Overview
Nice is the unofficial capital of the French Riviera, the point where the foothills of the Alps meet a brilliant blue bay. It blends a beautifully preserved old town with elegant seafront promenades, first-rate museums and easy days out to Monaco, Cannes and the hill villages inland. For UK travellers it is one of the simplest Mediterranean breaks to reach: direct flights are frequent and the airport sits right on the edge of the city, so you can be beside the sea within half an hour of landing.
Best time to fly to Nice
May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot, with warm seas, long days and fewer crowds than high summer. July and August are hot and busy, so flights and hotels are at their priciest and worth booking early. Winters are mild and quiet, brightened by the colourful Nice Carnival in February. To time your booking, check the When to book chart above and the price charts on this page.
Airlines and routes
Nice is very well connected to the UK. British Airways and easyJet fly from London (Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton, depending on the airline), while Jet2.com and easyJet also serve regional airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Ryanair flies the route from London Stansted. Almost all UK departures are direct: allow around 2 hours from London and roughly 2 hours 15 minutes from Manchester. Connecting flights via Paris or Amsterdam exist but rarely beat the nonstop services.
Things to do in Nice
Nice rewards slow wandering, but these are the highlights:
- Promenade des Anglais: the iconic curving seafront walk, best at sunset.
- Vieux Nice: the old town's maze of ochre lanes, baroque churches and gelato stops.
- Colline du Chateau: a hilltop park with the finest panorama over the bay and rooftops.
- Cours Saleya market: flowers and produce by day, restaurant tables by night.
- Musee Matisse and Musee Chagall: two world-class collections in the leafy Cimiez district.
At Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE)
The airport is about 7km south-west of the centre, right on the coast. Tram Line 2 is the easiest link, running from both terminals to the city centre and port in roughly 15 to 30 minutes for a few euros. Buses connect the airport with Monaco and other Riviera towns, and taxis charge a fixed fare to central Nice (around 32 euros, more at night and on Sundays).
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Nice
- Book roughly one to three months ahead for summer travel; shoulder-season fares often stay reasonable much later.
- Fly midweek, Tuesday to Thursday, and avoid Friday evening and Sunday returns.
- Use a flexible-date search to spot the cheapest departures, then cross-check the When to book chart above.
- Compare budget and full-service carriers, and add baggage costs before deciding which is really cheaper.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period; carry a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for your whole trip. The EU's new entry-exit system and, later, the ETIAS visa waiver are being phased in, so check the current rules before you travel. The currency is the euro, card payment is accepted almost everywhere, and UK travellers should bring a GHIC or EHIC card for state healthcare. No special vaccinations are required.
