Nice Travel Guide

Nice is a commune in southeastern France, established on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Population : 1,003,947 inhabitants

Population Density : 4,784 per km²

Name of Inhabitants : Niçois or Niçoises

Région : Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Postal Code : 06000, 06100, 06200, 06300

Nice is very extensive, but your stay will be made easy with the transportation network, Ligne d’Azur, which will help you get around the entire city with its tramways and buses.

Tramway: The Lignes d’Azur’s tram network connects the northern and eastern parts of the city and services the city center, including places like Avenue Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna, as well as the city’s train stations.

BY CAR (parking, taxi):

You can get around the city of Nice easily enough by car. In fact the city has parking lots available (10 in the city center) where you can park for free for one hour.
Plan des parkings dans le centre-ville et hors centre-ville
Taxis are available to get around in the city and you can either reserve them or hail them yourself! The fare can vary between 20 and 35 euros to get you to the airport from the city center, and for trips within the city center, the cost will be shown on the meter.
Taxi stations in Nice

BY BUS

A hundred bus lines run throughout the entire metropolis during the day and the Noctambus’ lines (there are 5 of them) run at night.

Useful Information:

Map of Ligne d’Azur’s network in Nice :plan

map

Other information:

lignesd'azur.com

Prices:

Fare for a single trip (by bus or by tram) is sold at 1.50€*. However, we recommend the 1-day pas that allows you to get around freely for 24 hours and is sold at 5 euros, or the 7-day pass that allows you limitless travel during those 7 days on all the urban network’s lines. It’s sold at 15 euros*.

BY BIKE

For those who like riding a bicycle, the city of Nice offers another service: the Vélo Bleu. These self-service bicycles are available throughout the year. You just need to take a bike from the different terminals with your banking card and call the service from the bike station. You can return it to any other station in Nice’s three communes (Nice, Saint Lauret du Var, and Cagnes sur Mer) after your trip.

Prices:  

You are given the first 30 minutes for free, then it is one euro for the hour and you will pay two euros for each hour after that. We recommend the 24 hour pass at one euro or the weeklong pass for 5 euros. That will give you the chance to freely explore the city.
You can also subscribe to their website and rent your bike through your phone. The web site is http://www.velobleu.org. There you will find the station map to guide you as well as all other necessary information.

BY TRAIN

Many TER and Intercité trains from Gare Nice Ville service stations like Marseille Saint-Charles, Toulon, Avignon Centre, Nîmes, Grenoble, and Aix-en-Provence.
Daily connections are made regularly between the Gare de Lyon in Paris and the station in Nice via the Intercité trains (around 6 hours and 30 minutes during the day and 11 hours for the night trains) and the TGV (6 hour trip).

Useful Information and Prices:

More information on their web site: Gare de Nice as well as here: SNCF.

BY PLANE

The Nice-Côte d’Azur airport is found 7 kilometers from the city center. You can get there easily by taxi (for reference, it would cost around 20-35 euros*, prices vary depending on the neighborhood and the destination), by bus (lines 98 and 99, a one-way ticket costs 6 euros*) and by TER trains from the Nice St-Augustin station (around 2 euros* to get to Nice-Ville).
This airport services French cities like Lille, Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bordeaux, but also international cities like Amsterdam, Venice, Athens, Montreal, London, Barcelona, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Istanbul, Geneva, and New York depending on the season. It is the third most visited airport in France with 11 million travelers in 2013.

More information on the airport’s web site

Due to its advantageous geographic location, Nice is one of the best French destinations throughout the year. In fact, this city enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and therefore mild and sunny winters. Nevertheless certain times of the year are more attractive.

Summer in Nice:
During the summer, you can enjoy different beaches including Les Ponchettes, located close to Vieux-Nice. Well-known cultural events also go on in the city, like the Nice Jazz Festival that takes place every year in the month of July for 8 days on Place Massena, located in Nice’s city center. Crazy Week, a pop-rock festival, goes on around the same time and is considered the city’s second largest festival after the Nice Jazz Festival. For all the music lovers, this time of the year is a time to discover different artists from all over in this lively and festive city.

