Here are my picks for the 17 best things to see and do in Nice, with prices, opening hours and transport tips. Prices are in euros, and €1 is roughly £0.84. Several of the museums, including the Musée Matisse and the Musée Chagall, are closed on Tuesdays, and on Mondays the flower market on the Cours Saleya is replaced by an antiques market, so read the sections before you plan your days. The last five sections are about trips along the coast.

1. Promenade des Anglais

The Promenade des Anglais stretches almost seven kilometres along the Baie des Anges, from the airport in the west to the foot of the Colline du Château in the east. It began in 1824, when the British clergyman Lewis Way had a path laid out along the coast to provide work after a hard winter, and it’s named after the English colony of winter visitors who helped create it. Today it’s a wide promenade with palm trees and the famous blue chairs, where people walk, run and cycle with the sea right beside them.

The promenade is a big part of the reason Nice was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2021 as a winter resort town of the Riviera. The beaches below the promenade are pebble beaches, not sandy ones, and there are both public beaches, where you just lay down your towel, and private beach clubs, where you pay for a sunbed and a parasol.

My tip is to walk a stretch of the promenade westwards from the Old Town early in the morning or at sunset, when the light is softest, and to bring water shoes, because the pebbles are hard underfoot. Bus 12 runs along the promenade, and tram line 2 runs along the western part out towards the airport. If you’d like to wake up to a view of the bay, you can see hotels on the Promenade des Anglais here.

2. Old Town (Vieux Nice)

The Old Town, called Vieux Nice in French, lies between the Colline du Château and Place Masséna. It’s a maze of narrow streets with ochre and pink houses, washing hung between the windows and small squares with cafés. The city’s cathedral, Sainte-Réparate, stands on Place Rossetti, and all around the neighbourhood you’ll find baroque churches, delis and stalls selling socca, the thin chickpea flour pancake that’s Nice’s best-known street food.

It’s free to walk around, and the area is at its best in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive, or in the evening, when the restaurants fill the streets with tables. I’ll be honest: the restaurants on the most central squares are often expensive and mediocre, so walk a couple of streets away before you sit down. Rue Droite and Rue de la Préfecture are good streets to start in.

The Old Town is also the most obvious place to stay if it’s your first visit to the city, and it’s the first area in my guide to where to stay in Nice. Here you can see hotels in Vieux Nice. If you’d like the history too, a guided walking tour is a good way to start your stay.

Book a guided walking tour of the Old Town and the Colline du Château.

3. Cours Saleya and the Flower Market

The Cours Saleya is the long square in the southern part of the Old Town, just behind the seafront promenade. The square is known for its flower market, but the stalls also sell fruit, vegetables, olives, spices and local specialities, and the market has been named one of the 100 most picturesque markets in France. Around the square there are cafés and restaurants with tables out on the cobbles.

The flower market is held from Tuesday to Sunday, while every Monday the square fills up with the antiques market, selling everything from old postcards and silverware to paintings and furniture. In summer there are also stalls with art and crafts in the evening. It’s free to walk around, and the market is liveliest in the morning, so come early.

My tip is to buy a piece of socca from one of the stalls and eat it while it’s still hot. You’ll get the best view over the square from the top of the steps at Les Ponchettes, opposite Place Pierre Gautier. If you’d like to taste your way through the local cuisine with pan bagnat, pissaladière and socca, there are food tours with a local guide through the Old Town.

Book a food tour with local tastings in Nice.

4. Colline du Château

The Colline du Château is the green hill between the Old Town and the harbour. The city’s castle once stood here, but it was pulled down in the early 1700s, and today the top is a park with shady paths, playgrounds, ruins and an artificial waterfall, the Cascade du Château, where many local families head on hot days. The city’s old cemetery is also on the hill.

This is where you get the classic view of Nice, with the Baie des Anges, the red roofs of the Old Town and the harbour on the other side of the hill. The park is free to enter and open every day from 8.30am to 6pm from October to March and until 8pm from April to September. You can walk up the steps from the eastern end of the seafront promenade or from the Old Town, and there’s also a lift if you’d like to save your legs.

The walk up the steps takes about a quarter of an hour at a gentle pace. My tip is to go up late in the afternoon and stay for the sunset, and to bring water, because it gets hot on the steps in summer. If you walk down the other side of the hill, you’ll come out right by Port Lympia, so you can easily combine the hill and the harbour in one outing.

5. Place Masséna and the Promenade du Paillon

Place Masséna is Nice’s main square and the link between the Old Town and the newer part of the city around Avenue Jean Médecin. The buildings around the square are painted in the red and ochre shades typical of Nice, and the paving is laid in a black and white chequered pattern. At the southern end stands the Fontaine du Soleil with a large statue of Apollo, and above the square seven figures by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa sit on tall poles. In the evening they light up in changing colours.

From the square, the Promenade du Paillon park runs to the north-east. It’s a 14.5-hectare city park, and right by Place Masséna is the Miroir d’eau, a 3,000-square-metre water mirror with 128 jets, where both children and adults run around when it’s hot. The park is free and open from 7am to 9pm from October to March and until 11pm from April to September, while the water mirror is switched on from 9am to 8pm in winter and until 10pm in summer.

Tram line 1 stops at Masséna, and line 2 stops at Jean Médecin, a couple of minutes’ walk away. My tip is to come back after dark, when the statues are lit up and the water mirror is covered in mist. Avenue Jean Médecin is the city’s main shopping street if you want to hit the shops.

6. Port Lympia and Place Garibaldi

East of the Colline du Château lies Port Lympia, Nice’s old harbour. The façades around the basin are painted ochre, yellow and red, and along the quays luxury yachts are moored side by side with around a hundred traditional wooden boats, known as pointus. The ferries to Corsica also leave from here, and if you’re heading on to the island, you can read my guide to where to stay in Corsica.

From the harbour, you walk along Rue Cassini up to Place Garibaldi, a large arcaded square named after the hero of Italian unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was born in Nice. The area between the harbour and the square feels more local than the Old Town, with wine bars, fish restaurants and antique shops. Tram line 2 terminates at Port Lympia, and line 1 stops at Garibaldi.

