Nice Côte d'Azur: traveller guide
Nice’s two passenger terminals need to be treated as separate meeting locations. Give us the terminal from your airline booking before arranging a driver or escort. The airport has also brought its Terminal 2 extension into service, so current airline and airport directions are more useful than an old screenshot of the departure route.
Arriving at Nice Côte d Azur Airport
The airport’s arrival Meet & Greet offer describes a welcome at the aircraft or gangway, help through border formalities and baggage collection, then a handover to the car or helicopter counter as arranged. Its published base package covers two passengers and two bags. Tell us about extra travellers or luggage when you enquire so that the quote reflects the whole party.
Leaving from Nice Côte d Azur Airport
The airport’s departure package starts at the terminal kerbside and covers check-in assistance, priority security, lounge access and the route to the gate. The standard meeting is two hours before departure; long-distance flights use a three-hour meeting and an additional-hour charge. For travellers who only need a security lane, Nice Access in Terminal 1 is a separate self-service ticket with no personal escort.
Coffee, food and time in the terminal
For a local snack in Terminal 1, Chez Pipo is after security on level 2 in hall A, towards gate A33. It serves socca and other Niçois food. Published bar hours are 05:00–22:30 on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 05:30–22:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Check your hall before heading there; the location is not accessible from every departure route.
Shopping before your flight
Aelia Duty Free operates in both terminals. The airport’s shopping FAQ says duty-free stores open daily from the first flight to the last, with individual store information on the seller pages. That is a flight-based schedule, not a promise of 24-hour trading. Check current prices in the online marketplace using your flight details.
Documents and security
Keep boarding time in view when eating or shopping. Nice recommends arriving two hours before short- and medium-haul flights and at least three hours before long-haul flights. A priority lane does not change bag-drop, immigration or boarding cutoffs. France’s entry rules are summarised at the end of this guide.
Entry requirements: France
France is in Schengen. For ordinary short visits by non-EU nationals, the passport generally needs to have been issued within the previous ten years and remain valid for at least three months after planned departure. Visa-required travellers need the appropriate Schengen permission. The usual short-stay ceiling is 90 days in any 180-day period across Schengen, not 90 days separately in France. Transit and residence cases require their own checks.
Guide information checked in October 2026. Terminals, opening hours, security and entry rules change — check them with your airline and the airport before you travel.