Nice Airport Mini Guide
The Airport
As befits Nice, its airport, Nice Cote d’Azur is quite a smart affair. Situated under 4 miles from the centre of Nice it is the third busiest of France’s airports serving 10 million passengers last year, only
Paris CDG and
Orly Airport handle more. There’s an incredible EIGHT lots of parking including short term, long term and valet and a free shuttle bus connects the outer car parks with the terminal.
Getting There
Dozens of airlines fly into Nice. They are mostly scheduled or budget airlines and some routes are seasonal only. All the major budget airlines fly there including easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe.
Getting to Your Destination
Vallon des Fleurs is the nearest railway station to the airport and is a 10–15 minute walk. If you have luggage then a taxi will help make this journey more bearable. Shuttle buses run a number of routes into the city and further afield. It is best to check the schedules and routes on the airport’s website Tickets can be bought on the bus and include one piece of standard size luggage. Taxis are available from several companies at the airport and fares are reasonable with the level of competition.
There is also the bizarre choice of a chauffeur driven motorbike!! Onward travellers to
Monaco can take the helicopter to Monaco Airport. Car hire is readily available but due to the busy nature of the airport it is always best to pre-book. We’d recommend sending a member of the group through first to queue at the desks whilst the rest of the group collects luggage as it can get very busy during peak periods. Access to the La Provencal A8 motorway is easy and well signposted along the D6202.
Public Information
There’s an airport information desk for general airport enquiries in the public area together with a tourist information desk which can assist with onward travel and accommodation.
Facilities
There are several banks and foreign exchange offices operating at Nice Airport with associated ATMs dotted throughout the terminals. Shopping at Nice Airport is fabulous and very high class so therefore generally expensive. Most of the shops deal in designer wear and upmarket accessories together with fine food and wine. There is a duty free shop after customs selling alcohol, tobacco products, perfumery and cosmetics and gifts.
Apart from the standard range of snack bars, cafes and bars at Nice Airport there are two very good restaurants. At Terminal 1 there is Le Riviera which is described as a bar lounge but which does excellent light meals and has a terrace with a view of the Mediterranean. At Terminal 2 there is Le Badiane, described as a ‘restaurante gastronomique’ which serves great food in comfortable surroundings. Persons requiring first aid should notify a member of the airport staff who will take you to a trained first aider.
Wi-Fi on a pay per use basis is available in both terminals and at Terminal 1 there are extensive business facilities including a conference room seating up to 650 people. Items of lost luggage should be reported to the dedicated desk in the baggage reclaim area.
Special Assistance
Nice is very well prepared for disabled passengers with many ‘assistance service’ call kiosks around the airport site. The airport notes however that 48 hours’ notice is preferable to be able to give passengers full assistance and that only limited assistance may be available if no notice is given. General assistance is however widely available for disabled travellers but again it is recommended that you inform your airline before travelling so that help is available at the departure and arrival airports. The airport conforms to EU law on disability provision.
Nice Airport (airport code NCE) is a busy international airport in France which serves this coastal city. With a convenient location in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, Nice airport car rentals are ideal for driving to the French Riviera, the Alps Mountains or the nation state of Monaco.
Picking up a car at the airport is always a good idea as it is located only a few miles away from the city centre. This two terminal airport has regional flights with Air France to places such as
Bordeaux, and
Strasbourg and international flights to places such as Rome with Alitalia.