The harbour is a good choice if you want to stay somewhere a little quieter than the Old Town but still be able to walk everywhere, and you can see hotels by the harbour in Nice here. My tip is to take a short boat trip along the coast towards Villefranche and Cap Ferrat, so you can see the grand villas from the water.

Book a one-hour cruise from Nice to the bay of Villefranche.

7. Musée Matisse

Henri Matisse lived in Nice from 1917 until his death in 1954, and the museum bearing his name is housed in a red 17th-century Genoese villa in the middle of the olive grove in Cimiez. The collection follows his whole career, from the early paintings through drawings and sculptures to the large paper cut-outs he made in his final years, and you can also see objects from his studio.

The museum is open from 10am to 6pm from April to October and from 10am to 5pm from November to March. It’s closed on Tuesdays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December, and the ticket office closes half an hour before the museum. A ticket costs €10 (about £8), and a museum pass valid for four days at ten of the city’s museums costs €15 (about £13). Under-18s and students get in for free with proof.

Cimiez is on a hill north of the centre, so take the bus up there and find the easiest connection in the Lignes d’Azur journey planner. My tip is to combine the Matisse museum with the Roman ruins and the monastery garden right next door and finish at the Chagall museum on your way back down towards the centre. That gives you a good half day, and with the museum pass you only pay once.

8. Musée National Marc Chagall

The Musée National Marc Chagall was built for the artist’s great biblical series, Le Message Biblique, and opened in 1973, while Chagall was still alive. The main works are 17 large paintings with scenes from the Old Testament in strong blues, reds and greens, and the museum also has mosaics, stained glass windows in the concert hall and a small garden with Mediterranean plants.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. It’s open from 10am to 6pm from May to October and until 5pm from November to April, and in March it closes as early as 4.30pm. At times the museum has closed in the middle of the day from 1pm to 2.30pm, so check the tourist office’s page before you go. Admission costs €10 (about £8), or €12 (about £10) when there’s a special exhibition. Under-18s get in for free, and so does everyone on the first Sunday of the month.

The museum is on Avenue du Docteur Ménard at the foot of Cimiez, and you can walk there from Nice-Ville station. My tip is to spend a good hour here before you carry on up the hill to the Matisse museum, or to plan your visit for the first Sunday of the month if you’re in town anyway.

9. Cimiez with Roman Ruins and a Monastery Garden

Cimiez was an elegant villa district for winter visitors in the 19th century, but its history goes back much further. The Roman town of Cemenelum stood here, and at the Musée d’Archéologie de Nice-Cimiez you walk among three Roman bath complexes, a residential quarter, an amphitheatre and an early Christian church complex. The cold bath in one of the bathhouses still stands more than ten metres high.

The museum is on Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez right by the Matisse museum and is open from 10am to 6pm from May to October and until 5pm the rest of the year. It’s closed on Tuesdays. Admission costs €5 (about £4), and the €15 (about £13) museum pass is valid here too.

Right next door is the olive grove of the Jardin des Arènes, which is free to enter, and a little further on is the Franciscan monastery with its church, a monastery garden with views over the city and the cemetery where Matisse and the painter Raoul Dufy are buried. The cemetery is open from 8.30am to 6pm from March to October and until 5pm in winter. My tip is to bring a packed lunch and eat it in the shade of the olive trees before you head on to the museums.

10. Saint-Nicolas Russian Orthodox Cathedral

It’s a bit of a surprise to find a Russian Orthodox cathedral with onion domes in the middle of a residential area in Nice, but it makes sense once you know that Russian aristocrats and the tsar’s family spent their winters on the Riviera in the 19th century. Saint-Nicolas Cathedral was consecrated in 1912 and is the largest Russian Orthodox church in Western Europe. Inside, there are icons, carved wood and a heavy scent of incense.

According to the regional tourist board, entry is free, while a guided tour of about 35 minutes costs €10 (about £8) for adults and is free for children under 12. Respectful clothing is required, and men aren’t allowed in bare-chested. It’s a working church, so you can’t walk around during services, and opening hours can vary.

The cathedral is on Avenue Nicolas II, about a quarter of an hour’s walk from Nice-Ville station, so it fits in nicely if you’re taking the train anyway. My tip is to drop by on your way to or from one of the day trips, and to bring a scarf or a cardigan if you’re walking around in shorts and with bare shoulders in summer.

11. Palais Lascaris

The Palais Lascaris is a 17th-century aristocratic palace in the middle of the Old Town, and the tourist office calls it the most remarkable example of baroque architecture in Nice outside the churches. From the narrow Rue Droite, you go in through the gateway and up a grand staircase with frescoes to salons with painted ceilings, tapestries and furniture.

Today the palace is a museum of 17th- and 18th-century art and music, and its large collection of historic musical instruments is the reason many people come. You’ll see violins, harps, guitars and wind instruments, among others, and some of them came to the museum as a gift from the collector Antoine Gautier in 1904.

The palace is open from 10am to 6pm every day except Tuesday and is closed on 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May and 25 December. Admission costs €5 (about £4), and children under 13 get in for free. It’s not a place most tourists find, and that’s exactly why I think it’s a good stop. My tip is to save it for a hot afternoon or a rainy day, because it’s cool behind the thick walls, and a visit takes about an hour.

12. Mont Boron and Fort du Mont Alban

East of the harbour, Mont Boron rises between Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. The whole hill is a 57-hectare forest park with 11 kilometres of paths among the pine trees, and it’s free to enter. It’s the best place to get away from the traffic without leaving the city, and along the way you look down on the luxury villas on the slopes.

At the top stands the Fort du Mont Alban, a 16th-century fortress. According to the tourist office, from the terrace you can see all the way from Bordighera in Italy to the Estérel mountains west of Cannes, and on clear days you can sometimes see Corsica. Tours inside the fort have been suspended, so expect to see it from the outside, and check the page before you count on getting in.

