What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Nice?
Emergency number
112
Police: 17.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: air-dr.com, adrianleeds.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 112 as your default emergency number while in Nice — operators are trained to take the call in English, which is often easier for visitors than navigating 15/17/18 directly.
- If your phone buzzes with a loud, unfamiliar alert tone anywhere in Nice, that is likely FR-Alert (the government's cell-broadcast warning system) — it means there's a genuine nearby hazard and you should check for on-screen instructions.
- If your emergency call gets a callback from 0 800 112 112, answer it — it's the official dispatcher callback line, not spam or a scam.
- For any life-threatening emergency in Nice (or France generally), call 15 (SAMU) for medical emergencies or 112 (EU-wide emergency number); Hôpital Pasteur 2 explicitly instructs to call 15 rather than walk in unannounced for a vital emergency.
- Hôpital Pasteur 2 is the main adult general/trauma ER for the city and is open 24/7; if you're an adult with a serious injury, this is the default hospital taxis and ambulances will head to.
- If it's a child needing emergency care, the CHU directs families to the Lenval pediatric hospital rather than Pasteur 2.
- EU/EEA/Swiss visitors should carry their EHIC (or UK GHIC) card; non-EU nomads should confirm their travel insurance covers French public hospital emergency care, as CHU Nice is a public teaching hospital system and will bill accordingly.
Emergency Numbers
- Country
- France
Police
- Number
- 17
- Description
- For crime in progress, theft, assault, or a road incident with a dispute.
Medical Samu
- Number
- 15
- Description
- SAMU medical emergency dispatch, for life-threatening illness or injury (e.g. cardiac/respiratory emergency, severe bleeding, stroke).
Important Notes
- Do not call 911 — it does not work in France.
- These national short numbers (15, 17, 18, 112, 114) only work while you are physically inside France; they are not reachable from a foreign network.
- Since October 2024, if a French emergency dispatcher calls you back, the number that appears is 0 800 112 112 — this is legitimate, not a scam.
Deaf Hard Of Hearing
- Number
- 114
- Description
- National number reachable by SMS, fax, real-time text, or video relay (LSF) for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or unable to speak on a call.
Fire Brigade Pompiers
- Number
- 18
- Description
- For fire, gas leak, road accident, or a person trapped. In practice the pompiers often arrive fastest and are trained first responders for many medical emergencies too.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- Works from any phone in France (including foreign mobiles, locked phones, or phones without a SIM/credit), free of charge, and connects you to police, fire, or medical services depending on your need. Operators are trained to handle calls in English.
Recommended Official Safety Apps
Ma Sécurité
- Cost
- Free
- Publisher
- French Ministry of the Interior
- Description
- Official police/gendarmerie app offering a 24/7 chat with an officer, a map of nearby police stations and gendarmerie posts, safety advice, and the ability to file certain complaints (theft, fraud, harassment) online. An international, multi-language version was released for the 2024 Olympics.
FR-Alert
- Cost
- Free / automatic
- Publisher
- French government (Ministry of the Interior, via cell-broadcast technology)
- Description
- This is not an app to download — it is the current national population-warning system that pushes alerts directly to any phone within range of cell towers in a danger zone (e.g. severe weather, major incident), with a distinct sound even on silent mode. It is the successor to the older SAIP alert app and works automatically on modern Android/iOS phones with default settings.
Hospitals
Hôpital Pasteur 2 (CHU De Nice) — Service d'Accueil Des Urgences / SAMU-SMUR
- Phone
- +33 4 92 03 77 77
- Hours
- Emergency department (urgences polyvalentes) open 24 hours a day, every day
- Address
- 30, Avenue de la Voie Romaine, CS 51069, 06001 Nice Cedex 1
- Trauma Level Designation
- Level 1 Trauma Center (designated 'Trauma Center de niveau 1') for severe polytrauma patients, run out of the SRUV (Service de Réanimation des Urgences Vitales) within Pasteur 2
- Notes
- This is the main public general/adult emergency and trauma hospital for Nice, part of the CHU de Nice university hospital system; access via tram Line 1 (arrêt Hôpital Pasteur) or bus lines 8/22/18/59/32.
Hôpitaux Pédiatriques De Nice CHU – Lenval
- Phone
- +33 4 92 03 03 03
- Hours
- Dedicated pediatric emergency department; general emergency intake line listed by CHU de Nice for children's emergencies
- Address
- 57, Avenue de la Californie, 06200 Nice
- Trauma Level Designation
- Not separately designated with a numeric trauma level in available CHU documentation — functions as the CHU de Nice's dedicated pediatric emergency/trauma referral hospital for children
- Notes
- This is where children requiring emergency care in Nice are directed, separate from the adult ER at Pasteur 2.
Healthcare
- Overview
- France has a world-class public healthcare system. In Nice, both public and private healthcare are available.
- Emergency
- Dial 15 (SAMU) or 112 for emergency medical assistance.
- Booking System
- Doctolib is the standard online platform for booking healthcare appointments in Nice and France.
- Dentist Availability
- Dentists are in lower supply than in Paris, often resulting in longer wait times. Many locals opt to visit dentists in nearby cities like Cannes or Antibes.
- GP Accessibility Challenges
- Like much of France, Nice has experienced a decline in general practitioner availability, with many doctors retiring and fewer new practitioners replacing them. Depending on neighborhood, securing a GP appointment may require planning or willingness to travel.
Public System
- Wait Times
- Public services tend to come with longer wait times compared to private care.
- English Support
- Public hospitals have fewer English-speaking staff than private providers.
- Description
- State-run hospitals and clinics provide universal healthcare to residents and eligible visitors. EU citizens with EHIC cards can access care at reduced cost. Non-EU visitors should have travel insurance.
Private System
- English Support
- Many private doctors in Nice speak English; same-day appointments often available.
- Private Doctor Visit Cost
- €50
- Note
- Private costs typically €25–€70; paid upfront then reimbursed via travel insurance.
- Description
- Private doctors and clinics are accessible and often preferred for speed and convenience.
Hospitals In Nice
Hôpital Cimiez
- Type
- Public general hospital
- Address
- 4 avenue Reine Victoria, 06000 Nice
Hôpital Lenval
- Type
- Public pediatric and general hospital
- Address
- 57 avenue Californie, 06200 Nice
Clinique De Cimiez
- Type
- Private clinic
- Address
- 10 Avenue Villebois Mareuil, 06000 Nice
Pharmacies
- Overview
- Pharmacies (pharmacies) are widely available throughout Nice. They are common, accessible, and play a central role in French healthcare.
- Services
- Pharmacies dispense medications, provide healthcare advice, and often have extended hours. Many staff members speak English in central Nice areas.
- Availability
- Pharmacies are numerous and conveniently located in residential and commercial areas across the city.
- Identification
- Look for the green cross (croix verte) signage on storefronts.
- Note
- Pharmacies are accessible within short walking distance in most populated areas of Nice.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Nice
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.