Local Information

Getting to Nice

Nice airport (NCE) is one of the busiest airports in France.  Most destinations in Europe can be reached from Nice by a direct flight.  If there is no direct flight, flights are usually routed through Paris (all airports), London, Frankfurt, Munich, or Amsterdam. 

Getting around Nice

Public transport (bus and tram) in Nice is very cheap.  Each ticket is 1.50 Euro which allows transfers as long as it is within 73 minutes from the first validation.  Tickets must be validated, otherwise you risk getting a fine.  The tickets can be bought on the bus directly, or at the ticket machines at all of the tram stops.  These machines allow one to buy individual tickets, or a 10-ticket card (10 Euros).  The 10-ticket card can be used on the buses too.  They can also be shared among several people, however, if there are more than one person using the same ticket, you can no longer transfer.

The 98 and 99 "Airport" buses require a special ticket.  It is 6 Euros and it can be used to transfer onward to the tram or another bus.

See http://www.lignesdazur.com/ for information on bus and tram times and destinations.  An app is also available for download on a smart phone.

The train is run by the sncf company http://www.sncf.com/.  Tarifs are different.  All information regarding prices and timetables can be found at their webpage.  If you plan on visiting Nice, travelling by train to some of the nearby towns can be  a better option.   Travelling to Monaco by train, for example,  takes 20 min and costs approx. 5 Euros each way.  If you do the same trip by bus, it will cost 1.50 Euros but it could take over an hour.

Getting to and from the Observatory

Note that we will send around a questionnaire regarding the organisation of a private bus to and from the workshop.

To get to Nice observatory by bus, one must use the number 84 bus.  This leaves in front of Riquier train station (link), make sure you are on the side facing the train station as the 84 terminus is on the side of the train station.  By bus it is about 10 mins, and then there is a ~12 minute walk to the NEF hall where the workshop will take place.  There is a bus once every 30 minutes, and the times are usually 08.20, 08.50, 09.20, ... but do check http://www.lignesdazur.com/ for updates.

By taxi from the Old Town or the Port, it is approximately 30 Euros.  To order a taxi immediately you can use for example, Taxi Riviera Nice +33 (0)4 93 13 78 78 (local number).  If you would like to book a taxi in advance, ask at the hotel, or we can do it at the observatory reception too.  There are also taxi ranks all over the city.  A trip from the observatory to the airport costs approximately 70 Euros. 

Uber is also available in Nice, you will need the app on a smart phone to order one.

Accomodation (see link)

The meeting will take place at the NEF hall in the CION building at the Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur (see link below).  Our accomodation choices have been based mostly on easy access to the Observatory.   There are, however, many hotels that we do not list, but you may prefer (along or near the promenade for example).

We have no negotiated rates with hotels for this workshop, however, as the workshop will take place during the lower season the rates are reasonable, from ~80 Euros/night with breakfast. 

Here are a few examples of accomodation near the Riquier/Port/Old Town area  (map to be uploaded)

Appart Hotels which include a kitchen:

At this link you will find some other suggestions for hotels, along with the main bus stops for the Observatory and the Observatory itself with the NEF hall.  Please note that we will send a questionnaire around very soon regarding the organisation of a private bus to get to and from the workshop location, leaving most likely from the Port area.