Trains to Nice

Train service

SNCF

SNCF is France’s state-owned rail operator, running high-speed, regional, and international TGV services across Europe.

Ouigo

Ouigo is SNCF’s low-cost train service offering affordable high-speed travel in France, Spain, and Belgium with simplified onboard amenities.

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Train tickets

Omio

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Trainline

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Raileurope

Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.

TGV trains from Paris reach Nice in 5 hours 40 minutes, departing from Paris-Lyon (Gare de Lyon). Advance fares on TGV InOui start from around €25 in second class. The budget Ouigo option starts from €19, but comes with luggage restrictions that matter if you are packing more than a cabin-size bag. Both services arrive at Nice-Ville, the city’s main station, a short walk from the hotel district and the seafront. If you want to travel overnight, the Intercités de Nuit leaves from Paris-Austerlitz (not Gare de Lyon) and reaches Nice in the early morning.

Key facts before you book:

Journey time: TGV InOui covers the 686 km Paris to Nice route in 5 hours 40 minutes. Multiple TGV InOui and Ouigo services run daily, departing from Paris-Lyon.
Fares: TGV InOui advance fares from around €25 in second class; Ouigo from €19. The cheapest fares sell out early.
Seat reservations: Reservations are mandatory on TGV InOui. Interrail and Eurail pass holders pay a separate reservation fee, typically around €10 per TGV journey.
Arrival station: All long-distance trains arrive at Nice-Ville. Two secondary stations serve local and airport routes: Nice-Riquier and Nice-Saint-Augustin.
Coastal trains: TER trains run all day along the Côte d’Azur, linking Nice with Monaco, Cannes, and Ventimiglia. No reservation needed.
From London: Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris-Nord (around 2 hours 15 minutes), then transfer across Paris to Paris-Lyon for a TGV to Nice. The total journey is typically 8 to 9 hours. The Intercités de Nuit overnight service from Paris-Austerlitz is an alternative if you want to arrive in the morning.

Nice train stations

Nice has three stations. All long-distance trains use Nice-Ville.

Nice-Ville station

Also known as Nice-Thiers, Nice-Ville is the main station. Opened in 1864, it serves both high-speed TGVs and regional TER trains, with seven platforms labelled A to G. You will find a Paul sandwich shop and a Carrefour Express minimarket inside, along with SNCF ticket counters and a tourist information desk. The station is accessible, with wheelchair spaces on SNCF trains and an overbridge lift on the far west side, which is the most practical route if you are travelling with luggage.

There is no left-luggage storage inside the station itself. Hotel Belle Meunière, directly across the street, has offered bag storage in the past for a small fee per item; confirm current availability and pricing with them before counting on it.

When you leave, turn left for Tram 1 towards the city centre and the seafront.

Secondary stations: Nice-Riquier and Nice-Saint-Augustin

Two other stations serve specific local needs.

Nice-Riquier is about 2 km east of Nice-Ville and is more convenient than Nice-Ville for the old town and Vieux Port. It has bike facilities but limited accessibility. Luggage storage services operate nearby; check current availability and rates before you travel.

Nice-Saint-Augustin sits near the airport. It connects to the terminals via TER trains and a free tram (lines 2 and B) running through the Grand-Arénas area. Useful if you are heading straight from the airport without going into the city centre first.

Both secondary stations are TER only. Tickets need no reservation and can be bought at kiosks on the platform.

Train companies and routes

French train services

SNCF operates all main train services to Nice. The brand depends on the service type.

TGV InOui is the standard high-speed service from Paris, departing from Paris-Lyon (Gare de Lyon). The journey takes 5 hours 40 minutes. Along the way, trains stop at Saint-Raphaël (useful for buses to Saint-Tropez), then Antibes before Nice-Ville. Advance Prem’s fares can start from around €25 in second class, but prices climb as seats fill. The cheapest Prem’s fares are not exchangeable or refundable.

Ouigo uses the same Paris-Lyon departure point and the same high-speed tracks, at fares from €19. Know what you are trading: one small personal bag and one cabin-size bag are included, but larger bags must be declared in advance and cost extra. There is no dining car and no at-seat meal service. Wi-Fi is available on some Ouigo trains but not across the whole fleet. Ouigo tickets are non-refundable.