Le carnaval de Nice
Carnaval de Nice is the best Carnaval celebration in France, and one of the most famous in the world. During two weeks in the month of February, you will move to the rhythm of immense colorful parades and enjoy them throughout the day and night. Over a thousand musicians and dancers from all corners of the globe will entertain you in a magical and memorable world. They’ll make you dance to fast-paced music under the sun. This will be the occasion to see “La Promenade des Anglais” where there will be an elegant and joyous battle of the flowers. You will be able to admire the floats decorated with the most beautiful floral arrangements as well as characters dressed in extravagant costumes that will flood you with flowers. It is a moment of pure delight that Nice offers to its citizens and visitors.

Useful Emergency Numbers:

Nice’s Office of Tourism: +33(0) 892 707 407 - http://en.nicetourisme.com/

Police : dial 17

Police from a cellphone: 112

Ambulance: dial 15

Fire: dial 18

Nice Emergency Doctors: +33(0)8 10 85 01 01

Transportation:

Lignes d'Azur: http://www.lignesdazur.com/index.asp

Taxi: taxi-nice.net/en

Aéroport Nice-Côte d'Azur: en.nice.aeroport.fr

Museums and Touristic Sites:

Matisse Museum: http://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/

Archeological Museum of Nice:
http://nice.fr/Culture/Musees-et-expositions/Musee-d-archeologie-de-Nice

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice: http://notredame-nice.com/

Cours Saleya: http://www.nicetourisme.com/a-faire/45-COURS%20SALEYA%20

Church of Saint Joan of Arc: http://egliseinfo.catholique.fr/lieu/06/nice/sainte-jeanne-d-arc

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral: http://www.cathedrale-russe-nice.fr/

Vieux-Nice: https://nice.city-life.fr/?lang=en

The Cimiez Amphitheater:
http://www.cote.azur.fr/tourisme-les-arenes-de-cimiez-nice-2618_lang_en.htm

Regina Palace:
http://www.nice-tourism.com/en/nice-attractions/historical-edifices-and-landmarks-in-nice/excelsior-regina-palace.html

Surrounding Nice:

Cagnes-sur-Mer: http://www.cagnes-sur-mer.fr/

Antibes Juan-Les-Pins:  http://www.antibes-juanlespins.com/

Cannes: http://www.cannes.com/en/index.html

Cap d'Ail: http://www.cap-dail.fr/#&panel1-1

Principauté de Monaco: http://www.monte-carlo.mc/en/general/principality-of-monaco/

Saint-Tropez: http://www.saint-tropez.fr/fr/

Marineland in Antibes: http://www.marineland.fr/en

Saint-Cézaire Cave: http://www.grotte-saintcezaire.com/en

Scénoparc Alpha: http://www.alpha-loup.com/anglais/accueil.php

Accommodation:

The prices indicated below are just for reference and include the price of one night in a standard double room and can vary according to the season.

- Good Deal: less than 50 euros. Establishments at this price offer casual rooms and services.

- Basic: Between 50 and 80 euros. You’ll stay in bed & breakfasts and inviting hotels, often located in the city center.

- Classy: Between 80 and 120 euros. Your stay will be in a classy establishment that offers multiple services and comfortable rooms.

- Very Classy: Starting at 120 euros. You will be staying in a 4 or 5 star hotel.

Take a look at our website to find a place to stay in Nice.

Restaurants :

The prices indicated below are just for reference and include the price for a dish or meal for one person.

- For a budget between 5 and 20 euros, you can have a breakfast, brunch, or even try a specialty from Nice, le pan bagnat at Café du Port . You’ll have access to a remarkable view over the sea from this charming place. You’ll also be able to try some ice cream from the famous ice cream shop, Arlequin Gelati Italini where you’ll discover different flavors that will wake up your taste buds.

