What to Expect on Your First Trip to Nice, France

If you’re planning a trip to Nice, congratulations! It’s a beautiful city, rich in history and culture, with mild weather and spectacular beaches all year long. It’s a fantastic place to have a Mediterranean holiday. For first-time visitors, here are a few tips to help you settle in quickly and make the most of your trip:

Money

Like the rest of France, Nice uses the Euro for currency. There are a few places to exchange currency, but you will get the best exchange rate if you use your card to withdraw cash in Euros from an ATM (rather than converting paper dollars to Euros). Most businesses will accept Visa and Mastercard, and other cards such as American Express are less widely accepted.

It’s always a good idea to have some cash on you, because outdoor markets and small bakeries and cafes often do not accept cards. Generally speaking, it’s best to expect to pay cash for smaller transactions, but you can reasonably plan to use a card to pay for more substantial purchases in stores, hotels, and restaurants.

Transportation

Local travel: Nice has an excellent, environmentally friendly public transit system. 130 daytime bus routes and an efficient tram route provide very good coverage of the city, and a single fare gives access to combined bus and tram travel. Fares are 1.50€ for a single journey less than 74 minutes, but you can also purchase passes that give unlimited local travel for 24 hours (5€) or 7 days (15€). Single tickets can be purchased in cash from the driver when you board, but passes must be purchased from a ticket machine or at a ticket office.

Airport transport: The easiest way to get from the airport to the city is with an Aero ticket. For 6€, you can ride on the City Center Express, departing from the airport every 16 minutes to the Promenade des Artes. The Aero ticket includes local transport if you transfer to a tram or bus from the city center. Take Bus #98 (Promenade des Arts/Lycée Masséna) if you want to go to the beach hotels or Old Nice, and take bus #99 (Gare SNCF) if you want to go to the main Train Station. On a side note, a new direct tramway between the city center and airport is scheduled to open sometime in 2019.

Night travel and taxis: There are only 5 night time bus routes, but approved taxis have a discount rate between the hours of 7pm and 7am. You should always take an official licensed taxi, which means going to a designated taxi stand (there are many in the heart of the city) and waiting in line for the next taxi. They will not respond if you try to flag them down, and will not negotiate fares, but will not try to scam you or unfairly inflate fares either.

Museum Pass

If you plan on visiting more than one of the incredible museums in Nice on your own, consider getting a museum pass. Most museums in Nice cost ~10€ in entrance fees. A 24-hour museum pass is available for 10€, but that may not be enough time to take full advantage of all the museums. It’s better to take the 7 day pass for 20€, which will allow you to enjoy all the culture you like, without cramping your schedule. Note that the Chagall Museum is not included in the Museum Pass, because it is a national museum and not a municipal one. 

Public and Private Beaches

There are more than 7km of shoreline in Nice, with 20 public and 15 private individual beaches. All beaches are supervised by lifeguards and the water quality is assured all year long. Of the public beaches in Nice, 2 are specially designed to be easily accessible for the elderly and disabled, and 5 are designated tobacco-free.

Private beaches are easy to spot, as the shoreline is clearly marked off from the public areas. You can still walk through these beaches rather than skirt around them, provided you pass through and do not linger, and stay close to the shore. A day on a private beach can be expensive, because you are expected to pay for the rental of a lounge chair, umbrella, personal locker for your belongings, and any other amenities you may need. You cannot bring food or beverages to a private beach because, of course, the owner wants to sell you food and drinks during your stay. While time on a private beach can definitely add up depending on the services you use, it can also be a great service for a tourist who does not want to pack or purchase a beach chair, beach umbrella, beach towels, etc.

Nice is a well-traveled tourist destination, so you can expect easy-to-read maps, a large percentage of English speakers, and locals who are accustomed to answering questions and helping you out. It’s a fantastic place to explore and enjoy a relaxing summer holiday, and these tips will help you make the most of it.