Getting around the Côte d'Azur

All the practical information you need for getting around the Côte d’Azur!

Travelling by bus on the Côte d’Azur!

If you don’t have a car, the bus is a cost-effective alternative!

There are numerous bus companies operating across the Côte d’Azur. The Zou! regional express services will take you between the major towns on the Côte d’Azur. You can check routes and timetables at https://www.info-ler.fr. The Côte d’Azur bus networks also offer numerous inter-town and inter-village services.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, visit www.lignedazur.com and in the Var, www.varlib.fr.

From Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, tram line 2 will take you to Nice city centre in 30 minutes.

By choosing the Ticket Azur, you can travel for a flat fare of €1.70 across the entire network (buses and trams). You can buy your tickets at ticket offices, on board buses, from ticket machines and from authorised retailers. When it comes to fares, choose a book of tickets for between 1 and 100 journeys.

Don’t forget to validate your ticket every time you board to ensure you’re travelling legally.

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Local train arrival in Nice — ©
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Travelling by train on the Côte d’Azur!

The train: the best option for speed!

Most of the coastal towns on the Côte d’Azur have an SNCF station. Services run regularly, with trains every half hour at certain times of the day. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery! The Regional Express Trains (TER) provide a fast connection between all the major towns on the French Riviera, from Hyères to Menton via Monaco. Check the timetables on the SNCF website. A great deal for families or groups of friends: opt for the Tourist Pass. From 1 June to 30 September, for €16 per person, travel freely on Regional Express Trains (TER) for a whole day within the Alpes-Maritimes department. If you wish, you can choose to travel across two departments (Alpes-Maritimes and Var) for €32. Up to eight travelling companions can benefit from this offer.

Also worth discovering: the Train des Merveilles, which runs from Nice to Tende, and the Train des Chemins de fer de Provence, which runs from Nice to Digne-les-Bains.

Great transport tips for the Côte d’Azur!

It’s possible to get around the Côte d’Azur without a car by combining bus and train journeys.

To make travelling easier, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region has launched the SUD Mobilité portal, a one-stop route-finding website also available via an app.

With SUD Mobilité, find the best routes for travelling around the Côte d’Azur by combining regional trains (TER), buses and coaches. Check the timetables in advance.

Find out more about SUD Mobilité!

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Nice Côte d'Azur Airport — ©
O. Puydebois - Côte d’Azur France

THE NICE SAINT-AUGUSTIN-AIRPORT MULTIMODAL HUB

A fully-fledged multimodal hub has been created to make getting around Nice easier! With this new St-Augustin station, several modes of transport will be brought together in a single location.

The transport hub offers comprehensive intermodal connections, enabling links between tram and aeroplane (direct access to the airport), tram and bus (urban and inter-city buses), tram and train (TGV and TER), tram-car connections (a park-and-ride facility with 700 spaces and car-sharing stations), and tram-cycle connections (Vélo Bleu).

In addition to a station on tram line 2 (West–East), which is already in operation, it comprises two new terminals – one for coaches and one for trains – and opens out onto a large public esplanade. Located less than 500 metres apart, the multimodal transport hub and the airport are linked by a wide route dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. This makes it easier to change between modes of transport and, in particular, provides direct access to Nice Côte-d’Azur Airport (free tram service between the station and the airport).

You can buy your ticket or season ticket directly on the website: https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur

Find all the information about this station here: https://www.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur

Travelling by car on the Côte d’Azur!

All the major car hire companies have branches in the main towns along the Côte d’Azur, as well as at the major railway stations and the airports of Nice Côte d’Azur and Toulon-Hyères. The main motorway on the Côte d’Azur is the A8.

As for parking, it is generally subject to a charge from Monday to Saturday, from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm. There are plenty of car parks and pay-and-display meters available, day and night, allowing you to visit sights and monuments at your own pace. As a guide, here are the average hourly rates: €1.50 for pay-and-display meters and €2 to €3 for pay-and-display car parks.

Parking tip: 10car parksin Nice, 18 in Cannes and 40 in the Principality of Monaco offer 1 hour’s free parking.

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Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d’Azur

Travelling by taxi on the French Riviera!

All the major towns on the French Riviera have taxi services, particularly at railway stations and airports. Taxi ranks are marked in town by a blue ‘TAXI’ sign. To book a taxi, booking centres are available in the main towns along the Côte d’Azur. For further information, contact the Côte d’Azur Tourist Offices or visit www.taxi.fr.

Why not try the adventure with SIXT’s private drivers, or hire a car from Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Rent a Car, Budget…

Get around by bike!

A new way to get about at your own pace and discover all the treasures of the Côte d’Azur!

Do you have a bike? The French Riviera is perfectly suited to this eco-friendly mode of transport. Between the Alpes-Maritimes and Var departments, there are numerous discovery routes and cycle paths, such as the coastal cycle path which runs almost uninterrupted from Toulon to Le Lavandou, Cavalaire to Sainte-Maxime, or even Cannes to Nice via the ‘La Méditerranée à vélo’ route.

Don’t have a bike? In Nice, with its 125 km of cycle paths, make the most of the ‘blue bikes’! 175 stations spread across the area (one bike station every 300 metres) provide 1,750 bikes 365 days a year, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. There are several options available, whether you’re an occasional or regular user.

Nice by bike — ©
Aurélien BUTIIN - Côte d'Azur France

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Travelling by helicopter along the Côte d’Azur!

A different way to explore the French Riviera from the air…

The French Riviera has three main heliports: Nice Airport, Cannes and Monaco. These heliports offer regular flights between these three towns, as well as to Saint-Tropez and the Isola 2000 ski resort. These services are operated by specialist companies such as Azur Hélicoptère, Monacair, Héli Air Monaco, Alpes Hélicoptères and Héli Sécurité.

A wide range of discovery packages and scenic flights are available.

Prices vary depending on the number of passengers (maximum 5). For further information, please visit theNice Côte d’Azur Airport website.

Travelling by boat along the Côte d’Azur

Enjoy the beauty of the Côte d’Azur’s landscapes from the sea…

A boat is a pleasant and very practical way to explore the Côte d’Azur. There are several types of ferry services available. These connect the towns around the Bay of Toulon, the ports of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, Saint-Raphaël, as well as Cannes and Nice. Check with the tourist information offices for details of these crossings. Regular services to the Lérins Islands are available from Cannes, as well as from Juan-les-Pins, Golfe-Juan, Mandelieu, Nice and Théoule-sur-Mer. The Hyères Islands can also be reached by boat from Toulon, Hyères, La Londe, Le Lavandou and Cavalaire. In summer, the Estérel ferry service runs from Cannes to Théoule-sur-Mer.