France : Safety by City
- Bordeaux
- Le Havre
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Martinique
- Montpellier
- Nantes
- Nice
- Nimes
- Paris
- Reims
- Rennes
- Strasbourg
- Toulon
- Toulouse
Nice is a large city on the French Riviera which is a popular destination for tourists due to its well known and beautiful view on the Promenade des Anglais and its famous waterfront.
It is an ethnically diverse port city and with a population of about 1 million, Nice is the second-largest French city that has a nickname “Nice la belle” which means Nice, the beautiful”.
Nice is famous for world-class sights located around the city center as well as for natural beauty.
That is why it comes to the attention of the whole world and is one of the most frequently visited tourist destinations.
Warnings & Dangers in Nice
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Nice is a safe city with a low rate of violent crime, but like any other large city, tourists need to be careful in some neighborhoods. A squad of security is doing its best to improve security in the center of the city. The usual caution should be exercised making your way home on foot, especially at night.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Taking into account that there have been reports of pickpockets targeting tourists on buses, you should be aware that very late trains can be risky. Additionally, avoid renting a car, if it is not necessary since there have been reports of stealing a rental car. Also, avoid driving around Nice since parking a car anywhere in Nice is difficult.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Your chances of being pickpocketed are medium, which is somehow normal in such a big city. Pickpockets usually operate on public transport at times when it is very crowded. Some thieves might try to rob you on motorcycles or by reaching into a stopped car and grabbing the purse through an open window. A similar method has been used against pedestrians walking with purses.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Nice can be considered safe when it comes to natural hazards. There is a possibility of a few avalanche and floods, but they happen very rarely.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
The positive side of Nice is that violent crimes rarely happen. With over 1000 surveillance cameras around Nice, it can be said that tourists can feel free and very safe.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
All European cities are under high terrorism threat and Nice can be one of the risky ones. Threats to France by Islamist terrorist groups are constant and the French government has warned the public to be extra vigilant in public places since there have been reports of several explosions.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Groups of teenagers might try to distract you and grab your purse or wallet. Beach grab is the scam that is on the rise, so you should never leave your stuff unattended, and even put your purse under your head while sunbathing. Nice is somewhat famous for the car grab, so if you rent a car, always lock your doors from the inside.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Nice is a great city and easy to get around with great walking or cycling lanes along the Promenade, which attracts a lot of female travelers. Usually, they have had no problems, but would not feel comfortable staying near the Port or train stations at night. So, it is advisable to take care and be watchful all the time.
So... How Safe Is Nice Really?
For many years, the picturesque Nice has attracted not only people who want to relax but also those who are seeking inspiration.
It is no more dangerous than any other major French city, and when it comes to tourists, it can be considered the safest one.
As long as you do not act like a tourist by holding a map or speaking too loud in a language that is not French, you will be perfectly fine.
Pay attention to pickpockets and purse-snatchers, use common sense and you will experience Nice as a safe and friendly destination.
How Does Nice Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Nice | 75 |
| Marseille | 59 |
| Lyon | 70 |
| Paris | 68 |
| Toulouse | 57 |
| Nantes | 56 |
| Strasbourg | 74 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
Useful Information
Visas
The 90 days stays do not require a visa, and EU nationals who have a Schengen can stay longer in the country. Your passport must be valid during your stay. For stays that are longer than 3 months, you must contact the French Embassy for information about entry requirements.
Currency
Taking into account the fact that France is a member of the Euro Zone, the official currency is the Euro. France is particularly expensive and you might need at least 100€ per day. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs can be found everywhere, but you may be asked to provide PIN and you should remain alert when handling cash and credit cards in public areas and at cash machines.
Weather
When it comes to the weather, July is the hottest month in Nice with the most daily sunshine hours. The best month to swim in the sea is in August. The climate in France is temperate and the best time to visit Nice is around summer, but it can be also visited during the whole year.
Airports
When tourists decide to come to Nice, they can use numerous airports such as Aéroport International Strasbourg, Aéroport Lyon-St Exupéry, Aéroport Marseille-Provence, Aéroport Nantes Atlantique, Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur, and Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac. However, Nice Airport, which is one of the busiest in France, has direct flights to and from most major cities in Europe and the U.S. It is located at the western end of Nice.
