Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) 7 km/41⁄2 mi from Nice, sits on a peninsula between Antibes and Nice. There are several airport hotels near to Nice Airport, to check rates or make hotel reservations for Nice Airport Hotels click on any name. discounted room rates Cityotels have special internet rates available for certain hotels and dates, if the hotel participates in this scheme it will be ticked under deal
Airport shuttles Visitors who arrive at Aéroport Nice-Côte d'Azur 04-93-21-30-30) can board a yellow-sided bus, known as the navette Nice-Aéroport, which travels several times a day between the railway station and the airport. They operate every day from 6am to 10:30pm or until the last incoming flight arrives, no matter how delayed. A taxi ride from the airport into the city center is considerably more costly. Trip time is about 30 minutes. Avoid the hassle of waiting around by pre booking an Airport Shuttle
Travel Information There are frequent flights between Paris and Nice on Air Liberté, AOM, and Air France as well as direct flights from the States and most European Cities. The flight time between Paris and Nice is about 1 hour. Flying time to Paris is 71⁄2 hours from New York, 9 hours from Chicago, 11 hours from Los Angeles, and 1 hour from London Getting Around Trains arrive at Gare Nice-Ville, avenue Thiers 08-36-35-35-35. From there you can take frequent trains to Cannes, Monaco, and Antibes, with easy connections to virtually anywhere else along the Mediterranean coast Most of the local buses in Nice create connections with one another at their central hub, the Station Central, 10 av. Felix Faure 04-93-16-52-10, which lies a very short walk from the place Masséna. Bus nos. 2 and 12 make frequent trips to the beach. Long-distance buses between Nice and such long-haul destinations as Monaco, Cannes, St-Tropez, and other parts of France and Europe depart from the Gare Routière, 5 bd. Jean-Jaurès 04-93-85-61-81. You can rent bicycles and mopeds at Nicea Rent, 9 av. Thiers 04-93-82-42-71), near the Station Centrale. From March through October, it is open daily from 9am to noon and 2 to 6pm (closed Sunday November to April. By Bus Local buses cover a network of routes along the coast and stop at many out-of-the-way places that can't be reached by train. Timetables are available from tourist offices, train stations, and local bus stations (gares routières In Nice, the Sun Bus is a convenient way to cut across town. Bus drivers give change and hand you a ticket, which must be validated | for selected hotels in the City click here to find all Nice hotels use the above search box |
Nice City Information Nice (pronounces Nees) stretches over a coastal plain opening southward onto the Mediterranean bounded from East to West by a succession of wooded hills. In the background, which rise the first magnificent peaks of the foothills of the Alps, some reach over 9000 feet above sea level. This spectacular city is the capital of the French Riviera and the largest city between Genoa and Marseille Modern Nice stands on the same spot in the hills overlooking the sea that was originally selected by the Greeks and subsequently the Romans for settlement. In the intervening years, the city has spread down to the flat land along the water. Sheltered to the east and the west by outcroppings of rock, and with the Maritime Alps to the north, Nice has an ideal climate with mild winters and perfect summers. Nice is also France’s fifth largest city, and the top cruise ship port in France. Almost 200,000 passengers use the Port of Nice-Villefranche annually. Located in Southern Europe at the south eastern extremity of France, Nice is a privileged crossroads between the Alps, Provence, Corsica and Italy. The French Riviera is not only famous for its coastline, and its incomparable weather. The ski resorts in nearby mountain villages have steadily gained in popularity over the years. Guaranteed sunshine, pristine snow and mountain peaks are all within easy reach of Nice. Easily accessible to Nice are the towns of Eze, Vence, Grasse and St. Paul. The route in their direction is one of olive groves and pine woods stretching for miles down to the shore. Foothills are carpeted with flowers in the light that inspired generations of painters from Renoir to Matisse to Picasso. Eze is one of the most picturesque village on the Cote d’azur roughly half way between Nice and Monaco the village perches on top of an impressive fortress like rock, full of quaint streets and tourist shops, if you are staying in Nice we recommend that a pre booked tour to any of the above very popular venues will avoid a disappointment see our tours pages for more information For many, the Riviera offers all the grandeur of bygone days: casinos, stately hotels, villas, and historic sites. Life thrives in Nice amid pure air and sun above the blue of the Mediterranean, and modern art museums flourish. In the mid 20th century the Riviera additionally became known as the place where the bikini got its start, and a whole new leisure lifestyle evolved. Mid-July to early September now marks the high season, when stars of the entertainment world arrive for sun and sports from golf to horse racing. When to Go Nice has the advantage of an exceptional micro-climate. Temperatures range 50 to 70 f from October to April and 70 to 90f the rest of the year. Although the city opens onto the sea, Nice is protected from the wind by the surrounding hills and the Estérel mountains to the west, and the north-western barrier of the Mercantour Alps. The sea breezes give a mild climate in winter and reduce the heat in the summer. It is not unusual to lunch outdoors in the Cours Saleya in a T-shirt in February, while the rest of France is shivering in the cold June and September are the best months to be in the region, as both are free of midsummer crowds and the weather is summer-balmy. June offers the advantage of long daylight hours, while lower off peak prices and the many warm days, often lasting well into October, make September attractive. Try to avoid the second half of July and all of August, when almost all of France goes on vacation. Don't travel on or around July 14 and August 1, 15, and 31, when every French family is either going on vacation or driving home. After All Saints (November 1), though most of the surrounding region closes down for winter, Nice thrives year-round. Museums & Sights Museum hours are irregular with seasonal variations and a tendency to change often. Usual opening times are from 9:30 or 10 to 5 or 6, but many close for lunch (noon-2). Most museums are closed one day a week (Monday or Tuesday) and on national holidays. Check museum hours before you go. Shops Large stores are open from 9 or 9:30 until 7 or 8. Smaller shops often open earlier (8 AM) and close later (8 PM) but take a lengthy lunch break (1 to 4 or 4:30) in the south of France Tipping The French have a clear idea of when they should be tipped. Bills in bars and restaurants include service, but it is customary to round out your bill with some small change unless you're dissatisfied. The amount of this varies: anywhere from 50 centimes/8 European cents if you've merely bought a beer, to 10 francs/EUR1.50 after a meal. Tip taxi drivers and hairdressers about 10%. In some theaters and hotels, coat check attendants may expect nothing (if there is a sign saying Pourboire Interdit - tips forbidden); otherwise give them 2 francs to 5 francs/30 European cents to 76 cents. Washroom attendants usually get 2 francs, though the sum is often posted. |  |
