Getting around: Transport in Nice

Public transport (Lignes d’Azur)

Buses & Trams

• Single ticket: €1.70 (valid 74 minutes, transfers included, 2025)

• Load tickets on the La Carte card or buy via machines/app

• Tram network (4 lines in 2025) connects key areas, including airport → city → port

Buses reach suburbs and hillside districts not covered by the tram.

Airport to city

The easiest transfer: take the airport tram directly into the city or to the port - fast and cheap.

Trains & day trips

For Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, Villefranche and other coastal towns:

• Use regional trains from Nice-Ville (main station) or Nice-Riquier (east side).

Walking, bikes & alternatives

• Nice is very walkable, especially around Old Town and the Promenade.

• Bike rentals, e-scooters and car-sharing are widely available.

• If you stay central, you may barely need transport — except for airport trips or day excursions.

Climate & best time to visit

Nice has a classic Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and mild winters.

• Summer: around 27°C, warm sea — perfect beach weather.

• Winter: mild (11–13°C), cooler nights; snow is rare.

• Rain: mostly in autumn and winter.

Best time to visit: April–May and September–October for great weather and fewer crowds.

Health, safety & practical info

Emergency numbers:

• 112 – EU emergency line

• 15 – Ambulance

• 17 – Police

• 18 – Fire

• 114 – Text line (hearing-impaired)

Everyday essentials:

• Tap water is safe to drink.

• Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere.

• Tipping is optional - service is usually included, but rounding up is appreciated.

Safety:
Nice is generally safe, but stay aware in crowded areas and keep bags zipped.

⭐ Visit beaches early or late

Public beaches fill up fast. Locals go before 10:00 or after 17:00 for calmer water, cooler temperatures, and better light.

⭐ Skip Promenade restaurants

Beautiful location, but overpriced. Instead try Vieux Nice, Port Lympia, or Rue Bonaparte for genuinely good, local food.

⭐ Take the free Castle Hill elevator

Find it at the end of Rue des Ponchettes. A painless way to reach the best panoramic views — perfect with kids, luggage, or mobility concerns.

⭐ Bring water shoes

Nice has pebble beaches — not sand. Locals use aqua shoes to enter and exit comfortably.

⭐ Local sunset spots

• Rauba Capeu (#ILoveNICE sign)

• Mont Boron cliffs

• Coco Beach rocks
  All offer gorgeous golden-hour views.

⭐ Shop at markets, not supermarkets

The Cours Saleya market (Tue–Sun mornings) has perfect produce, olives, flowers, cheeses — and fresh socca.

Mondays = flea market.

⭐ Must-try cheap Niçoise classics

• Socca

• Pissaladière

• Pan Bagnat

• Tourte de Blettes
  Delicious, authentic, and usually under €8.

⭐ Know the fixed taxi prices from the airport

Airport → Nice: €32 day / €37 night.
If they quote more, decline.
The tram for €1.70 is the best option for most visitors.

⭐ Validate tram tickets every time

Ticket inspectors are frequent. Fines start at €40–60.

⭐ Ask for “une carafe d’eau”

If you just say “water,” you'll get bottled water (€4–€6).
Say “une carafe d’eau” for free tap water.

⭐ Quieter beaches are east of town

Walk towards the port to find:

• Bains Militaires

• Coco Beach

• La Réserve
  Great for snorkeling and relaxing without crowds.

⭐ Take Rue Bonaparte (“Little Marais”) for trendy cafés

This area is Nice’s cool, urban neighborhood — packed with brunch spots, cocktail bars, and artisan shops.

⭐ Visit the Liberation Market for a more local feel

If Cours Saleya feels too touristy, try Marché de la Libération — bigger, cheaper, more local, and full of amazing produce.

⭐ The Promenade du Paillon is the best place for kids

Playgrounds, shaded paths, water fountains — a quieter break from the beach.

⭐ Take the train west for sandy beaches

Nice is pebbly, but Antibes and Juan-les-Pins have real sand. Just 20–25 minutes by train.

⭐ Tap water is drinkable

Fill up at public fountains around Promenade du Paillon and Garibaldi Square. Saves money and plastic.