Public transport in Nice is provided by buses and trams. Almost all lines use the same 1.50 euro ticket, which can be bought from the driver or vending machines. You can also use buses from Nice to reach neighboring towns such as Cannes and Monaco.
Public transport in Nice is provided by Lignes d’Azur and its buses and trams cover the city, with some lines also going to nearby medieval towns, as well as Monaco and Cannes. There is also a special bus to the mountains and express buses to the airport. The public transport in Nice forms a dense network of connections that can be used with one ticket.
Details on the public transport in Nice can be found below. You can also visit the carrier’s website: lignesdazur.com, which is available in French and English. However, if you are using public transport to navigate around the city, I recommend the Google Maps’ application. If you have an internet connection, you can easily get around Nice using the directions provided by Google – all you need to do is select your starting and destination points, and the app will show you the best connections, including transfers and departure times.
Contents
Buses in Nice
Buses in Nice form a dense network of connections. On some streets there are separate bus lanes, which theoretically accelerate the journey. In practice, however, buses are often delayed, and lines change their routes due to ongoing road repairs. But, you can’t complain about Nice’s buses because they are in good technical condition and in the summer the air conditioning works – mostly. Buses run for the whole week from morning to evening, and after 10pm night buses are available.
Remember that there are timetables at every bus stop with the departure time for the first stop of the bus line! So for a given line every stop has the same timetable and you can calculate what time the bus should be at a specific stop.
What should you know about using buses in Nice? There are a few rules: you stop the approaching bus by waving your hand, you get in using the front door, tickets must be validated in the yellow validator in the vehicle, and before your stop you need to press STOP button to get off. Two important bus stops in the city are the Parc Phoenix and Vauban (Gare Routière Nice Côte d’Azur) stops. The first is located near the airport and you can easily get there by tram T2 from the center. Buses to Cannes, Grasse, and Vence, among others, depart from here. The second is the bus station for intercity communication, but there are also buses to Eze Village and Monte Carlo from here.
Each line has its own number, and many of them also run outside the city; for example, line 15 goes up to Cap Ferrat along the way passing Villefranche-sur-Mer, and line 82 goes to Eze Village. The lines with one and two-digit numbers are ordinary lines running around the city and the surrounding areas. Buses with numbers 100 and above go further, for example, Monaco (100), Cannes and Antibes (200), Grasse (500), Saint-Paul de Vence and Vence (400), and the mountains.
Trams in Nice
There are three tram lines in Nice: T1, T2 and T3. The first line (T1) connects two points in the north of the city by passing through the south near the sea through Massena Square, creating a kind of letter “U” shape on the map. The T1 tram connects, for example, the main train station, Gare Thiers, with Garibaldi Square and the surroundings of Nice’s Old Port.
The second tram line in Nice (T2) connects the Old Port with Nice’s airport, therefore running between east and west. In the center of Nice this tram goes into a tunnel, where the important stops are the Jean Medecin stop (the nearest stop to Gare Thiers station, here you will be able to change to the T1 line) and the Garibaldi Le Chateau stop (here you can also change to the T1 line). The last stop is the Old Port of Nice (26 min from the airport).
The T3 tram connects the airport with the stadium.
At each tram stop there is a vending machine where you can buy tickets. The ticket should be validated inside the vehicle or on the platform before boarding – the yellow validators are used for this. Tickets can not be purchased from the train driver! The door to the vehicle is opened by pushing the luminous button in the middle of the door. Trams stop at every stop.
Ticket prices for public transport in Nice and where to buy them
A single bus or tram ticket is called a SOLO and costs 1.50 euro. You can buy it from a bus driver or the vending machine at the tram stop. This ticket allows you to change between different buses and trams within 74 minutes – but not on the return journey. So in 74 minutes you can go from point A through B to C, but you can’t then return from C to B or A, even if the ticket is still valid.
Remember: you need to validate the ticket every time you enter a vehicle, and also if you change vehicles! The validated ticket has the date and time printed on it. Sometimes the ticket machine spits out the ticket without printing it, then you have to put it back in the machine for validation.