- If you are a little hungrier, for between 20 and 50 euros, you’ll have the chance to eat at Séjour Café (where it is best to reserve ahead of time), known for its quality French and Mediterranean cuisine, but also for its warm welcome. You can also have a good time a La Roustide, which welcomes you to its inviting atmosphere. You’ll have the chance to try a sampler meal that revisits the truffle, a house special. For those who would prefer some Asian cuisine, O'Crazy Asian Food offers diverse and various cuisine ranging from Thai, to Japanese, to Chinese, as well as Vietnamese.

- From 50 to 70 euros, you will dine at 11ème art that will serve you French gourmet cuisine in a refined and original atmosphere. You will be tempted by dishes full of flavor. As for La Pescheria, it will take you into a Mediterranean and Italian whirlwind by inviting you to enjoy its creative dishes in a romantic atmosphere or out on the “winter garden” terrace.

- For more than 70 euros, the restaurant Aphrodite will serve you original, excellent, and exquisite gourmet cuisine in an elegant décor.
Le Chantecler there you will enjoy its various delicious dishes, all with high quality service and an enchanting decor.

Nice is one of the flagship cities in the French Riviera. This dynamic metropolis with its exceptional climate enjoys a magnificent and contrastive landscape with its beaches, which largely attract tourists from France and abroad, as well as its hills that hikers really enjoy. Additionally, Nice is also a cultural city with a rich history that is reflected in its picturesque alleyways.

• Le Musée Matisse: This museum is dedicated to the painter, Henri Matisse and displays all his art, from his first painting to his last works. There you can also find personal items. This museum lets you retrace the painter’s artistic evolution, his advancements, and his research.

• Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral: This cathedral is listed as a historical monument. It is one of the most important Russian Orthodox structures located outside of Russia. However it is important to know that you must be “adequately dressed” to visit (no shorts for men who also are not allowed to be bare-chested. For women, no mini-shorts or mini-skirts and the head has to be covered).

• Cimiez Amphitheater: The Cimiez Amphitheater is located in the Cimiez neighborhood. Events and festivals are often planned there. Nearby, there is the Garden of the Cimiez Amphitheater, a large olive grove that waits for you to stroll through or have a picnic.

• Vieux-Nice: Vieux-Nice is the oldest part of the city. There you’ll find businesses, art galleries, restaurants, and night clubs. This is a picturesque neighborhood with facades colored red and yellow.

Outside of Nice:

• Marineland in Antibes: Marineland includes an aquatic park, a dolphin complex, a marine zoo, and play zone for kids. For those who love the sea, you can admire the sharks and whales, play with the sea lions, and stroll through the aquariums in a festive and fun atmosphere.
  Ticket prices for the parks vary depending on what is offered and can suit any budget and include different promotions throughout the year.

• Saint-Tropez: This dreamy city is located 110 kilometers from Nice. You can discover this city’s specialties: its beach, its shops, and its charming coastline. There you’ll also find well-known restaurants and clubs like the VIP Room where you might be able to meet some stars. You will also be able to attend the Plage de Rock festival that takes place every year in the month of July.

• Cannes: You know it as the city that hosts one of the most important film festivals in the world, the Festival de Cannes. You’ll enjoy its beaches, its alleyways in the old city, and you will be able to walk along the famous Croisette. The city of Cannes is located 33 kilometers from Nice.

• Principality of Monaco: In this very tiny country, you’ll find the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Monte-Carlo casino, and the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. This principality is a magnet for the world of the rich and powerful, and is overflowing with luxury items, sports cars, and superb yachts. It is located around 20 kilometers from Nice.

• Scénoparc Alpha: In the heart of the natural park of Mercantour, you’ll have the chance to admire packs of wolves. You’ll go there to meet them, discover their world, as well as their history. For all those who love nature and animals, this spot is the place to visit. Entry into the park is free for kids under four years old and costs 7 euros for anyone 4-12 years old. Adults pay 9 euros to get in.