Transport on the Côte d’Azur

Lignes d’Azur – Urban Buses and Trams

Côte d’Azur Metropole Transport Network is the local public transport agency operating urban buses and trams in the area. Inexpensive, frequent and somewhat reliable (outside of strike days that French love so much), it is your best way to get around the city and short distances from Nice. The destinations, numbers of the buses and timetables can be checked on their website that has an English language option www.lignesdazur.com.  The tram is easy to operate, as it has only one line now (May 2018), more lines are to be added soon. The tram has two directions, marked at the top of the tram – Henri Sapia and Hôpital Pasteur.

Tickets and fares

Solo – Single € 1.50
A single ticket allows you to take one journey on the urban bus or a tram with a possibility of using another connection (must be within 74 min from stamping your ticket in the very first vehicle and cannot be used as a return ticket – tram only). Simply said, you can hop off and back on the tram several times but only within 74 minutes and only if going same direction. Eventually you can combine a tram and a bus or vice versa, again, must be within this time. Do not forget to validate your ticket each time you enter vehicle.

Pass 1 Jour – 1 Day Ticket € 5.00
Unlimited travel within 24 hours of registering your first journey. Can be used on both trams and urban buses.

Multi 10 Voyages – Multi 10 Journeys € 10.00
The advantage of this ticket is that it can be shared between 2 and more persons (remember though to validate your ticket according to the number of your group). Again, this ticket can be used for multiple connections within 74 minutes (in this case, validate just once for the whole group).

Pass 7 Jour – 7 Days Ticket € 15.00
Unlimited travel pass for a week on urban buses and trams.

Aéro – Airport Ticket € 6.00
One-way ticket for bus number 98 and 99 from or to the airport with a possibility of using the same ticket for another connection (urban bus or tram).

Useful Information while on board

Always validate your ticket on board of the vehicle, even when you purchase a ticket from a bus driver. The inspections of the tickets onboard are done regularly and penalties are steep.

All children under 4 years travel for free, two children under 10 years can travel with a single Solo ticket.

The tickets and passes can be bought at a ticket machine beside each tram stop (only coins or credit cards are accepted, no bills), in the Lignes d’Azur offices (Jean Jaurès – 4 Bd. Jean Jaurès, 06300 Nice, Thiers –17 Av. Thiers, 06000 Nice, Notre-Dame – 1 Rue d’Italie, 06000 Nice), or with a driver on board on the buses only.

Your travel passes are valid only to a certain destination. For example, on the bus 100 traveling to Monaco, you can only use it as far as Cap d’Ail, on busses 200 and 500 only as far as Cagnes sur Mer and on the bus 400 only up to Vence. The ticket for the further destinations on these buses still cost only €1.50 but must be purchased with the bus driver.

Dogs are allowed free of charge with a muzzle on but always seek the driver’s permission.

For your own safety, beware of the pickpockets, keep your belongings near you as the theft on the busy trams is not unusual. In case of the theft contact nearest office of Lignes d’Azur.

Useful Applications to Download

Lignes d’Azur Mobile – the official app for the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropole transport network. Find all the information you need about Lignes d’Azur, up-to-date travel times, itinerary searches, network maps, traffic disruptions information. Apple iOS | Android

Urban Pulse – application which integrates all the information and services to allow you to be aware in real time of everything that’s happening close to you. It allows you to get where you want to be easily using the fastest means of transport. Android | Apple iOS

SNCF – Trains

Nice has 3 train stations, the main train station Nice Ville or Gare Thiers is in the city center, station Riquier the second station is about a 10 min walk from the Port and the third is St. Augustine nearby the airport.

SNCF – the main French train network offers a popular and fast mode of transport around French Riviera with 10 coastal stations east of the city between Nice and Menton (continuing across the borders to Italian town of Ventimiglia) and 22 stations to the west between Nice and Draguignan. It is usually a faster way of moving around, slightly more expensive than using urban buses but be patient during the high season when trains are often delayed and overcrowded. Their website www.sncf.com has a French, English and other language options and you can get all the timetables and real time traffic updates here.

There are two types of trains, TGV – high speed trains with limited number of stations that require seat reservation before boarding and TER – regional trains where the reservation is not necessary.

Tickets and fares

SNCF offers different packages for its travelers to keep the cost of travel lower, such as:

Isabelle Family, all year day pass for two adults and two children under 16 years for unlimited use of regional TER trains (1 day – €35 or 3 days – €80).

Zou Pass – valid between 1.7. – 30.9., €15 per person per day, unlimited travel on regional trains TER in department Alpes Maritimes.

Tribe – buy three tickets, get fourth for free on TGV trains.

Ask at the train station for the current seasonal deals.

Useful Information while on board

The tickets and special passes can be bought online or at the station in SNCF sales offices or self – service machines. Stamp your ticket! If you have a paper ticket, don’t forget to stamp it before entering the platform, otherwise have your electronic ticket ready for inspection.

Children under the age of 4 travel for free sitting on your lap and those between 4 and 11 years get 50% discount.

Dogs – if smaller than 6kg, dogs must be traveling in a bag or in a basket, larger than 6 kg must have a muzzle on during the whole journey. The cost is 50% of the full 2nd class fare even if traveling in 1st class.