You can walk up from the harbour along paths and steps, but it’s a steep climb, so bring good shoes and water. If you’d rather not walk, there are guided tours in small electric cars that drive up to the viewpoint at the Fort du Mont Alban and on to Villefranche-sur-Mer. My tip is to head up late in the afternoon, when the sun is low over the Baie des Anges.

Book a guided electric car tour to the Fort du Mont Alban and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

13. Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer sits on the bay just east of Mont Boron and is one of the most beautiful small towns on the whole Riviera. The colourful houses climb the hill from the harbour, and behind the waterfront there are narrow alleys and stairways, including the covered street Rue Obscure. By the harbour stands the large 16th-century citadel, which today houses the town hall and a couple of small museums.

By the fishing harbour is the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, which the poet and artist Jean Cocteau decorated between 1956 and 1957. The chapel is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 6pm and closes every year from mid-November to mid-December. Admission costs €4 (about £3), and children under 15 get in for free.

The train from Nice-Ville takes about five minutes, and a single ticket costs €3.60 (about £3). At the town’s beach you can swim in calm water, and you can easily see it all in half a day. My tip is to stay for dinner by the harbour, once the day-trippers have gone home. If you’d like to stay somewhere quieter than Nice, you can see hotels in Villefranche-sur-Mer here.

14. Day Trip to Monaco and Monte-Carlo

The Principality of Monaco is a short train ride from Nice and the most popular day trip from the city. Monaco is an independent country but uses the euro, and there are no passport checks at the border, although you need to bring ID. Monaco-Ville with the Prince’s Palace sits on the rock known as Le Rocher, and the changing of the guard in front of the palace takes place every day at 11.55am and lasts seven minutes. The palace’s Grands Appartements can be visited from April to October, and a ticket costs around €10 (about £8).

The rock is also home to the Musée Océanographique, where a ticket costs €22.50 (about £19) for adults and €14 (about £12) for children aged 4 to 17. It’s open every day except 25 December and the Formula 1 weekend. Down in Monte-Carlo is the casino, which you can look around inside in the morning from 10am to 1pm for €20 (about £17). From 2pm the gaming rooms also cost €20, but then you have to be over 18 and show a passport or ID card, and there’s a dress code.

The train from Nice-Ville takes about 20 minutes, and a single ticket costs €6.10 (about £5). I think Monaco is worth seeing once, but eating and drinking there is expensive, so feel free to bring a packed lunch up to the rock. If you’d rather go by boat, there’s also a ferry from Nice.

Book a return ferry ticket from Nice to Monaco.

15. Day Trip to Èze

Èze is a medieval village perched like an eagle’s nest on a clifftop high above the sea between Nice and Monaco. The streets are so narrow and steep that cars can’t get through, and the old stone houses are now home to galleries, small shops and restaurants. At the very top, in the ruins of the old castle, is the cactus garden, the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, 429 metres above sea level with views along the whole coast.

The garden is full of cacti, aloes and agaves among sculptures and viewpoints, and it costs €10 (about £8) for adults and €6 (about £5) for young people aged 12 to 17 and students, while children under 12 get in for free. The garden is open every day from 9am to 4.30pm from November to March, until 6.30pm in April, May, June and October and until 7.30pm from July to September. Down by the main road is the Fragonard perfume factory.

Bus 82 runs from Vauban in Nice up to the Eze Village stop, but departures are few and far between, so check the timetable. You can also take the train to Èze-sur-Mer and walk up the Chemin de Nietzsche, but it’s a steep path that takes about an hour. My tip is to arrive early in the morning, before the tour coaches, or to join an organised tour that combines Èze with Monaco.

Book a half-day trip to Èze, Monaco and Monte-Carlo from Nice.

16. Day Trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a fortified hilltop village inland between Nice and Cannes. The 16th-century ramparts still encircle the small village centre, and inside the walls the streets are full of art galleries, because the village has drawn painters and artists for many years. Marc Chagall lived here in his final years and is buried in the small cemetery at the southern end of the village.

Just outside the village is the Fondation Maeght, one of France’s most important private museums of modern art, with works by Miró, Giacometti, Chagall and Braque, among others, in buildings and gardens created for the collection. The museum is open every day from 10am to 6pm and until 7pm in July and August, and a ticket costs €18 (about £15), or €14 (about £12) for young people aged 16 to 18 and students.

From Nice, take the train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and then bus 655 towards Vence to the St Paul Village stop, from where it’s about a ten-minute walk to the Fondation Maeght. My tip is to arrive early, because the narrow streets are packed in the middle of the day in summer. The village gives you a good taste of Provence, and if you want to head further inland, you can read my guide to where to stay in Provence.

17. Day Trip to Antibes and Cannes

West of Nice, two of the Riviera’s best-known towns lie on the same railway line. Antibes has its own Old Town inside the harbour walls and the Port Vauban marina, and the Musée Picasso is housed in the Château Grimaldi by the sea. Picasso worked at the château from mid-September to mid-November 1946, and when he returned to Paris, he left behind 23 paintings and 44 drawings. The museum is closed on Mondays, and a combined ticket for the town’s museums and Fort Carré costs €15 (about £13) and is valid for seven days.

Cannes is the film festival town. Here you can stroll along the seafront promenade La Croisette, see the steps of the Palais des Festivals, where the stars walk up the red carpet, and climb up to the historic Le Suquet quarter. From the old harbour, boats sail to the island of Sainte-Marguerite, where you can see the cells in the Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was held prisoner. Today the fort houses the Musée du Masque de Fer et du Fort Royal.

The train from Nice-Ville to Antibes takes about 20 minutes and costs €7 (about £6), and to Cannes it takes about 35 minutes and costs €9.70 (about £8). My tip is to visit Antibes in the morning and carry on to Cannes in the afternoon. The train continues along the coast, and if Marseille is also on your list, I’ve written about where to stay in Marseille.

Book a full-day tour to Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Èze and Monaco from Nice.

Practical Travel Tips for Nice

You can easily walk between the Old Town, the Promenade des Anglais and the harbour, and for the rest of the city you use the Lignes d’Azur trams and buses. A Solo ticket costs €1.70 (about £1) and is valid for one journey with transfers within 74 minutes. If you’ll be getting around several times a day, the Pass 1 jour costs €7 (about £6) for 24 hours, and the Pass 7 jours costs €20 (about £17). The buses to Èze and Villefranche-sur-Mer are also run by Lignes d’Azur, while the train to Monaco, Antibes and Cannes requires a TER ticket.

