The port of Nice (Port Lympia), right in the city center, mainly welcomes small and medium-sized ships: CroisiEurope, Club Med, Ponant, SeaDream and Azamara embark passengers there for Corsica, Malta, Palma de Mallorca, Rome or Barcelona. It can be reached by tram (line 2) from Nice Côte d’Azur airport.
This guide gathers the practical information for embarking at Nice: access, parking, cruise lines and itineraries, hotels. The information comes from the official website of the port of Nice and from the cruise lines, viewed 14 October 2026. For the large ships departing from the south of France, see also our pages on cruises from Marseille and cruises from Toulon.
Cruises from Nice at a glance
- Port port of Nice (Port Lympia), in the heart of the city
- Port calls up to 100 cruise calls a year according to the port
- Lines named by the port CroisiEurope, Club Med, Ponant, SeaDream, Azamara…
- Destinations Corsica, Malta, Palma de Mallorca, Rome, Barcelona
- Access tram line 2 (city center / airport), taxis when you leave the ship
- Parking Port Lympia car park, reduced rate on presentation of the cruise ticket
The port of Nice and its services
The port of Nice is in the port district, a few minutes’ walk from Old Nice and the Castle Hill. The lines it names mostly operate small or medium-sized ships; for large cruise ships, also look at Marseille and La Seyne-sur-Mer. The port’s website announces free wifi, a free port shuttle, taxis when you leave the ship and a welcome hostess. It publishes the year’s provisional schedule of port calls, useful for knowing which ships will be alongside on your dates.
How to get to the port of Nice
- By air: from Nice Côte d’Azur airport, tram line 2 links the airport to the city center and the port
- By train: arrive at Nice-Ville station, then tram, bus or taxi to the port; times and prices on SNCF Connect
- By car: Port Lympia car park at the port (see below)
- Taxi: a taxi rank where you leave the ship, according to the port
Where to park for a cruise at Nice
The port of Nice offers a reduced rate at the Port Lympia car park on presentation of the cruise transport ticket: €16 per 24 hours when we checked. The package is paid in advance at the car park manager’s office, level -1 of the car park. Long-stay season tickets for the port’s car parks are also listed on the site. Check the current rate on the port’s website before you travel: other sites show different amounts.
Cruise lines and itineraries from Nice
| Cruise line | Type of ship | Example itinerary noted |
|---|---|---|
| CroisiEurope | Small seagoing ship | Grand tour of Corsica, 8 days: Nice – Ajaccio – Bonifacio – Porto-Vecchio – Bastia – L’Île-Rousse – Nice (from about €2,800 per person) |
| Ponant | Small expedition and cruise ships | Itineraries vary by season: see the cruise line’s website |
| Club Med, SeaDream, Azamara | Sailing yachts and upscale ships | Port calls and embarkations according to the port’s schedule |
The brochures of the large cruise lines (MSC, Costa) sometimes show “Nice” as the departure port: check on your booking confirmation the exact embarkation port, which may be another port in the region. For MSC and Costa, see our profiles of MSC and Costa.
Where to sleep before embarking
The port district and Old Nice let you reach the quay on foot or in a few minutes by taxi. If you arrive by air the day before, a hotel near tram line 2 simplifies the journey. Our guide to the French Riviera presents Nice and its surroundings.
What to do in Nice before or after the cruise
- Old Nice and its alleys, next to the port
- Castle Hill, for the view over the bay
- The Promenade des Anglais
- The Lérins Islands (Île Sainte-Marguerite) on a boat excursion, according to the port of Nice
And to follow with another island: our guide to Corsica helps you plan a stay after a cruise around the island.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise lines leave from Nice?
The port of Nice names CroisiEurope, Club Med, Ponant, SeaDream and Azamara, among others. For the large MSC or Costa ships, also look at Marseille and La Seyne-sur-Mer (Toulon).
Are there cruises to Corsica from Nice?
Yes: CroisiEurope offers an 8-day grand tour of Corsica from Nice (Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Bastia, L’Île-Rousse), with departures noted in October 2026.
Where do you park for a cruise at Nice?
At the Port Lympia car park, with a reduced rate on presentation of the cruise ticket (€16 per 24 h according to the port’s website when we checked), to be paid in advance at the car park manager’s office.
How do you get from the airport to the port of Nice?
By tram line 2, which links the airport to the city center and the port, or by taxi.
Can you go to Greece from Nice?
It is not the port’s main offer; for Greece, see our page on cruises to Greece, with departures from Piraeus and Italy.
Our sources
- Port of Nice, official website leportdenice.com, “Cruises and port calls” page, viewed 14 October 2026
- CroisiEurope, official website croisieurope.com: destination pages and cruise sheets, viewed 14 October 2026 (itineraries and “from” prices noted that day)
- Search volumes: Ahrefs (France), viewed 14 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.