THE FRENCH RIVIERA - France 2014 - page 1069

9:00-18:00,until20:00July-Aug,closedSunoff-season);andinakioskatthesouthendof
Place Masséna (less busy, mid-June-Sept, typically daily 10:00-19:00). Pick up the thor-
ough Practical Guide to Nice and a free Nice map (or find a better one at your hotel), but
skip the Riviera Pass. You can also get day-trip information at any TI (including maps of
Monaco or Antibes, details on boat excursions, and bus schedules to Eze-le-Village, La
Turbie, Vence, and other destinations).
Arrival in Nice
By Train: All trains stop at Nice's main station, Nice-Ville (baggage storage at the far
right with your back to the tracks, lockers open daily 8:00-21:00). Don't get off at the sub-
urban Nice Riquier station, which is one stop east of the main station. The station area is
grittyandbusy:Neverleaveyourbagsunattendedanddon'tlingerherelongerthanneces-
sary.Theareainfrontofthestationwasunderconstructionin2013,butshouldbelooking
sharpbythetime youvisit. Because ofthiswork,busandtaxi stopsmaybedifferent from
what I've described here.
Turn left out of the station to find a TI next door. Continue a few more blocks down
Avenue Jean Médecin for the Gare Thiers tram stop (this will take you to Place Masséna,
the old city, and the port). Board the tram heading toward the right, direction: Pont Michel
(see “Getting Around Nice,” later). You'll find many recommended city-center and Vieux
Nice hotels a 10- to 20-minute walk down the same street, though for most it's easier to
take the tram to Place Masséna and walk from there.
To walk to recommended hotels near the station or near the beach opposite Promen-
ade des Anglais, cross Avenue Thiers in front of the station, go down the steps by Hôtel
Interlaken, and continue walking down Avenue Durante. Follow this same route for the
fastest path from the station to the beach—Avenue Durante turns into Rue des Congrés.
You'll soon reach the heart of Nice's beachfront promenade.
Taxis and buses to the airport (#23 and #99) wait in front of the train station. Car
rental offices are to the right as you exit the station.
By Bus: Nice's bus station was demolished as part of a major project to expand
the city's central parkway. Most stops for bus routes important to travelers (those serving
Antibes, the airport, Vence, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) have
been moved to other locations (see map on here ) . As work continues along the parkway,
bus stop locations are subject to change; confirm locally.
By Car: To reach the city center on the autoroute from the west, take the first Nice
exit (for the airport—called Côte d'Azur, Central ) and follow signs for Nice Centre and
Promenade des Anglais (expect detours if tramway construction is under way). Avoid
arriving at rush hour (usually Mon-Fri 8:00-9:30 & 17:00-19:30), when Promenade des