For your next stay on the Côte d'Azur, you want to identify the areas of Nice to avoid in order to choose accommodation in one of the best areas.
It may be surprising to bring up insecurity in this beautiful city because Nice is not a big city like London , Marseille or Paris.
However, it must be realized that Nice is not as sure as it would like to make it appear. Indeed, even if everything is done to reassure tourists and the people of Nice (cameras, police, communication from the Municipality), Nice is unfortunately a city where there is insecurity in certain places.
This is what I myself was able to discover when I organized my little tourist weekend in Nice. As usual, I studied the different neighborhoods to avoid choosing my hotel in a dangerous area of Nice.
My sources of information were multiple: press articles, local and national media, rankings and statistics on the Internet.
You will therefore find below a summary of information on the main places to avoid in the city with (to locate them) the map of the districts of Nice.
Nice dangerous city in 2024?
No, no more so than other tourist cities. In fact, if we compare it with other French cities, for the past two years, Nice has no longer been among the 20 most dangerous cities in France according to the ville-data ranking.
To assess the level of insecurity in Nice, this ranking compares all crimes with other municipalities of similar size. According to the most recent indicators, Nice ranks 79th out of 373 cities with more than 22500 inhabitants in terms of crimes and misdemeanors per inhabitant.
However, analysis of delinquency figures in Nice reveals a complex reality. While certain categories of delinquency have seen an encouraging decline, others have seen a worrying increase. Indeed, if burglaries are decreasing, insecurity in general is increasing as is the rate of intentional assault and battery.
Now let's compare the level of crime in Nice with other European cities:
According to the latest Numbeo ranking , Nice will be among the most crime-ridden cities in Europe in 2024. With a crime index of 55.74, Nice ranks 14th out of 132 European cities.
In comparison, Nice is more dangerous than Brussels , Toulouse , Lille and Palermo.
Is Nice safe for tourists?
Even if there is insecurity in Nice, the acts of violence are not directed towards tourists. They are mainly generated by tensions between rival gangs and because of drug trafficking.
In addition, they are concentrated outside the center of Nice and only in certain sensitive areas.
In fact, apart from a few difficult areas, Nice is not dangerous for either tourists or locals! Of course, provided you avoid the few neighborhoods that we will detail below.
Visitors therefore have no fear in going to enjoy the city's tourist sites (see how to visit Nice ).
It would be a shame not to enjoy this magnificent city (beaches, old Nice, flower market, Promenade des Anglais, Château hill, palaces).
Neighborhoods to avoid in the center of Nice
While these neighborhoods are problem-free during the day, certain areas should be avoided in the center of Nice at night:
- Arson and Riquier district ;
- The area around the Michel Bridge and around the Station at night;
- Neighborhoods Pastor and Saint Roch ;
- French Street which is the red light district of Nice (poorly frequented at night);
- Rue Trachéal, Rue Vernier and the old districts of Nice are also areas to avoid after a certain time.
But the least safe districts of Nice are mainly located around the public housing projects (L'Ariane, Les Moulins, Les Liserons, Las Planas, Bateco, le Vallon des Fleurs, Balcon du Ray): See list of the most dangerous districts below below:
The most dangerous neighborhoods in Nice
Ariane – Dangerous city of Nice
Some say that L'Ariane is the most dangerous neighborhood in Nice. Classified as a priority neighborhood, L'Ariane is actually a housing project located in the northeast of the city. See the location of this neighborhood
Las Planas: Neighborhood at risk
Located in the north of the city, Las Planas is also considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Nice. This area is regularly plagued by shootings and drug trafficking, making it particularly dangerous for residents and visitors. It is therefore best to avoid investing in real estate or looking for accommodation in this neighborhood. See the location of this neighborhood .
Les Moulins – Sensitive area
Another priority neighborhood, part of Nice's designated sensitive areas, is Les Moulins. This neighborhood is located in the southwest of Nice, right next to the international airport. See the location of this neighborhood.
Les Liserons another district to avoid in Nice
The Liserons district is located in the northeast of Nice. It is a housing estate that is part of the Roquebilière district. See the location of this district
It is a neighborhood where violence is increasingly present: drug trafficking, settling of scores, shootings ...
See the France Bleu article: " High tensions between communities in the Liserons district ", the CNews article or the article on Le Figaro.
Best areas to stay in Nice
Whether you are on an internship, on a professional trip, on vacation or looking for accommodation, it is better to choose your apartment or hotel in one of the best areas of Nice:
- The Mont Boron district
- Cimiez
- The Liberation district
- Gairaut
- The Valrose District
- Gambetta Flowers
- Promenade des Anglais
- Center of Nice
Most beautiful district of Nice
For those looking for luxury, haute couture boutiques and above all the most majestic palaces, the Carré d'Or district is what you need.
Indeed, it is in this district that you will find the most beautiful addresses in Nice: The Negresco palace , the Casino in the Mediterranean palace, the Massena museum.
Best neighborhoods to visit Nice
Neighborhood of the old town of Nice
This historic district of Nice is the favorite area for tourists.
Indeed, it's a must-see destination brimming with sights to visit, entertainment, restaurants, bars, and shops. See the location of Nice's Old Town.
The Port district
Due to its proximity to the old town of Nice, the Port district is quite nice for a tourist stay.
The Gambetta district
This small neighborhood is located on the seafront, on the Bay of Angels. It's a residential area that has become very popular with tourists. See the location of this neighborhood.
Where to choose your hotel in Nice?
It is difficult to recommend a district to choose a hotel there because everything will depend on your budget and your type of stay.
Having said that, for those looking for a nice hotel in a safe area, facing the beach but with a decent price, I recommend:
If you are planning a holiday on the French Riviera , make a little detour to the Hyères Islands!