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Crime in Nice
Located on the southeastern coast of France, Nice is a go-to Mediterranean destination, drawing in roughly 4 million visitors every year. The tourist boom has fueled the city’s infrastructure, making its airport the third busiest in the nation and catapulting its hotel industry to the second largest in France.
While the city has a fairly good reputation for safety, it’s important to keep your guard up. Crime isn’t just a nighttime issue; it happens around the clock. Approximately 33,000 criminal incidents are reported each year, ranging from petty theft to more serious offenses. So, whether you’re out and about in broad daylight or exploring the city’s night scene, it pays to stay alert.
In terms of firearms, Nice is relatively calm, especially considering France’s lenient gun laws. Even though the country ranks high in civilian gun ownership compared to other European nations, gun-related crimes in Nice are on the lower end.
Lastly, about the city’s nightlife—prostitution becomes notably visible on the main ‘Promenade des Anglais’ and in the western section of Nice as the sun sets. While it doesn’t pose a direct threat to tourists, these areas are hotspots for other types of crime. So if you find yourself in these neighborhoods after dark, it’s strongly advised to avoid walking alone.
Knowing the local emergency numbers can be life-saving. In France, the general emergency number is 112. For police, it’s 17; medical help, 15; and fire, 18.
Street Theft
As with most cities across Europe, petty crime is not uncommon in Nice. Pickpockets are operating across the city and they tend to target popular tourist locations. Thieves are known to ride around on scooters which will allow them to ride up close enough and snatch your bag, iPhone or watch.
Pickpockets rarely work alone, and often adopt the ‘crush’ technique which involves a member ‘crushing’ against you in a crowded environment whilst another member of the gang reaches for your belongings. When carrying bags/purses, be sure to wear them across the body.
Organized thieves are known to stalk their victims from a safe distance before snatching their bag and making their getaway on an unregistered scooter. The aim of this type of crime is to catch the victim off-guard and they usually grab your bag or jewelry and vanish in a matter of seconds.
Car Door Grab
Nice is also infamous for another kind of street robbery known as the Vol a la Portere, or the Car Door Grab. This usually occurs at traffic lights or in a car park and involves the victim’s car door being forcibly opened and having their valuables snatched. Tourists in rental cars are often the target of this type of crime. On one occasion even the local Mayor had an attempted ‘vol a la portere’ when he was parked on the promenade!
It is not advisable to drive around Nice due to the high degree of traffic and the inability to park; however, if you are driving around Nice, be extra cautious when stopping your vehicle, in particular at red lights. Thieves have been known to pull up alongside your vehicle whilst on a scooter and steal any belongings on show (this even happened to Nice’s mayor!); hence the advice would be to keep all personal belongings out of sight and keep your doors locked at all times.
Theft on Public Transportation
Towards the end of an evening, railway stations can become a criminal hotspot; in particular the West side of the city (Nice – Cannes – Marseille) known for its bad reputation, many of the stations are un-manned and often empty after around 10pm therefore anyone travelling alone would be highly vulnerable.
Pickpockets are very active on the trams/trains and in tourist areas. They operate in groups, usually offering to help you buy a ticket, to distract you and then take what they can.
Here’s a tip from a reader: “If anyone comes up to help you, especially young girls, they are not being friendly at all – I am in Nice on holiday at the moment and one of them offered to ‘help me’ buy my train ticket from the automatic train distributor at the train station. She took my credit card out of my pocket when I boarded the train, within 5 minutes they had tried to withdraw €300 from a bank machine.”
The tramway line connecting to Nice Airport has become a hotbed for pickpockets, particularly targeting travelers. Local news reports indicate that it’s not uncommon for tourists to find themselves at the airport missing not just personal items but, alarmingly, their passports as well. Similarly, the railway station and packed trains present ripe environments for pickpocketing activities. So whether you’re coming or going, it’s crucial to keep a vigilant eye on your belongings.
Most Dangerous Areas
The areas that are the most dangerous for theft are all the touristy areas, so be vigilant no matter where you are. The most dangerous areas for violent crime is the eastern area above the highway and near the river that borders the west side of Nice. Both are areas you wouldn’t normally visit, as a tourist.
