Making the most of Nice
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
If your ship arrives from the west, it is worth being on deck for the first view of Nice's celebrated palm-fringed Promenade des Anglais.
Smaller ships berth at Quai du Commerce, close to tourist information, taxis, telephones, currency exchange and a free seasonal shuttle service.
Nice Port Limpia lies on the east side of the Baie des Anges, with bars and bistros around the dock. Vieux Nice, the most interesting part of the city, is a 30 minutes walk away; the long Promenade des Anglais continues a little farther along the Baie des Anges beach. A free shuttle operates much of the time.
In nearby Villefranche, larger cruise ships anchor offshore.
Several bus services leave the airport. For the downtown bus station, Gare Routiere, use airport express 98 from T1 and T2 every 30 minutes. Alternating route 99 goes directly to Nice's main railway station, Gare Nice Ville SNCF. Airport timetables are available on the airport website.
Accommodation in Nice.
Take a printable map with you.
Join an orientation tour from the pier for an introduction to Nice. Its foremost sight is the Promenade des Anglais, a grand palm-lined boulevard where the legendary Negresco stands, an imposing hotel with a rococo façade.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral is another striking sight, its vivid ceramics below six onion-shaped domes adding to the city's already exotic character.
You can also explore the old city, where tall, tightly packed houses—often decorated with bright flowers or hanging laundry—line narrow streets. Enjoy an unhurried walk along Cours Saleya, the elegant downtown Old Nice promenade and home of the famous flower market, closed on Mondays.
Promenade des Anglais webcam.
Getting around
For a relaxed tour of Nice, ride the little tourist train or the Nice hop-on/hop-off buses.
Frequent buses and a new tram serve the region, not only local stops but destinations as far as Monaco. The Grasse-Nice bus, for example, passes Pre-du-Lac, Le Rouret, Roquefort, Villeneuve-Loubet and Cagnes-sur-Mer on at least 10 round trips a day.
Most bus routes meet at Station Central on Avenue Felix-Faure. Take #2 or #12 for the beaches; for further information, call 04-93-13-53-13.
Buses to Monaco, St-Tropez and Cannes leave the Municipal Bus Station on Boulevard Jean-Jaure. For long-distance bus information, call 04-93-85-61-81.
The SNCF (French Railway) station is a 10-minute walk from Nice port. It makes coastal stops between Marseille and Monte Carlo, and each destination is easy to explore on foot after arrival. A first-class Nice–Monaco round trip is about $10. Timetables.
Nearby places
St. Paul de Vence is an idyllic medieval hill village. Just outside town, up a short steep approach, Fondation Maeght displays works by Chagall, Miro and others in a beautiful setting.
Food and shopping
For leading designer labels, head west from place Masséna to rue du Paradis, rue Masséna, rue de la Liberté, rue Alphonse Karr and avenue de Suède. Note that place Massena and avenue Jean Medecin are experiencing major disruption while Nice constructs its tram route.
The antiques and brocante market at Pl. Robilante, beside the old port, takes place Tuesday through Saturday.
Nice cuisine draws on Provençal and Italian traditions. Specialities include pissaladière, a savoury tart of onions, anchovies and black olives; socca, a chickpea-flour pancake; and stockfissa, a garlicky salt-cod stew.
Do not tell the Italians, but Nice restaurants make superb pizzas. Order one avec une oeuf, with egg, then add a little spiced olive oil on top. Bon Appetit!
Money
The currency is the Euro.
Staying connected
For internet access, check with the local tourist office.
Nice's main tourist office is at 5 Promenade des Anglais.
The local emergency number is 112.
Opening Hours and
Most French shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks remain open all day. Smaller shops and enterprises may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Large shops generally trade Monday to Saturday from 8 or 9am until 6.30 or 7.30pm, while smaller shops usually open Tuesday to Saturday, with some reopening on Monday afternoon. Boulangeries and food shops can always be found open when others are closed, normally until noon on Sundays.