By train
The stations
- Nice - Ville
- Nice St Augustin
- Nice Riquier
- Gare du Sud
4 passengers stations, one goods station and several rail stops in Nice, on very different lines. Let's clear this up.
SNCF
The SNCF is the national railway company. Almost all trains in France belong to this company. There are a few exception, though, with one worth noting in Nice.
If you travel long distance, you'll probably arrive in the SNCF main station "Nice Ville" (1). Some people sometimes call it "Nice Thiers" because it is located avenue Thiers. From there, if noone comes to pick you up, you'll be able to take the streetcar or buses to get to your destination, or a cab. You'll also be able to rent a car. Most car rentals have a desk in the station. Eventually you'll be able to hire a Vélo bleu, a "blue bike", a bike station being just in front of the train station.
The track coming from Marseille bears most of the traffic. Locally TER (regional trains) commute to and from coast cities between Cannes and Vintimille. Many stop at all stations.
Therefore it may be interesting , if your train stops there to use one of the other train stations.
- Nice St Augustin (2) is located West of the city, 5mn from the Arenas business center and 10mn from the airport Terminal 1. Beware, though, if you go take your plane. Trains between Cannes and Vintimille are highly unreliable. They are often delayed or cancelled, and the SNCF employees are very often on strike in the region. Keep it in mind and check your train status before you leave.
- Nice Riquier (3) is located East of Nice, near the St Roch area, the harbour, the St Jean d'Angely University, the bus station.
Those two stations, like "Nice ville" are located on the track linking Cannes to Vintimille. But in "Nice Ville" starts an other track going into the Roya valley, towards Tende and further to Cuneo in Italy.
- Nice St Roch which is located on this track is no longer a passenger station. It is used only as a goods station. The Halte Pont Michel is now a substitute. It is located (beyond the plan) next to the streetcar halt "Pont Michel," line 1. Beware, no desk at this halt, just an automatic machine where you can pay with a credit card... when it is not out of order. This halt is actually the first stop going to the Roya valley when you leave "Nice ville".
Chemins de fer de Provence
An other railway exists in Nice. It does not belong to the SNCF but to the "compagnie des Chemins de Fer de Provence" (Provence railways company). It goes to Digne in the Alpes de Haute Provence, North West of Nice. No connection with the SNCF trains since the tracks have different widths. You're unlikely to come to Nice this way. This company has its own station, the "Gare des Chemins de Fer de Provence" - Provence railways station -, also called "Gare du Sud" - southern station (4). From this station you can walk to the "Libération" streetcar halt, 5mn away. The trains stop in several places within Nice before they enter the Var valley. More information about this railway.
