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July 17, 2020Nice Côte d’Azur Airport Spotting Guide
- last modified on December 18, 2023
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE/LFMN) is located 6km southwest of the heart of Nice and serves as the gateway for the whole region – mainly the Cote d’Azur. It handles 14,5 million passenger per year roughly and is not only the home to Air France and sister airlines, also a hub for EasyJet. Furthermore, some other major European, African and Arabian carrier serve Nice and even some intercontinental airlines offer flights to Northern America or Arabia. Apart from this the airport is also commonly approached by cargo carriers such as ASL, FedEx or DHL freighters and is sometimes used by firefighter planes for refuling. In addition, NCE is one of the busiest business jet destinations especially during Cannes Film Festival, F1 Monaco Grand Prix and summer, when many VIPs come to visit the Cote d’Azur. Thereby summer is a great time to catch many bizzer movements: from PC12 and Gulfstream, to A319 ACJ and sometimes even A340s…
Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Eric Verplanken (local spotter) and Justin Stöckel. Last Update: December 2023 (Spot 3 updated)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 04R/22L | 2.960m / 9.711ft |
| 04L/22R | 2.570m / 8.432 ft |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | The northerneastern one: Star Alliance and most One World airlines as well as European carriers without alliance and intercontinental airlines as Air Transat for example. |
| Terminal 2 | The southwestern one: Air France and sister airlines as well as other SkyTeam (intercontinental airlines as Delta or also Emirates) carriers and some African/Middle East + cheaper airlines. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Only needed for apron shots. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not really needed as bus and tram stations are very close to spots 2 – 4. Spot 1 can be easily reached by bus. |
| Restrooms | Malls and shops are close to every spot, so there are plenty possible facilities. |
| Drinks/Food | Malls and shops are close to every spot, so there are plenty possible facilities. |
| Hotels | All around the airport are some, however the best option are the “Oiseau Bleu apartments” in the northwest as their apartments offer great runway/apron views like THIS. |
| Season | Definitely summer as you will have more business jets and can use spots 1 and 2. In winter spotting is almost impossible – therfore summer is horrible with harsh heat haze. |
| Security | Nothing special here. Only keep a low profile when being at the fence at spot #3 when there are movements as VIPs mostl don’t like to be photographed. Otherwise everything is cool here. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 04L/22R | Mainly used for arrivals from both directions. |
| 04R/22L | Mainly used for departures into both directions. |
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Spot #1 – Boat club – ARR and DEP 04 + Heavy DEP 22 |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is Nice’s most famous location. It is located east of “Plage Cousteau” on a little “terrace” on a rocky dam. Just next to the boat club “Club var Mer” you will find some sheds and behind them on the airport side the paved viewing terrace. Hard to explain, easy to find! However, parking can be tricky: either for free just in front/next to the mentioned boat club or close to the nearby Cap3000 mall, where you can park up to 3h without of charge. By public transport just use one of the many buses services that runs to the mall. |
| WHAT | Arrivals as well as Line-Ups on 04 runways + heavy 22 departures – small aircraft will already be too high here. |
| TIME | Summer only later afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | Heat haze is a massive problem here. Runway shots are mostly not even heat hazeless at/till sunset, so rather take pictures when the incoming planes are above water (after it’s too late). This is close to a club’s property, so behave well and don’t leave any rubbish behind nor be noisy! Be happy to be given the chance to spot from here! Everything you need can be found in the nearby mall. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200-400mm A380 = 230mm / B737 = 285mm |
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Spot #2 – Promenade des Anglais – Heavy DEP 04 |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot can be found by the roadside of “Promenade des Anglais”. The best position is around the Ibis hotel as the aircraft are already above the fence, but still nicely low. However, you can choose your favourite position yourself. Parking is possible by the roadsides around here – even just along the mentioned promenade street here. By public transport use the tram and get off a Parc Phoenix. From there it is just a short walk. |
| WHAT | Heavy 04 departures – small aircraft will already be too high and bank here. 22 Arrivals may be possible here if they aren’t too low already. |
