Nice Airport is the largest in southern France and the third largest in the country. However, many travelers use it for trips not only to the French Riviera, but also to the Ligurian coast of Italy. Getting from here to San Remo and other resorts of the Flower Riviera is much easier and faster than from the Italian airports of Genoa or Milan. For comparison, from San Remo to Nice - 57 km, to Genoa - 137 km, to Milan - 320 km.
That is why BlogoItaliano decided to cross the border of France and Italy and tell how to get from Nice Airport to the city and to hotels on both the French and Italian coasts.
The content of the article
1. Nice Airport: what, where, when
2. Public transport in and around Nice
3. How to get from the airport by bus
4. Airport Taxis
5. Car rental
6. Car rental at Nice airport for a trip to Italy
Nice Airport: what, where, when
Nice International Airport (IATA code - NCE, ICAO code - LFMN) is located 7 km southwest of the city center, where the famous Promenade des Anglais leads. It was built mostly on an artificial embankment, and when landing aircraft fly over the coast. So you can enjoy the best views of the French Riviera directly from the window of the porthole.
For the first time, the inhabitants of Nice saw a real airplane in 1910 during an air show hosted by Louis Bleriot, the first pilot in France, who had conquered the English Channel a year earlier. In 1918, the postal service routinely organized flights between Nice and Corsica. Even 10 years later, mail planes began to fly to Marseille, and in 1929, Nice Airport was recognized as such at the state level.
Nice Airport annually serves more than 11 million passengers
The first Nice-Bastia passenger flight was sent in 1935. But only 10 years later (this time World War II intervened in plans) from the actual capital of the Cote d'Azur, it became possible to fly to the French capital. In 1955, the airport received its official name - "Nice Côte d'Azur" (Aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur). He was assigned international status in 1959.
You can find out the current flight schedule and prices for flights to Nice here. If necessary, you can immediately book and redeem your favorite option there.
Public transport in and around Nice
Tourists who figure out how to get from Nice Airport to the city, and then to the Ligurian Riviera by public transport, may encounter certain difficulties. The fact is that this transport is surprisingly diverse.
These are not only buses, but also trains, and from the French-Italian border there are trolleybuses following the route "Ventimiglia-San Remo-Taj". In addition, conventional public transport in France operates almost exclusively within the country.
So, choosing a route from the airport to the city and beyond, you will have to immediately come to terms with at least 1 change. Direct helicopter flights or boat trips are also possible, but too expensive.
If you got from the airport to the city, and there to one of the railway stations - consider half the battle done. Trains of Line 4 go along the Cannes-Albenga route, trains of Line 6 go along the Marseille Genoa route. There are local trains that run more often, and booking tickets for them in advance is not required.
Nice Central Station
If the hotel in the resort of your choice is far enough from the station, you will have to go to the station of Ventimiglia, the first border city of Italy. The fare from Nice Station to Ventimiglia is € 18 (with all fees).
Already from there you can get to the place by bus or trolley (Lines U, V) of the company Riviera Trasporti for only 1.50 € (ticket valid for 90 minutes).
And a few words about how to get from Nice airport to Italy. Traveling by bus is preferable to moving by train, not only because of the price, but also because of the large number of tunnels that interfere with enjoying the local views. In addition, tunnels are often closed for repairs, which leads to sudden changes in the schedule.
How to get from the airport by bus
It doesn’t matter which terminal you get to upon arrival: a free shuttle runs between them: from 6 to 23 with an interval of 6.5 minutes, from 4.30 to 6 - with an interval of 10 minutes. Further - options are possible: economical and ordinary.
When you choose the economy one, you choose transit buses from Nice Airport No. 500, following the Grace-Nice route to the city center. The stop is located near terminal No. 1, next to a taxi rank. On weekdays they go from 7.00 to 21.26. On Saturday - from 7.10 to 20.25, on weekends and holidays - from 7.38 to 20.40. The fare is 1.5 € (2016). The ticket is valid for 74 minutes.
The usual way is buses No. 98 and No. 99. No. 98 goes to the Nis Riquier train station. The beginning of the movement is 5.45, the end is 23.41, the interval is 15-20 minutes. No. 99 goes from the airport to the central station. The beginning of the movement is 8.13, the end is 21.13, the interval is 30 minutes. The fare is 6 € (2016).
By bus number 99 you can get from the airport to the central station
If the flight was decently delayed, all the buses went to the garage, how to get from Nice Airport towards the Italian Riviera as soon as possible? It’s simpler to take the night route number 100. It goes through Monaco to Menton, a French border town. The bus leaves from terminal No. 1 at 22.00, 23.30, 01.00 and 02.30. The fare is 4 €.
