How to get to Nice? Our tips (plane, train, ferry...)

Nice is located in southeastern France on the Côte d’Azur, on the border with Italy. France’s second-largest tourist destination after Paris, the city is well served by air, rail and road.

Here you’ll find all the practical options for getting to Nice, depending on your point of departure and your preferences.

This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

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Summary: How to get to Nice

Nice location and map

By plane: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)

By train: Nice-City station

By car

By ferry

From nearby Côte d’Azur towns

Getting around Nice

And once in Nice…

Summary: How to get to Nice

If you don’t want to read the whole article:

On the Mediterranean coast in southeastern France, 30km from the Italian border
By plane: Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE) airport, 7km from the city center – direct flights from all over Europe and long-haul connections via connecting flights.
By train: Nice-Ville station, served by TGV from Paris (5h20), Lyon (3h30), Marseille (2h30) and coastal towns such as Cannes (35min) or Antibes (20min).
By car: A8/E80 freeway from France, A10 from Italy
By long-distance bus: connections available here (Bus SNCF and Flixbus)
By ferry: connections from the Port of Nice to Corsica (Bastia, Ajaccio, Calvi, L’Île-Rousse) and Sardinia in season – see timetables.

WHERE TO STAY IN Nice

Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels

On the waterfront, with sea view:
Anantara Hotel – See prices, photos and availability

In the new town, close to the sea:
Hotel Apollinaire, elegant and bright – See prices, photos and availability

In the old town, with all the charm:
AparthotelAMMI Vieux Nice very practical and pleasant – see prices, photos and availability

See our complete selection of the best hotels in Nice

See available accommodation for your dates >>.

Nice location and map

Nice lies on the Mediterranean coast in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, 30km from the Italian border and around 200km west of Marseille. The town backs onto the foothills of the Alps, giving it a dual character: Mediterranean coastline on one side, mountainous hinterland on the other.

This geographical position makes it a natural entry point for exploring the entire Côte d’Azur. Here are the driving times from the main towns in the region:

Cannes is 35 minutes to the west
Antibes 20min away
Monaco just 20min east towards Italy
Aix-en-Provence 2 hours away
Marseille 2h20

map best cities cote azur — View of Nice and the Côte d’Azur from the MAMAC Museum

Good to know: the A8/E80 freeway runs along the coast, linking Nice to Menton to the east and Aix-en-Provence to the west. In summer, allow a little extra time on this route, especially between Cannes and Nice.

OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence

Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
There is a lot of demand, book it early.

See the cars

See our tips

By plane: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)

Airport presentation

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is France’s third busiest airport, after Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Paris-Orly. Located 7km from the city center, it has two terminals and welcomes dozens of airlines. We appreciate its proximity to the city. Outside busy summer periods, the journey to the center takes less than 30 minutes.

The airport operates year-round. There are numerous connections in all seasons, although the offer increases considerably from April to October.

Main air links to NCE

From France: Paris (CDG and Orly), Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Strasbourg – several daily flights year-round.
From Belgium: Brussels-Zaventem (Brussels Airlines, TUI fly), Brussels-Charleroi (Ryanair)
From Switzerland: Geneva and Zurich (easyJet, Swiss)
From Germany: Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf (Lufthansa, Eurowings, Ryanair)
From the UK: London (Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted), Manchester, Bristol (easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair)
From the Netherlands and Scandinavia: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo (KLM, SAS, Norwegian)
Long-haul: connections to New York, Montreal, Doha, Dubai and other destinations via connecting flights

Compare available flights to Nice.

A LITTLE MORE patience

All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in Provence a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!

If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on Provence, subscribe:

Options for getting to the city center from the airport

The airport is 7km from the center of Nice. There are several ways to reach the city, depending on your budget and preferences.

Car rental companies at Nice airport — Nice airport car rental center

By rental car

This is the option we recommend if you want to explore the region beyond Nice. A dedicated rental building (the Car Rental Center) is within walking distance of the terminals, clearly marked with a car logo and key. All the major brands are represented: Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Europcar, as well as local rental companies that are often less expensive. We advise you to book in advance, especially between July and August, as rates rise rapidly and available vehicles are scarce.
Time to center: ~20min
Compare Nice airport rental offers.

By tramway (line 2)

Line 2 of the tramway links the airport directly to the city center, with a stop at each terminal. It serves Nice-City station, Place Masséna and the port. It’s the cheapest and one of the most convenient options for getting to the center without worrying about traffic. We used it easily. The journey is pleasant and the frequency is good (about every 10 minutes).
Time: ~30min to Place Masséna
Cost: approximately €1.50 per trip
See timetables and fares on the Lignes d’Azur website.

By cab

Cabs park outside the exits of both terminals. The rate is set by the meter. Check that the driver engages it on departure. A surcharge applies at night, on Sundays and public holidays.
Duration: ~20min
Cost: €25-40 depending on destination and time of day

Private transfer

For added convenience, especially for families or groups, a private transfer can be booked in advance, allowing you to be met at the terminal exit and taken directly to your accommodation. The cost is per vehicle, not per person, making it worthwhile for three passengers or more.
See available transfers from Nice airport.

DISCOVER Nice

By train: Nice-City station

Introducing the station

Nice-Ville station is the city’s main railway station. It’s centrally located, just a 10-minute walk from the sea and close to the main tourist areas. We appreciate this centrality: as soon as you step off the train, you’re already in the city.

