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Major city · France

NiceNissa

Give Nice 3 nights: old town and Promenade des Anglais on foot, one coastal train day (Monaco or Menton), one hill day. Skip a car.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Nice is the Riviera's working base: a UNESCO-listed seafront, a dense old town, a tram from the airport and a coastal train that reaches Monaco in about 25 minutes. Three nights covers the city and one or two coast or hill days; the sea is warm enough to swim from June to early October, and the city stays usable in winter when the crowds leave.

basic guide: no trip line yet
28 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, peak prices); mid-Feb for Carnival if you dislike crowds
Airport
NCE
Nights
3
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  • France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
  • France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
  • France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
  • France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Nice112 ▾
  • European emergency (police, fire, ambulance)112
  • Ambulance (SAMU)15
  • Police17
  • Fire18
  • Emergency by text, deaf callers114

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Nice, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at a bar counter€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerbar / supermarket can€6–9 (≈ US$7–11)€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Metro or bus rideTram or bus single ticket€1.70 (≈ US$2)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Matisse, Chagall, Masséna)€10–15 (≈ US$12–18)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€35 (≈ US$45)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, 3-star hotel, a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedDouble room, 3-star hotel, a night, per room€320 (≈ US$400)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €130 (≈ US$160) · High €260 (≈ US$350)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Promenade des AnglaisOld town (Vieux Nice) and the Cours Saleya marketUNESCO World Heritage listing (2021)Coastal train to Monaco, Èze and MentonSalade niçoise and socca
Airports
NCE Nice Côte d'Azur (Tram 2 to Jean Médecin in the centre, about 25 min; free tram to Grand Arénas for the cheapest onward ticket)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    28°C (82°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F) low), wettest Nov (8 rain days), driest Jul (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Nice: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

13°C (55°F)

6°C (43°F)

6 rd

Feb

14°C (57°F)

6°C (43°F)

5 rd

Mar

15°C (59°F)

8°C (46°F)

5 rd

Apr

17°C (63°F)

11°C (52°F)

6 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

15°C (59°F)

5 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

18°C (64°F)

4 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

21°C (70°F)

2 rd

Aug

28°C (82°F)

21°C (70°F)

2 rd

Sep

25°C (77°F)

18°C (64°F)

5 rd

Oct

21°C (70°F)

14°C (57°F)

7 rd

Nov

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

8 rd

Dec

14°C (57°F)

7°C (45°F)

6 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk the centre; the tram and Lignes d'Azur buses cover the rest, with a single ticket valid for 74 minutes of connections. The TER coastal train is the fast way to Cannes, Monaco and Menton. A car is a liability in the centre: one-way streets, scarce parking and heavy traffic.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Monacogo

Door to door: About 45 min

TER train from Nice-Ville, about 25 min

Palace, harbour and casino; go early, the last trains back fill up.

Menton

go

Door to door: About 1 h

TER train from Nice-Ville, about 35 min

Quieter old town and a lemon-festival town in February.

Cannes

go

Door to door: About 50 min

TER train from Nice-Ville, about 30 min

Croisette walk and the old port; a half-day is enough.

Antibes

go

Door to door: About 40 min

TER train from Nice-Ville, about 20 min

Old town walls, Picasso museum and a beach; easy half-day.

Èze village

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Zou! bus 82 from Vauban, about 40 min, then a steep walk

Hill village with a cactus garden; buses are infrequent, check times.

Grasse

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

TER train to Grasse, about 1 h 10 min

Perfume houses and a hill old town; a full day with the train.

Vence

go

Door to door: About 1.25 h

Zou! bus 400 from Albert 1er, about 1 h

Matisse chapel and a market town; bus is slow but direct.

Mougins

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Bus to Cannes then a local bus, about 1 h 30 min

Hill village of galleries and restaurants; awkward without a car.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Zou! bus 400 to Vence, then a local bus

Violet-growing hill village; check the connecting bus before you go.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Vieux Nice / Old Town

Walk to the beach, market and bars; noisy at night, few lifts in old buildings.

Jean Médecin / city centre

Tram 2 from the airport stops here; shops, station walkable, best all-round base.

Promenade des Anglais seafront

Sea views and hotel towers; 20–30 min walk to the old town.

Nice-Ville station area

Cheapest beds and the fastest exit for Cannes, Monaco and Italy trains; plain streets.

Cimiez / hills

Quiet, Roman ruins and museums; bus or a long walk down to the sea.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€70–110 (≈ US$85–130) excl. bed
Mid
€110–190 (≈ US$130–250) excl. bed
High
€190 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, 3-star hotel1 × 3 nights × €160€480
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × €130€780
Tram 2 airport to centre, one way2 × €10€20
Lignes d'Azur single ticket, 74 min2 × €2€3
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€131
Trip total≈ €241 per person per day, bed included€1,444≈ US$1,700

2026 estimate in euros; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at a bar counter€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
Socca slice at the Cours Saleya market€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)
Salade niçoise or a plat du jour€14–22 (≈ US$17–30)
Beer: bar / supermarket can€6–9 (≈ US$7–11) / €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
Tram or bus single ticket€1.70 (≈ US$2)
TER train Nice → Monacoabout €5.60 (≈ US$7)
Vélo Bleu day pass€3 (≈ US$4)
Museum entry (Matisse, Chagall, Masséna)€10–15 (≈ US$12–18)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Nice is a normal big city: violent crime is rare, but bag-snatching and pickpocketing on the Promenade, the tram and around the station are common. Keep your phone out of sight near the beach at night and use the tram or a licensed taxi after dark.
  • Pickpockets work the Promenade des Anglais, the tram and the station; keep phones and bags closed.
  • Agree the taxi fare or insist on the meter before you get in; the airport run is a fixed tariff.
  • Buses mostly stop around 20:00; the tram runs to after midnight and night buses cover the centre.
  • Strikes and demonstrations can halt buses and trains: check Nice-Matin the day before.
  • The area right around the airport is the city's red-light district; don't walk there at night.
  • Swim only where lifeguards are on duty; the sea floor shelves quickly.

Emergency numbers

European emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Ambulance (SAMU)
15
Police
17
Fire
18
Emergency by text, deaf callers
114

Pocket card

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Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

NiceNissa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • European emergency112
  • Ambulance (SAMU)15
  • Police17
  • Fire18

Embassy

The US and UK have consulates in Marseille; most embassies are in Paris. Check your own country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → centre, tram 2: about €10 (≈ US$12) with l'Aéro pass, about 25 min
  • Airport → centre, taxi: fixed tariff around €35 (≈ US$45)
  • Nice-Ville → Monaco, TER: about €5.60 (≈ US$7), about 25 min
  • Nice-Ville → Cannes, TER: about €9.40 (≈ US$11), about 30 min

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello / Good day (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
  • S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
  • C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
  • Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART)
  • Où est l'arrêt de tram ? — Where is the tram stop? (oo ay la-REH duh tram)

Tipping: service is included by law. Round up or leave 5–10% for good service.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nice. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, peak prices); mid-Feb for Carnival if you dislike crowds · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 5 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 9 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for NCE: tram 2 last departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Vieux Nice and the port, Promenade and the beach, Jean Médecin and the station, Cimiez.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Matisse and Chagall museums, Marc Chagall, the Russian cathedral, the castle hill lift) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Coastal-train and strike fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to France

Sources