If you plan to travel more often or in a group of several people, it is worth checking out the MULTI ticket. It costs 10 euros and includes 10 tickets (one card that can be validated 10 times). The MULTI ticket is available only from vending machines. It can be validated immediately for more than one person by putting it into the validating machine multiple times (make sure you check and count that you have as many imprints as you want to validate!).
There is also a Pass 1 Jour ticket, which costs 5 euros and is valid for 24 hours, and a Pass 7 Jours ticket for 15 euros, which is valid for 7 days. The last useful ticket is the Ticket Azur, for which you have to ask the driver. The ticket costs only 1.50 euro and will allow you to change from Nice public transport to a bus that goes outside the city. For example: you have accommodation in Nice, but far from the Old Port where you can take bus 100 to Monaco. You buy a Ticket Azur ticket from the driver for 1.50 euro and go by bus or tram to the Old Port. There, you change to bus 100 to Monaco and go to your destination on the same ticket. Similarly, you can do it on your way back by buying a new Ticket Azure.
You can also buy the SOLO and MULTI tickets on your phone. For more information in English please visit this website.
On the carrier’s website I also read that children younger than four can travel for free, and two children who are both younger than ten, can ride on one SOLO ticket.
How to get from Nice to Monaco?
The No. 100 bus from Nice to Monaco departs from the Old Port of Nice (behind the church), and a 1.50 euro ticket can be bought from the driver (unless you have the previously mentioned Ticket Azur). The journey takes about 40 minutes and allows you to admire the coast between Nice and Monaco. Once in the principality you can get off near the hill with the Prince’s Palace, or near the casino in the Monte Carlo district. The No. 100 bus continues on to Menton.
Note: bus 100 has been replaced by bus 607 from Nice to Monaco and 608 from Monaco to Menton. The change is temporary (until April 2024).
The train from Nice to Monaco runs continuously throughout the day from the main train station, Gare Thiers, and stops at the Nice Riquier stop. There are also trains from Nice’s St. Augustin stop, which is not far from the Nice airport. Traveling by train from the main station takes about 20 minutes and costs just over 4 euros one way. You have to get off in a long tunnel, which is Monaco’s railway stations – this is the only stop in a tunnel on this route, so you can’t miss it. You can buy a train ticket at the station from the blue vending machines or online at the oui.sncf website.
Monaco can also be reached by bus 112, which leaves from the Vauban stop, and then travels through Eze Village before continuing all the way to Monte Carlo.
Note: the SOLO, MULTI and PASS tickets do not apply to buses 100, 200, 400, and 500. Ticket Azur tickets are valid on these lines.
How to get from Nice to Cannes?
The bus from Nice to Cannes is number 200, which departs from the Parc Phoenix stop. Tickets are bought from the driver and cost 1.50 euro. You can get to the Park Phoenix stop from the center by tram T2 with a Ticket Azur ticket, then you don’t have to buy a new ticket from the bus driver. The journey, though, is long, sometimes even up to 1,5 hours. It is worth knowing that bus 200 goes through the town of Antibes, which is very nice and worth visiting in itself.
The train from Nice to Cannes costs more than 7 euro one way and takes about 40 minutes (also via Antibes). The stop in Cannes has the same name as the city – but don’t make a mistake by getting off at the Cannes La Bocca stop, which is further away; or the Cagnes-sur-Mer, which is just outside Nice.
How to get from Nice to the medieval towns?
Public transport in Nice also allows you to get to many of the beautiful medieval towns in the area. That’s why I usually recommend staying in Nice during your vacation on the Cote d’Azur. This city gives you the best opportunities for reaching many of the interesting attractions, especially if you have a limited budget.
Some of the most useful lines are definitely the 500 to Grasse; the 400 to Cagnes-sur-Mer, St. Paul de Vence, and Vence; the 82 and 112 to Eze Village; the 15 to Villefranche and Cap Ferrat; and the 100 to Roquebrune and Menton.
If you are looking for information on how to get to another specific place on the Cote d’Azur, just ask us under the article. You can also use the search engine at the top right of the page and enter the name of the town there. In an article on a given place I usually provide information about how to get there.
