Unless you plan to explore smaller towns and villages that are awkward to reach by public transport, you may not need a rental car at all..

In this guide

• Getting from Nice Airport to the city center by tram
• Nice Airport tram tickets and fares
• Arriving in Nice late at night
• Getting around Nice by tram
• Getting around the French Riviera by train
• Do you need a rental car in Nice?

Getting from Nice Airport to the city center by tram

If you arrive at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport during the day, the tram is one of the easiest ways to reach central Nice. Tram Line 2 leaves from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, then runs to the city center and the Port of Nice. The airport says the journey to central Nice takes less than 30 minutes, with a tram every 7 to 8 minutes on weekdays.

The two airport tram stops

• Aéroport Terminal 1
• Aéroport Terminal 2

Jean Médecin is one of the most useful Line 2 stops in central Nice. From there, you can walk toward Avenue Jean Médecin, Place Masséna, Vieux Nice, and the Promenade des Anglais. If you are staying closer to the port, remain on Line 2 until Port Lympia, the final stop.

One small but useful detail: Line 2 does not stop directly at Place Masséna or its famous Fontaine du Soleil. Get off at Jean Médecin and walk from there.

Terminal 1 of Nice Airport, France. Click the image to enlarge it.

Nice Airport tram tickets and fares

Airport travel has its own fare rules, which can make the ticket machines confusing when you have just arrived with luggage. The official Aéro airport ticket costs €10. It covers one journey from the airport and one journey back, including permitted connections for up to 74 minutes. You do not have to use the return journey on the same day.

Ticket machines are on the tram platforms at both terminals. I have included a photo of one below because knowing what to look for makes the process much easier after a flight.

There is a useful alternative that many first-time visitors miss. Tram travel is free between Aéroport Terminal 2, Aéroport Terminal 1, and Grand Arénas. If the machine beside your terminal is not working, or if you want to reach the regular transport network first, take the tram to Grand Arénas for free. Regular tickets are cheaper there than the airport fare, so this can also be the more affordable option.

Official public transport fares in 2026

• Solo ticket: €1.70 for one journey, with permitted connections for 74 minutes
• 1-Day Pass: €7 for unlimited travel for 24 hours
• 2-Day Pass: €13 for unlimited travel for two days from the first validation
• 7-Day Pass: €20 for unlimited travel for seven days
• Aéro return ticket: €10 for a return journey to and from Nice Airport

The Lignes d'Azur ticket list also includes a Multi option. You can load between 1 and 100 journeys instead of buying a fixed 10-trip ticket, with prices starting at €1.70 per journey.

If you will be in Nice for several days and expect to use buses and trams often, compare the passes before buying single tickets automatically. A 7-Day Pass for €20 can make much more sense for regular travel.

Always validate your ticket when required. Buying it is not necessarily the same as validating it for the journey.

A self-service ticket machine at Nice Airport, France. Click the image to enlarge it.

Arriving in Nice late at night

If your flight lands around midnight or later, I would choose a taxi or ride-hailing service instead of planning the journey around the tram. Operating hours vary by day, so check the current Line 2 timetable before your flight rather than assuming a tram will still be running.

My first arrival on the French Riviera was at almost exactly this time. Once I realized that the tram was no longer practical for me, I opened Uber, which worked very well in Nice. A car was available quickly, and after a late flight, going straight to my accommodation was by far the easiest option.

Check the pickup point carefully before ordering an Uber at Nice Airport. Depending on where you are standing, the app may send you to a designated parking or pickup area instead of the doors directly in front of you. Look around before confirming the ride, or schedule it in advance and make sure you choose the correct terminal.

Traditional taxis are also available. The airport's official fixed fare for 2026 from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to Nice city center is €32, excluding possible supplements. My Uber ride to central Nice cost €21.95.

I later discovered that tipping drivers in France is not particularly common. When I left a tip, the driver thanked me so enthusiastically that it genuinely surprised me. That late-night airport ride was the only time I needed a taxi during my stay in Nice.

Nice Airport. Click the image to enlarge it.

Getting around Nice by tram

Once you are in the city, you can explore much of central Nice without taxis. The Promenade des Anglais, Place Masséna, Vieux Nice, Cours Saleya, and many central shopping streets are all walkable. For longer distances, I preferred the tram.

I have to admit that riding the tram became part of the experience, not merely a way to move around. The modern trams glide through the center and feel quite different from the traditional tram systems I had used in other countries. They are comfortable and easy to use, especially after you have already spent several hours walking.

Lignes d'Azur operates the city's tram and bus network. Its airport transport page has current route and ticket information.

Nice. Click the image to enlarge it.

Getting around the French Riviera by train

Nice is well placed for train journeys along the coast. Monaco, Menton, Antibes, Cannes, and Villefranche-sur-Mer are all destinations where you may not need a car. You can easily combine a few days in Nice with several day trips.

For route ideas and practical advice, read my guide to the best day trips from Nice by train..

Do you need a rental car in Nice?

If your trip is mainly about Nice itself, I would not rent a car just to move around the city. Walking and public transport are usually easier, and a car leaves you with the extra problem of parking.

A rental car becomes more useful when Nice is your base for places elsewhere on the French Riviera that are inconvenient by train or require several connections. My rule is simple: walk and use public transport in Nice, then rent a car only when a destination outside the city makes it worthwhile.

This is something I wish more Nice travel guides explained clearly. Getting around the city is surprisingly simple. The important part is understanding the transport system before you arrive, instead of trying to work it out for the first time with a suitcase in your hand.