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Sophia Antipolis - Getting there (train, boat, car, plane)

Travel by train

French National Railways SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemin de Fer Français) operates an excellent network throughout the country.
If you want you can put a car or motorbike on the overnight Motorail service.
Click on SNCF map (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer) to see the French train System with the train stations.
The service is efficient and the trains are clean. The SNCF network links cities and major towns within this region, including the coastal resorts.
TGV (Train Grand Vitesse, High speed train) service connect Paris to Nice in 5 hours.
During summer, the regular Metrazur service runs along the Riviera, with trains running every half an hour.
More information can be obtained from SNCF

Travel by boat 

There are many ways to get to the French Rivera's coast with over 125 marinas and ports to choose from. Many people arrive by yacht, although the most common way is the cruise ship. The main ports are Cannes, Marseille, Nice, Toulon, St-Tropez and Villefranche.
There are regular ferry services between Corsica, Tunisia, Sardinia and Algeria, to the French Mainland (Nice, Marseille and Toulon), which are operated by SNCM, (Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Méditerranée) the national Ferry line.

Many ferry companies serve the regions ports along the coasts, including Nice, Cannes, the Iles de Lerins and the Iles de Hyères. This mode of transport offers beautiful views of the Riviera coastline and a relaxing way to travel from port to port.

  • Port de Nice
    Tel: 08 2042 5555
  • SNCM
    Tel: + 33 (0)4 9313 6659
    Fax: + 33 (0)4 9313 6681
    Recorded information:
    Tel: 08 3667 9500
    Departure Information:
    Tel: 08 0020 0020
  • Corsica Ferries
    TVL & TVM
    The principle organization for regular ferry transit to the islands of Porquerolles, Port Cros and Le Levant of the Iles de Hyères
    The TVM ferry service has catamarans accommodating 285 passengers. Ferries depart from Gare Maritimes, Giens.
    Tel: + 33 (0)4 9458 2181
    (French only)
    Tel: + 33 (0)4 9458 9514

Travel by car

Driving around the Provençe-Alpes - Cote d'Azur offers the best opportunities for a beautiful countryside view.
The Alpes-Maritimes are crossed by one motorway called A8, which is the most expensive in France. From Sophia-Antipolis to Nice you have to pay 1.20 Euros. This motorway links the French Rivera to all of Europe. Some examples of distances :
Paris 950 kms ; Milan 320 Km ; Rome 710 km.

Private gas stations are open from 9.00 am to 19.00 pm and Carrefour gas stations (supermarket) opens 24h/24h.

You should know some rules of the French Highway Code.
- Priority from the right means that a driver coming from the right always has priority.
- The national speed limits are 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h outside cities and 130 km/h on motorways.
- Fasten your seat belt in front and back is compulsory.

Travel by plane

Nice Côte d'Azur airport is the second international gateway in France. It has two Terminals. Terminal 1 is for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights.
The planes Nice-Paris were so busy that Air France decided to organize hourly flights. It is called "La Navette Air France".
The airport is located near the sea and only at 5 km from Nice Center. From Sophia-Antipolis to Nice Côte d'Azur airport you need thirty minutes by  motorway A8.

If you want to capture scenic views by air, take the airlines Air St Tropez, which shuttles between Nice and La Mole five times a day, and French Riviera Airways, which flies from Cannes-Mandelieu airport.

  • For more information:
    Air St Tropez
    Tel: + 33 (0)4 9455 7602
    French Riviera Airways:
    Tel: + 33 (0)4 9319 0297

There are a number of helicopter companies in the region that serve the main cities and towns, departing from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport.

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