Flights from Nice to Aix-en-Provence and back?

Is it possible to take a small plane from Provence to Nice or is bus, auto or train the only option?

Thanks so much.

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It would have to be a private hire. There are no commercial flights from Provence Airport to Nice. Why would there be - its only 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hours by comfortable TGV trains direct.

Its 30 mins to drive from Aix to the Airport (passing Aix-en-Provence TGV in the process). Then wait about 1 hour, then a 1 hour flight by a small plane with almost no luggage space. The train would take the same time overall.

Don%26#39;t go from Aix-en-Provence local station, as that will be slower, and they always recommend a bus (direct from Gare to the TGV station) anyway.

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The nearest airport to Aix is Marseille Provence. The rail station in Aix (not the TGV) is currently closed.There is a bus service from Aix centre to TGV station. As already stated it is futile and unnecessary to think of flying. If you care to give us an idea of your itinerary while you are in France you will get more detailed advice. Incidentally both Aix and Nice are in Provence. I recommend Lonely Planet Guide to Provence. That will give you a good grasp of the geography and transport links.

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Rent a helicopter, lots of rentals from the riviera, just google them. There is no TGV between Nice and Aix.

Enjoy the flight

Wilko

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No TGV? According to the Aix tourist office website %26#39;The TGV Mediterranee links Aix to the whole of France%26#39; and the journey time is 3hrs 14mns. Are they making this up?

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There is indeed no TGV from Aix to Nice; it%26#39;s a regular-speed train, not one of the high-speed ones. But a train there is.

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Thanks catullus that%26#39;s the train situation clarified.But with only the Aix TGV station open (main city station temporarily closed) how does one catch a non-TGV from Aix to Nice? I must confess the helicopter idea hadn%26#39;t occurred to me but it should have because I ended up in the heliport next to the main airport when I input the wrong postcode into my GPS when returning from Aix to Marseille Provence in June!

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All very strange! When I last travelled on the TGV from Paris I am almost sure that the train stopped at the Aix TGV station? Is this wrong? According to the TGV website the journey time to Nice is now around 2hrs 30. The trip is not particularly fast but the train is the TGV. I have an idea that they are building a new line which will allow real TGV speed all the way to Nice.

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LondonBob is correct. It is the train itself which is called the TGV, whether or not it is actually travelling at a %26quot;grande vitesse%26quot;.

There are several direct TGVs per day from Nice to Aix TGV train station, taking as little as 2.5 hours. And there are considerably more journey possibilities involving a change of train at Marseille using two TGVs or one Regional train and one TGV, taking as little as three hours.

However I believe that the high-speed line from Nice to Marseille is still at the planning stage, and that building has not yet started.

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Yes agree

Because separate high speed rail lines aren%26#39;t in place yet, the long distance TGV train can only travel at normal speed along the coast. So it%26#39;s still a TGV network train just not travelling at grande vitesse. Although you will pay a higher fare to travel on it,the TGV train shares same line and stations and doesn%26#39;t go any faster than a local (non stopping) TER network train along this stretch.

At Aix there are already separate TGV lines in place and a separate TGV station which is a short bus ride out of town.

At present the local TER station in Aix is closed, so to get from Nice to Aix using the local TER train network involves going to Marseille, then catching a bus into central Aix- longer, more expensive and not recommended.

The direct Nice-Aix TGV route is running though and the journey takes around 2.5 hours. A shuttle bus runs into the centre of town from the TGV station. This route is far easier-direct, cheaper and faster than using TER trains at the moment.

Roses with Ribbons,

Unless you have a burning desire to travel by private helicopter (check the Nice Airport website for contacts) the TGV would be the best choice IMO :)

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Via Michelin gives drive time Nice to Aix as less than 2 hours so it would be quicker than the train.

Take the chopper it%26#39;ll be more fun.

Wilko