Getting around · Nice · France
Getting around Nice
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tubantia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Central Nice is compact and flat between the station, the old town and the sea, so most visitors walk. Lignes d'Azur runs three tram lines and an extensive bus network, and regional TER trains run along the coast to Monaco, Menton, Antibes and Cannes. No for the city and coastal day trips, which trains and buses cover well.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- NCE
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Lignes d'Azur day and multi-day tickets
Ways to get around
Tram
Line 1 runs north–south through Place Masséna and Avenue Jean-Médecin; line 2 runs east–west from the airport through the western districts and the centre to Port Lympia; line 3 serves the airport and the western districts.
Validate your ticket every time you board; inspectors fine passengers without validated tickets.
Walking
The old town, the Promenade, Place Masséna and the port are all within about 20 minutes' walk of each other.
Train
TER regional trains from Nice-Ville and Nice-Riquier stations run along the coast, reaching Villefranche in about 7 minutes, Monaco in about 20 and Cannes in about 30–40.
Sit on the sea side of the train heading east towards Monaco for the best views.
Bus
Lignes d'Azur buses serve the hills (Cimiez, Mont Boron) and coastal villages such as Èze and Villefranche, using the same tickets as the tram.
Cycling
A continuous two-way cycle lane runs the length of the Promenade des Anglais, and bike rental shops line the seafront and old town.
Taxi
Taxis wait at ranks at the airport, the station and Place Masséna; ride-hailing apps also operate in Nice.
Agree on or check the fare structure before long rides, as trips along the coast can add up quickly.
Tickets and passes
Lignes d'Azur day and multi-day tickets
Day and multi-day passes cover unlimited trams and buses within the network, including tram rides to and from the airport.
From the airport
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is about 7 km west of the centre on the seafront. Tram line 2 runs from both terminals to the city centre and the port in about 25–30 minutes on a standard ticket, and taxis take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No for the city and coastal day trips, which trains and buses cover well. A car helps for hill villages such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence or the Gorges du Verdon, but parking in Nice is expensive.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco | About 20 minutes by train | TER train from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo |
| Èze | About 30 minutes by bus | Lignes d'Azur bus to Èze village, or train to Èze-sur-Mer |
| Villefranche-sur-Mer | About 7 minutes by train | TER train from Nice-Ville or Riquier |
| Antibes | About 20–25 minutes by train | TER train to Antibes |
| Menton | About 35 minutes by train | TER train to Menton |
| Saint-Paul-de-Vence | About 45–60 minutes by bus | Regional bus from Nice |
| Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild | About 25 minutes by bus | Lignes d'Azur bus to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat |
| Cannes | About 30–40 minutes by train | TER train to Cannes |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Nice?
No for the city and coastal day trips, which trains and buses cover well. A car helps for hill villages such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence or the Gorges du Verdon, but parking in Nice is expensive.
+How do you get from the airport to Nice?
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is about 7 km west of the centre on the seafront. Tram line 2 runs from both terminals to the city centre and the port in about 25–30 minutes on a standard ticket, and taxis take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Nice?
Tram: Line 1 runs north–south through Place Masséna and Avenue Jean-Médecin; line 2 runs east–west from the airport through the western districts and the centre to Port Lympia; line 3 serves the airport and the western districts.