From the airport, tram line 2 runs directly to Jean Médecin and on to the harbour. You can read about all the options in my guide to getting from Nice Airport to the city centre.

Plan the museums around the days of the week. The Musée Matisse, the Musée Chagall, the Palais Lascaris and the archaeological museum in Cimiez are closed on Tuesdays, and the Musée Picasso in Antibes is closed on Mondays. On Mondays there’s an antiques market instead of the flower market on the Cours Saleya, and on the first Sunday of the month the Chagall museum is free. The swimming season runs from June to September, but I think May, September and October are the best months for sightseeing, because it’s warm without being as crowded as in July and August.

If you’d like to see the full range, you can see all hotels in Nice on Booking.com.

The post 17 Best Things to Do in Nice: Sights, Prices & Tips appeared first on Destination Well Known.

If you’re staying along the Promenade des Anglais, bus 12 is easier, and if you’re heading to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Antibes or Cannes, you can take the train from the station next to the airport or one of the express buses. A taxi to the centre costs a fixed fare. The right choice depends on where you’re staying and when you land, so here are all the options with fares, journey times and stops. For the rough conversions I’ve used about £0.84 and $1.12 per euro.

If you’d rather drive yourself from the airport, you can compare prices on rental cars at Booking.com.

At a glance

• Tram line 2: €10 (about £8.40/$11) for an open return ticket, under 30 minutes to Jean Médecin, runs on weekdays from 05:20 until shortly before midnight.
• Train from Nice St-Augustin: 8 to 9 minutes to Nice-Ville, around 35 minutes to Monaco and just over half an hour to Cannes, with up to four trains an hour on weekdays.
• Bus 12: €1.70 (about £1.45/$1.90) for a Solo ticket, around 20 minutes to Opéra - Vieille Ville along the Promenade des Anglais, runs from just after 06:00 until shortly before midnight on weekdays.
• Express bus 80 to Monaco: €21.40 (about £18/$24), around an hour to Monaco, departures every half hour from 08:30 to 22:00.
• Express buses 81 and 82: €21.40 (about £18/$24) to Cannes and €11 (about £9.30/$12.50) to Antibes, running from Terminal 2 from 07:30 to 21:55.
• Taxi: A fixed fare of €32 (about £27/$36) to central Nice, €72 to Antibes, €85 to Cannes and €95 to Monaco.
• Uber: Typically €20 to €30 (about £17 to £25.50, or $22.50 to $33.50) to Nice, and you’ll see the fare in the app before you book.

Finding your transport at the airport

Nice Airport has two terminals, and the tram is free between Terminal 2, Terminal 1 and the Grand Arénas stop. It takes under 3 minutes to get from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1. Both terminals have their own line 2 stop with ticket machines that take both coins and payment cards. If you need tickets other than the airport ticket, the travel agency Selectour VIP Assistance Services has a sales point in both terminals, and in Terminal 2 you’ll find it on the first floor.

The express buses to Monaco, Cannes and Antibes leave from the bus station at Terminal 2, on the arrivals level by exit A1 or A3, where bus 80 stops at bay 1, bus 81 at bay 2 and bus 82 at bay 3. At Terminal 1, they stop on the arrivals level by exit A0, at the car park shuttle stop. Tickets for the express buses are also sold at the Service Centre in Terminal 2, which only takes cards.

The taxi rank is at A3 at both terminals. Uber picks up in the Parking Pro zone by exit D4 at Terminal 1 and by exit A3 at Terminal 2. Bus 12 leaves from the Aéroport / Promenade stop, around 150 metres from Terminal 1 on the Promenade des Anglais, opposite the Sheraton hotel, and a footpath leads from exit A0 at Terminal 1 to Nice St-Augustin railway station. You’ll find everything on the airport’s public transport page.

1. Tram line 2 to Jean Médecin and the harbour

Line 2 is the direct route into the city. The tram starts at Aéroport Terminal 2, stops at Aéroport Terminal 1 and Grand Arénas, and then runs through western Nice to Magnan, Alsace-Lorraine and Jean Médecin. From there, it continues via Durandy and Garibaldi / Le Château to its terminus, Port Lympia, at the harbour. The airport says the journey to Jean Médecin takes under 30 minutes, and according to the timetable, it takes around half an hour all the way to Port Lympia.

On weekdays, trams run every 7 to 8 minutes for most of the day and around every 20 minutes early in the morning and late in the evening. The first tram leaves Terminal 2 at 05:20 and Terminal 1 at 05:25, and the last one leaves Terminal 2 at 23:51 and Terminal 1 at 23:56. The times can be different at weekends, so check the Lignes d’Azur timetable if you’re landing late. Line 2 doesn’t run on 1 May.

The tram is my first choice if you’re staying in the Jean-Médecin neighbourhood, in the Old Town or by the harbour. The catch is the ticket, because the machines at the airport don’t sell the rechargeable card that the cheap single tickets have to be loaded onto.

Fares and tickets

The ticket you can buy from the machine at the airport stop is the 1 aller / retour Aéroport for €10 (about £8.40/$11). It covers both the journey into the city and an open return to the airport, and you can change to other trams and buses for 74 minutes after you first validate it.

The standard Lignes d’Azur ticket is called Solo and costs €1.70 (about £1.45/$1.90). It’s valid for one journey with changes for 74 minutes, but not for a return trip. The Solo ticket has to be loaded onto an anonymous rechargeable card, which comes with a deposit of €2 (about £1.70/$2.20). The card is sold from the machines at every tram stop except Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, in the app and at Lignes d’Azur retailers. At Selectour in both terminals, you can buy Solo tickets, Multi tickets and day passes.

If you’re getting around the city for several days, there’s also the Pass 1 jour for €7 (about £5.90/$7.80), the Pass 2 jours for €13 (about £11/$14.50) and the Pass 7 jours for €20 (about £17/$22.50), with unlimited travel on trams and city buses. Children under 4 travel free. You’ll find the fares at Lignes d’Azur.