| TIME | Summer only later afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing additional needed, but some facilities around. Take care of furious drivers! Spotting is tricky here as you have to shoot between the palms and lamps. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm A380 = 135mm |
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| WHAT | |
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| MISC. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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Spot #4 – Park de Carras – 22R Arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot can be found just next to/around a little local park called “Park de Carras”. It can be reached easily from “Promenade des Anglais”, which you just have to leave to the east a few meters north of the end of the airfield. Then get into the park and walk along the driveway to the waterfront and search your favourite position around here. By public transport use the tram and get off a Ferber / Promenade. From there it is just a short walk. If you come by car you can park at the side roads. |
| WHAT | 22R Arrivals only. |
| TIME | Summer only later afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing additional needed, but some facilities around. Take care of boats and other drivers! This is not your property – behave well, take your rubbish and park correctly! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-400mm A319 = 310mm / B744 = 175mm |
| Boat spotting | |
|---|---|
| WHERE | As spotting from land at LFMN is nearly impossible in the morning, there is a possibility if you have a friend owning a boat near Nice, or if you can hire a boat at the Saint-Laurent du Var harbour. This harbour is very near to the airport or Cap3000 shopping centre (15-minute walk from shopping center). So this spot in the end is out at the sea, outside the area marked with yellow buoys around 300meters from the land. There are several shops that can hire boats, but it’s very wise to book in advance especially in summer:
However, you can for sure search your own prefered rental service, these are just tips such as the ones in the MISC box! |
| WHAT | 22R Arrivals only. |
| TIME | Whole day. Prefer May, June or September. Early morning is the best as the wakes from tourist boats are not yet installed. The wakes give the spotting action less comfortable. |
| MISC. | Prices may appear expensive, but if you are a group of 4 or 5 people, it is very manageable. You can hire with or without captain if you have the adequate licence. Be aware of heat haze! Take enough drinks, food and sun screen with you!
Never beach to the airport, it is strictly forbidden and you face very high fines. A small boat is enough to sail around the airport during half a day or the whole day. Avoid sailing when the wind is coming from west (Mistral) as the sea would be too rough to spot in comfort. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Totally depends on your exact position, but mostly… 50-100mm (helicopters), 100-300mm (planes) |
I just recently visited spot number one and had a great view on the a380 etc especially with the runway layout it makes for great spotting trip
On the occasion of my visit in July 2024 the Police arrived. They told me that it is forbidden to go down to the beach. But taking photos from the platform there are no problems.
Spot 1 is forbidden to access.Coming from the beach or the boat club clearly states “ACCESS INERDIT”. Pitty.
Yes, there is a sign. It is mainly to discourage people to go into the natural reserve of the mouth of the river Var…. but no problem for staying on the platform for spotting!
So I have another spot to take some pictures, there is a bar at cap 3000 with a balcony where is points directly towards the runways ( only one side ) and a bit of taxi ways
Hi, I am not sure but I think spot 1 is the better option as you are closer to the runway. Sight should be similar.
-Julian
This place is a shit, all the airport is a shit, in winter you can’t do any photos, never came back again.
Advice: go to cannes is more intresting
Next time you should read our guide BEFORE your visit 😉
-Julian
Spot #3 now has a second fence so not possible to take shots of bizjet using live view over the perimeter fence.
Thanks for the hint Daniel. I left a note.
-Julian
On Spot#1, in summer don’t expect to take good photos before 3PM (You should be disappointed with hard back light). And don’t forget: never go down to the beach ! It’s a birds sanctuary (Natura 2000).
Thats correct. You should not go at any of the positions before afternoon.
-Julian
NCE is not a water bomber base, they only come for refuel time to time. You won’t see any CL415 or Dash in Colman days.
Thats right, I have changed the text.
-Julian
As usual thank you for this good review. It seems there is still a restaurant on the top floor of the terminal’s public area or am I wrong? Thank you for your clarification.
Hi Daniel!
Actually we don’t know for sure neither so we will have to wait for someone to check it out… Hope to be able to answer this question soon, unluckily as off now we can’t – sorry.
All the best,
Sev
Thanks. Anyway the halcyon days of NCE are over, as they are for most formerly nice facilities. I remember the old terminal where I visalized Brigitte Bardot going up the stairs…