: Mountains

- [Mont Blanc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-blanc/): highest mountain in the Alps
- [Mont Ventoux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-ventoux/): mountain of the Alps in southern France
- [Lalouvesc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-besset/)
- [Aiguille du Midi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aiguille-du-midi/)
- [Monte Viso](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/monviso/): the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps, located in Italy
- [Dune of Pilat](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/dune-of-pilat/): tallest sand dune in Europe

Every France place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Refuge de Nice?

It is a mountain hut in France. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Refuge de Nice?

July to September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 2,232 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 15 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 42.

### How do you get to Refuge de Nice?

The nearest main airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), 52 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.104394%2C7.400375) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Mont Colomb](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-colomb/), [Caïre Cabret](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/caire-cabret/), [Tête du Lac Autier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-du-lac-autier/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/112981194), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3423174), CC0. More about Refuge de Nice on [Wikipedia](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_de_Nice). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).