Certain residential neighborhoods in Nice, such as L’Ariane , Les Moulins , and La Trinite , are considered less safe. In particular, L’Ariane has such a rough reputation that many taxi drivers refuse to go there. These neighborhoods are mostly situated in the northern part of the city, far from the tourist-friendly waterfront and charming cobbled streets of Vieux Nice.
Safest Areas
For those seeking a more “authentic” Nice experience through an Airbnb or apartment in a residential area, there are many options around the harbor, in Old Nice, in Jean-Médecin or, if you want quiet at night, in the upscale residential area of Cimiez , with its green streets and Belle-Époque villas.
Latest Update
According to the French Interior Ministry, the number of crimes committed in the Alpes-Maritimes increased by 28% from 2021 to 2022.
July 2024 news report: Nice has witnessed a night of violence with gunshots and burnt-out vehicles. Police intervened on Monday evening, shortly before midnight after shots were fired in the east of the city on the Boulevard de l’Ariane. Two people were arrested and two vehicles with weapons inside were discovered after several individuals fled on foot.
Readers Experiences
“Nice-What a beautiful city. Unfortunately, there seem to be plenty of people there who can ruin your trip in a heartbeat. My fiancée and I stopped in Nice last Thursday to take a dip in the beautiful Mediterranean on our way to San Remo, Italy. We parked our car in the underground garage (close to the Opera house) for approximately 1 hour, and voila, someone decided to break into our rental car (Swiss plates) and stole my briefcase (computer, wallet, most of my credit cards, etc.) and my fiancée’s purse (cash, credit cards, etc.). Thank God I had our passports, my corporate Amex and my drivers license in my shorts pocket. Unfortunately, before we could cancel our cards, the #$%*^ crooks were able to charge over $1800 US on games, game cubes, electronics. We actually paid a visit to one of the stores they “shopped” in and the manager said “Why yes, I remember the 2 gentlemen using your cards. They’ve shopped in here before.” I have to say, the Nice police were very nice (even brought in a translator, thanks Allison and Corrine) and the report we generated together has come in very handy (banks, employers, credit agencies really need them). You’d be amazed how many others were at the PD that day describing various scenarios of petty theft. The perps are everywhere and seem to be experts. I’m imagining there’s an official Club paid for by tourists like you and me. Be careful, lock yourself in while driving, stay off your cell phone around others, and don’t take your personal property for granted. It can leave you very quickly.”
“I was in Europe at the end of June and July and looked on Trip Advisor all the time to get ideas, suggestions, etc. I was warned of pickpockets in Rome and other destinations but I was not prepared for what happened in Nice. I was sitting in the passenger side of a car when all of a sudden the door opened. I was stunned and didn’t know what was happening because all I saw was the open door. Seconds later a crouching man with a mask over his face appeared inches away from me. As I was screaming fear and shock, he moved around quickly, eventually grabbing my purse, running away and hopping on to a scooter waiting for him a few feet away. I spent a good part of the rest of the day going from police station to police station being told “that happens a lot here”. I was finally able to fill out a report and leave, without of course recovering anything or, sadly to say, getting much help at all. I’m not sharing this to deter anyone from going to Nice because it’s a beautiful city that I have visited many times. I only want to share what happened to me. You really have to be aware of your surroundings and vigilant about your belongings (I was not the only one reporting a theft when I was at the police station). I wish I had read something about this before my trip. Yes, I was in vacation mode and yes I was a tourist but it was and still is a big shock to have had my personal space invaded in such a way. All I can say now is make sure the doors are locked (many cars don’t lock automatically from the inside), keep your windows up (there’s a good chance my friend slid his hand through the window and opened the door from the inside) and just be aware that there are people who steal for a living and if they see their chance they’ll take it. I don’t mean to scare anyone but I’d rather scare you with my words than for you to have the same experience I did.”
Learn More
Check out our expert tips about how to avoid crime on the French Riviera, and learn about gassings and home invasions.
Here is a detailed crime analysis, broken down by city: