Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) Flights & Flight Status

Nice is as popular as ever and that’s starting to be felt at its airport which in peak times can feel as if it’s bursting at the seams. Nevertheless it offers a number of positives: proximity to Nice itself, a stunning coastal setting which makes for beautiful landings every time, and a wide range of destinations well beyond Europe. And its location puts you within easy reach of Monaco and Italy, not to mention all the gems along the Côte d’Azur.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

NCE has two terminals: 1 and 2. Of these I always prefer to be in Terminal 2 if possible because it’s newer, larger and it’s just across the road from the Car Rental Centre. Of course it’s your airline that gets to decide which terminal you’ll be using on any given day, but I do keep the terminal in mind when choosing which to book with.

If you’re needing to switch between the terminals you should know they are not connected airside. Instead you’ll need to exit into the public area to make the transfer.

However the good news is the Nice city tram which offers a fantastic way to get into the city centre also runs between the two terminals. The tracks are located just outside the terminals so it’s all very easy if you need to move between the two.

Security

Security is a relatively standard experience at Nice Airport, but do keep in mind it can get crowded during busy times of year (especially summer). As of the last time I passed through there were no advanced scanners meaning it’s the usual process of removing large electronics and liquids. This is likely to be the least pleasant part of your visit through Nice Airport and I always recommend allowing extra time so as to not become stressed.

Nice Access Fast Track

Nice Airport offers a Fast Track security lane at both terminals known as NICE ACCESS and it’s available to anyone for a price, as well as to premium passengers where that’s included in their booking. If purchasing it directly you’ll be given a QR code to scan at the gates. This can be a worthwhile investment when things get busy at peak times.

Dining & shopping

Unsurprisingly there’s quite a bit on offer in both terminals at Nice Airport when it comes to both food & drink and shopping. French airports do tend to do this well.

If I’m not headed straight to the lounge in Terminal 2 I might stop by Bar La Plage which has a nice ambience (a final taste of Mediterranean beach club) and good snacks and drinks. Terminal 1 has its sister outlet which is more for a sit-down meal, simply named La Plage.

On the shopping side all the major luxury brands are represented, but for souvenirs can I recommend you skip the tat at Relay and head to Ladurée instead for a box of the best macarons? That you’ll only find in T1. However if you’re in T2 the next best thing: go to Saveurs de Provence for local food items, the perfect thing to bring home.

Airlines & destinations

At Terminal 1 you’ll find most European airlines outside the SkyTeam alliance and low cost airlines including BA, Aegean, Iberia, Eurowings, Ryanair, Jet2, TAP, Transavia and Turkish Airlines among others. Qatar Airways is also here with its Doha service, and you’ll find transatlantic options with American, United and Air Canada here too.

Terminal 2 is home to several SkyTeam airlines including Air France, KLM and also Delta’s services to the US. Emirates is here with its Dubai service. T2 is also home to easyJet which serves dozens of destinations from Nice to the UK and Europe, so it isn’t generally difficult to find a convenient flight out of this, my preferred terminal at Nice.

The good news: between all the airlines serving their major hubs in the Middle East, Europe and North America, you’ll find one-stop options to just about anywhere from Nice.

Lounges

Both of the Nice Airport terminals has two contract lounges available, one for Schengen flights and one for non-Schengen flights (beyond passport control) in each. So wherever you’re headed you’ll have a lounge option. Each of these is accessible with lounge memberships like Priority Pass and otherwise you can also pay for a day pass.

The lounges are all essentially versions of the same thing. They are quite alright and offer the basics but none are world-beating. They can get crowded and may even reach capacity during peak times, so just bear that in mind.

Wi-Fi

Nice Airport offers free Wi-Fi and it’s relatively speedy, depending of course upon how many people are connected at any given time. But among global airport Wi-Fi offerings, I rate this one highly. Even better, no need to create a username and password – simply accept the T&Cs and you’re connected.

A sustainable airport

You may like to know that Nice has worked diligently to reduce its carbon emissions in recent years. The airport says it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions significantly in the past ten years by using low-carbon electricity, doing away with gas-fired boilers and replacing airport vehicles with electric models.

Getting to and from Nice Airport

Nice is a wonderful airport to access both because its located more or less in the city and it has a tram line to take you to and from the centre in relaxing, emissions-free style. But it also has one or two surprises in store in keeping with its status as a favoured destination for the jet-set crowd.

Taxi

If you’re headed to Nice or its surroundings and not to a place near the tram line, or if you simply have luggage to deal with, a taxi is quite convenient and because the airport is so close to the city, usually not terribly expensive either. As is very often the case, Uber is convenient here and often a bit less expensive than a traditional cab, and it’s easy to locate the pickup areas at either terminal.

Tram

Trams run every 8 minutes on weekdays from directly in front of both terminals and will convey you to central Nice in less than half an hour. It’s a quick walk from Jean Medecin, the most central stop, to the main railway station as well, so onward connections are simple.

Bus

There are also plenty of local buses to cover the places the tram doesn’t run to, though if the tram gets me close enough I do always prefer it. Long-distance coaches are also available to a variety of destinations with outfits BlaBlaCar and FlixBus dominating here. Look up schedules and book online in advance for the best experience.

Car hire

The Rental Car Centre is just across from Terminal 2 and quite an easy walk from there – though do be careful about traffic entering and exiting the large parking structure here. It’s a pleasant place to pick up your hire car as these things go, and I’ve always found the staff here to be friendlier than most.

Helicopter (getting to Monaco)

If you’re headed to Monaco why not catch a helicopter? It may sound like a crazy idea, but you can’t beat it for convenience and the cost may not be as high as you’d thought. Discount options such as Blade make it possible, in some cases, to secure a seat on a helicopter to Monaco at reasonable rates – and the journey will be a memorably scenic 7 minutes.

Things to do during a layover

If you have three to four hours I would recommend tramming it into the city and either walking along the Promenade des Anglais or checking out one of Nice’s excellent museums or markets.

If you’ve got a full day on the other hand, consider hiring a car and heading down to Antibes, to the west of Nice. You’ll find plenty of little beaches along the coast, some of which won’t be full especially if you get there earlier in the day (and outside of the busiest seasons, even better). There will also be plenty of spots to get a meal or a drink, and there’s a nice relaxed atmosphere down this way, a bit more down-tempo than central Nice but easily accessible all the same.

Airport hotels

The best and most convenient place to overnight at Nice Airport is the Sheraton, if you ask me. It’s just across from the airport grounds and could in theory be reached on foot from Terminal 1 in about ten minutes. Though it may be best to use the shuttle bus, especially if you’re coming from Terminal 2.

Another option to consider if you’d like to be along the sea is the Holiday Inn Saint Laurent du Var just to the airport’s west. It’s quite a good value considering the quality of the property and its proximity to the airport. Plus you can take a stroll along the beach to unwind during your layover.