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From SAN airport to Nice
Reaching San Diego International Airport
Uber/Lyft from downtown San Diego ($12–18, 15 min off-peak) beats all public transit on speed. NCTD Bus 992 (Airport Express) runs every 15–30 min from Downtown/Hillcrest ($2.75, 25–35 min depending on traffic). Rental car shuttle from downtown costs $18–24 pp roundtrip and picks up from multiple hotels. Parking your own car at off-site lot (Parking Spot, premier lots) runs $10–14/day and beats airport parking ($18–24/day), but Uber is usually cheaper for one-way trips. Park & Fly is worth it only if staying 3+ days.
Getting from NCE into Nice
The cheapest and easiest option is Bus 98 (Lignes d'Azur), which runs directly from both terminals to Nice-Ville train station and the city center in about 30 minutes for €1.70 — buy your ticket from the machine at the stop. Tram Line 2 connects the airport (both terminals) to the city center and runs until around midnight, taking about 20 minutes to Jean-Médecin/Garibaldi for €1.70. Taxis are metered with fixed zone rates: €32 to most city-center hotels (daytime), €38 at night or on weekends — insist on the meter if a driver quotes you a higher flat rate.
Planning San Diego to Nice
Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and the place that made the Mediterranean coast famous in the first place — before Cannes got flashy and Monaco got obscene. It sits between the Alps and the sea, which means you can swim in the morning and hike in the hills by afternoon. The old town, Vieux-Nice, is genuinely one of the best-preserved Baroque districts in Europe, painted in those famous ochre and terracotta tones that photographers abuse on Instagram. The Promenade des Anglais stretches 7 km along the waterfront and is as beautiful in January, nearly empty, as it is in August when it's wall-to-wall tourists.
Local basics
Best-month weather in Nice
May
56–73°F · 6 rain daysClose to perfect — warm enough to swim if you're not squeamish (sea is about 66°F), sunny most days, and the whole coast is green and blooming.
June
63–80°F · 4 rain daysPeak season begins but crowds haven't fully hit yet. Beach weather is reliable, evenings are perfect for outdoor dining, and the sea reaches a comfortable 72°F.
The destination guide flags July and August as the least favorable months.
Two areas to consider
Vieux-Nice (Old Town)
mid-rangeThe baroque heart of the city with narrow pedestrian lanes, the Cours Saleya market, and the best concentration of authentic restaurants. Stay here if you want to walk to everything and be woken up by market vendors setting up at 6am — it's worth it. Hotels are mid-range to boutique; look at Hotel La Pérouse for splurge or the smaller B&Bs on Rue Rossetti for value.
Promenade des Anglais / Centre
luxuryThe seafront strip is where the big hotels live — the Negresco, the Hyatt Regency, the Anantara. You're paying a serious premium for sea views and the ability to walk out your door and onto the beach. The Negresco is genuinely worth a drink at the bar even if you're not staying there.
Local planning tip
Buy a 10-trip tram/bus carnet at any Lignes d'Azur office or vending machine for €15 — each trip works out to €1.50 vs €1.70 single, and it covers both tram lines and all city buses. More importantly: the regional train from Nice-Ville to Monaco runs every 30 minutes, takes 20 minutes, and costs €4.30 each way. The equivalent bus journey takes 45 minutes and costs the same. Skip the overpriced organized day-trip tours to Monaco entirely — just hop the train, walk up to the palace, eat a Monégasque lunch, and be back in Nice for dinner. You'll save €50 and have a better day.
Visa and entry notes for US travelers
Americans get 90 days visa-free in France and the Schengen Zone on a valid US passport — no tourist visa required. Starting in 2026, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is required before arrival; apply online for €7, takes minutes to complete, and is valid for 3 years. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Europe. There are no entry requirements beyond a valid passport and ETIAS authorization for leisure trips under 90 days.