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Travel by Tram 2 to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)

by in Côte d'Azur Riviera, France, Nice

Tram line 2 is the cheapest and fastest way to travel to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) from the city center, Vieux Ville, and port.

Nice Promenade des Anglais

Getting to Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport is cheapest, easiest, and fastest on the new west-east tram line 2. The tram runs from Aéroport Terminal 2 and Aéroport Terminal 1 parallel to the Mediterranean coast and the Promenade des Anglais to the old town and city center of Nice Ville with its final stop at Port Lympia. Trams run every four to five minutes for much of the day with total traveling time over the full route only 26 minutes. The tram replaced airport express buses 98 and 99 as the best way to travel from downtown Nice to the airport and in contrast to these buses, the tram has no airport surcharge and tickets are only the standard €1.50 per journey.

Traveling on the tram is free for everyone between airport terminals 1 and 2, as well as to Grand Arénas — the first tram stop from the airport and a convenient stop for numerous buses and St Augustin railway station.

Note: two tram lines run from Nice Airport: tram 2 (blue) goes to Nice center while tram 3 (green) goes to the north and is of little interest to most tourists. If on the wrong line, simply change trams at Grand Arénas.

Tram Line 2 to Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)

Map of tram lines 2 and 3 to Nice Côte d'Azur airport NCE
Download pdf map from “Plan autour du Tram” at Lignes d’Azur
Reopening of Tourist Sights in France 2021: Most museums, monuments, palaces, and similar sights are likely to reopen from 19 May 2021. Advanced time-slot reservation tickets are a requirement at many museums.

Nice’s Tram Line 2 (Ligne 2 de Tram) runs from downtown Nice alternating to either Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) or to the CADAM prefectural administration center in the western outskirts of the city.

The line splits at Grand Arénas near Saint Augustin SNCF train station, with every second tram going to CADAM Centre Adminsitratif and the others to Nice Airport to stop directly at both Aéroport Terminal 1 and Aéroport Terminal 2. If on the wrong tram, get off at Grand Arénas and take the next tram 2 or tram 3 traveling to the airport.

En route from Port Lympia to the east of Nice’s town center, tram 2 passes the important transportation hubs of Garibaldi and St Jean. It runs through a tunnel underneath the old town and town center but emerges from the tunnel near Magnan and travels above ground, mostly along Avenue de la Californie that runs parallel to the more famous Promenade des Anglais (and the Mediterranean Sea).

Traveling time on the tram is only 26 minutes from Nice Airport to Port Lympia.

Trams operate at high frequency with four-minute intervals during peak periods. The flat-floor access trams have a capacity of 300 passengers per journey.

Buying Tickets for Nice Airport Tram

Traveling on the tram between Airport Terminal 2, Terminal 1, and Grand Arénas is free for everyone.

In contrast to the previous Airport Express buses 98 and 98, the tram has no airport surcharge and thus costs only the standard fare — currently €1.50 with free transfers to other buses for 74 minutes. Buy tickets from vending machines (or the ticket window at the airport or online) before boarding the tram — all tickets must be validated at the start of journeys (including after transfers).

Tickets may also be bought through the apps of Lignes d’Azur. (The English website is a nightmare but the apps work well in French.)

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Transfer Connections on Tram 2

Tram Line 2 will have several convenience connections (correspondence) with other public transportation methods including at:

  • Grand Arénas – close to Nice-Saint Augustin train station. (Travel on the tram is free from both airport terminals to Grand Arénas.) Most regional trains stop at Nice-Saint Augustin SNCF station making it often more convenient than traveling via Nice-Ville SNCF main station.
  • Parc Phoenix — first stop after Grand Arénas — terminus for buses 200 (Cannes), 400 (Vence) and 500 (Grasse).
  • Jean Médecin – with Tram Line 1 and one-stop to Gare Thiers (Nice Ville main train station) or to Masséna with many bus lines.
  • Garibaldi / Le Château – with Tram Line 1 and many bus lines.

It is expected that tramline 2 will reduce car traffic on the Promenade des Anglais by 20% or 20,000 cars per day. As a direct consequence of tram 2, the former pricey airport express buses 98 and 99 have been canceled. once the tramline is fully operational. Bus 12 still runs past the airport (Aeroport Promenade stop a short walk from Terminal 1) and along the full length of Promenade des Anglais.

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