Read more about Paris and Nice on the French Riviera.
Nice is the most important city on the Côte d’Azur. In the heart of the French Riviera, it has international air connections and is also easily accessible from Paris by train. Nice is a good central point for exploring the area: east of Monaco and the Italian coast, west of the cities of Antibes, Cannes and St Tropez, and north to the Alps.
From the USA to Nice by air
Most major airlines fly direct from across the United States to Nice Airport. For cheap international flights, you will have to make a change and the total time will increase considerably.
Paris to Nice by air
- All major airlines operate regular flights from Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport directly to Nice. Low-cost airline Easyjet also offers cheap flights, but you must book in advance.
The flight is nonstop and lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.
London to Nice by air
There are regular flights to Nice from all London airports. There are also flights from major UK regional airports such as Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds. For cheap international flights, Easyjet offers good deals.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport The airport
Nice Cote d’Azur is located 7 km (4.6 miles) west of the center of Nice.
From the airport to the city center
- You can get to Nice on the airport bus service.
- Bus 98 leaves from the airport to the center of Nice and costs € 4. It runs every 30 minutes from 6 am to midnight.
- Bus 99 departs from the airport to Nice Ville train station and costs € 4.
- There are also buses to nearby cities such as Antibes, Cannes, Frejus and Marseille.
London to Nice by train
- Take the train from London’s St. Pancras International Station to Nice to get your vacation off to a good start. Take a look at my guide for the trip from London to Nice.
Paris to Nice by train
Throughout France, there is a complete, effective and comfortable high-speed rail network. TGV trains are the fastest, but other high-speed trains take only about an hour longer.
- TGV high-speed trains to Nice depart from Gare de Lyon in Paris (Place Louis Armand, Paris 12th arrondissement) throughout the day.
- TGV trains take around 5 hours 40 minutes.
- The night train operated by Intercites de Nuit departs from the Gare d’Austerlitz in Paris (85 quai Austerlitz, 13th district of Paris). The train leaves at 9.23 pm and arrives at 8.42 am, it takes 11 h 19 min.
- High-speed trains (not TGV) also run from Paris Gare de Lyon through Lyon to the Nice train station. With the only change, the travel time is 6 h 38 min.
Booking train travel in France
- From the US book With Rail Europe
- From the UK book with sncf travel (formerly Rail Europe UK)
Paris to Nice by car
The distance from Paris to Nice is about 931 km (578 miles) and the journey takes about twelve hours. Unless you want to stop along the way, the TGV high-speed train network is a much better alternative and will probably save you money if you factor in tolls on major highways (around € 80 each way), an overnight stay ( if I want to arrive fresh) and the cost of gas that is high in France.
We will spend the night on the road
- Lyon
- Avignon
- Marseilles
- Abbaye de la Bussiere Hotel near Dijon
If you drive, read Tips on French Roads and Driving in France
Paris to Nice by bus / coach
Eurolines operates from Paris to Lyon six days a week (no service on Sundays). The trip lasts six and a quarter hours.
Check the Eurolines website.
Getting from London to Paris
- By train (Eurostar)
Eurostar between London, Paris and Lille
- By bus / coach
Eurolines offers a cheap service from London, Gillingham, Canterbury, Folkestone and Dover to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris Gallieni. Six coaches a day; 2 all night; Travel time is 7 hours. The Eurolines stop is located at the Paris Gallieni bus station, 28 ave du General de Gaulle, right next to the Gallieni metro station, near Porte de Bagnolet (metro line 3, final stop).
Eurolines website
IDBus also operates between London and Lille and London and Paris. IDBus also runs from Lille to Amsterdam and Brussels.
