Because of its famous waterfront, Nice is a popular vacation destination on the French Riviera. While in Nice, take precautions against petty thieves, who are a serious problem on the Cote d’Azur. The thieves operate in teams or gangs in crowded areas such as buses, train stations and tourist sites. They are extremely skilled, often passing as fellow passengers. Due to high-incidence of crime, avoid areas such as Les Moulins, l'Ariane, Nice Nord or La Trinite, as well as the area around the main train station, Gare de Nice-Ville and the Massena Gardens in the late night/early morning hours.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Nice is a system of buses and local and regional trains. As in any French city, take special care of your belongings when utilizing the public transport system. Be mindful of your surroundings when traveling through the bus and railway stations. Try to avoid the following streets: La Californie, Rue de Belgique and many travelers have reported harassment and pickpockets on the Promenade des Anglais.
- You are returning from a day trip from Villefranche on the 100 TAM bus (Transport Alpes-Maritimes). You are able to find an open aisle seat, but the bus is full and the aisle is full with standing passengers. As the bus quickly departs, a man standing in the aisle loses his balance and falls onto you. You kindly help the man to find back up. The grateful man exits the bus at the next stop. Once you return to the Nice central station (Gare de Routiere), you notice that your digital camera is missing from your pocket. The man who fell on you was not knocked off balance, he pretended to fall to gain access to your belongings.
- At the La Fourche metro station, you notice a father and son with luggage waiting on the platform. The train approaches and the father reaches down to collect his baggage. As he bends over, you spot a passerby reach into his back pocket and swipe his wallet.
- You take one of the morning trains from Gare de Nice-Ville to Menton. The train appears to be full with fellow tourists traveling along the Riviera. You recognize the man sitting across from you from the platform. He must be a tourist because he is wearing a baseball cap. The man gets up to walk to another part of the train and he accidentally bumps into you. After 30 minutes, you find it odd that the man did not return and you start to check your belongings only to find that your wallet is missing.
Solution: Instead of carrying money and credit cards in a traditional wallet, carry your belongings more safely in a clip safe wallet that can be worn under your clothing.
Within the City
Within Nice there are organized gangs of street beggars. Groups of women are positioned on the busy streets often with young children or pets or ordinary Frenchmen will sit on the street asking for spare change. The beggars do not pose a personal threat, however it is important to know that the money you give will not always go to the needy.
- You are shopping in the pedestrian zone and decide to enter a shop. You browse the wares and recognize a couple in the shop that you previously saw walking outside on the street. The man keeps standing very close to you. You are uncomfortable, so you leave. Your travel partner makes a purchase and also exits the store. Once you two are together, your partner notices that your purse is open. The man targeted you and followed you into the store.
- You are walking down the Avenue Jean Médecin and a moped speeds by grabbing two full shopping bags. They are driving so quickly that you are unable to read the license plate or chase down the bags.
- You and your friend decide to take a break and enjoy a glass of wine near the Cours Saleya (open-air market) at a street café. You set your purse under the table, so that it is out of sight. Once you have paid the bill and gather your things to leave, you notice that your purse has been stolen.
Solution: Wrap the strap of your purse or bag through a leg of the chair. To avoid someone cutting the strap and taking off with your bag, purchase a travel purse with features such as a slash-proof strap. To keep your purse in eye’s view, you can also utilize a purse hook.
It is a beautiful summer day and your family decides to go to the beach. You rent a few chairs on a public beach and your husband goes for a swim, while you dig into your new book. A group of young men walk by your chair and are speaking loudly in French. You notice the men, but direct your attention back to your book. Once your husband returns from his swim, he becomes excited because he had hidden his wallet under his towel and now it is gone. One of the young men stole it.
Solution: It is difficult to find a good and safe solution for valuables when spending time at the beach. Try carrying your belongings in a lightweight, waterproof waist pack. Carrying your valuables on you is the best way to keep them safe. Alternatively, use a portable, slash-proof travel safe and secure it to your beach chair.
Taxis and Driving
- You decide to take a taxi from the airport to your hotel in Nice. Once you arrive at the hotel, the taxi driver charges 100 Euros for the 20 km trip.
Solution: Negotiate fares with taxi or bus shuttle divers before getting in the vehicle. If the meter is running, try to sit where you can see it in the case that it ‘accidentally’ goes off.
- Many women traveling alone feel safer taking a taxi at night. Under no circumstances get into an unlicensed taxi. There have been reports of rape by unlicensed taxi drivers.
- You have picked up your rental car and you drive on the cautious side, stopping for a yellow light at an intersection. The weather is fantastic and your vacation has just started, so the windows are down and the radio on. Suddenly, two men open the back doors of the car and take your baggage from the back seat. They jump into a car heading in the opposite direction and speed off.
Solution: Always keep car windows up and doors locked at all times. Do not keep belongings in plain sight and never leave luggage, cameras, purses, etc. in the trunk of the car unattended.
- You park your rental car on a side street while you eat dinner in a bistro. When you return to the car, it is no where to be found, it has been stolen. Your search for your cell phone in your purse to call the police, but you notice that the rental car keys are also missing. Someone must have stolen the keys while you were in the restaurant.
Solution: Pay special attention to rental car keys. Because rental cars are marked with the company’s logo, a person on the street can target you and follow you to a second destination to try to steal the keys. Keep valuable objects, such as car rental keys, in a type of portable travel safe – secure in your bag. Many rental car companies will bill you the entire cost of the rental car if it is stolen by losing your keys.
Nice is no more dangerous than other cities in France or western countries, however you can stay avoid becoming a victim of theft or petty crime by staying vigilant, alert and carrying your belongings in proper, protective travel gear. Visit www.corporatetravelsafety.com to see which products would best suit your travel needs.
Our site contains over 100 pages of travel safety tips and security tips that are useful for any traveler. You will find tips involving luggage theft, avoiding pickpockets, laptop theft, hotel burglary, and airplane, train, automobile, and boat travel crimes.
