💰 This page covers the street-level details of spending money in Nice: card acceptance by neighborhood, where to find ATMs, how to pay for the tram, and what to carry for beach days and Riviera day trips. For France-wide ATM advice, DCC warnings, tipping norms, and exchange rate advice:
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Order EUR → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Nice?
Not much. Nice is one of France's most card-friendly cities. Contactless payments are standard at restaurants, cafes, shops, museums, and on the tram. France mandates card acceptance at most businesses, and Nice enforces it well. You can go entire days without touching cash, though carrying €20–30 in small bills is smart for market stalls and small bakeries.
Where You Will Need Cash
Cours Saleya market produce, flower, and small food stalls (many prefer cash under €10). Tuesday brocante (flea market) at Cours Saleya, almost entirely cash. Small bakeries (boulangeries) for purchases under €5. Beach vendors selling drinks, ice cream, and snacks on the public pebble beaches. Street performers and small tips. Public restrooms at some tourist spots (€0.50–1).
Where Cards Work Fine
Restaurants and cafes across all neighborhoods, including the Old Town. Hotels of all levels. Private beaches (plages privées) along the Promenade des Anglais. Museums (MAMAC, Musée Matisse, Musée Marc Chagall). Tram (contactless tap accepted on validators). Shops on Avenue Jean Médecin and Rue de France. Supermarkets (Monoprix, Carrefour City). Compared to Paris, Nice is equally card-friendly with fewer cash-only holdouts.
Paying by Card in Nice
Card acceptance in Nice is excellent. Visa and Mastercard work everywhere that accepts cards. Amex is accepted at hotels and larger restaurants but sometimes declined at smaller spots. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work widely, including on the tram. France has a contactless payment limit of €50 per transaction for physical cards, but phone-based payments have no limit.
Promenade des Anglais & Beach
The iconic seafront is fully card-friendly at restaurants, hotels, and private beaches (plages privées). Sunbed rental (€18–30/day) and meals at beach restaurants accept cards. The Negresco hotel and surrounding upscale restaurants take all major cards. The public pebble beach sections are free, but vendors selling drinks and snacks on the promenade may prefer cash for small purchases.
Vieux Nice (Old Town)
The narrow streets of the Old Town have excellent card acceptance at restaurants, gelaterias, and shops. The socca (chickpea pancake) counters and small take-away spots sometimes prefer cash for orders under €5. Restaurants on Place Rossetti, Rue du Marché, and the streets around the Cathédrale all take cards. The many ice cream shops (Fénocchio, Azzurro) accept cards and contactless.
Cours Saleya Market
Nice's famous outdoor market runs every morning (except Monday). Flower vendors and produce stalls often prefer cash for purchases under €10–15. Larger specialty vendors (olive oil, lavender, tapenade) accept cards. The restaurants lining the square all accept cards. The Tuesday brocante (antique/flea market) is almost entirely cash-based. Bring €20–40 for market shopping.
Avenue Jean Médecin & Place Masséna
Nice's main shopping street and its beautiful central square are fully card-friendly. Galeries Lafayette, Fnac, Monoprix, and all the chain and boutique shops accept cards. The restaurants and cafes around Place Masséna take cards. The tram runs the length of the avenue with contactless payment at validators.
Port & Mont Boron
The port area (Port Lympia) has restaurants and bars along the waterfront that accept cards. The Plage du Castel and other eastern beaches take cards at their restaurants. Mont Boron is a residential hillside with restaurants that accept cards. The ferry to Corsica (Corsica Ferries) from the port accepts cards for bookings.
Cimiez & Museums
The hillside neighborhood is home to the Musée Matisse (free), Musée Marc Chagall (€8), and the Roman ruins. Museum entry accepts cards. The few restaurants and cafes in the area take cards. The Monastère de Cimiez gardens are free to visit. Bus 15 from the center reaches Cimiez (contactless tap accepted).
ATMs in Nice
For France-wide ATM advice and DCC warnings, see the France guide. This section covers where to find machines in Nice.
Look for these logos on the street. French bank ATMs do not charge foreign card fees on their end.
BNP Paribas
Crédit Agricole
Société GénéraleCentral Nice
Bank ATMs line Avenue Jean Médecin with branches of all major French banks. Near Place Masséna and along Rue de France you will find BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and Société Générale ATMs. The Nice Ville train station (Gare de Nice-Ville) has ATMs in the main hall. Always decline DCC when the ATM offers to convert to your home currency.
⚠ Avoid Euronet ATMs
Standalone Euronet and other third-party ATMs appear near the train station, Place Masséna, and in the Old Town tourist area. They charge €3–5 in withdrawal fees and aggressively push DCC. Walk a minute or two to find a French bank ATM instead.
Paying for the Tram, Buses & Taxis
Tram & Bus (Lignes d'Azur)
Nice has three tram lines covering the city center, port, and airport. A single ticket costs €1.70 (valid 74 minutes on tram and bus). A day pass costs €5 for unlimited travel. Buy at tram stop machines (coins and contactless cards) or on the Lignes d'Azur app (credit card). You can also tap a contactless bank card directly on the validator when boarding, charged at the single fare rate. Tram Line 2 connects the airport to the city center in about 30 minutes.
Taxis
Nice taxis are metered. A ride from Nice Ville station to the Old Town costs roughly €10–15. From the airport to the city center, expect €25–35 by taxi. All taxis accept cards by French law. Uber operates in Nice with standard rates. The airport tram (€1.70) is a much cheaper alternative to a taxi.
Airport Transfers
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is just 7 km from the city center. Tram Line 2: €1.70, 30 minutes to the center (contactless card or ticket). Airport Express bus 98: €6, 30 minutes to Gare Routière. Taxi: €25–35, 20 minutes. The tram is by far the best value and runs every 6–10 minutes.