Public transport in Nice: taxis and Uber
Uber drives in Nice, and I sometimes use them. These private trips are cheaper than taxis. For example, an Uber from the airport to the center of Nice costs about 20 euros; while the price of traveling by taxi has recently been regulated and is approximately 32 euros. A taxi from Nice to Cannes costs about 80 euros, and about 90 euros to Monaco.
If you do not have an Uber account yet, do not forget to enter my discount code: 331ck! In this way, both you and I will get a discount on our journeys.
Also worth reading:
The information in this article does not absolve you from the obligation to read the carrier’s fare and travel policies. I have done the utmost diligence in working on this article, but I am not responsible for any damages or fines imposed on passengers, or changes to routes, bus numbers or fares.
Hi Tomasz,
WE will arrive in Grasse January 1i see a bus 651 to tourrettes village with little info if the bus runs everyday on every hour of the day light times also want to visit ST. paul de Vence what bus goes up there on same week either from Grasse or Nice.
Thank you in advance for what info you might have for us.
I will try the Uber code as well might need that while traveling.
Mark
Hi T
The new La Carte system that Lignes D’Azur just implemented
Can I use that card to pay for my family by hitting the machine four times?
Thabks
Thomas
Hi, I bought a 7 day Lignes d’Azur pass (Le Ticket) yesterday, but was unable to use it on the 607 today from Nice to Villefranche. Is the pass not valid on this bus? Thanks!
Hi Tomasz,
Is Nice safe to travel for solo female travellers? And what is the stamping that needs to be done after tickets? Please repond back
hi, Thomas…we two adults will stay at Villefrance-Sur-Mer for 5 nights and plan to visit as far as Marseille and Monaco. should we buy the 10-ticket, or to buy the French Rivera Pass with transport?
Dear Tomasz, thank you for sharing this complete information regarding public transportation in a well organized way. We will travel to Nice next year (2 adults + 2 teenagers) and I really find info you provided here precious.
Do you have any advice about where to choose accomodation during the Carneval in February and any other important advice you colud remember, in order to have nice stay, feel that carneval atmosphere, but also have some peace :-)
Which buses go from central Nice to Peille? Map suggests 603 and 66 but can’t find information about who runs them or what the route is.
Hi guys,
Thanks for useful article! I would like to get from Ibis Budget Hotel Californie Lenval to St-Paul-De-Vence historical centre. I found bus n. 400 but don’t think it is still in use in Nice.
Can anybody advise me how to get there? Should we get tram n. 2 to Parc Phoenix and 650 from there to SPDV? Can we use 1 ticket for both transports? One ticket I thinks should last 72 minutes ?
Thank you !
Hi. In January, they changed the numbers of all regional buses. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to update the article yet. You can buy ticket azur, currently it costs 2.50€ and you can change to the bus to Saint Paul.
hi Tomasz
Travellling to Nice this spring. What’s the best way renting a car or using the transportation.
We are planning staying three days in Nice and from here going to Cannes, Antibes,Eze and Villefrach. de Mer
What’s the best route to travel by train or bus if we decide not to rent a car for this part of the trip( because of parking issues)
I was sorry to hear of Ken’s treatment after failing to stamp his tram ticket. However, his comment “I hardly think that a French citizen would suffer such treatment on arrival in Edinburgh” struck a chord, since I know of a Swiss woman who had a worse experience in Edinburgh. She flew from Switzerland for a medical conference, but because she lives in the Schengen zone, she’s used to hopping between countries with only her ID card, and made the mistake of landing in Edinburgh without her passport [actually, the airline shouldn’t have allowed that, but that’s not the point here]. She was taken to a side room and interrogated, treated as an illegal immigrant although she had her conference invitation and accreditation. Then she was told that she’d be barred from the UK for life unless she left within 12 hours of landing – so she had to buy an expensive flight back to a different airport, the only flight available within 12 hours. Welcome to Fortress Britain!
