Getting Around Nice & the French Riviera

● Within Nice city, you can travel by tram (tramway), bus and train (thanks to three railway stations connecting the east, centre and west of Nice: Nice-Riquier, Nice-Ville and Nice Saint-Augustin).
● To explore the French Riviera and travel further towards Marseille or Italy, you can use TER (regional trains), buses and carpooling.

The public transport networks available are:

Lignes d’Azur = Local Trams & Buses
Lignes d’Azur operates Nice’s trams and local buses, connecting the city centre, airport and surrounding towns within the Nice metropolitan area.
Official Website – Lignes d’Azur

ZOU! = Regional Buses
The other regional transport company and network, connecting Nice with towns, villages and destinations further along the French Riviera and into Provence (particularly useful for reaching places not served by trains, including charming hilltop villages).
Official Website – ZOU!

TER / ZOU! = Regional Trains
TER (Transport Express Régional) trains connect Nice with destinations along the coast, including Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Menton and Ventimiglia in Italy. They also serve inland destinations such as Grasse and Breil-sur-Roya (Train des Merveilles).
Official Website – TER / ZOU! Trains

LIGNES D’AZUR Mobile = Bus & Tram Schedules
Helps you find bus and tram routes, check timetables, locate nearby stops and plan connections.
Download here:
● iPhone – App Store
● Android – Google Play

Lignes d’Azur Tickets = Buy Tickets & Recharge Your Card
This app allows you to check how many journeys remain on your travel card, purchase additional tickets or travel passes, using a credit or debit card.
How to use it: Open the app and hold your rechargeable transport card against the top of your phone’s screen. Follow the instructions to check your balance or purchase tickets or Passes.
Download here:
● iPhone – App Store
● Android – Google Play

There are three tram services: Lines 1, 2, 3

Tram Line 1 – The Heart of Nice    Henri Sappia (north) ↔ Hôpital Pasteur (east)
Crosses Nice from north to east, passing Place Masséna and Avenue Jean Médecin, the city’s main shopping avenue.
It’s particularly convenient for exploring the historic Old Town, shopping streets and local neighbourhoods.

Some useful stops on Line 1:

Garibaldi: Place Garibaldi, the antiques district, lively Rue Bonaparte with its many cafés and restaurants, and the Port neighbourhood.
Cathédrale – Vieille Ville: The historic Old Town, its Cathedrale Saint Reparate and Palais Lascaris,
Opéra – Vieille Ville: The famous Cours Saleya flower and food market (mornings Tuesday to Sunday), the Antic Market (all day Mondays), the Opera House and the seafront.
Masséna: Place Masséna, the Fountain of the Sun, the Promenade du Paillon garden, Galeries Lafayette department store and nearby shopping streets, the pedestrian Zone pietone and its restaurants.
Jean Médecin: The main shopping avenue, Monoprix grocery and department store, Nice Etoile Mall and connections with Lines 2 and 3.
Gare Thiers: 5 mn walking distance to Nice’s central railway station: Nice-Ville.
Libération: A lively local neighbourhood with a colourful outdoor market (mornings, from Tuesday to Sunday), the Gare du Sud and behind it the Chemins de Fers de Provence Train Station and plenty of cafés and restaurants.

Tram Line 2 – From Nice Airport to the Port                 Port Lympia ↔ Aéroport Terminal 2
Connects Nice Côte d’Azur Airport with the city centre and the beautiful Port of Nice.
It runs mostly parallel to the seafront, just one street inland, and partly underground through central Nice, avoiding traffic and making it a particularly convenient way to travel.

Some useful stops on Line 2:

• Aéroport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2: Direct access to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.
• Grand Arénas: Connections with Line 3, and access to Nice Saint-Augustin railway station.
• Parc Phoenix: Parc Phoenix gardens and the Asian Arts Museum.
• Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen: the nearby Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen, The Museum of Fine Arts, Beaches along the Promenade des Anglais.
• Alsace-Lorraine: The elegant Carré d’Or shopping streets, Villa Masséna Museum and the famous Hotel Negresco.
• Jean Médecin: Central Nice, the one and only shopping High street Avenue Jean Medecin and connections with Lines 1.
• Garibaldi – Le Château: Place Garibaldi, the eastern part of the Old Town, lively Rue Bonaparte with its cafés and restaurants, and the charming antiques district.
• Port Lympia: The beautiful Port of Nice, with its colourful buildings, cafés, restaurants and boats, Buses 600 stop to go towards Monaco and bus 15 stop to go towards Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, both passing by Villefranche sur mer (Stop called “Octroi”).

⚠️ Going to Nice Airport? Lines 2 and 3 share the same route through central Nice before splitting near Grand Arénas. Make sure you take Line 2 towards Aéroport Terminal 2, not Line 3 towards Saint-Isidore!
⚠️ Arriving at Nice Airport? Make sure you take Line 2 towards Port Lympia (city centre), not Line 3 towards CADAM!

