Car Hire Nice Airport

Car Hire

At less than four miles from Nice and 17 miles from Cannes, France’s third-busiest airport offers easy access to top Côte d’Azur attractions. Local buses and faster airport express buses operate between the airport and Nice, taking up to 30 minutes, while trains run to the city from nearby Nice St Augustin Station. Yet the fastest way to access the city and surrounding locations is with car rental in Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, with Nice a 15-minute coastal drive to the east.

Who to Book With
Car hire suppliers at the airport include international firms such as Budget, Avis, and Europcar, and French firm Libertas. These suppliers have desks in both terminals, yet vehicles are collected from the Car Rental Centre at Terminal 2, which can be accessed on foot from Terminal 2 or by free shuttle bus from Terminal 1.

Need to Know Essentials
You will need to show the following documents at vehicle collection:

- Your driver’s licence (both parts)
- The credit card which was used to make the reservation
- A passport or utility bill to confirm your ID
- Confirmation of booking

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Parking restrictions in France are rigorously enforced, so expect a hefty on-the-spot fine or towing if you park in a prohibited area. Blue zone parking requires the driver to purchase a blue disc from a shop, tourist office or police station and display it in the vehicle. Automatic petrol pumps which accept credit and debit cards are commonplace, but UK drivers should beware that UK-issued cards are not always accepted at such stations. It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle and a reflective jacket in your vehicle. UK motorists can now use the automatic tag lanes of toll roads by purchasing a telepeage tag.

See our guide to France for more information on driving here.

Transport

Passengers arriving at the airport can self-drive to the city for quick access. Trains reach the city just as quickly but do not run directly from the airport, while cheap buses take longer, at around 30 minutes, and cease to operate after midnight, leaving late arrivals with the option of an expensive taxi.

Trains
Nice St Augustin Station is a four-minute free shuttle bus ride or a 10-minute walk from Terminal 1. From here, SNCF trains run to Nice Ville Station in 15 minutes as well as to other destinations, including Marseille. Tickets can be purchased at the bus ticket desks in both terminals. The Isabelle Family card offers one-day of travel from Vintimille to Frejus for two adults and two children at roughly £28.

Taxis
Taxis at the airport are provided by Central Taxi Riviera Nice. They depart from Terminal 1’s Gate A1 and Terminal 2’s Gate A3. Fares increase between 19:00 and 07:00.

Taxi prices:
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to Nice city centre is about £24
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to Cannes is about £56
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to Monaco is about £60
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to St Tropez is about £200

Buses
Bus ticket offices in both terminals sell non-refundable tickets for local Lignes d'Azur buses to Nice. The number 98 takes passengers from the airport to Nice’s Routiere bus station, while the number 99 serve Nice Ville Railway Station. Both services operate every 30 minutes from 06:00 to midnight and 08:00 to 21:00 respectively, and take up to 30 minutes to reach the city dependent on traffic conditions. A one-day bus and tram pass (pass de jour) for travel within Nice costs around £3. In addition to buses, select hotels offer free shuttles for guests.

Facilities

Terminals
The two terminals at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport are connected by free shuttle bus. Terminal 1, the smaller of the two, caters to up to 4.5 million passengers annually, while Terminal 2 serves up to 8.5 million passengers yearly. Both terminals operate flights to European, Middle Eastern and Russian destinations, as well as seasonal services to North America.

Parking
There are seven car parks on site, with three dedicated to Terminal 1 and three dedicated to Terminal 2, while parking P9 serves both terminals. Fares are cheapest at the open-air P9 lot and most expensive at G1 and G2, which are secure and offer the quickest access to the terminals. Prices run from around £5 to £20 a day, but package deals are sometimes available.

Wi-Fi
Passengers can access wireless internet free of charge for up to 30 minutes across both terminals, except in the boarding lounges. Charges after the initial 30 minutes are approximately: 15 minutes for £1.60, 30 minutes for £2.40 and one hour for £4.

Information Services
There are information offices at Terminal 1 Arrivals A1 and Terminal 2 Arrivals A3.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +33 820 423 33
Call Centre: +33 820 423 333

Accessibility
Assistance is provided for passengers with reduced mobility. On arrival, passengers can avail of assistance by using the assistance service call kiosk, going to one of the information offices or reporting to their airline check-in desk. The car parks all have spaces which are reserved for disabled persons, while shuttles between the terminals are wheelchair-friendly.

Restaurants and Bars
Both terminals have a single restaurant each, with Le Riviera (Terminal 1) serving Mediterranean cuisine and Le Badiane (Terminal 2) featuring fine dining. Terminal 1 has a bar and an Irish style pub along with two cafés, while Terminal 2 has three bars and a handful of cafés. Additionally, take-away options are present in both terminals.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
Azur Club Lounge
Riviera Club Lounge

Terminal 2:
Cap Ferrat Club Lounge
Cap d’Antibes Club Lounge

Money and ATMs
ATMs are available in Terminal 1 Arrivals public and luggage areas, and in the Departures level Schengen zone, while Terminal 2 has cash dispensers in the Arrivals and Departures public areas. There are bank branches in both terminals which offer currency exchange services as well as a currency exchange office in Terminal 1.

Shopping
Shopping is available in both terminals, with stores stocking everything from perfume to jewellery and confectionery.