Travel Insurance
Whenever you visit a foreign country, the travel insurance policy is a must. Medical issues and the loss of personal belongings might destroy your journey, and be too expensive for your wallet in case you do not have the travel insurance, or you have the one that does not cover all the possible problems.
Nice Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 14 |
| Low °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 013 | 9 | 6 |
| High °F | 55 | 55 | 59 | 63 | 70 | 75 | 81 | 81 | 77 | 70 | 63 | 57 |
| Low °F | 41 | 43 | 46 | 50 | 57 | 63 | 68 | 68 | 63 | 55 | 48 | 43 |
France - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bordeaux | 63 |
| Le Havre | 63 |
| Lille | 56 |
| Lyon | 70 |
| Marseille | 59 |
| Martinique | 71 |
| Montpellier | 48 |
| Nantes | 56 |
| Nice | 75 |
| Nimes | 65 |
| Paris | 68 |
| Reims | 68 |
| Rennes | 65 |
| Strasbourg | 74 |
| Toulon | 64 |
| Toulouse | 57 |
Safety and tips in Nice
Anywhere in and around the old town (Vieille Ville) or carre d’or are extremely safe or for a
Quieter stay look at nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer
Great hotels and an excellent range of self stay apartments.(apartment-in-nice.com … pebbles.com …and others)
Use Uber rather than town taxis as they can be significantly cheaper and equally good
Public transport is incredibly cheap and reliably At time of writing 1,00€ to 1,50€ Including connecting journeys
Pickpocket gangs in town tend to be gypsy or African women (had one push up against me on escalator in Nice Etoile) on Jean Médecin
YESSS
Still good to go
Yeah as the previous writer said, it’s mostly safe and safer than a lot of French cities. Old town is safe youths loiter but because they are regulars and the police know them, they are not out to cause trouble… that said they are possibly the same people who are small time dealers
I used a couple of times azur-services.com and they have some great old town apartments in the quiet quarter!
The recent terrorist attacks were by young male North African immigrants 99% aren’t the Problem and most of the time they aren’t anywhere near the main tourist areas
Very safe for solo female traveler
Was there end 2019 for 3 weeks before the pandemic. Very safe for solo female traveller. Transportation is easy to move within and nearby towns. Lovely place overall.
Are you joking?
Most of the ratings here are really not serious. That goes for all cities. Been part-time living in Nice-area for 20 years, and on French statistics Nice is in top 5 when it comes to crime. Terrorism risk: Medium??? Two of the worst attacks last. 5 years were in Nice.
Center of Nice is quite safe. Areas outside is not. Typically «banlieue» problems.
I agree that Nice is a stunning city.
You are correct on this. To a fault. France was once a beautiful place but even Nice has fallen apart over the last 15 years. I don’t know what went wrong. There are still great areas but it is surrounded by a sense of insecurity. I was going to go this year and changed my mind.
A city for all
I’ve always found Nice to be safe when exploring the center areas but otherwise it’s a no go for me, too many beggars. I’ve visited it twice, both times during the summer, and it’s breathtakingly beautiful. I prefer cities that offer both budget-friendly and luxury experiences, Nice does just that.
Nice 2021
Visited Nice in October 2021. We rented an Airbnb and it was a beautiful guest house, very peaceful and beautiful. Public transportation is A+++++ the tram that runs between Old Town and the Airport was perfect!
Very easy to navigate, very clean, masks required (thankfully) very inexpensive. Each stop was posted on an electronic board (for those of us who are not fluent in French.
We were definitely scammed by an airport taxi (not sure he was a legit taxi. I researched the cost of a taxi from the airport to our destination and we were definitely overcharged, however, we soon learned to use the tram, which was around one euro each way. Upon departure from Nice, we took the tram to the airport and saved around $20!
I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with public transportation in and around Nice. The food was amazing, however, the very touristy areas are not as good.
The bakeries on every corner are a dream come true. Coffee was very good at every cafe we visited. The Flower market was a must-visit. Also visited Renoir museum (took public transportation) to a town about 30 minutes from Nice. Well worth the visit! Overall loved Nice and felt very safe. Also noteworthy felt very safe with Covid protocols.
Masks are required and in restaurants and many shops proof of vaccinations is required.