How to buy and validate your ticket

The machines at the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stops take coins and payment cards. If you have an Android phone, you can buy your ticket in the Lignes d’Azur Tickets app instead, which the airport says is only available on Google Play. With an iPhone, your ticket has to be on a physical card, which you can top up from the app.

Whichever ticket you have, you need to validate it every single time you board, even if you have a day pass. Hold your ticket or card against the reader once you’re on board. If you travel without a validated ticket, the inspectors can give you a fine.

Where to get off

Jean Médecin: The stop is halfway along avenue Jean Médecin, the city’s main shopping street, and staying here puts you right in the middle of the Jean-Médecin neighbourhood. The main station, Nice-Ville, is around 800 metres away, and you can change to tram line 1 here.

Durandy and Garibaldi / Le Château: The next two stops are on the edge of the Old Town, which is called Vieux Nice in French. Garibaldi / Le Château is on Place Garibaldi, and from here you can walk into the narrow streets of the Old Town or up towards Colline du Château.

Port Lympia: The terminus is at the harbour. Get off here if you’re staying by the harbour.

2. Train from Nice St-Augustin to Monaco, Villefranche, Antibes and Cannes

Nice St-Augustin station is in the Grand Arénas district, less than 500 metres from the terminals, and the TER ZOU! regional trains run from here along the coast in both directions. From Terminal 1, you follow a footpath from exit A0 and reach the station in around 7 minutes. From Terminal 2, you take the free tram to Grand Arénas, and from the stop, it’s around a 3-minute walk to the station.

The train is the quickest way to the other towns on the coast. Heading east, you’ll reach Nice-Ville in 8 to 9 minutes, Villefranche-sur-Mer in around 18 minutes, Monaco Monte Carlo in 35 to 37 minutes and Menton in around 53 minutes. Heading west, the train runs to Antibes in around 20 minutes and to Cannes in just over half an hour. The journey times come from the SNCF timetable, and some trains continue to Ventimiglia in Italy or to Grasse.

On weekdays, there’s a train every quarter of an hour on the Cannes, Nice, Monaco and Menton line from 05:50 to 22:00, and then every half hour until 23:30. At weekends, the trains run later, and on Saturday nights they run until as late as 02:00. The train suits you if you’re staying outside Nice or close to Nice-Ville. You can read more on the airport’s train page.

Fares and tickets

TER ZOU! train tickets are singles, and they’re only valid on the day and in the direction printed on them. From Nice-Ville, a full-fare single costs €6.10 (about £5.20/$6.80) to Monaco, €3.60 (about £3/$4) to Villefranche-sur-Mer, €7 (about £5.90/$7.80) to Antibes and €9.70 (about £8.20/$11) to Cannes. The distance from Nice St-Augustin is different, so the fare may vary slightly, and the machine shows the exact fare for your journey. The fares from Nice-Ville are listed at TER Sud.

Children under 4 travel free, and children aged 4 to 11 pay half price. If you’re travelling as a group, there’s a discounted mini-group ticket.

At Nice St-Augustin, there’s a ticket machine for TER tickets, and the station has a ticket office, which is open Monday to Saturday with a lunch break and has shorter hours on Sundays. You can also buy your ticket online from TER Sud or SNCF Connect and keep it on your phone.

Where to get off the train

Nice-Ville: The city’s main station is around 800 metres from the Jean Médecin tram stop. The train is quick, but from Terminal 2 you first have to take the tram to Grand Arénas and walk to the station, so if you’re heading for the centre, you’ll rarely save time compared with line 2.

Villefranche-sur-Mer: The train stops in Villefranche-sur-Mer around 18 minutes after Nice St-Augustin, and it’s a direct journey with no changes. It’s the easiest way to get there.

Monaco Monte Carlo: The train stops in Monaco 35 to 37 minutes after Nice St-Augustin. If your hotel is a little further away, you can carry on by one of Monaco’s city buses.

3. Bus 12 along the Promenade des Anglais

Bus 12 is a fast Lignes d’Azur line, and it runs from the Aéroport / Promenade stop along the Promenade des Anglais and through the centre to Garibaldi, then on to Hôpital Pasteur. The stop is around 150 metres from Terminal 1, so from Terminal 2 you first take the free tram to Terminal 1. Along the way, the bus calls at a string of stops with Promenade in their names, including Magnan / Promenade, Gambetta / Promenade and Congrès / Promenade, and then at Albert 1er, Opéra - Vieille Ville and Garibaldi.

In the middle of the day, the bus runs around every 11 minutes. The first morning departure is at 06:04, and the last is at 23:54 on weekdays. In the middle of the day, the journey takes around 11 minutes to Magnan / Promenade, around 18 minutes to Albert 1er and around 20 minutes to Opéra - Vieille Ville. The bus doesn’t run on 1 May.

Tickets aren’t sold on the bus, so you’ll need yours before you board. The Solo ticket for €1.70 (about £1.45/$1.90) is valid on both Lignes d’Azur trams and buses, and you can buy it at Selectour in the terminal or in the app before you head out to the stop. The bus is the best choice if your hotel is on the Promenade des Anglais. Check the times in the bus 12 timetable.

4. Express buses 80, 81 and 82 to Monaco, Cannes and Antibes

The regional bus company ZOU! runs three express buses from the airport, and they stop at both terminals. Bus 80 runs to Monaco and on to Menton, bus 81 runs to Cannes, and bus 82 runs to Antibes and Vallauris. For Cannes and Antibes, the train is cheaper and quicker, so the buses are mainly worth it if you have a lot of luggage.

Bus 80 is the one most people use. It runs every day of the week, and from the airport towards Monaco and Menton, there are buses from 08:30 to 22:00, every half hour to Monaco. According to the timetable, the journey to Monaco takes around an hour, and in Monaco the bus stops at Place d’Armes, Sporting (Bay Hôtel), Larvotto, Casino and Office de Tourisme, among others. The journey to Menton Gare Routière takes around an hour and a half. See more at Nice Airport Xpress.

