Nice City Guide - Getting Around

There is no metro (although there are plans for the opening of a tram system), but a comprehensive bus network is operated by the local authorities through the new Riviera-wide Ligne D'Azur (tel: 0810 06 10 06; website: www.lignedazur.com), which came into being in 2005. Most city routes run from 0600 or 0700 until around 2100, with a limited night service of four routes then taking over. As well as running all the buses within the Nice metropolitan area Ligne D'Azur also connects Nice with 22 other Riviera towns with single fares, day tickets and carnets of 10 tickets all available. Tickets can be purchased at many newspaper kiosks or single tickets can be purchased on board.

Taxis can be hailed on the street or at the ranks at the railway station and the Promenades des Anglais, as well as in the old town. Pre-booked taxis can be ordered from Central Taxi Riviera (tel: (04) 93 13 78 78). Ensure that the meter is switched on or agree a price in advance for all journeys.

There is little need to hire a car in Nice as the city is quite compact and it can often be quicker to walk when making journeys around central Nice. International car hire companies do have offices at the airport and also in the city centre. By the railway station on avenue Thiers there are offices of Avis (tel: (04) 93 87 90 11 or 0820 61 16 31; website: www.avis.com), Europcar (tel: 0825 82 90 21; website: www.europcar.com) and Hertz (tel: (04) 97 03 01 25; website: www.hertz.com). The minimum age for car hire varies from 21 to 25 years. Drivers must have held a national driving licence for at least one year. It is usually requested that the cost is paid for with the driver’s credit card. Driving in the city centre can be intimidating in Nice with heavy traffic and local drivers driving erratically.

Nice Location Rent, 12 rue de Belgique, is a local company that can organise bike hire (tel: (04) 93 82 42 71).