Nice: know before you go

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport sits about 7 km west of the centre. Tram Line 2 runs from both terminals to Jean Médecin station in the city centre in under 30 minutes, continuing to the port at Port Lympia. Trams leave every 7 to 8 minutes on weekdays. The airport ticket machines sell a €10 return ticket, but if you ride one stop free to Grand Arénas and hop off, you can buy a regular €1.70 single ticket there with a €2 La Carte card. Nice-Ville train station is right in the centre and handles TER regional trains and TGV services from Paris.

The Lignes d'Azur network runs three tram lines and more than 165 bus lines across the metropolitan area. The centre is flat and very walkable: the Old Town, the Promenade, and Place Masséna are all within a few minutes of each other on foot. For longer hops, the tram is the backbone. A single ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 74 minutes with transfers. You cannot use paper tickets; everything runs on a rechargeable La Carte card, which costs a refundable €2 and can be topped up at tram-stop machines or via the Lignes d'Azur Tickets app. A 1-day pass is €7, a 7-day pass is €20. Always validate your card each time you board.

Nice charges a tourist tax per person per night on top of your accommodation bill. The rate depends on the official star rating of where you stay. A 3-star hotel adds €2.28 per person, a 4-star adds €3.48, and a 5-star or palace tops out at €6.43. The tax is collected by your hotel or rental host and is not included in most online booking prices, so expect a small extra charge at check-in or check-out. Cards are widely accepted in the city, though some market stalls and small cafés in the Old Town still prefer cash for small amounts.

Nice is a safe city by any reasonable measure, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The real risk, as in most Mediterranean tourist hubs, is pickpocketing. Keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets in the Old Town, on the tram, along the Promenade, and anywhere that gets dense with crowds. Distraction scams like fake petitions or someone 'finding' a gold ring at your feet still circulate. A firm 'non' and walking on works. At night, the centre stays lively and well-lit; the area around Place Masséna and the Old Town feels busy into the small hours. Use official taxi ranks or a licensed app rather than accepting unsolicited rides.

French is the official language and everyone in the tourist-facing parts of the city speaks it. But Nice has its own language, Niçois, a cousin of Italian that was the everyday tongue here until the mid-20th century. You will see bilingual street signs in the Old Town: Rue Droite is also Carrera Drecha, Place Saint-François is Plaça Sant-Francés. A few older locals still speak it, and hearing a 'bouòn jou' instead of 'bonjour' is a small reminder that Nice was Italian in all but name until 1860. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and shops in the centre. A simple 'bonjour' before switching to English goes a long way.

Nice does not require advance booking for most everyday sightseeing, but three things fill up early. During Carnival in February, the grandstand seats for the flower parades and night parades sell out weeks ahead; buy online through the official carnival website. In July and August, the best beach restaurants and rooftop bars book solid for dinner, so reserve a day or two ahead if you want a specific spot. The Musée Matisse and Musée Chagall rarely sell out, but the combined ticket for all city museums is good value and can be bought online to skip the queue on busy mornings.