What is the emergency number in Nice?

In Nice, call 112, or 15 for medical help, 17 for police and 18 for fire.

How much does a day in Nice cost?

Roughly $60-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-250 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Nice?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Nice without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Nice travel guide

France

Pastel facades, a pebble beach and the long sweep of the Promenade des Anglais give Nice its easy Riviera rhythm. It also makes a practical, well-connected base for the whole coast.

Essentials

Language: French; English is common in tourist areas
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Plugs: Type C and E, 230 V
Emergency number: 112, or 15 for medical help, 17 for police and 18 for fire
Tipping: Service is included in French bills, so rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is enough.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $60-90, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $150-250, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Nice

Vieux Nice: narrow ochre lanes, baroque churches and the Cours Saleya market below the castle hill.
Le Port: the harbour area around Port Lympia, with antique shops, seafood and a more local feel.
Libération: a residential quarter around a busy food market, near the train station and good value.

Getting around Nice

Lignes d'Azur trams and buses cover the city, and tram line 2 runs to the airport. Regional TER trains along the coast are the easiest way to reach Monaco, Antibes and the villages in between.

Best time to visit Nice

May to June and September, warm sea and sunshine without the peak summer crowds.

Top things to do in Nice

Browse the flower and produce market on the Cours Saleya in the morning
Walk or cycle the length of the Promenade des Anglais
See the Matisse Museum and the Roman ruins in the hilltop district of Cimiez
Follow the coastal path around Cap de Nice from the port towards Villefranche
Spend a morning at the Marc Chagall National Museum, built to house his biblical paintings

What to eat in Nice

Socca: a thin, crisp chickpea pancake baked in a wood-fired oven
Pan bagnat: a round bread roll filled with tuna, egg, olives and raw vegetables in olive oil
Pissaladière: an onion tart topped with anchovies and black olives
Salade niçoise: tomatoes, eggs, olives and anchovies or tuna, dressed in olive oil

Day trips from Nice

Èze: a medieval hilltop village with an exotic garden and sea views, about 30 minutes by bus
Monaco: the harbour, the old town on the Rock and the casino, around 20 minutes by train
Antibes: ramparts, a covered market and the Picasso Museum, about 25 minutes by train

Local etiquette

Say "bonjour" when you enter a shop or café, as skipping it reads as rude. Many smaller restaurants serve lunch only from around noon to 2pm.

Staying connected

EU roaming applies, prepaid SIMs from the major French operators are sold in shops and tobacconists, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés.

Staying safe

Phone snatching and pickpocketing happen on the Promenade, the beaches and the coastal trains to Monaco, so keep valuables close. The pebble beaches shelve steeply in places, so take care entering the water.

A local tip

Climb Castle Hill (Colline du Château) in the late afternoon for the view over the Baie des Anges.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Nice on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Nice for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Nice, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about Nice

What currency is used in Nice?: Nice uses the Euro (EUR).
What is the emergency number in Nice?: In Nice, call 112, or 15 for medical help, 17 for police and 18 for fire.
When is the best time to visit Nice?: May to June and September, warm sea and sunshine without the peak summer crowds.
How much does a day in Nice cost?: Roughly $60-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-250 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Nice?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Nice without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

More guides in Europe

All Europe guides · Every city guide