There are two main bus networks operated by two different companies:
Lignes d’Azur (local/City buses) and ZOU! (regional buses).
Some bus routes offer spectacular coastal scenery,
while others take you to charming hilltop villages that are difficult to reach by train.

Local Etiquette & Practical Tips
Taking a bus in Nice is quite straightforward, but there are a few local habits worth knowing.

• Signal the Bus to Stop: When you see your bus approaching, raise your hand to signal the driver that you wish to board.
• Board at the Front: On local Lignes d’Azur buses, you should normally board through the front door, next to the driver.
• Allow passengers to get off before boarding and have your ticket or travel card ready.
• Always Validate Your Ticket, including when transferring from another bus or tram.
• Request Your Stop: Unlike trams, buses only stop when requested or when someone is waiting to board.
  When your stop is approaching, press one of the red “Arrêt demandé” (Stop Requested) buttons.
  You’ll usually hear a bip and see a message confirming that your stop has been requested.
• Hold on to a handrail when standing, especially on winding coastal roads.
• Keep an Eye on Your Belongings: As with public transport in any busy tourist destination, keep your bag and valuables close, especially when buses are crowded.

From Nice, you can easily visit seaside towns, cross the border into Italy or venture inland to discover spectacular Alpine scenery and charming historic villages.

There are three different railway lines, each offering a different experience:

The TER Coastal Railway Line: Marseille to Ventimiglia in Italy, all along the Riviera sea coast.
From Nice, trains run in both directions:
West towards Marseille, passing through Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël.
East towards Ventimiglia (Italy), passing through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Èze-sur-Mer, Cap-d’Ail, Monaco and Menton.

The Train des Merveilles (Train of Wonders): Nice to Tende, head inland into the spectacular Southern Alps, travelling through the beautiful Roya valleys, with mountain scenery, historic villages and access to the Mercantour region.
Villages to visit on the way to Tende :
L’Escarène: A picturesque historic village in the Paillon valley.
Sospel: A charming village with colourful houses, a beautiful medieval bridge and a Baroque cathedral.
Breil-sur-Roya: A lovely riverside village surrounded by mountains.
Fontan–Saorge: Access to the remarkable perched village of Saorge.
During certain weekends in the tourist season, a guide accompanies passengers on a morning train from Nice and provides commentary about the region’s fascinating history, architecture and natural landscapes.
Departure station: Nice-Ville.
Useful links: Train des Merveilles – Official information in English
Train des Merveilles – Tourist Office

The Train des Pignes: Nice ↔ Entrevaux ↔ Digne-les-Bains.
 Goes through the Provençal hinterland, with its charming villages, beautiful landscapes. A particularly lovely excursion is to Entrevaux, a spectacular medieval fortified village.
Operated by the Chemins de Fer de Provence, this historic railway travels on a separate narrow-gauge railway.
Villages to visit on the way :
Puget-Théniers: A charming village with an interesting historic centre.
Annot: A beautiful village famous for its enormous sandstone rock formations.
Saint-André-les-Alpes: A gateway to the mountains and the Lake of Castillon.
Digne-les-Bains: A spa town surrounded by beautiful Alpine landscapes.
⚠️ Important: The Train des Pignes does not depart from Nice-Ville, the main SNCF railway station.
The Train des Pignes leaves from Gare de Nice CP, also known as the Chemins de Fer de Provence station, in the Libération neighbourhood (tram line 1 stop “Liberation”)
Address: 4 bis Rue Alfred Binet, 06000 Nice.
Useful links: Official website of Chemins de Fer de Provence
Zou trains Timetables, route maps and travel information
Official website of Historical Train des Pignes
How to Reach the Historic Train

How to Buy Train Tickets:  see above “Buy Tickets”
Useful link: Trainline website

Carpooling (called covoiturage in French) is a popular, affordable and environmentally friendly way to travel around France.
The idea is simple: drivers who are already planning a journey offer their spare seats to passengers travelling in the same direction. Everyone shares the cost of the journey, making travelling faster, more economical and reducing the number of cars on the road.

The most popular carpooling platforms in France is BlaBlaCar, a website and mobile app that connects drivers with passengers looking to travel to the same destination. It allows you to book a seat in someone’s car and share the journey with them, sometimes alongside other passengers.