The station is served by TGV and Intercités trains from major French cities, and by regional TER trains from all over the region. International connections are also available from Italy via Ventimiglia.

Main rail links to Nice

From Paris: TGV from Gare de Lyon – about 5h20
From Lyon: TGV – about 3h30
From Marseille: TGV or TER – about 2h30
From Cannes: TER – about 35min
From Antibes: TER – about 20min
From Monaco: TER – about 20min
From Italy (Milan, Genoa): Trenitalia trains via Ventimiglia – allow 3h to 4h from Milan

Search and book your train to Nice.

Good to know: SNCF Connect is also a partner of Flixbus. By searching for your journey on the site, you can also access long-distance bus connections from many French and European cities. This is an interesting option if you’re traveling from a city without a direct TGV connection.

Options from the station to your accommodation

Nice-Ville station is well served by public transport. Line 2 of the tramway stops in the immediate vicinity, linking the station to the seafront in just a few minutes. Cabs park outside the main entrance. If you’d like to rent a car on arrival, rental counters are located to the right of the main entrance, as well as on the opposite side of the street.

Car rental at Nice train station — Car rental companies at Nice-City station

Once rental formalities have been completed, vehicles are collected from a multi-level parking lot adjacent to the station. Plan to drive down a spiral ramp with an unfamiliar vehicle – it’s passable, but it’s best to be prepared.
Compare rental offers at Nice train station.

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By car

From France

The A8 freeway (also known as “la Provençale” or E80) is the main route to Nice from the rest of France. It runs along the coast from Aix-en-Provence, serving Cannes, Antibes and Nice successively. The road is well signposted and presents no particular difficulties, except in summer when traffic jams are frequent between Cannes and Nice, especially on Friday evenings and Saturdays.

From Marseille: approx. 2h30 via the A8 motorway
From Lyon: approx. 4h30 via the A7 then the A8
From Paris: approx. 7 hours via the A6, then the A7 and A8

From Italy

From Italy, the A10 freeway (Autoroute des Fleurs) links Genoa to the French border at Ventimiglia, where it joins the A8 to Nice. The scenery on this stretch is particularly beautiful, especially between Bordighera and Menton. Allow around 3h from Milan and 1h30 from Genoa.

A8 freeway toll to Nice — Tolls on the A8 towards Nice

By ferry

The Port of Nice (Port Lympia) is the departure point for regular services to Corsica and, in season, to Sardinia. This is an option we particularly appreciate if you’re traveling with your own car, or if you’re combining your stay in Nice with an island getaway.

Corsica Ferries and La Méridionale operate crossings to Bastia, Ajaccio, Calvi and L’Île-Rousse. Crossing times vary according to destination and type of ferry: allow around 3h30 to Bastia by fast ferry (seasonal), and 5h to 7h by classic ferry. Departures are usually in the evening or early at night, so you can save a night’s accommodation if you arrive in Corsica early in the morning. In high season, ferries fill up fast, especially for weekend crossings with vehicles. We recommend booking several weeks in advance between June and August. Seasonal connections to Porto Torres in Sardinia are also available in certain years, depending on the company.

See times and availability.

Driving and parking in Nice

Nice is a big city, and traffic can be heavy in the city center, especially in summer. We recommend that you park your car on arrival and use public transport to get around the city. Numerous pay parking lots are available in tourist areas.

If you plan to rent a car just to explore the region from Nice, we recommend that you pick it up directly from the airport or train station on arrival.

Read our article on how to rent a car in Nice.

From nearby Côte d’Azur towns

From Cannes

Cannes is 35km from Nice. The TER train is the easiest solution: about 35min from Cannes station, with frequent departures throughout the day. By car, the journey takes around 40min out of traffic, but traffic jams are common on the A8 in high season. We prefer the train for this journey.

From Antibes

Antibes is 20km from Nice. The TER connects the two towns in 20 minutes, with high frequency on this line. This is a very practical option for a day trip in either direction.

From Monaco

The Principality of Monaco lies 20km east of Nice, in the direction of Italy. The TER train is also the fastest option: about 20min from Nice-Ville station to Monaco-Monte-Carlo. By car, the journey is pleasant, but traffic can be heavy near the border.

It’s time to book!
Compare everything: companies, prices, schedules and availability.

From Marseille

From Marseille, the TGV or TER connects the two cities in around 2 hours 30 minutes. By car, allow the same time outside busy periods. We recommend the train to avoid tolls and summer traffic jams on the A8.

Search for your train journey to Nice.

View of the Bay of Nice from the Colline du Château

Getting around Nice

Once in Nice, the public transport network covers the entire city and surrounding area. We use it regularly and find it reliable and practical for most tourist trips.

Tramway: three lines serve the city’s main routes – line 1 crosses the center from east to west, line 2 links the airport to the port, line 3 serves the northwest.
Bus: the Lignes d’Azur network complements the tramway and serves outlying districts and towns.
Self-service bicycles: Vélo Bleu stations are available throughout the city
Car: useful for out-of-town excursions, but impractical for getting around the city center in summer.

Consult lines, timetables and fares on the Lignes d’Azur website.

And once in Nice…

Once you’ve arrived in Nice, there’s plenty to explore! The town combines historical heritage, museums, beaches and gastronomy in a remarkable Mediterranean setting.