Bus 81 runs from Terminal 2 from 07:35 to 21:55 and reaches Cannes Gare SNCF in 50 to 55 minutes. Bus 82 runs from Terminal 2 from 07:30 to 21:55, roughly every 45 minutes, and reaches the Pôle d’Échanges d’Antibes in around 47 minutes. You’ll find the timetables at ZOU!.

Fares and tickets

A single on bus 80 or 81 costs €21.40 (about £18/$24) if you buy it online or at the Service Centre in Terminal 2, and €21.80 (about £18.50/$24.50) on the bus. Children aged 4 to 11 pay €10.70 (about £9/$12), or €11.10 (about £9.40/$12.50) on the bus. On bus 82 to Antibes, a single costs €11 (about £9.30/$12.50), or €11.40 (about £9.60/$13) on the bus. If there are three to nine of you, there’s a group ticket.

On bus 80, you don’t need a ticket in advance, because you can tap your payment card on the reader when you board. For buses 81 and 82, you can also buy an SMS ticket, which you show to the driver. If there are several of you heading to Monaco, you can book a private transfer from the airport to Monaco here.

5. Taxis and Uber

The taxi rank is at A3 at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The airport publishes fixed fares, and they’re €32 (about £27/$36) to central Nice, €72 (about £61/$81) to Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, €85 (about £72/$95) to Cannes and €95 (about £80/$106) to Monaco. The fares don’t include supplements, so expect to pay a little more if any apply. The full list is on the airport’s taxi page.

A receipt is compulsory for journeys of €25 or more, so ask for one. Complaints go to the City of Nice’s taxi inspectorate, and you’ll need to give the taxi’s number, which is on the roof. If you need a taxi from the city, you can book one with Taxi Nice Riviera in their app or by phone on +33 4 93 13 78 78.

Uber picks up in the Parking Pro zone, which is by exit D4 at Terminal 1 and by exit A3 at Terminal 2, and the app shows you the exact spot. According to Uber’s own figures, an UberX from the airport to Nice has cost €22 (about £18.50/$24.50) on average and a Comfort €27 (about £23/$30), so you can typically expect to pay €20 to €30 (about £17 to £25.50, or $22.50 to $33.50). Prices go up when demand is high. See more at Uber.

Private transfer

If you’re landing late with children, or there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Nice Airport here. The driver meets you at the airport and takes you to the door, and the price is agreed in advance.

Onward travel around the Côte d’Azur straight from the airport

The trains from Nice St-Augustin run along the whole coast from Cannes to Menton, and some continue to Grasse or to Ventimiglia in Italy, which takes just over an hour.

There are also trains from the station towards Toulon and Marseille roughly once an hour on weekdays. Bus 80 runs to Menton Gare Routière, and from the bus station at Grand Arénas, which you can reach on the free tram, ZOU! runs buses including the 650 to Grasse and the 60 to Aix-en-Provence.

If you’re travelling around for several days, the Pass SudAzur Explore can be worth it. It gives you unlimited travel on ZOU! trains and buses throughout the Alpes-Maritimes department and in Monaco, as well as on city networks such as Lignes d’Azur. The pass costs €35 (about £29.50/$39) for 3 days, €50 (about £42/$56) for 7 days and €80 (about £68/$90) for 14 days, and under-18s travelling with an adult pay less. Read the conditions at TER Sud.

Getting back to the airport

On weekdays, tram line 2 towards the airport leaves Port Lympia at 04:40 and Jean Médecin at 04:45, and the first tram reaches Terminal 1 at 05:12 and Terminal 2 at 05:17. The last one leaves Jean Médecin at 23:15. If you bought the airport ticket for €10 (about £8.40/$11), your return journey is already paid for, and you just need to validate the ticket again.

Towards the airport, bus 80 runs from Menton and Monaco from 06:00, and from as early as 04:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, with the last buses at around 20:00. The coastal trains run from around 05:50 on weekdays, and from the station, you can take the free tram to Terminal 2 or walk along the footpath to Terminal 1. For the journey back, you can book a taxi with Taxi Nice Riviera or take an Uber.

The airport recommends being at the airport 2 hours before departure for shorter flights and at least 3 hours before for long-haul flights, and the self-service check-in machines open 5 hours before departure. Read more on the airport’s check-in page.

Which option should you choose?

Here’s what I’d recommend, depending on where you’re staying:

Old Town (Vieux Nice): Take tram line 2 to Durandy or Garibaldi / Le Château, or take bus 12 to Opéra - Vieille Ville.

Promenade des Anglais: Take bus 12, which runs along the promenade and stops close to the seafront hotels.

Jean-Médecin: Take tram line 2 to Jean Médecin. It runs right into the heart of the neighbourhood.

Villefranche-sur-Mer: Take the train from Nice St-Augustin. It runs direct to Villefranche-sur-Mer in around 18 minutes.

Monaco: The train is the cheapest and quickest option, while bus 80 takes you all the way to several stops in Monaco without changing.

Cannes and Antibes: Take the train from Nice St-Augustin. It’s both cheaper and quicker than the express buses.

If you land at night: The tram runs until shortly before midnight on weekdays, and bus 12 runs until 23:54. If you land later than that, it’s a fixed-fare taxi or an Uber.

If there are three or four of you: A taxi to central Nice costs €32 (about £27/$36) for the whole car, while four airport tickets cost €40 (about £34/$45). If you won’t be using the tram to get back to the airport, the taxi is the best option.

Practical tips for getting from Nice Airport to the city centre

Save money by buying the card at Grand Arénas. The tram is free from the terminals to Grand Arénas, and the machine there sells the rechargeable card for €2 (about £1.70/$2.20). With a Solo ticket for €1.70 (about £1.45/$1.90) each way, it works out cheaper than the airport ticket, but you’ll have to wait for the next tram.

Validate your ticket every time you board. This applies to all Lignes d’Azur tickets, including day passes and the airport ticket, and also when you change.

Pay for bus 80 with your card. On the express bus to Monaco and Menton, you simply tap your payment card on the reader when you board, so there’s no need to find a ticket office.