Using BlaBlaCar is straightforward and easy:

• Create an account on the BlaBlaCar website or mobile app.
• Enter your departure city, destination and travel date.
• Browse available rides, comparing departure times, prices and meeting points.
• Read the driver’s reviews and check their profile before booking.
• Check luggage allowances, particularly if you’re travelling with a large suitcase.
• Check the driver’s profile and reviews before selecting your ride.
  You can also exchange messages with your driver through the app to clarify any details before departure.
• Book your seat and pay securely through the platform. Some bookings require the driver’s approval.
• Meet your driver at the agreed location and enjoy the journey!
• Check the exact meeting point. Unlike buses and trains, BlaBlaCar rides don’t depart from stations. Drivers choose their own pickup and drop-off locations.
• Be punctual! You’re sharing a journey with someone who has their own schedule.
• Book your return journey separately if you’re planning a day trip, and make sure a suitable ride is available.

For journeys to Italy, carry a valid passport or national identity card, as you may be asked for identification when crossing the border.
Keep payments and communications within the BlaBlaCar platform whenever possible.
From Nice, BlaBlaCar can be particularly interesting for destinations such as Marseille, Aix-en-Provence or San Remo in Italy.
Official website
iPhone app
Android app
The BlaBlaCar app also allows you to search for and book certain bus (BlaBlaBus) and train journeys, so make sure you select Carpooling when looking specifically for a ride in someone’s car.

From the Port of Nice, the company Trans Côte d’Azur offers wonderful boat excursions to destinations such as Cannes, Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Île Sainte-Marguerite, as well as shorter sightseeing cruises along our magnificent Mediterranean coastline.

You can explore all the excursions, check schedules and prices, and make your reservation directly on their English website: Trans Côte d’Azur Official Website

A Few Useful Tips:

• Book in advance, particularly during the summer months.
• Payment and tickets: Tickets can be paid for and collected at the ticket office near the boat one day before or on the day of your excursion. Please check the payment and collection conditions when booking, as they may vary depending on the excursion.
• Departure point: Quai Lunel, Port of Nice, just a short walk from the Port Lympia tram stop (Lines 2 and 3).
• Arrive early: Be at the departure point at least 15 minutes before boarding.
• Weather conditions: Excursions depend on sea and weather conditions and may occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled.
• What to bring: Sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat and a light jacket, as it can get windy out at sea, even on a warm, sunny day.

Whether you need a taxi from Nice Airport, a short journey around the French Riviera or a private guided tour by car, here are three people I personally know and warmly recommend.

Just like me, Jean, Cecilia and William are passionate about their work, experienced in their fields and, most importantly, people you can truly rely on.

🚕 Jean Choumar
Jean is the taxi driver I regularly work with and happily recommend to my clients.
He’s available for airport transfers, journeys around Nice and nearby towns such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, as well as short local trips.
The best way to contact Jean is via WhatsApp.
Simply send him your pickup location, destination, date and preferred time, and he’ll let you know if he’s available.
Contact Jean directly on WhatsApp.

🚘 Cecilia Cottin, Private Guided Tours of the French Riviera
For private sightseeing tours by car along the French Riviera, I warmly recommend my friend Cecilia Cottin, founder of Live Harmony.
Cecilia is an experienced English-speaking guide and driver who knows the region beautifully.
She offers personalised excursions to destinations such as Monaco, Monte Carlo, Èze Village, Menton, and other wonderful places along the Côte d’Azur. Website and contact: Live Harmony Meet Cecilia
Cecilia’s Private Tours  Contact via whatsapp

🚙 William Templer, Private Tours & Transfers in Provence
If you’re planning to travel from Nice to Aix-en-Provence, Marseille or further into Provence or Vice Versa, I highly recommend William Templer, founder of One Day in Provence.
William and his team offer private transfers and tailor-made guided tours throughout Provence.
Some wonderful places to discover include:

• Aix-en-Provence: Elegant streets, colourful markets, beautiful fountains and the world of Paul Cézanne.
• Marseille & Cassis: The historic Old Port, charming fishing harbours and the spectacular Calanques.
• The Luberon: Beautiful hilltop villages such as Gordes, Roussillon and Lourmarin.
• Les Baux-de-Provence & Saint-Rémy: Magnificent landscapes, historic villages and places associated with Van Gogh.
• Avignon & Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Medieval heritage and famous vineyards.
• The Verdon Gorge: Spectacular natural scenery, turquoise waters and picturesque villages.

William can help organise a private journey or create a personalised itinerary according to your interests.

Website: One Day in Provence, Meet William
Private tours: Explore Provence Tours
Transfers: Private Driver Services
WhatsApp: +33 6 63 31 38 08

• 🚋 Nice Tram & Bus Network Maps

• 🚌 ZOU! Regional Buses Map
  Explore regional connections throughout the French Riviera and Provence, including Monaco and the surrounding towns and villages.

• 🚆 TER Regional Train Network Map
  Find railway lines and stations along the French Riviera and throughout Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

• 🚂 Train des Pignes Map
  Discover the Chemins de Fer de Provence railway, connecting Nice with beautiful inland villages, including Entrevaux.

• 📍 Google Maps Nice
  Find walking directions, public transport connections, driving routes and estimated journey times.