Good Morning. I’m glad that there is somewhere to comment on Nice trams because we had a very upsetting and quite simply bad experience of the transport police. We had purchased our tickets at the airport T2 on 28th September arriving from Edinburgh. On alighting in the centre, our exit was blocked by a number of officious uniformed men who demanded to see our tickets. They informed us that as our tickets were not stamped, a Euro40 penalty should be paid. (looking at earlier correspondence above where differing amounts of money are mentioned, I wonder if the amount scribbled by the police man was arbitrary). No leniency toward foreign tourists was shown. These men were out to gather as much money as possible. (Perhaps 1E50 does not cover the cost of the transport system). From our party, they reaped Euro200. Lunch in Nice (sorry café owners) became sandwiches from the supermarket. We could have taken a limousine into Nice for less. In very small print we later found the instructions to have the tickets stamped by the machine. My gripe here is not so much the fine, although that hurt, it’s the total intransigence and officious nature of the men in uniforms. Quick to take our passports captive, they ransomed their return, on pain of a trip to the police station. I hardly think that a French citizen would suffer such treatment on arrival in Edinburgh. WELCOME TO FRANCE. But Beware!
What a shame Ken. I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I am off to Nice next week with my daughter and son and will make sure we ‘composter’ the tickets at the first opportunity. The officials probably target tourists as they are easy pickings. As you say, I am sure British police would be a lot more understanding and would explain the system rather than impose a fine.
Thank you Tomasz for the useful information I am I am now looking forward to my first trip to Nice.
Hi! How much is penalty now in a tram in Nice? I was fined for 60€ but I read on internet that’s 48€ by now.
Thanks
I returned from Nice a few days ago and I think that my experience with public transport will be useful, since it differs from what I read on this forum before I left.
Public transport tickets are purchased exclusively at vending machines installed at each public transport station (except for buses 100 and 200, for Monaco and Cannes which are taken from the driver).
Further, payments at vending machines can only be made with coins or payment cards. Therefore, payment at vending machines cannot be made with paper banknotes !!! This is very important if you are coming by plane so that you can prepare. The price of a single ticket is 1.5 euros.
Everything else regarding the types of public transport tickets is the same as on this forum.
What is the difference between a SOLO ticket and an Azure Ticket, my understanding is both valid for 74 minutes and can stop on the way as long as it’s the same direction. If I buy a MULTI, does each ticket also valid 74 minutes and allow stopover? Thanks.
Hi, I wish to visit Sait Paul de Vence; however, I could not find where can I take bus #400. I think i read from somewhere that i can take bus 400 at a stop near Parc Phoenix. Is that correct?
Yes, you can take the bus 400 from the Parc Phoenix stop :). It’s the first one.
Hi Tomasz,
Can we use the Ticket Azur on the Zou! busses as well as the Lignes D’Azur busses?
Yes, this ticket was created precisely to combine journeys between these carriers.
Hello, thanks for all information. I have 1 question: What ticket would be the best for the family (2 adults, 2 kids) for 7 days stay in Nice and where I can buy it. We want to travel within Nice and maybe also to Cannes, Monako, Antibes, and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Many thanks!
Hello. It depends where your hotel is. If you’re in the center of Nice, you don’t really need to buy a ticket. You can walk everywhere with a pleasant walk. You can buy 7-day tickets, but you should consider buying a MULTI10 ticket, which can be validated for the whole family. You can buy tickets at vending machines at tram stops. There is no x-days ticket for trips to Cannes and Monaco. Have a great stay!
Hello. I arrive by plane in the niche at 9 pm and I want to get to the area where Magnan is staying, respectively on the Promenade … by what means of transport can I get there. Thanks
Hi Dan. Just take the T2 tram from the Airport to Magnan stop.
Hello, what are the measurements with the covid?
Hi. First of all, you need to wear a mask almost everywhere. The number of infections is unfortunately increasing. Restaurants, shops and museums are open.
Hi Tomasz,
Very informative article. I’m travelling to nice for 7days, and I’d like to purchase the 7 jour pass. I have a few questions:
– Does it work for both buses and trams?
– Can I buy it at the Airport?