Choose your hotel with the connection in mind. If you’re staying in Jean-Médecin, the tram runs right to your door, and you can see hotels in Jean-Médecin here. If you’re staying on the seafront, bus 12 runs the whole length of the promenade, and you can see hotels on the Promenade des Anglais here. If you’d like to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer, the train runs direct, and you can see hotels in Villefranche-sur-Mer here.

If you’re not sure which neighbourhood suits you, read my guide to where to stay in and around Nice, where you’ll also find my hotel recommendations in the Old Town, on the Promenade des Anglais, in Jean-Médecin and in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Once you’ve arrived, my guide to the best things to do in Nice will help you plan your days.

The post Nice Airport to the City Centre - Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

However, this guide does not discuss what to do in the French city in depth; instead, it is exclusively focused on where to stay in Nice.

I will tell you about the city’s best areas and suggest where to book accommodation for your southern French holiday.

Nice is indeed an exciting city, but the entire area around the city is a big paradise for beach lovers

In addition to describing the best areas in Nice, I recommend hotels in different price ranges.

So let’s start with the guide: where to stay in Nice?

Best areas to stay in Nice

If you are in a hurry and want a quick overview, this is where you should stay in Nice:

• Vieux Nice – stay in the beautiful Old Town
• Promenade des Anglais – best area for a beach holiday
• Jean-Médecin – best area for shopping & city centre atmosphere
• Villefranche-Sur-Mer – one of Europe’s most beautiful cities near Nice

Click on the name of the area above and see the best hotels in the said area.

The guide to where to stay in Nice continues below with more info on the areas & recommendations for hotels.

1. Vieux Nice – stay in the beautiful old town

Vieux Nice, known as the Old Town, is the centre of Nice’s historic charm.

The area is super cosy and full of narrow, cobbled streets and buildings painted in soft pastel colours, which witness the city’s rich history.

Here in the old town lies a wealth of small shops, art galleries and markets that offer a real sense of local life and culture.

See the best hotels in The Old Town here.

It’s undoubtedly the prettiest area in town, so it makes sense to stay here if it’s your first time in Nice.

And if you want to stay centrally with easy access to both historic sights and the city’s modern facilities, Vieux Nice is an excellent choice.

You are never far from a cosy café. Even though it’s an area with many tourists, Vieux Nice still has an entirely unique charm.

You can also sense that the locals use the area when they must meet at a good restaurant.

Places to stay in the Old Town

As this is the old part of Nice, it’s not exactly here that there has been an opportunity to build lots of modern hotels. So there are only so many hotels to choose from, but the ones there are are excellent.

So here are some of the best hotels in the old town of Nice. We start with the most luxurious.

At the Hôtel Suisse, you can expect a sumptuous experience in the middle of Nice’s old town, with spectacular views down to the beach.

This luxury hotel charms with its elegant French architecture and refined interior design.

Previous guests have particularly appreciated the breathtaking views from the rooms and the hotel’s perfect location, making it easy to explore the city or relax by the sea.

Reviews also highlight the helpful staff and comfortable rooms that add to the feeling of true luxury during your stay.

See more photos and book here.

Mercure Nice Marché aux Fleurs offers charming and affordable accommodation right next to the famous flower market and close to Nice’s seafront.

Although the hotel doesn’t have the same luxurious vibe as some of the more expensive places in town, you can still expect clean and inviting rooms with everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Previous guests have praised the hotel’s fantastic location, making it easy to explore the beach and the city’s attractions on foot.

Reviews often mention the friendly service and good value for money, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious travellers who still want quality.

See more photos and book here.

Hotel du Pin Nice Port is a cheaper hotel located on the edge of the old town, making it an ideal choice for those who want to stay centrally without breaking the budget.

Here, you can expect simple but clean and comfortable accommodation that provides everything you need for a pleasant stay.

Previous guests have particularly appreciated the hotel’s location near the port of Nice and the fact that you are close to most things you would like to experience as a tourist in Nice.

Reviews also highlight the friendly and helpful staff who go above and beyond to make your stay as smooth as possible.

See more photos and book here.

2. Promenade des Anglais – best area for a beach holiday

Promenade des Anglais is the perfect place to stay if you want to be close to the beach in Nice.

This famous promenade stretches along the azure coastline and is lined with palm trees and iconic hotels.

If you’ve seen pictures of Nice, you’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of the beach and the Promenade des Anglais in the background.

Thus, The area has direct access to private and public beaches, where you can enjoy the sun and the clear, blue Mediterranean water.

It’s the ideal place to stay in the summer for those who want to combine relaxation by the sea with city life.

See the best hotels in the area here.

Along the Promenade des Anglais, you will also find many cafes, restaurants, and bars where you can enjoy delicious French food while enjoying the sea view.

You can walk along the promenade, rent a bike, or simply sit and people-watch while enjoying a cool drink.

It’s also a nice place to run if you pack running shoes on your Nice holiday – a bit like the seafront in Barcelona.

I would probably prefer to stay in one of the other areas of Nice outside the “swimming season,” but here it’s also cosy on cooler days – and the sea is still beautiful.

Places to stay near the beach & Promenade des Anglais

Let’s look at some of the best beach hotels in Nice. As always, we start with the most luxurious and move down the price category.

Le Méridien Nice is a luxury hotel ideal for a first-class beach holiday in Nice.

The hotel is located directly on the Promenade des Anglais, so there is a fantastic sea view and a beautiful outdoor pool.

You can expect modern, elegantly decorated rooms and first-class facilities, including several fine dining options overlooking the sea.

Previous guests have praised the hotel for its comfortable rooms and central location, perfect for relaxing by the beach and exploring Nice.

See more photos & book here.

Westminster Hotel & Spa in Nice (not in London ) is a bit less luxurious than Le Méridien, but still an excellent hotel on the beach in Nice.

The hotel, which is also located on the Promenade des Anglais, has lovely rooms, an inviting indoor pool, and a fully equipped spa area.

It’s an ideal place to stay in Nice for those who want to combine beach life with a bit of self-indulgence.

