Please go to Google Earth for street level / street view photographs!

Bus Routes - Airport On arrival at Nice Airport we advise you take the bus to your destination. Almost everyone does. The price of a ticket is 4 euro and you get a day return ticket to wherever you want to go in one journey. (as at Feb.2010) It's a bit of a waste for most people as they normally don't visit Nice for just one day. When you're leaving, try giving your ticket to someone at the airport - you will probably find they look at you as though you are mad! The regulars will take the ticket without complaint though. Pay on the bus. Saves waiting in a queue for tickets. Drivers like correct change though as it saves time and hassle. Alternatively take Route 23 as below. From the airport, this takes you down Rue de France - you want to get off at GROSSO C.U.M. then walk about a hundred metres along to Andrioli, then right turn and you're almost home.

Bus Route - 23 - PDF Saint Martin / Centre Administratif Or use the web service at ligne d'azur

Bus Route 98 - PDF Airport (T1 and T2) / Gare Routiere (Bus Station)

Note that all bus timings are as at the Bus Station - NOT your bus stop. Going TO the airport, using the stop nearest the apartment, Gambetta, you should expect to see your bus about 20 minutes after the time shown on the timetable. If the traffic is busy, maybe a little longer. Buses are regular so you shouldn't have to wait more than about 40 minutes at any time. Always leave yourself sufficient time to get the bus as it takes about 15 minutes to get to the airport, stopping at T2 first, then T1. Updates : BA and Lufthansa fly from T1, Air France and Easyjet from T2 - see the airport web site for more information.

Taxis Taking a taxi from the airport is the lazy way to do it but costs upwards of €20 - and if you don't specify exactly the route to where you're going, enjoy the tour because they will take you the long way!. Always ask how much from the airport to the apartment - "par le Promenade des Anglais" first.

Train Stations & Routes

See Nice Information for local details

SNCF - Main Line Railways in France

Nice and most of France for that matter is well served by modern trains. Nice has its own main SNCF station through which TGVs pass. Paris is reachable in around 5.1/2 hours (reportedly soon to be 3.1/2 hours with a new line, but this is France and these things take time..) and if you want to go the other way then Monaco and Italy are easily accessible with regular services at sensible prices. A typical return ticket to Paris is around €400 for two passengers. (As at 29.10.09) This is very probably not the cheapest fare available, so do check around. You can book up to 90 days in advance. Generally bus and tram tickets are a universal 1 euro for virtually anywhere in the surrounding region. NOTE : Buying a ticket is for local destinations is relatively straightforward. Either wait in line for one of the infuriatingly slow attendants to deal with you or try out the automatic machines. For this you need either a "Carte Bleu" (credit card) or a Switch / Maestro debit card as quite often the cash (money taking) machines are out of order. Instructions are available on screen, in the language of your choosing, within reason. For obvious reasons the writer has only used English! After buying your ticket you normally need to validate (VALIDER) it by dropping it into a punch machine before going to your platform. Interestingly, the required orientation of tickets can vary, so don't panic if it won't validate first time round. Station staff are available if you have any questions, but you will probably have to wait until they have either finished their conversation with a friend/ had a cigarette/ taken a tea break / before you will attract their attention. That aside, they are fairly friendly and clearly used to stupid questions in various languages. Regardless of the language used to question them you will find that invariably they will reply to you in French, unless you get lucky. If you are found without a validated ticket you will have to pay an on-the-spot fine, so don't forget to do it. (The same system applies to buses - purchase a ticket then validate it on a small machine within the bus, usually close to the driver) As with all cities, using the train during rush hours is only advisable if you really need to get somewhere. Due to the popularity of this mode of transport it can get very, very busy. You will therefore either find it difficult to get on or if you do get on, to breathe - it's a bit of a squeeze sometimes. Then you have to figure out how to get off at the right station without trampling the dozen or so people who have squeezed in behind you. And all before the doors shut automatically. (This assumes that they have actually been opened as they do not necessarily open automatically.) Note also that the door may open either side - in Nice Gare and Monaco it's mostly on the RIGHT, but at Villefranche, for instance, it's on the LEFT. Don't forget to watch the gap too - there is often a sizeable gap between platform and train. If you are short on athleticism you might find embarking a bit of a challenge. Getting off (where possible) only requires that you don't damage yourself too much on the way down. SECURITY Finally, as with every other mode of public transport anywhere, be aware and be secure. There are bad people out there just waiting to take your purse, wallet, shiny mobile phone or whatever other goody you might have, from you. Carry the absolute minimum of plastic or information with you. You generally don't need a passport to go anywhere - so don't carry one!. One, maybe two credit / debit cards can be useful, more than that and you are just showing off. Money? take only what you need and use cards for the rest.   Update - Nice has nice new trams which are just the job for going up and down the town. 1 euro per journey unless you buy a season ticket or other multi journey or multi day ticket. Update 2 - Check out the VELO BLEU - you can now ride a bike anywhere for almost nothing. Brilliant! You must register with the website first so it would be a time saver to do that while you're at home.