Nice is unusual among resort airports because the public transport option is genuinely excellent. This changes the usual taxi-versus-transfer calculation.
The tram (the option most people should consider first)
Line 2 connects both airport terminals to central Nice in under 30 minutes, running every 7-8 minutes on weekdays (Nice Cote d'Azur airport). Travel between the terminals and Grand Arenas is free; beyond that a Lignes d'Azur Solo single is EUR 1.70, and a dedicated airport return ticket is EUR 10 (Lignes d'Azur 2026 fare guide). It is clean, frequent and air-conditioned. If you are heading to central Nice with manageable luggage, this is the smart choice. No other airport on the French Riviera offers anything close to this.
The tram falls short when you have excessive luggage, are traveling with very young children, are heading beyond Nice, or arrive after the last service (approximately 01:00).
Taxis
The airport publishes an indicative 2026 fare of EUR 32 from either terminal to Nice Centre, excluding supplements (Nice Cote d'Azur airport). It is a guide price rather than an all-in regulated flat fare, so confirm the total before you set off. For a couple or small group it is reasonable for door-to-door service. The taxi ranks are well-organized and waits are usually short.
Beyond Nice, the airport publishes these indicative 2026 fares, excluding supplements:
- Antibes / Juan-les-Pins: EUR 72
- Cannes: EUR 85
- Monaco: EUR 95
For destinations the airport does not list (Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez), there is no published fare — agree the price before you set off.
These metered fares can vary with traffic conditions. The driver takes the route they choose, and while most are professional, you have limited control over routing.
Pre-booked private transfers
For Nice city itself, a transfer rarely makes sense over the tram or a taxi. The value of a pre-booked transfer appears when:
- You are heading to Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, or a hilltop village
- You need a specific vehicle type (minivan, luxury car)
- You need child car seats
- You are traveling as a group of 4+
- Your flight arrives very late
A transfer is quoted per vehicle when you book, with the price agreed in advance. Against the airport's indicative taxi fares — which exclude supplements, and to which night, Sunday and luggage supplements can be added — that certainty has real value on a longer Riviera run. Get the transfer quote and compare it against the indicative fare plus whatever supplements apply to your journey.
When each option wins
Tram wins for solo travelers, couples, and anyone heading to central Nice with reasonable luggage during operating hours. It is cheap, reliable, and avoids traffic entirely.
Taxi wins for groups of 2-3 sharing the airport's indicative EUR 32 fare into Nice, anyone with heavy luggage, or spontaneous travelers who want immediate departure.
Transfer wins for any destination beyond Nice, families needing car seats, groups needing larger vehicles, late-night arrivals, and travelers heading directly to a hotel in Eze, Villefranche, or similar coastal towns that are awkward to reach by public transport.
A common Riviera mistake
Some travelers assume they can take the tram into Nice and then a train along the coast to Monaco or Cannes. This works, but it involves hauling luggage across Nice to the train station, waiting for a connection, and then potentially needing another taxi from the station to your hotel. For the modest price difference, a direct transfer from the airport saves considerable time and effort, particularly when you are tired from traveling.