The reviews speak warmly of the hotel’s charming interior, the friendly service and the unbeatable location right on the beach.

See more photos & book here.

La Villa Nice Promenade is a smaller hotel that consistently receives good reviews for its homely atmosphere and excellent service.

The guests especially appreciated the clean and comfortable rooms, the quiet location and the helpful staff.

La Villa is an ideal base for enjoying the sun and the city, with easy access to Nice’s many attractions.

See more photos & book here.

Then, we leave the beach, slip into the centre of Nice, and proceed to the next area.

3. Jean-Médecin – best area for shopping & city centre atmosphere

If you would like to experience Nice on a classic city break, like when travelling to Paris, and you may not be travelling during the summer, Jean-Médecin is the ideal place to stay.

This area is known as the city’s shopping mecca, and here, you will find everything from large international chains to local shops along the busy Avenue Jean Médecin.

The area offers a lively atmosphere perfect for those who want to be where it all happens.

See the best hotels in Jean-Médecin here.

In addition to the shopping opportunities, Jean-Médecin is full of cafés, restaurants and cafes.

If you want to have everything within walking distance and enjoy a dynamic city break in France’s fifth-largest city, Jean-Médecin is an excellent choice.

Here, you can effortlessly blend daily excursions and sight-seeing with evenings in the city centre.

The bustling streets always have something to offer, whether it’s a new boutique to explore or a lively café to unwind in, ensuring a diverse and engaging experience.

Places to stay in the centre of Nice (Jean-Médecin)

It makes good sense to choose a hotel in the centre of Nice, and this is also where you will find the most extensive selection in different price categories. Here are some of my favourite hotels in Jean-Médicin.

Boscolo Nice Hôtel & Spa is the pinnacle of luxury in the heart of Nice.

This luxury hotel is the epitome of elegance, with its opulent surroundings and exquisite design. It also has a high-class spa, where you can pamper yourself with various treatments.

Previous guests particularly praise the hotel’s impressive interior and first-class service. If you are looking for a luxurious experience during your stay in Nice, Boscolo Nice Hôtel & Spa is the perfect choice.

See more photos & book here.

The Best Western Premier Hotel Roosevelt is a 4-star hotel that can be booked fairly reasonably priced.

The hotel is known for its reasonable price and quality, with comfortable and well-furnished rooms.

It’s ideal for those who want to stay in pleasant surroundings in the centre of Nice but only want to spend part of the budget on accommodation.

Past guests have particularly highlighted the hotel’s central location, which makes it easy to explore the city on foot, as well as the friendly staff and clean facilities.

See more photos & book here.

Hotel Boreal is a 3-star hotel in a perfect location. It has nice rooms and is generally good value for money.

It’s popular for travellers who want convenience without compromising on quality and comfort.

Reviews often praise the hotel’s cleanliness and the staff’s service-oriented attitude.

See more photos & book here.

So, I promised in the introduction that I would not only mention the best areas in Nice but also recommend a place just around the corner.

4. Villefranche-Sur-Mer – one of Europe’s most beautiful villages near Nice

So I want to recommend an area outside Nice, but I really think you should know about this seaside town before you book your accommodation.

Because this is an extraordinary place – and it’s just around the corner from Nice.

The picturesque town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is only a short journey from Nice. Here, you will experience one of Europe’s most charming small towns.

The city is recognized as one of Europe’s most beautiful small towns, and you will understand this immediately upon arrival.

With its picturesque harbour, colourful old town and narrow cobbled streets, Villefranche-sur-Mer offers a unique blend of French charm and Mediterranean tranquillity.

See the best hotels in Villefranche-sur-Mer here.

Getting to Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice is easy and convenient. From Nice, you can take a short train journey that takes about 10 minutes and lets you get off right in the heart of the city.

The trains run frequently, so you can easily plan a trip that fits your schedule. Alternatively, you can take a bus, which makes for a beautiful drive along the coast and takes around 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic.

So even if you don’t choose to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer, you can take a day trip here from Nice.

From Nice Airport, the easiest way to reach Villefranche-sur-Mer is to take a taxi or a pre-booked car, which can take you directly to your destination in around 30 minutes. To compare all your options, read my guide to getting from Nice Airport to the city centre.

When you stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer, you’ll have easy access to the city’s beautiful beaches, historic sights and relaxing waterfront.

Places to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer

If you would like to experience one of France’s finest small towns, book a room here. Below, I share a few of the best places to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

The Welcome Hôtel in Villefranche-sur-Mer is probably the city’s most luxurious hotel. It offers a unique sea view and a hard-to-beat location.

The rooms are elegantly decorated with balconies that open up to the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Guests especially praise the hotel’s perfect location on the water’s edge and the excellent service.

It’s an obvious place to stay near Nice for those who want to wake up to the sound of waves and enjoy breakfast with a sea view.

See more photos & book here.

Hôtel Le Provençal is another popular hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer that consistently receives excellent reviews.

This hotel is known for its warm atmosphere and welcoming service.

The rooms are tastefully decorated, and many have views of the surrounding countryside.

Guests often praise the hotel’s clean and comfortable surroundings and its central location, which makes it easy to explore the city.

See more photos & book here.

Hotel Le Vauban is in a slightly different category, as it’s significantly cheaper than the other two places.

While it doesn’t offer the same luxury as the more expensive hotels, it’s an excellent choice for budget-conscious travellers who still want to be close to everything the city offers.

Past guests have particularly appreciated the friendly service and the hotel’s proximity to local attractions, making it a convenient and comfortable base for exploring the area.

See more photos & book here.

I hope you could use this guide to areas and hotels in and around Nice. In any case, you can look forward to having a great holiday experience.

As a traveller, you can expect a city with a perfect mix of beach life, historical sights and artistic flair.

From the iconic promenades along the Mediterranean to the charming streets of the Old Town and the vibrant nightlife, Nice has something for everyone.

If you have any questions about Nice, the areas mentioned or the hotels, please comment below, and I will do my best to help.

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The post Where to Stay in Nice? 4 Best Areas & My Favourite Places to Stay 🇫🇷 appeared first on Destination Well Known.