TER (Transport Express Régional) covers the coastal routes. Trains run frequently throughout the day, linking Nice westward to Cannes, Antibes, and Juan les Pins, and eastward to Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton, and Ventimiglia. Fares are fixed and not demand-based. No reservation is needed on any TER service. Local TER trains are gradually being rebranded as ZOU in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region; the name on the ticket machine may differ, but the trains and routes are the same.

Intercités de Nuit runs an overnight sleeper from Paris to Nice throughout the year. This is not the same station as TGV services: the night train leaves from Paris-Austerlitz, on the opposite side of the city from Gare de Lyon. The route calls at Marseille-Blancarde, Toulon, Les Arcs-Draguignan, Saint-Raphaël-Valescure, Cannes, and Antibes before reaching Nice-Ville. Fares start from €19 for a reclining seat, €29 for a berth in a six-person second-class couchette, and €59 in a four-berth first-class couchette. Couchette berths sell out faster than seats on popular summer departures, so book as soon as your plans are set.

Seat reservations

Do not board a TGV InOui without a seat reservation. Reservations are mandatory, and a ticket or pass alone is not enough.

If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, your pass covers the cost of travel but not the seat. You need a separate paid reservation for each TGV InOui journey. Reservation fees for pass holders on domestic TGV services are typically around €10 per journey. The number of pass-holder seats on each train is limited. In summer, they go quickly. Book your reservation as soon as you confirm your dates.

TER trains are different. No reservation is needed on any TER service on the Côte d’Azur. Board and find a seat.

Intercités de Nuit tickets include the berth or seat reservation. Interrail and Eurail pass holders travelling overnight still need a separate pass-holder reservation; check the current fee at the time of booking.

Ouigo assigns your seat at booking. No extra reservation fee applies.

Booking ahead

TGV InOui tickets go on sale up to six months in advance. Ouigo also opens up to six months ahead, though the exact window can vary. Buy early for TGV InOui if you want Prem’s fares. These are released first and sell out. Booking close to departure on a busy route can cost three or four times the cheapest advance fare.

Trains from Nice to Italy

There is no direct branded train service between Nice and Milan in 2026. The practical route is a TER from Nice-Ville to Ventimiglia (around 50 minutes, no reservation needed), then a Trenitalia Intercity train from Ventimiglia to Genoa and Milan. Buy the two legs as separate tickets. Allow at least 45 minutes for the connection in Ventimiglia when heading east.

A summer cross-border night train, the Espresso Riviera, ran between Nice and Milan in July and August 2024 and 2025 but is not operating in 2026.

For other European connections, most travellers take the Eurostar to Paris and connect to a TGV from there.

“TGV stands for Train à Grande Vitesse (high-speed train) and InOui means ‘unheard of’ in the sense of exceptional. InOui is SNCF’s current brand for its front-rank TGV trains.”

Ticket booking methods

Train company websites

SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com) is SNCF’s official booking site, covering TGV InOui, Ouigo, Intercités de Nuit, and TER tickets with no booking fee. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express (except for insurance or bus purchases), and Chèques Vacances.

Booking platforms

Third-party platforms such as Trainline let you compare fares across operators in one place. Prem’s fares on TGV InOui are released in batches and sell out, so the gap between booking early and booking close to departure can be significant.

Station ticket offices

Nice-Ville has staffed ticket offices with English-speaking staff, as well as self-service machines accepting cards, cash, Chèques Vacances, and rail passes. Keep an eye on your belongings at the machines. Validate your ticket at the yellow validators on the platform before boarding. This step is mandatory; an unvalidated ticket can be treated the same as no ticket.

Booking method	Key benefits	Limitations
SNCF Connect	Official source; no booking fee	Primarily SNCF network
Third-party platforms	Compare prices across operators; mobile tickets	May include booking fees
Station offices	Personal assistance; accepts various payments	Limited hours; possible queues
Ticket machines	Available 24 hours; fast	Cash not always accepted

Train tickets and classes

First vs second class

TGV InOui offers two travel classes. Second class has a standard 2×2 seating layout. First class has wider seats with more legroom, and the carriage is quieter.

