With nearly 2,700 hours of sunshine per year and an average annual temperature of 16°C, Nice is a prime destination to enjoy some light in winter. It’s the perfect time to invite family and friends to come and recharge with some vitamin D, even if it’s just for a weekend. How can you easily reach our beautiful city from other French or foreign cities? Here’s an overview of the different transportation options available.
Nice by plane: the fastest way
From Paris, Bordeaux, Rennes, Grenoble, or Nantes, a flight to Nice takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. If you depart from Toulouse, it takes only 3 hours. It’s hard to beat that for speed! The plane is very practical if you don’t want to waste time and you’re only visiting Nice for a few days. It’s also the best choice to reach the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes from abroad. Especially since in 2022, Nice airport will serve four additional European destinations:
• Naples (Italy)
• Cluj (Romania)
• Tirana (Albania)
• Belgrade (Czech Republic)
The main argument against flying, unsurprisingly: in these times of climate change and ecological urgency, it unfortunately remains the most polluting mode of transport…
Nice by train: the most ecological option
Sure, a train journey from Paris to Nice takes more time than a flight: departing from Paris-gare de Lyon, you need to allow about 6 hours by train to reach Nice-Ville station. However, with CO₂ emissions approximately 80 times lower than those of an air journey, the environmental impact is entirely different. This can be a motivating factor for environmentally conscious visitors! For those coming from Lyon (4 and a half hours by train versus 3 hours by plane), they won’t lose out once you account for the time wasted during boarding. Finally, for some cities closer to Nice, the train is faster than the plane. This is the case when traveling from Montpellier, with 4 and a half hours by train versus a good 6 hours by plane.
And Nice by road?
If you’re not coming from too far away, you can also drive to Nice. From the capital, you should plan for between 8 and 10 hours. From Toulouse, it’s typically between 5 and 6 and a half hours. Despite the length of the journey, the road is a rather comfortable option if you’re carrying large luggage: there’s no need to ration, pay for extras, or tire yourself out carrying suitcases from platform to platform or counter to counter… The car is also the preferred option for those who want to maintain the freedom to choose their departure times — and their route, making stops and visits at their leisure. To minimize the cost (and carbon footprint) of the getaway, carpooling is a great option. Less flexible than individual or family travel, it is nonetheless becoming increasingly popular in France. From major cities in the country, finding one or even two seats in a shared vehicle is relatively easy nowadays. Finally, another option to hit the road without going completely solo: the good old coach. Sometimes noisy but quite practical and very convivial, it pleasantly reminds one of summer camps and appeals to those who enjoy spontaneous encounters.
Whether by road, rail, or air, the city of Nice is easily accessible, regardless of the time or budget available. How about a little more sunshine?
