Easy Ways to Get From Nice Airport to City Centre

Nice Airport to City Centre

If you’re flying into the Nice-Côte d’Azure Airport (NCE) in France, there are plenty of options for getting from the Nice airport to city centre locations.

NCE may be the third busiest airport in France, and is the travel hub of the French Riviera, but it’s a manageable size and the infrastructure is good.

This airport transportation guide will help make it simple, and bonus, it works in reverse if you want to get from Nice City Centre to the airport as well.

Transportation Options for Getting into Nice

You can take a tram, bus, taxi, Uber, or book a private airport transfer. You can also rent a car, but if you’re staying centrally, particularly in the Old Town (Vieille Ville) check that your hotel or vacation rental has parking or that there is public parking nearby.

Distance – Airport Nice to City Centre

The distance between the Nice Airport and the centre of the city is only about 8 km, or 5 miles, so it should take no more than 30 minutes to get downtown.

Cheapest Way to Get Downtown from the Airport in Nice

Public transportation is the cheapest method of getting to downtown Nice Ville from the Nice airport, and it’s a popular way to travel. You can take the tram or bus. Since the tram opened in late 2018, it’s become a convenient way to travel into town.

Tickets for either the bus or tram are a bargain at 1.50 Euros.

Tram and bus tickets are even cheaper if you buy a carnet. A carnet is multi-trip ticket good for 10 rides and costs 10 Euros. That makes it only 1 Euro per trip.

You can use your additional tickets to get around the city or for some incredible French Riviera day trips (depending on the bus line you use for your excursion).

Where do you buy tram tickets at the Nice airport? You can buy your bus or tram ticket directly from the vending machine just outside the airport doors on the tram platform.

How to Get from Nice Airport to Nice by Tram

The tram is a great way to travel to Nice city centre from the airport. It’s a bit like a metro or subway, but runs almost exclusively above ground.

There are two tram lines, Tram 1 and 2.

Tram 2 is the line that leaves from Nice airport. I’ve taken it the with heavy baggage (because I still haven’t mastered the art of travelling light), and was fine as there are no steps to climb up like there are on a bus.

Terminal 2 of the airport is the first stop and Terminal 1 is the second. From here, the route travels east parallel to the Promenade des Anglais (though you don’t get a sea view like you do on the bus) to the centre of town.

From NCE, the Tram 2 line goes to the city centre and on to Port Lympia so if you’re trying to get from the Nice Airport to Nice port, it’s very handy.

Which is the best tram stop for the city centre? Jean Médecin Station is a popular tram stop if you’re travelling from the Nice airport to town centre areas such as the Carré d’Or.

Located at the crossroads of Avenue Jean Médecin and Boulevard Victor Hugo, Jean Médecin Station is also the right stop if you need to change to Tram 1. Transfers are free with your tram ticket for trips up to 74 minutes as long as you don’t back track.

Taking the Tram from Nice Airport to Old Town

To get to Vieux Nice (also called called Vieille Ville, Old Town or Old Nice) from the Nice-Côte d’Azure Airport the closest tram stop on Line 2 is probably Place Garibaldi though it’s still a walk.

Alternatively you can get out at Jean Médecin and transfer on Tram 1 (or walk) to Place Masséna.

How to Get From Nice Airport to the Train Station – Nice-Ville Station

Nice Ville Station, also called Nice Thiers Station, Gare Thiers or Gare de Nice-Thiers, is the central station in Nice.

If you want to go from the Nice airport to Nice Ville Station by public transportation you can take Tram 2 to Jean Médecin Station and either transfer to Line 1 or walk north on Avenue Jean Médecin. It’s about 800 metres to the station.

If you’re travelling from Nice airport to Nice Ville Station with a lot of luggage, it may be easier to grab a cab or book a private airport shuttle from the airport.

Nice-Côte d’Azure Airport (NCE) to St Augustin Train Station

Are you sure you want Nice Ville Train Station?

The train station closest to Nice airport is St Augustin Station. It’s approximately a 20-minute walk or less from the airport, or you can take Tram 2 to either Grand Arenas or Parc Phoenix. It’s about a 7-minute walk from either stop.

There are not as many facilities at this train station, and it’s not in central Nice, but you can still travel from here to French Riviera destinations like Cannes, Antibes, Grasse, Monaco and Menton.