Train to Nice: TGV, Tickets & Station Info
France has an extensive rail network. Trains are a comfortable, reliable, and often cost-effective way to reach Nice.
Booking information
Advance booking recommended
As a consequence of this popularity, seats can be scarce and expensive unless you book in advance, which we strongly recommend. When booking, if available, grab "Prem's" tickets offered at floor prices. They give access to the same seats as standard tickets. However, these are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
TGV tickets are always cheaper when booked in advance, so don't wait until the last minute.
First or second class
The difference between the two train classes lies in legroom and the presence of power outlets in first class for charging your mobile devices. Unless you place great importance on one of these advantages, prefer second class, which is barely less comfortable.
Day or night travel
You can travel by day or night.
Daytime journeys are made on High-Speed Trains (TGV), which, as their name suggests, are very fast trains, provided they run on high-speed tracks. Unfortunately, due to regional conflicts, Nice does not yet have this type of line, and trains must use conventional tracks from Marseille onward, making this last section quite long. You can console yourself by admiring the beauty of the coastal scenery on this final part of the journey.
Allow approximately 6 hours by train for the Paris-Nice route (3 hours to Marseille and 3 more hours between Marseille and Nice).
By opting for the night train, slightly more expensive but much slower, you can skip a hotel night. Ideal for budget travelers. In this case, be sure to choose the sleeper train and not the reclining seat train, or you risk having a... terrible night. You'll have a real bed (in a 4-person cabin) and a kit containing, among other things, earplugs, essential for dampening rail noise.
Allow approximately 12 hours by night train for the Paris-Nice route.
Journey information
Eating on the train
Stops at various stations along the route are short, generally two minutes. No question of getting off to buy food. Remember to bring something to eat. Alternatively, know that trains have a snack car selling hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, breakfasts, etc., but at prohibitive prices.
Good to know
Even if the outside temperature is mild, don't forget to bring a small jacket for the journey. Trains are heavily air-conditioned.
Once you arrive in Nice
Nice's train station is located in the heart of the city and is served by six bus lines with stops right in front of the exit. You can thus reach any part of the city. For information on how to take the bus, see the "Getting Around Nice" section.
Station address: Avenue Thiers, 06000 Nice.
