Getting Around Nice
Nice is a compact, walkable city on the French Riviera, and most visitors find they can cover the main sights on foot while using the tram, bus and train networks for longer hops along the coast. The city is the second-largest on the Mediterranean coast of France and the hub of a large agglomeration, so its public transport reaches well beyond the historic centre into the surrounding towns and villages.
Walking
The historic centre, the Promenade des Anglais and the main shopping streets are close enough together that walking is often the simplest way to get around. The old town sits behind the seafront, and the central railway station, Nice-Ville, is within reasonable walking distance of the old town and the promenade. Walking is also a practical fallback when public transport is disrupted.
One caution: the area around the airport is the city's red light district, so if you walk between the airport and the centre, be aware of the surroundings. The walkway's first kilometre is a cycleway.
Tram and Bus Network
Local urban transport in Nice is run under the Lignes d'Azur brand, and its routes are the main form of urban transport for residents. An inter-urban network called Zou! connects the Eastern Riviera towns between Cannes and Menton, as well as main villages such as Èze and Vence. Its terminal is at 16 Avenue des Diables Bleus.
The Lignes d'Azur and Zou! routes overlap in and around Nice, and their ticket and tariff systems are integrated within a common ticket zone. Inside that zone, Lignes d'Azur tickets and passes are accepted on the longer-distance Zou! buses, and the fare is the same on both networks regardless of distance. Outside the common zone, Lignes d'Azur passes are not valid and you pay the fare in cash. On Zou! services you should always tell the driver your intended destination so they can judge which ticket you need.
Fares are inexpensive and a single ticket also permits a change to a non-return connecting service within a set time window, so it is worth mastering the bus system to get around. Note that the city has moved to a top-up card system rather than single-use paper tickets. You can buy and top up tickets using contactless credit cards or coins from vending machines, or via a mobile app if your phone supports NFC. Remember to validate your card when boarding.
Tram line 1 takes a U-shaped route from Las Planas in the northeast to Pont St Michel. Tram line 2 serves the airport and connects it with the city centre at the Jean Médecin station.
Rail
Nice is connected to the rest of France by the SNCF train network. A direct TGV from Paris arrives at Nice-Ville, and the city also has frequent rail links to other Riviera towns including Cannes, Monaco and Menton. Regional trains in France and Italy terminate at Ventimiglia, where a transfer is needed to cross the border.
Nice has several stations, and it is worth knowing which one you need. Nice-Ville is the central station and the one for most sights, including the old town and the promenade. Nice Riquier and Nice St Augustin are at the city limits; St Augustin is the closest station to the airport. Separately, Nice CP (Gare des Chemins de Fer de Provence), a few blocks behind Nice-Ville, is the terminal for the narrow-gauge line to Digne-les-Bains in Upper Provence.
At Nice-Ville you pass through ticket gates to reach the platforms. If you have an e-ticket on your phone, arrive a few minutes early, as scanning QR codes can be unreliable; a yellow intercom to the right of the gates lets you contact staff if you cannot get through.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis in Nice have a reputation for overcharging tourists. Ride-hailing is a straightforward alternative, with an easy-to-find pick-up zone at the airport; an Uber or Bolt into the centre of Nice costs around €20. Some hotels also run shuttle buses from the airport, so it is worth asking your hotel before or upon arrival.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport sits at the western end of the city on reclaimed land, and in good weather arrivals and departures often give beautiful views of the Riviera. Most airlines use Terminal 1, while Terminal 2 is used primarily by Air France and its partners and by Easyjet. A free tram connects Terminal 2, Terminal 1 and the Grand Arénas interchange, where the relocated regional train station Nice St-Augustin is located, and a frequent free shuttle bus also runs between the terminals.
Tram. Tram line 2 is now the primary option between the city and the airport. It serves both terminals and connects to the city centre at Jean Médecin, with a tram going to the airport every few minutes on weekdays. On arrival you have two choices: buy a dedicated airport pass for a one-way trip to town, or take the tram for free to the Grand Arénas interchange, get off, buy a regular top-up card with a standard ticket there, and continue your journey from the same spot. The second option is the cheapest and involves little hassle. Both can be bought with a contactless credit card or coins from the black vending machines, or via a mobile app if your phone supports NFC. Do not forget to validate your card when entering the tram.
Bus. Local bus 12 connects the airport to the old town via the seafront Promenade des Anglais, at the standard fare, running between 05:30 and 21:00. The stop is on the main road outside Terminal 1, called 1 Aéroport/Promenade. Outbound, the stop is on the opposite side of this busy highway, reached via the underpass. To reach the main railway station, Gare Nice Ville, takes about half an hour by bus plus a short walk from the Thiers/Gambetta stop.
Train. The small regional station Nice St Augustin, close to the airport, is convenient for some destinations: from there you can pick up a TER train one stop eastward to Nice, Monaco and all stations to the Italian border at Ventimiglia, or west to Antibes and Cannes. The station can be reached on foot from Terminal 1, towards the Sheraton hotel, via underpasses, and sits directly at the Grand Arénas tram stop. The blue ticket vending machines at the station are complicated to use because of their wheel mechanism, but they do accept contactless Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards.
On foot. If no transport is running, it is quite possible to walk between the airport and town in a little over an hour, though as noted the area around the airport is the city's red light district and the walkway's first kilometre is a cycleway. This can be useful during the social discontent in France, when demonstrations and strikes frequently affect public transport. It is prudent to check the local newspaper, Nice Matin, which usually gives advance warning of potential problems.
Practical Tips
- Validate your ticket or card every time you board a tram or bus.
- On Zou! buses, tell the driver your destination so they can sell you the right ticket.
- Lignes d'Azur passes are only valid within the common ticket zone shared with Zou!; outside it, pay in cash.
- At Nice-Ville, allow extra time if using a phone e-ticket, and use the yellow intercom if the gate will not read your code.
- Check Nice Matin for strike and demonstration warnings before relying on public transport.