Nice, France Travel Tips
Greetings and a Few Phrases
Always greet with “Bonjour” (or “Bonsoir” in the evening) before asking anything, standard French retail etiquette that’s noticeably enforced in small Vieux Nice shops. “Merci” (thank you), “L’addition, s’il vous plaît” (the bill, please), and “Socca, s’il vous plaît” work fine at any market stall.
Tipping: Genuinely Optional
A service charge is already built into French restaurant bills by law, service compris, so tipping on top is a real choice, not the near-mandatory 18-20% American visitors are used to. Rounding up a euro or two in cash for good service is normal and appreciated; going bigger than that actually reads as a bit much in French culture.
Beach Etiquette
Every beach in Nice is pebble or shingle, not sand, bring water shoes and a real mat or thick towel, a thin one won’t cushion the stones. Don’t leave a bag unattended while swimming, beach-bag theft is a specifically flagged, rising risk here; use it as a pillow if sunbathing solo, or take turns watching things with whoever you’re traveling with. Topless sunbathing is common and not something to react to.
Where to Watch Your Bag
Pickpocketing on trains and in crowded markets or tram stops is a well-documented, organized pattern here, including distraction scams where someone claims you’re sitting in “their” reserved seat to create a crowding moment. Keep bags zipped and in view at Cours Saleya, on trams, and at Nice-Ville station specifically, the area right around the station warrants more street-level caution after dark than the core tourist zones.
Traffic and Getting Around
Moped and scooter traffic is genuinely heavy in the centre, look both ways even on streets that look pedestrian-only. Walking covers Vieux Nice, the Promenade and Place Masséna entirely; the tram (1.70 EUR a ride, 7 EUR day pass) handles Cimiez and the port.
Opening Hours
Many smaller Vieux Nice shops and some restaurants close for a midday break, roughly 12:30-2:30 or 3pm, and on Sundays and/or Mondays, don’t expect big-city continuous hours everywhere. Museums and major attractions run continuous daily hours.
Practical Basics
Standard continental European plugs (Type C/E, 230V), no special adapter needed for modern phone or laptop chargers beyond the plug shape. Tap water is safe to drink. A standard EU/France eSIM activates on arrival if you need data immediately.
A Word on July 14
If your visit lands on Bastille Day, July 14, 2026, know that it marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 truck attack on the Promenade des Anglais. Nice still holds its fireworks that evening, and there’s nothing wrong with attending, but it’s worth carrying that history with you rather than treating the date as pure celebration.
One Local Detail Worth Knowing
Nissart, Nice’s own Ligurian-Occitan dialect, survives in place names and local pride even though nobody expects a visitor to speak it, a genuine, correct detail rather than something to worry about learning.
For the practical side of getting here and around, see the main Nice, France guide , and for a full day-by-day plan, start with the 2-day itinerary .