Airport Taxi
If traveling by public transport seems too complicated, you are burdened with family or a lot of luggage, you can use taxi from Nice airport! For the convenience of passengers, each terminal has parking. There are always a lot of cars, because, as you know, the Riviera is an extremely popular place and more than money, and the drivers have a piecework salary.
Speaking of money. Choosing a taxi, you will save only time - although, of course, it depends on the number of passengers. The fare from the airport to the center of Nice will cost from 23 to 31 €. At night, the official rate increases to 28-33 €. If your goal is Monaco, cook 72-77 €, at night - 81-92 €.
You will be taken by taxi from the airport to San Remo: for 140-165 € during the day and 177-192 € at night.
The cost of a taxi from Nice Airport to San Remo is 140-165 €
The unofficial tariff here, fortunately, is almost impossible: to get on the Cote d'Azur once and for all in the "black list" is possible for one single complaint from a shortcommed passenger. Proving the taxi driver’s guilt is simple: the calculation is only in cash, and the driver must give you a receipt.
To simplify the procedure, you can order a taxi from Nice airport even from home - via the Internet. This is especially convenient if you are traveling in a large company, with family or large luggage, because, in this way, you can specify in advance the car that you need, than then run around the airport in search of a car of the right capacity.
You don’t have to worry about warming up with the driver: he will be waiting for you at the exit from the desired terminal - No. 1 or No. 2 with a sign in his hands. Another plus - booking online is often cheaper than ordering a car directly on the spot.
The fare from the airport to the city or any resort in France, Italy or even Monaco can be calculated in advance and absolutely free. You can familiarize yourself with all the nuances of the service on its website here.
Rent a Car
You can also get from the airport to the desired resort by a rented car. Car rental at Nice Airport is a gold mine, and there are more than enough rental offices in such a pathos place. Their offices can be found in both terminals. At the same time, the notorious convertibles and other luxury cars are surprisingly few: this is too expensive for ordinary Europeans who are used to counting money.
However, renting a car on the spot is far from always the best idea. Especially during the high season peak. Not only that, during this period the assortment of affordable cars leaves much to be desired, since cars disassemble both "hot cakes" and prices even at neighboring rental points can differ significantly.
The demand for cars at the Nice airport is great at any time of the year
In addition, enterprising Europeans have long learned to hide part of the price "under the carpet", and that there are certain restrictions, many travelers will find out after the actual signing of the contract.
Most popular ways to hide overpayments when car hire at Nice airport - this does not include (or limit) insurance in the rental price or introduce a limit on daily mileage with a surcharge for each kilometer in excess of the allotted rate.
You can get around car rental tricks by booking a car through the popular European online rental car price comparison service Rentalcars. Being a project to which the creators of Booking.com had a hand, Rentalcars works on the same principle - it monitors online changes in car rental conditions worldwide and allows you to find and book the best current offer in a matter of minutes. At the same time, all the pitfalls are in full view.
The service publishes the most interesting offers for the price at the top of the page, and, having found the option you like, it is better not to hesitate. The demand for car rental at Nice Airport is great at any time of the year, and good offers are quickly sorted out by more efficient travelers.
Nice car hire at Nice airport for a trip to Italy
If you do not plan to travel in a rented car outside of France, then you can not read further. But when planning a trip from Nice, say, to San Remo, two questions arise: how will the Italian police relate to tourists on cars rented in France? And how will a French car rental react to this?
Such a question, in fact, will be relevant for any car rental, and therefore it is better to clarify it in advance. Just in case, BlogoItaliano wrote in support of Rentalcars, and here's what they answered:
"Most suppliers allow cross border without any restrictions and / or fees, however we always strongly advise our customers to let us know about their plans during the booking process. There is a field where they can insert their comments (it is on extras page where they can add additional driver, gps etc). Should there be any charge for crossing the border we will notify the customer about this in advance ".
Travel from Nice to Italy
Just in case, we give a Russian translation of the answer:
"Most suppliers (car rentals) allow border crossings without any restrictions and commissions, but we always strongly recommend that our customers notify us of their plans during the booking process. There’s a box for them to insert their comments (on that page, where you can add another driver, gps, etc.). If there is an additional fee for crossing the border, we will notify the buyer in advance. "
Thus, booking a car in France for a trip to Italy, it makes sense to mention this in advance. The company will find out everything and notify you of possible nuances. Well, see the current offers for car rental at Nice Airport here.
Photos by: alexander kohlhofer, niceairport.net, NoShade.
