Flights to Nice

Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is the second busiest airport in France and is on the shoreline, just 4km west of the city centre. It's served by more than 40 scheduled airlines, 70 destinations and is reached from 23 countries.

There are direct flights from North America and most European countries. Flights from the UK include the four London airports; East Midlands; Manchester; Liverpool; Leeds/Bradford; Newcastle; Bristol and Belfast. Both Ryanair and easyJet have extensive services.

There are two terminals, with most UK arrivals using Terminal 2, plus a freight terminal. Depending on wind direction, your landing will either give a bird's eye view of Nice beach or the resorts to the west, notably Cannes and Antibes. There's a full range of car hire companies there and drop-off points are near the terminal.

It’s a short inexpensive trip into the city – bus #98 runs to the city centre every 20min from both terminals between 6am and 11.50pm. The #23 bus goes to the SNCF railway station – every 30min, from 7.53am to 9pm – but the #98 driver will drop you off at the railway station after 9pm if you ask. Taxis are available 24 hours and cost around €25.

Helicopters are the smart way to fly to nearby Monaco and the price is not prohibitive compared to a taxi. Try Monacair – tel: 049 321 8086 for information.

Nice by road

It’s a long drive from Paris - 931km, but the French autoroutes are good. Alternatively, arrive via the mountains from Digne on the Route Napoleon or from Turin, Italy, through the Tende tunnel. If you are travelling through French ferry ports from Britain it’s 1,135km from Le Havre and 1,329km from London.

Nice by train

Trains arrive at Nice SNCF railway station, near the centre of the modern town – call 089 235 3535 for all enquiries. There are six daily services from Paris (5hrs 30min) and other TGV connections from Dijon; Geneva; Lille-Brussels and Metz. There is also a ‘train-auto’ service from Paris which cuts out the 931km drive.

The train is a lovely way to arrive in Nice, along a wild and beautiful coastline and then into the heart of the city. The SNCF station also provides trains to resorts along the French Riviera and to Italian destinations such as San Remo or Genoa/Genova or, as the French call it, Genes.

Nice by sea

The port is around a small headland to the east of the city. It has about 10 quays and has both ferries and high-speed vessels to and from Corsica with SNCM and Corsica Ferries.

The yacht harbour will be of interest if you are lucky enough to be arriving in your own vessel – there are floating pontoons, catways, quays and fuelling facilities as well as showers/toilets etc. For information, call the Captainerie du Port on 049 389 5085.