Small and efficient but don't expect airside wonders (Nice Côte d'Azur Airport)

Member Name: nilo0901

Product:	Nice Côte d'Azur Airport
Date:	29/10/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small and efficient

Disadvantages: Limited shopping, no restaurants airside

I visited Nice for the first time ever this last weekend so thought I should review the airport while fresh in my memory.

Nice is supposedly Frances second busiest airport but you would never think it while there as the airport itself is rather small reminiscent of City Airport in London. We only flew into and from Terminal 2 so it will be on this terminal that my review will be based.

Arrivals was very quick and efficient. Luggage was very fast and passport control quick. Being quite small the airport is easy to navigate, especially once passed security. Transport links into central Nice are excellent with Taxi's easily available. The main seafront promenade is about 5km from the airport so a short taxi ride. This will still apparently cost you 30 Euros. A much better bet would be to use the bus services that run about every 20 mins. The bus number 98 will take you along the main promenade and only costs 4 Euros per person. Getting to the centre from the airport takes about 15 mins.

Departing from the airport is great if you want to move through it as quickly as possible. It is compact and again easy to navigate. Once through to airside however, there is very little to do. Much like the Riviera itself, they have catered for small and niche with a handful of ludicrously expensive shops in the shape of the likes of Hermes and Celine.

Eating and drinking are at a minimum. This was the one real downside here. There is not a single restaurant in Terminal 2 airside so if you want to eat before boarding, you will need to do so before going through security. Here there are 3 restaurants which we didn't visit as we hoped to be able to grab something airside. Alas, there were only 2 bars serving average quality but extremely overpriced baguettes.

There is a small duty free shop that is not that well stocked in addition to the high brand clothing outlets. Strange for Nice, which you would imagine to be a shoppers paradise, but unfortunately it is not.

In conclusion, this airport is efficiently run and staff are friendly so if you're not looking to hang around and just get in and out, it's ideal. I wouldn't want to be stranded here with a hugely delayed flight however as places to shop are limited to the very rich and eating is non-existent.

Summary: A good little airport if commuting