– Will it work in Monaco?
Hi. Thank you. You can buy the 7 days ticket at the airport and it will work for the buses and trams, but not to Monako (bus 100), Cannes (bus 200) and Grasse (bus 500). Have a nice stay!
Hi Tomasz, we are going to Nice with my boyfriend this February. I read about some The French Riviera Pass for 72h. Can I use this ticket to get to Eze and Monaco? Also can I buy it at the airport or I have to get to the Nice and find some office? Thank you for your help
Hi Sharka. With The French Riviera Pass, you can get to Eze Village by bus 82 at no extra cost. You won’t get to Monaco with this Pass. You can buy it also at the airport. Have a nice stay :).
Hi Tomasz,
What would be the best route from the bottom of Boulevard Gambetta (the beach end) to Eze? Also on a Multi 10 pass, does a route requiring a change from bus to bus or tram to bus count as one trip or two?
Thanks!
Also is it only bus drivers who I can buy a Ticket Azure from or can I get one at at machine at a Tram stop?
Hi Corey. You don’t have a direct connection to Eze Village from around Gambetta Street (but this area itself is cool for overnight stay). You must reach the Nice Vauban bus station, from where you take 82 and 112 to Eze Village. It’s best to walk to Massena Square and take the T1 tram towards Hospital Pasteur and get off at the Vauban stop. The Ticket Azur can be bought at the vending machines at the tram stops. If you go to Eze Village by bus 82, you only need a regular SOLO ticket and you can change within 74 minutes.
Hi. Thanks for the nice article. Can you inform if there is a monthly card for people who will be staying for long duration (3-4 months)? If yes, how much is the cost and where to buy it from?
Best regards
Hi. There is a monthly ticket. You can find it here: https://www.lignesdazur.com/fr/quel-titre-pour-mon-deplacementnbsp/7/Fare Unfortunately only in French, because it doesn’t work in English…
Hi, Tomasz!)
On the ZOU website and at bus stops in Monaco, the N100 bus leaves from Place d’Armes for Nice at 4:12. We arrived at the indicated time, no one came ((Where to complain?)))
Hi Vlada. Thank you for your comment. I am sorry about this situation, but I’m not surprised. This is France, they don’t care about the customer here. As you can see the timetable they also treat as they want. Filing a complaint is a waste of your time. Especially if you do not do it in French and do not send it by registered mail.
Hi Tomasz, We are group of 4 and would like to travel Eze and Monaco from Nice. Which buses or trains we should take for to and fro journey. What time should we start in the morning, so that all attractions are open to visit.
Hi. The best way is to take the 112 bus from Nice Vauban to Eze, and then after visiting Eze (about 2 hours) take another 112 bus from Eze to Monte Carlo and you are in Monaco for the rest of the day :). You can go back to Nice with a TER train or bus number 100 from Monaco. You should start the day about 9/10 AM. Have a great trip!
Hello
I am coming to stay in Nice for a few days over the Christmas period. Do trams and buses run normal schedules at this time?
Hi Martyn. Yes, they should run normally. Have a great time on the French Riviera!
Hi Tomasz,
Please advise on how to do the following trips:
1. Nice main train station -> Nice stadium (alianz riviera), and back (if different)
2. Monaco to Nice on Sunday after 23:00 (cheapest possible way of course)
Hi Lubo. From 13/11/19 there will be a tram 3 to the stadium. From the city center take T2 towards airport, and then on Grand Arenas stop change to T3. From Monaco by night take the N100 bus: 23:42, 1:12 and 2:42 as I see on the Lignes d’Azure website (Place d’Armes stop).
Thank you, Tomasz!
Could you please confirm the tram 3 is already operating?
Are those times you quoted for N100 valid for Sunday?
And could you please send me a link for that N100 timetable as I couldn’t find reliable source online.
Hi. T3 is already operating. Here you can find N100 timetable, but there is no N100 on Sunday unfortunately: https://www.modifications-zou06.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FH-N100-Juillet-2019.pdf (but there is a N100 bus from Saturday to Sunday night).
