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Long layover in Nice. Worth heading into town?

Posted by (Seattle, WA, USA ☔️) on

Just how nice is Nice? 🙄

I'm looking at an outbound flight itinerary that would include a long-ish layover in Nice (NCE), and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to exit the airport, head into the city, and soak in some of that Côte d'Azur ambiance (before we skedaddle back to the airport to catch our onward flight).

Our flight from North America would be scheduled to arrive in NCE around 11:00 am.
Our onward flight (to Bastia, Corsica) would be scheduled to depart from NCE later the same day, at either 5:00 pm, or at 8:20 pm (it's our choice - haven't booked that ticket yet). Note that we would be on two separate tickets, so we need to allow plenty of buffer in case our inbound flight is late.

In theory, we would have either about 6 to 8 hours between arrival and departure – 6 hours if we took the early flight out, or 8 hours if we took the later flight out. But that doesn't allow any time for getting off the plane, going through passport control, claiming our checked bags, re-clearing security, checking in and dropping bags for our onward flight, never mind getting out of the airport and in to the city center, then getting back to the airport, etc. So in terms of usable time, much less.

I have not been to Nice before, and don't have any sense of how long it takes to get between the airport and the city, nor what would be reasonable to try to see/experience/accomplish in the limited time (maybe 3-5 hours?) we would have there.

Ultimately, this might just not be practical (I'm a bit skeptical), but I figure it's worth investigating, rather than just spending those 6-8 hours sitting in the airport.

This would be on a Saturday morning in early September, 2024.

Any thoughts on a quick dash from NCE airport into town, and back? Your insights are welcomed. Thanks!

Posted by
11569 posts

Nice airport is close to the city and there is good
public transportation.
You have enough time to walk the Promenade, and have a nice lunch in Nice.You’ll want to return!

Posted by
3643 posts

I totally agree with Suki’s suggestions. The Nice airport is not much of a place to spend 6 - 8 hours.

Posted by
712 posts

It is doable, but easier with the later connection. You can reach right to the center of town with the tram that departs directly from outside departures (and take it to the Jean Medecin exit) or from the bus that runs along the Promenade. Checkin and luggage arrival usually runs pretty quickly, but allow normal time (unless there is a transit strike). If you are unable to checkin early for your next flight, there is a luggage storage service.

Note the tram tickets are a bit of a trick they've instituted for tourists --- they have an elevated price from the machines at the airport but you can buy one online using an App (Android only for right now, I believe).

Posted by
363 posts

I second Suki! The airport is small and really isn't much. Taxi's are everywhere and getting to and from town will be easy. The Promenade is so much fun. The open air market just down the way from the Promenade maybe operating that morning and it is definitely worth checking out and having lunch there. I heard the pickpockets are an art form on the prom during tourist season. Just an FYI.

Posted by
6790 posts

Thank you, Suki and others.

Sounds like a quickie jaunt to and through Nice is a good option if we have time to kill at the airport. I'm currently looking at several alternatives for getting to Corsica, the itinerary with the long-ish layover in NCE is just one of them (the others all have strengths and weaknesses). In any case, if we do choose to go via NCE, the trip into town sounds both easy and worthwhile, so I'll put that down in the "plus" column for that option.

I may have some additional detailed follow-up questions later if we choose to go this way. Thanks again for the info.

Posted by
65 posts

Taking the tram from the airport to the old town is easy. Everyday is market day at the Cours Salaya. It well worth a stroll. When you tire of the market, take a right on any street and in two blocks you are on the beach. If you decide to take the later flight, there is a one hour cruise of the Mediterranean for about $25.

Posted by
1382 posts

One could spend days in Nice without getting bored. It's a fabulous city. This gives you time to get a taste of it. Go for it.

Posted by
10190 posts

Thanks Gooster and Mme Bonnie for the info on the outrageous surcharge for the tram if you aren't local and buy the RT ticket at the airport stop !!! Very useful information - especially on how to avoid getting caught out like that.

Annoying !!

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