Travel by Train to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) on the French Riviera

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) has no train station inside the terminal, but the airport is only a short free tram ride from Nice Saint-Augustin station, with frequent TER trains along the French Riviera.

Use this railway option especially for Cannes, Antibes, Monaco, Menton, Ventimiglia, or other coastal towns.

If you want more details on routes, tickets, and connections, the full guide below explains everything step by step.

Travel to Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) by Train (Detailed Guide)

Trains do not stop directly at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), but it is only a short free tram ride (or walk) from the airport terminal to Saint Augustin train station. Most regional TER ZOU trains stop here four times per hour with fast direct links to many French Riviera resort towns, including Mandelieu, Cannes, Antibes, Nice-St Augustin, Nice-Ville, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Menton, and Ventimiglia.

• TER ZOU trains are often faster and cheaper than special airport express buses.
• For Intercity and TGV train departures, change at Nice central train station — see below.

•  🚖 Check private transfer prices for late arrivals, heavy luggage, or groups of 3-4 people.

From Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) to Saint Augustin Train Station

To get to Saint Augustin station at Grand Arénas from Nice Airport:

• Take the free tram (2 or B) from Terminal 2 or Terminal 1 to Grand Arénas.
• Walk (from Terminal 1 only!)

The tram ride between Terminal 2, Terminal 1, and Grand Arénas is free for all. Travel time to Grand Arénas is only 3 minutes from Terminal 1 and 7 minutes from Terminal 2. The trams are very frequent.

The well-signposted walk from Terminal 1 to the station is around 500 m / 10 minutes (use airport exit door A0). Walking between Terminal 2 and Terminal 1 is not possible at Nice Airport — always use the free tram.

• Buy train tickets online from Trainline. Use “Nice Saint Augustin” (sometimes “Nice Aeroport” is added to the name) for the station closest to the airport. Nice (Ville) is the main central train station in the city center.

TER Trains from Nice to French Riviera Towns

The most useful trains when traveling to French Riviera resorts are the regional TER ZOU trains. These trains usually run four per hour. Almost all regional trains stop at Saint Augustin, except trains starting only from Nice Ville towards Italy.

TER train traveling times from Nice-Saint Augustine SNCF train station in minutes are around:

• 45 – Mandelieu
• 36 – Cannes (or use the airport express bus 81 to Cannes)
• 23 – Antibes
• 7 – Cagnes sur Mer
• 0 – Nice-Saint Augustin (Nice Airport)
• 5 – Nice-Ville (Gare SNCF Central Train Station)
• 9 – Nice-Riquier
• 13 – Villefranche-sur-Mer
• 14 – Beaulieu
• 20 – Eze
• 24 – Cap d’Ail
• 30 – Monaco (or use the airport express bus 80 to Monte Carlo)
• 40 – Menton
• 55 – Ventimiglia

Trains operate from around 5 am to 11 pm, which makes them also useful at night when bus services have ended.

Trains are often cheaper (with no luggage surcharges) and as fast as the special airport express buses, but require getting to the station, which may be a drag when traveling with luggage.

Nice-Ville Gare SNCF Railway Station

Nice-Ville train station, often referred to as Nice Gare, Gare Thiers, or Nice SNCF station, is in the center of Nice city. The only reason to use the main station rather than Saint Augustin is to take intercity trains, TGVs, or trains to Italy.

From Nice Airport, it is easiest to reach this station by train via Saint Augustin as described above.

Alternatively, to reach Nice-Ville train station from either airport Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, take tram 2 (blue line) to Jean Médicin (in the direction of Port Lympia). From Jean Médicin, it is either a 10-minute walk to the station or take tram 1 (direction north / Henri Sappia) for one stop to Gare Thiers. (Same tram ticket but validate again.) The total travel time should be around 45 minutes.

• Tram 2 is the best option from Nice Airport to Nice city center, Promenade des Anglais, port, and beaches, but if the train station is the destination, it is faster and easier to travel via Saint Augustin.

Save with Pass Sud Azur Explore on the French Riviera

A variety of discount passes are available for travelers to the French Riviera. A particularly handy one when on holiday is the Pass Sud Azur, as it includes all local trains, buses, and trams in the Nice, Alpes-Maritime, and Monaco region. (Special airport buses excluded!)

The pass is available for 3 days (€35), 7 days (€50), or 14 days (€80). Buy it from vending machines at the tram stops — it is not sold at the TER train station machines.

Bearers of TER train tickets should inquire about discount offers when buying admission tickets to sights on the French Riviera, such as the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco, the Greek Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.