Traveling to Nice by train for a weekend at the beach is a piece of cake. The low cost train fare makes the trip a “must.”
Low- cost train fare
Now that I’ve learned how easy traveling by train to Nice is, I planning to travel a lot by train in Europe, I’m glad to have the “senior” rail pass. The senior discount on the fare from Avignon to Nice makes the trip incredibly affordable– roundtrip, first class. Getting to the train station from Uzes, I have two choices. Drive “Lucy” to Avignon and park her with her 4-wheeled friends at the train station; or catch the bus from Uzes to the train station in Avignon. I prefer the first option. Even with paying for parking at the train station, the total cost of transportation is less than driving back and forth to Nice. Plus, I don’t have to worry about parking places in Nice after I arrive.
Traveling to Nice by Train
The TGV train from Avignon to Nice in the first-class coach is a treat. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a seat with no one beside or across from you. You can stretch out as much as you please.
As you skirt along the Mediterranean from Marseilles to Nice, you get a glimpse of the beaches and the coastline villas.
There’s a blue-sky sunny day with only a few clouds.
From one side of the train you see sunbathers stretched out on mats and lounge chairs on the beaches. The temperature is in the high 60s.
The view from the left windows reveals town people walking busily down the streets wearing leather jackets.
Marseille. Toulon. Sainte Maxime.
Stretches of low forests with cedars, olive trees and pines are interrupted by occasional towns. Beaches appear from nowhere as the train speeds along.
The sea draws closer to the tracks. It darts away again.
Yacht coves appear below rocky cliffs
Cannes. Antibes.
Train stations with familiar names click by alerting passengers that Nice is ahead.
High-rise condos and apartment buildings are beginning to crowd together on the hills to the left of the train tracks. More are packed together towards the sea.
Old and new, unkept and clean; the contrast of tan, yellow, reddish-brown and, occasionally, green stucco and concrete structures seem to blend together in perfect harmony.
Arriving in Nice
This is the real deal: The French Riviera
The beach in Nice
City of Nice
The beach — the Riviera
Reliable transportation. Rent a bike. Nice France
More about Nice
Nice is Nice. Marc Chagall Makes It Nicer
Heading for a Beach in France? Nice!
City Side of Nice: Favorite Finds
Categories: Around France, Beaches, Blog, Memories Tour, Nice
Very nice! I’ve never been to the Riviera but hope I get down that way some day!
I’m so close I should go more often. There are so many places I’ve been told I should see. Thanks for your note!
I spent a summer, during college, in Antibes. Ah, those were the days. I’ve never been so brown. If only I had concentrated a bit more on learning the language! Anyway, it looks heavenly.
Haven’t spent time in Antibes. Must do. Ohh so much fun in college, though!
Hi Deborah,
Wonderful and great idea…
I personally have never been a huge fan of Nice, but maybe you have already done this sometime, but in case you haven’t, continue just a bit further to lovely Villefranche-sur-Mer, it’s beautiful and wonderful…possibly a bit Italien..spent quite a few holidays here, and we’ll get in the car sometime and visit again, once a lot of the tourists have gone…it’s place we like to return to.
Enjoy whatever you get up to.
Lis 😉
Sent from my iPad
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I’ll have to look for Villefranche-sur-Mer. There are lots of places to explore around Nice and so little time!
PERFECT!!!