Nice Cruise Port
Nice, France · Mediterranean
Cruise ships dock at Quai du Commerce — East Side Berths (Terminal 1), Nice.
Plan my port daysSmaller ships dock inside Port Lympia, Nice's old harbour. Vieux Nice and Castle Hill are a 15-minute walk, Place Masséna about 25 minutes, and trains from nearby Nice-Riquier reach Villefranche in 5 minutes and Monaco in about 20.
At a glance
Port summary
Only small and mid-size ships berth in Nice itself. They tie up in Port Lympia, the old harbour on the east side of Castle Hill, at Terminal 1 (east quay) or Terminal 2 (west breakwater). Larger ships calling at "Nice" usually anchor off Villefranche-sur-Mer instead and tender passengers ashore there, so check which port your ship actually uses. From either terminal you can walk. Follow the quay round the harbour and along Quai Rauba Capeu, below Castle Hill, and you reach the Old Town (Vieux Nice) in about 15 minutes. From May to October the free Lou Passagin boat crosses the harbour in 3 minutes, which saves the walk round the basin. Cours Saleya market, the cathedral and Place Rossetti are in the Old Town, Castle Hill rises above it (free lift near Tour Bellanda), and the Promenade des Anglais starts just beyond. Tram line 2 stops at Port Lympia, at the top of the harbour, and runs under the city to the Promenade and the airport. For day trips east, walk about 15 minutes to Nice-Riquier station. Regional trains reach Villefranche-sur-Mer in 5 minutes and Monaco in about 20 minutes for a few euros. For Èze Village take bus 82 or 602 from Vauban (tram L1), roughly hourly. Antibes is about 30 minutes west by train from Nice-Ville. Saint-Paul-de-Vence needs a train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and bus 655, so allow over an hour each way or take a taxi. Nice is easy to explore on your own, but coast-road traffic in summer and occasional rail strikes can slow return trips from Monaco. Plan to be back at the harbour an hour before all-aboard.
Cruise docks
Quai du Commerce — East Side Berths (Terminal 1)
East quay of Port Lympia's outer harbour, beside the Terminal 1 passenger building on Boulevard Franck Pilatte. Used by smaller cruise ships and Corsica ferries. Vieux Nice is about 15 minutes' walk round the harbour; coordinate is the terminal building, approximate for the berth.
Latitude: 43.693453, Longitude: 7.288207
See dock on port map →West Breakwater Ferry Berths (Terminal 2)
West breakwater berths at the harbour entrance, beside the Terminal 2 ferry building and below Castle Hill. Shared with Corsica ferries; berth assignment varies by ship. Coordinate from the OSM ferry-terminal node.
Latitude: 43.693022, Longitude: 7.284945
See dock on port map →Getting to Nice
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
A contactless card covers almost everything. Keep €10–20 in coins and small notes for market stalls, socca and toilets.
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Inside the Mediterranean collection
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Typical weather
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Excursions compared
3 comparedMonaco, Monte-Carlo and medieval Èze along the Corniche
≈ 6.5 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€150$169
Do it yourself
€46$52
Save ≈ €104Save ≈ $117 (69% off)
ZOU bus 602 stops at Bavastro, a few minutes' walk from the Port Lympia terminals, and runs Nice → Èze Village → Monaco only six times a day (summer 2026: Vauban 09:20, Èze 09:50; Èze → Monaco 12:05), fare about €2.10 bought from the driver. In Monaco, city buses 1 and 2 (€2) climb to Monaco-Ville; the Palace square and cathedral are free and the State Apartments cost €10 (30 March–15 October). Return by TER train Monaco-Monte-Carlo → Nice-Riquier (about 20 minutes, €4–5, every 15–30 minutes), then walk 15 minutes to the harbour.
See the DIY plan →
Discover Nice: Vieux Nice, Cours Saleya and Castle Hill
≈ 5 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€120$136
Do it yourself
€20$23
Save ≈ €100Save ≈ $113 (83% off)
Everything is on foot from the Port Lympia terminals: walk round the harbour and along Quai Rauba Capeu (15–20 minutes), or take the free Lou Passagin boat across the harbour (May–October, 10:00–19:00). The free lift by Tour Bellanda saves the climb to Castle Hill; the park, cathedral and market are all free. Cours Saleya is a flower and food market Tuesday to Sunday mornings and antiques on Mondays.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
13 plansVieux Nice and Castle Hill on Foot, for Free
The whole classic Nice day without spending a cent: Castle Hill views, Old Town lanes, the market and the Promenade.
Old Port, Socca and Coco Beach: a Short Call
Three hours without leaving the harbour district: a coastal path, the old port's church and hot socca at Chez Pipo.
Matisse, Chagall and the Cimiez Gardens
Two of the Riviera's great art museums and a monastery rose garden on the hill above Nice.
Èze and Monaco along the Corniche
The ship's big Riviera tour by local bus and train: the eagle's-nest village of Èze, then the Palace and the Casino.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Nice?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Nice, France. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Nice?
- Yes. Nice is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Nice centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Ferry, Tram, Other transport, Local bus, Taxi. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Nice?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Nice independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Nice and are cards accepted?
- Nice uses the Euro. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Nice cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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