Tipping in Nice
The France guide covers French tipping norms in detail. Nice follows standard French customs. Service is included in all restaurant bills by law (service compris). Leaving an additional tip is not expected but appreciated for excellent service: rounding up or leaving €1–5 at a restaurant is a nice gesture. At cafes, leaving coins from your change is standard. Hotel porters expect €1–2 per bag. Tip in cash, even if paying the bill by card.
Prices in Nice
Nice is cheaper than Paris but more expensive than most French cities outside the Riviera. Beach restaurant prices and Promenade-area dining are on the premium end. Moving a block or two inland brings prices down noticeably.
| Item | Price (EUR) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso at the bar | €1.50–2.50 | $1.65–2.75 |
| Socca (chickpea pancake) | €3–5 | $3.30–5.50 |
| Pan bagnat (Niçois sandwich) | €5–8 | $5.50–8.80 |
| Salade Niçoise (restaurant) | €12–18 | $13.20–19.80 |
| Lunch plat du jour | €12–18 | $13.20–19.80 |
| Dinner (mid-range, with wine) | €30–50 | $33–55 |
| Glass of rosé | €4–8 | $4.40–8.80 |
| Gelato (2 scoops) | €3–5 | $3.30–5.50 |
| Tram single ticket | €1.70 | $1.85 |
| Private beach sunbed (day) | €18–30 | $19.80–33 |
| Musée Marc Chagall | €8 | $8.80 |
| Train to Monaco (TER) | €4.10 | $4.50 |
| Train to Cannes (TER) | €7.50 | $8.25 |
| Taxi airport to center | €25–35 | $27.50–38.50 |
USD estimates based on approximately €1 = $1.10. Rates fluctuate. Promenade and beach restaurant prices run higher than inland equivalents.
Day Trips from Nice
Monaco (20 minutes by train)
TER train from Nice Ville to Monaco-Monte Carlo costs €4.10 (buy at the station with card or on the SNCF app). Monaco uses euros and is extremely card-friendly. The Casino de Monte-Carlo (€17 entry to gaming rooms, card accepted) requires chips bought with cash for some table games. The Océanographic Museum (€18) and Palace (€10) accept cards. You can visit Monaco fully cashless.
Cannes (40 minutes by train)
TER train costs €7.50. Cannes has excellent card acceptance along La Croisette, at restaurants, and in shops. The Palais des Festivals area and Rue d'Antibes shopping strip are fully card-friendly. The Forville Market (mornings, except Monday) is similar to Nice's Cours Saleya: restaurants take cards, smaller stalls prefer cash. Bring €10–20 in cash as backup.
Èze Village (20 minutes by bus)
Bus 82 or 112 from Nice (€1.70 with Lignes d'Azur ticket). The hilltop village has a handful of restaurants, shops, and the Jardin Exotique (€7, card accepted). Smaller souvenir shops may prefer cash. The Fragonard perfume factory (free entry) has a gift shop that accepts cards. A very affordable half-day trip.
Antibes & Juan-les-Pins (25 minutes by train)
TER train costs €5.30. Antibes has the Musée Picasso (€8, card accepted) and a daily covered market (Marché Provençal) where stalls prefer cash for small purchases. The restaurants around the port and in the old town accept cards. Juan-les-Pins beach clubs accept cards. An easy, card-friendly day trip.
Nice Quick Reference
A quick reference for how to load your pockets depending on where you are heading.
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town restaurants | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | All restaurants take cards |
| Cours Saleya market | ✅ Restaurants / ❌ Stalls | €20–40 | Smaller stalls prefer cash |
| Private beach day | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Sunbed rental and meals by card |
| Promenade cafes | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Contactless widely accepted |
| Museums | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Chagall, Matisse, MAMAC |
| Tram / bus | ✅ Contactless tap | Not needed | Tap card on validator |
| Monaco day trip | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Extremely card-friendly |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash in Nice?
Not much. Nice is very card-friendly by French standards. Restaurants, cafes, shops, museums, and the tram system all accept cards and contactless payments. The main exceptions are the Cours Saleya market stalls (many prefer cash for small purchases), some beach vendors, and small bakeries. Carrying €20–30 in small bills is enough for most days.
How do I pay for the tram in Nice?
Buy tickets at tram stop machines (coins and contactless cards accepted) or through the Lignes d'Azur app (credit card). A single ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 74 minutes across tram and bus. A day pass costs €5. You can also tap a contactless bank card directly on the validator when boarding, charged at the single fare rate.
Is Cours Saleya market cash only?
Partly. The flower vendors, produce stalls, and smaller food stands often prefer cash for purchases under €10–15. The larger specialty shops (olive oil, lavender, spices) and the restaurants lining the market square accept cards. For the Tuesday flea market (brocante), cash is essential. Bring €20–40 for a market visit.
How much does a day at a private beach cost in Nice?
A sunbed and parasol at a private beach (plage privée) along the Promenade des Anglais costs €18–30 per day. Most private beaches accept cards for the sunbed rental and restaurant meals. The public beaches between the private sections are free. Beach restaurants typically accept cards for meals.
What currency do I need for Monaco day trip?
Euros, same as Nice. Monaco uses the euro. Card acceptance in Monaco is excellent. The Casino de Monte-Carlo requires cash for some table games but accepts cards for chips at others. Restaurants, shops, and the Océanographic Museum all accept cards. You can visit Monaco without carrying any cash.
Which ATMs should I use in Nice?
BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, and Société Générale ATMs are throughout the city and do not charge foreign card fees on their end. Avoid the Euronet or standalone ATMs near the train station and tourist areas, which charge fees and push DCC. Bank ATMs are found along Avenue Jean Médecin, near Place Masséna, and at the train station.
Tap to Pay on the Riviera
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