Bicycles can be brought on board free of charge, in a specified train car (except of the peak hours 7.00 – 9.00 and 16.30 – 18.30).

Useful Applications to Download

App SNCF – will help you to identify the fastest way to travel between two stations or two addresses (via tram, bus, bicycle or foot). Real time updates on train timetables and other useful info.  Apple iOS | Android

Voyages SNCF – book and buy tickets online and get traffic updates in real time.  Apple iOS | Android

SNCF TER – real time information, view timetables, track your train progress. Apple iOS | Android

Chemin de Fer de Provence – Scenic Trains

Chemin de Der de Provence is a small rail company providing a daily train service between Nice and Digne-les-Bains connecting Alpes Maritimes with the Alps of Haute-Provence. The route dates from 1890s and is locally known as Train de Pignes. Today, this is a 151 km long narrow-gauge track that climbs to a height of 1000m, goes through over 50 tunnels, bridges and viaducts takes you through the picturesque Mediterranean hinterland. Perfect for nature lovers, to get a break from busy coastal towns and to cool down in the mountains.

There are 4 return trips daily between Nice and Digne, all year round, with departures from Nice at 6.55, 9.25, 13.05 and 17.15. The whole journey from Nice to Dignes takes about three and a half hours, the most popular stop – medieval town Entrevaux is about one and a half hours away.

The train does not leave from the main train station Gare Thiers but from a smaller train station called Gare de Nice CP that can be found on Rue Alfred Binet. Simply hop on the tram going direction Henri Sappia and get off at the stop called Liberation. Walk straight ahead for about 300m, the impressive old train station Gare du Sud should be on your right (library today), pass the supermarket Intermarché through the big car park.

Check the official website www.tourisme.trainprovence.com that is also available in English for the list of stations, schedules and ticket prices.

From 14th June till 13th of September, there is free on-board commentary from Nice to Annot provided by a guide.

Every Sunday between May 10th and October 25th, you can discover this part of Côte d’Azur as you probably never imagined – on the board of real historic steam train with wooden benches – Train des Pignes.

Your itinerary: First, take a train at 9.25 from Gare de Nice CP to Puget Théniers. You’ll arrive at 10.36 and your “steamer” leaves Puget Théniers at 10.55, stops in Entrevaux for photos and arrives to Annot at 12.05. Catch the ride back from Annot at 15.00 and leave Puget Théniers back to Nice on the regular train at 16.26. Return ticket from Nice to Annot including the traditional steam train costs €39. Booking is compulsory, ring +33 (0) 4 970 380 80 or visit the train station in Nice for more information.

Useful Information while on board

Children under 4 years old travel for free.

Group discounts for over 10 passengers.

Dogs under 5 kg travel for free, over 5 kg with 50% discount of the regular fare.

Bicycles are not allowed.

Useful Applications to Download

Chemins de Fer de Provence – timetables, fares, updated information on traffic. Apple iOS | Android

Trans Cote d’Azur – Boat transport between coastal locations

If you want to do something different and the crowds on trains or buses in the summer heat don’t sound very appealing, visiting some other locations or taking a little trip on the boat might be just perfect for you. It is slightly more expensive than taking a bus or a train but by splurging a bit you will travel in style and comfort and have some great memories from your holidays on the French Riviera. It is also the best option for visiting Saint Tropez, as there is no direct train or bus and you’ll be looking at 8 hours just traveling, never mind trying to explore this famous little place.

The ticket office of Trans Côte d’Azur can be found in the Port of Nice, Quai Lunel, www.trans-cote-azur.co.uk tel: 0033 4 92 0042 30. For all the trips, please book in advance either online, by phone or personally in the ticket office.

Coastal Tour

Available between 31/03 – 28/10 every day except Mondays.

Two departures a day, at 11.00 and 15.00.

Fees: Adult €18, child 4 – 10 years old €13, children under 4 years travel for free.

1 Hour boat trip will take you from the Port of Nice around Cap de Nice, Bay of Villefranche, Cap Ferrat and back around Promenade des Anglais.

Saint Tropez

Available between 22/05 – 01/07 and 04/09 – 30/09 every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Between 03/07 – 02/09 every day except Mondays.

The boat departs Nice at 9.00, arrives to St. Tropez at 11.00, leaves St. Tropez at 16.30 and brings you back to Nice for 19.00.

Fees: Adult €65, child 4 – 10 years old €51, children under 4 years travel for free.

Read more about Saint Tropez on www.sainttropeztourisme.com.

Monaco

Available between 15/05 – 29/09 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

There are 2 options, you can cruise without or with stop in Monaco.

The cruise with a stop leaves Nice at 9.30, arrives to Monaco at 10.15, leaves Monaco at 17.00 with arrival to Nice Port at 18.00.

Fees: Adult €38,50, child 4 – 10 years €30, children under 4 years travel for free.

If you decide for the 2-hour cruise without taking a break in Monaco, there are two departures daily from Nice on given days; 9.30 and 16.00.

Fees: Adult €32, child €26,50, children under 4 years travel for free.

The agency offers other trips, such as cruise to Cannes, Sainte Marguerite island and special event cruises including Monaco Grand Prix, fireworks and Open-Air Flea Market – Grande Braderie in Saint Tropez.

Check the website for details or pop in to talk to friendly office located in Nice Port.