Flights from Nice to Spain from 34GBP*

Travel to Spain from Nice

At around 1 hour and 20 minutes, the flight from Nice to Barcelona is the shortest way into Spain, one of 20 Spanish destinations Vueling flies to direct. From there the Mediterranean coast, Andalusia, the islands and the Atlantic north all open up.

Spain’s Mediterranean coast is much like the French Riviera, which makes the rainy Atlantic north and the volcanic Canary Islands feel all the more different. With distances this short, a weekend is enough to get to know one city, and a week lets you take in 2 or 3.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain and France are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so French and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa.

Even though there are no border checks between the 2 countries, you must carry your documents with you throughout the trip and make sure they have not expired before you book. Children travelling with you need their own documents too. With the European Health Insurance Card, you are covered for public healthcare in Spain. If you hold a non-EU nationality, check what applies to you on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Spain

Getting into town. There is no need to book a transfer, because the main airports are well connected. In Barcelona, where the flight from Nice lands after 1 hour and 20 minutes, the Aerobús and metro line 9 Sud take less than half an hour to reach the centre. In Madrid, the metro links the terminals with Nuevos Ministerios, while Cercanías commuter trains serve Atocha. In Málaga, the commuter train serves the centre and the Costa del Sol, and in Palma the shuttle bus covers the 8 km into the old town.

Mealtimes. This is the biggest change from France. Lunch in Spain is between 14:00 and 16:00 and dinner starts from 21:00, with many kitchens closed until then. A restaurant at 19:30 will be empty or shut, so plan your first day around it.

High-speed rail. The AVE links Barcelona, the shortest hop from Nice, with Madrid in about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and Madrid is the hub for lines to Málaga, Seville and Valencia. Stations are right in the city centres, which makes it easy to link 2 or 3 cities without returning to the airport in between.

Climate by region. The Mediterranean coast has hot, dry summers. The north, from Bilbao to Galicia, is Atlantic and rainy all year round, while the interior goes above 40 degrees in August. The Canary Islands keep a steady temperature.

The currency is the euro, and Spain uses type C and F plugs, at 230V. In tourist areas, French is fairly widely understood, as is English.

What to do in Spain

City breaks: Barcelona and Madrid

In Barcelona, just 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nice, Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter sit alongside the Boqueria market on the Ramblas and a beach inside the city. Madrid, about 2 hours away by air, packs the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía into less than a kilometre, and Toledo and Segovia are under an hour away by train.

Andalusia

Seville, over 2 hours and 30 minutes from Nice by air, has courtyards lined with orange trees, the Real Alcázar, the Giralda and flamenco in Triana, and it is at its best in spring or autumn, when temperatures are milder. Granada is home to the Alhambra and the Generalife, Córdoba to the Mosque-Cathedral, and Málaga to the Picasso Museum and the Costa del Sol.

The Canary Islands

Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura keep a steady temperature all year. Expect volcanic landscapes, black and white sand beaches, Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, and Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote, where you can explore a striking field of lava.

The Balearic Islands and the green north

Palma de Mallorca, on a coast much like the Riviera, pairs the Serra de Tramuntana with a Gothic cathedral facing the sea, while Ibiza adds its coves and its nightlife. At the other end of the country, Bilbao shows off Atlantic Spain, with the pintxos of the Casco Viejo and the Guggenheim.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

The fare you pick at booking sets how much luggage you can take. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend city break, cabin luggage is usually enough. For a week on the coast or the islands, you will need more space and may have to check a bag. See the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.