So considering that N100 is not operating on Sunday evening, what is the next option I have for going back to Nice after 23:00? Probably a train? Is the last one at 23:45 and is it possible to get to the train station from the Monaco stadium in 20-30 minutes (or there is another station direction Nice that is closer to the stadium)?
What backup options could you suggest?
You have to go back by the last train at 23:45, then just a taxi. The stadium is close to the Monaco train station. A 15-minute walk is enough.
Hi Tomasz – this is great resource as the Nice public service websites all seem to be useless! Can you tell me about buses and trams over the Christmas period – are there any downloadable timetables or maps? Many thanks – Nick
Hi Nick and thank you. In France, we celebrate Christmas only on December 25 and public transport may be limited on that day only. There is currently no information for this day, but do not expect many difficulties.
Hi, I want to know
1.Is tramT2 to nice airport for 1.5 euro? I search before .It said 98 and 99 bus to airport costs 1.5 euro. But I want to try tram. My luggage is too heavy. And is the tram to T2 terminal of airport?I want to xby flixbus to Turin. The bus stop is there.
2.Can I buy ticket by credit card or notes(5 or 10 or 15 euro)from bus driver? I want to go Cannes, Antibes and Saint Paul. Can I just buy 6 tickets from one bus driver or just can by one way ticket. When I back, I can buy respondent ticket.
Thanks a lot.
Hi. Yes, a tram ticket costs 1.50 euros. Bus 98 and 99 has been canceled and no longer operates. You have T2 to the airport (both terminals). From the bus driver you can buy tickets paying only by cash (coins and low amounts banknotes).
Hi, What is the best ticket for a family (2 adults 2 children) to buy? We want to take 4 trips on the tram (airport to nice town, nice town to airport and nice town to allianz stadium and back again) Over a 4 day period.
Thanks
MULTI10 would be best.
Noted and thank you
Hi if I take bus 112 from Monaco to Vauban Nice bus stop, can I still use the same bus ticket for tram 1 from tram stop Vauban to Gare Theirs ( assuming it us still within 74mins)
Only when you ask the driver for the Ticket Azure.
Thank you Tomasz
But I was told that the normal tram ticket bought from the vending machine can be used from Gare theirs to Vauban tram stop and then reuse it on bus 112 from Vauban to Eze village, is this correct?
You should buy the Ticket Azur in the vending machine for the same price 1,50 euro and then you can use it in the tram and the 112 to Monte Carlo.
Hi, we bought ticket azur for our Monaco trip, but when we got on bus 100 the driver said we cant use those and we had to buy different tickets directly from him (also for 1.50) So I dont really get it and I dont know where to use them now.
Hi Angie. Several people have already pointed out this problem to me. This is unfortunately a French mess. I asked a few days ago at the carrier’s office whether this ticket is still valid on this route, I heard that it was. In my opinion, office workers are misleading or drivers are cheating to sell a separate ticket.
I’m having some trouble finding a reliable map of the Nice area public transit lines. Fans of James Baldwin, my wife and I would like to get up to Saint-Paul-de-Vence while in Nice. Does the 400 bus go to Vence, or is that the best line to get close to Vence?
Hi Andrew. You have a 400 bus from Nice Park Phoenix to Vence directly for 1,50 euro one way. From the city center you can take the T2 tram towards airport. Don’t forget to get off on the Park Phoenix stop. Have a great trip to the beautiful Vence!
Hello Tomasz, can I use the 7 day ticket to travel from nice to grasse and then cannes and back to nice?
Hi. Unfortunately not. This ticket does not work on buses numbered 100 and above.
Hello Tomasz, so Tram 2 currently operates to Airport? Or
Yes, from the city center to the airport :)
We are staying in Cagnes-sur-Mer this weekend and need to get in and out of Nice. There is an Iron Man going on. Any advice?
Hi Kathleen. It may not be easy, because it is a big sporting event. I think it would be best to drive the car using the Voie Mathise express road. I’m sorry I can’t help you more.
Brilliant , many thanks !
hi, how many journeys can you make with the 7 day ticket please ?
Hi. There is no limit :)