Feature	First class	Second class
Seating layout	Wider seats with extra legroom	Standard 2×2 configuration
Power outlets	One per passenger	One per two passengers
Wi-Fi	Free	Free
Onboard service	At-seat service (where dining car available)	Self-service from café bar
Overnight options	Four-berth couchette compartments	Six-berth couchette compartments
Atmosphere	Quieter	More communal

Ticket change rules

The flexibility you get depends on the ticket type.

TGV InOui and Intercités standard tickets: Free changes up to 7 days before departure. Within 6 days: TGV InOui carries a change fee of around €19; Intercités charges up to 40% of the ticket price, capped at around €15. Exact fees depend on the specific ticket you buy.
Ouigo tickets: Non-refundable. Changes are allowed up to 30 minutes before departure for a fee of around €19 per change. Check current Ouigo conditions when booking, as terms can change.

Rail pass options

SNCF’s subscription discount cards (Cartes Avantage) offer percentage reductions for regular travellers on French trains. Check current prices and eligibility at SNCF Connect.

For TER travel on the Côte d’Azur, several day or multi-day passes are worth knowing about. These cover TER trains, trams, and buses; they do not cover TGV InOui or Ouigo.

Pass SudAzur Explore: 3, 7, or 14 consecutive days of unlimited travel on trains, trams, and buses across the Alpes-Maritimes and into Monaco. Starts from €35 for 3 days. Available from July through to early November. Check current prices at zou.maregionsud.fr or any staffed TER station.
Pass Isabelle Famille: One day of unlimited TER travel for two adults and two children under 16 travelling together, valid year-round on the Côte d’Azur network including routes to Ventimiglia and into the mountains towards Tende and Grasse. Check the current price at a station or SNCF Connect.
Pass Touristique (day pass): Available May to September on TER trains, covering the coastal stretch from the Italian border to Saint-Raphaël. Check current prices at stations.

Interrail and Eurail pass holders travelling on TGV InOui still need a paid seat reservation (see the seat reservations section above). For TER travel, no reservation is needed.

For point-to-point travel on TGV InOui, booking ahead gives access to the cheapest Prem’s fares. Last-minute fares are considerably higher.

Onboard facilities and services

TGV InOui trains have a café bar in cars 4 and 14, selling snacks, hot drinks, and light meals. First and second class both have free Wi-Fi and power outlets. First class has one outlet per passenger; second class has one outlet for every two passengers. The trains have accessible toilets and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility. Second-class family areas include a nursery corner.

TER trains on the Côte d’Azur have power outlets at window seats but no Wi-Fi and no café service. If you are taking a TER for a day trip from Nice, bring food and drink before boarding.

Facility	First class	Second class
Electrical outlets	One per passenger	One per two passengers
Wi-Fi	Free	Free
Bistro service	Available in car 4 or 14	Available in car 4 or 14
Changing tables	Available in universal toilets	Not available

Both classes have adjustable seats, retractable tray tables, and adaptable lighting.

Train trips from Nice

French Riviera destinations

TER trains run all day in both directions from Nice-Ville, with services until around 02:00 on Sundays. Fares are fixed; the price at the platform machine is the same as the price online weeks before.

Heading west: Villefranche-sur-Mer (5 minutes, €2.10), Antibes (around 25 minutes, €5.20), and Cannes (around 40 minutes, €7.90).

Heading east: Monaco-Monte Carlo (around 20 to 25 minutes, €4.40) and Menton, then Ventimiglia in Italy (around 50 minutes, €8.70).

TER trains from Nice run directly to Monaco-Monte Carlo. No change of train is needed. If you have just arrived in Nice on a TGV from Paris and you want to continue to Monaco, you change to a TER at Nice-Ville.

Cagnes-sur-Mer is also served frequently and is accessible from both Nice and Antibes.

Mountain routes

Two mountain routes leave from the Nice area.

