Getting to Nice by plane: airlines, terminals and tips
Find the best flight options to Nice and compare transfer solutions from Nice Airport, located about 7 km from the city center by the sea.
Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) is the second-largest airport in France and one of the best connected in Europe: a very large number of direct destinations, without going through Paris. Here is what you need to prepare your arrival.
Which airlines fly to Nice?
Airlines are split between the two terminals:
- Terminal 1: Ryanair, Vueling, British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, Qatar Airways, United;
- Terminal 2: Air France, easyJet, KLM, Delta, Emirates, Transavia, Wizz Air, with an extension opened in April 2026.
A free shuttle links the two terminals; the tram (lines 2 and B) makes the connection in 3 minutes. Check your terminal on your booking confirmation: a wrong terminal can easily cost 30 minutes.
Direct flight or connection?
Nice has direct flights to most European cities. For a long-haul trip, the question arises: a direct flight is more comfortable, while a connection via Paris or Amsterdam may be cheaper. Compare the two, taking into account connection time and baggage costs.
When should you book?
In high season, from June to September, and during Carnival in February, prices rise quickly: book several months ahead. The quieter months (November, January, early March) offer the best fares.
How early should you arrive before your flight?
- 2 hours before departure for short and medium-haul flights, 3 hours for long-haul flights;
- self-service check-in kiosks open 5 hours before departure;
- boarding closes 30 minutes before take-off;
- in summer, allow plenty of time for peak hours (7 a.m.-10 a.m.).
From the airport to the centre of Nice
Details on the options, tram, bus, fixed-price taxi, private shuttle and car rental, are in our dedicated guide: Nice airport: transfer, tram, taxi and shuttle to the centre.
And if you rent a car on arrival?
Agencies, the Car Rental Center and return tips: Car rental in Nice. Otherwise, the complete airport guide details the tram, bus and taxi options to the centre.
Where do flights to Nice depart from?
Paris remains the leading route (26 flights a day, 1h20 flight time); Lyon has 1 to 2 direct flights a day. There are no longer any direct flights from Marseille: see Paris-Nice and Lyon-Marseille.
Connected as soon as you land
Set up your mobile connection before you leave: SIM card and eSIM in Nice: where to buy.
