Health in Nice: water, pharmacies, hospitals and useful numbers

Updated on 5 August 2026

You never think about health until you need it — and that's exactly why you should think about it first. Good news: Nice is a big, well-equipped city, and the reflexes are simple. Here is the essential, verified in 2026.

Tap water: drinkable and controlled

Yes, tap water in Nice is drinkable — the public utility Eau d'Azur calls it "pure, of very high quality", with about 17,000 analyses a year (ARS controls + its own laboratory). Water fountains are even installed on the Paillon promenade and at the Cimiez arenas. So you can refill your bottle anywhere: economical and ecological.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are numerous in the city centre and generally open 8:30 am-7 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, 6 on-duty pharmacies ensure cover (updated list on www.3237.fr or displayed in every pharmacy). Two night addresses: Riviera pharmacy (24/7 except Sunday evening) and Jean Médecin pharmacy (28 Bd Dubouchage, night 8 pm-8 am all year).

Hospitals

• Pasteur 2 hospital (30 Voie Romaine): the university hospital, 640 beds, Emergency-SAMU-SMUR unit on site, accessible by tram line 1 (Pasteur hospital stop);
• L'Archet hospital (151 Route Saint-Antoine-de-Ginestière): general emergencies;
• Cimiez hospital (4 Avenue Reine Victoria): aftercare and rehabilitation;
• CHU-Lenval children's hospitals (57 Avenue de la Californie): the reference for children.

Emergency numbers

• 15: SAMU (medical emergency);
• 17: police;
• 18: fire brigade;
• 112: European emergency number (dial it from any phone);
• 114: emergency SMS for deaf or hard-of-hearing people;
• 196: sea rescue (CROSS).

For a home visit without a life-threatening emergency, the SOS Médecins network intervenes (national 24/7 teleconsultation); when in doubt, dial 15.

Insurance and reimbursement

• European residents: the European Health Insurance Card lets you be treated like a French person;
• Other nationalities: check that your travel insurance covers medical costs and repatriation;
• Always keep prescriptions and receipts for reimbursement.

And security?

Nice is a safe city for tourists, with the usual precautions: stay in lively areas at night (see our nightlife guide), keep an eye on your belongings on the terraces and avoid isolated districts after midnight. Our security guide goes into detail.

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