Train des Merveilles climbs from Nice-Ville to Tende through valleys with more than 100 bridges, viaducts, and tunnels, reaching around 1,000 metres. An adult single fare for the full Nice to Tende line is around €16.80. A bilingual guide joins the 09:32 departure from Nice-Ville: daily from June to September, and on weekends and public holidays from April through to early November.

Train des Pignes covers 151 km (94 miles) from the coast into the Alpine foothills. Steam trains run on select dates. This train does not leave from Nice-Ville. It departs from a separate station at 4 bis rue Alfred Binet, near the Liberation tram stop. Confirm the departure address when you book.

Local transport connections

From Nice-Ville, Tram 1 leaves from the left side of the main exit and runs through the city centre to the port. Change to Tram 2 at Jean Médecin for the east-west line.

The Lignes d’Azur Tickets app lets you buy and validate tickets on your phone. Reloadable Ma Carte cards (€2) and refundable La Carte cards (€2) are useful if you are making several trips during your stay.

For airport transfers, the Ticket Aéro offers a €10 return between the airport and the city centre, valid on the tram. Strong Mistral winds, which can reach 185 km/h, occasionally disrupt tram and bus services; allow extra time if the weather turns.

Travel information

Travel seasons

July and August are the busiest months. Trains and stations fill up, and coastal sea temperatures near Nice can reach 30°C (86°F), considerably above the typical 21°C to 22°C (70°F to 72°F) at other times of year. Book train tickets well ahead if you are travelling in summer.

Late April to early May and early autumn (September to early October) tend to be quieter, though major events still bring crowds. The Nice Carnaval and Menton’s Fête du Citron run in February. The Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix fall between mid-March and mid-June. Trains on the Côte d’Azur are noticeably busier during these periods.

Station transport options

From Nice-Ville:

Tram 2 runs west to east, connecting the airport to the port.
Tram 1 runs from the north through the city centre.
The Lignes d’Azur app covers digital ticket purchase and validation.
Ma Carte (reloadable, €2) and La Carte (refundable, €2) make repeated tram and bus use easier.

The Tram N°2 Line B provides a free shuttle between Nice-Saint-Augustin station and the airport terminals and the Grand-Arénas area.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the TGV train journey from Paris to Nice take?

TGV InOui trains cover the 686 km from Paris to Nice in 5 hours 40 minutes, departing from Paris-Lyon (Gare de Lyon). Advance fares in second class can start from around €25, though prices rise closer to the departure date. The budget Ouigo service on the same route starts from €19 but has stricter luggage limits and no onboard dining. Both services arrive at Nice-Ville.

What are the train stations in Nice?

Nice-Ville is the main station, in the city centre and within easy walking distance of the hotel district. Two secondary stations handle regional routes and airport connections: Nice-Riquier, about 2 km east of Nice-Ville, and Nice-Saint-Augustin, near Nice Airport.

Which regional destinations can I reach by train from Nice?

TER trains run frequently along the Côte d'Azur, connecting Nice westward to Cannes, Antibes, and Juan les Pins, and eastward to Monaco-Monte Carlo, Menton, and Ventimiglia in Italy. TER trains from Nice run directly to Monaco-Monte Carlo with no change of train needed. The journey takes around 20 to 25 minutes.

Is there a rail pass for day trips along the Côte d'Azur from Nice?

Yes. The Pass Isabelle Famille covers one day of unlimited TER travel for two adults and two children under 16 travelling together, valid year-round on the Côte d'Azur network. The Pass SudAzur Explore gives 3, 7, or 14 consecutive days of unlimited travel on trains, trams, and buses across the Alpes-Maritimes, starting from €35 for 3 days. Check current prices at a TER station or zou.maregionsud.fr.

Is there an overnight train from Paris to Nice?

Yes. The Intercités de Nuit overnight train runs from Paris-Austerlitz to Nice throughout the year, stopping at Marseille, Toulon, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, and Antibes along the way. Paris-Austerlitz is a different station from Gare de Lyon. Fares start from €19 for a reclining seat, €29 for a berth in a six-person couchette compartment, and €59 in a four-berth first-class couchette. Couchette berths sell out before seats on popular departures, so book early.