The entire Cote d'Azur is linked by comfortable buses and it's an excellent way to get around, particularly if you're travelling along the coast. Riviera buses go where the traffic is which, for the most part, means along the coast. To that end, the most frequent buses link the coastal towns from Cannes to Nice and Monaco and reach their peak frequency during rush hours from Monday to Friday. Bus service from the coast to hilltop villages is much spottier, especially on weekends, but trains are virtually non-existent.
The main selling point of bus travel along the French Riviera is how cheap it is. Each ride is €2.50 no matter whether you're travelling from Nice to Monaco or from Nice to neighbouring Cagnes-sur-Mer.
The bus is far cheaper than a train although slower, and certainly cheaper than the tolls you could pay if driving. Buses are more reliable than trains which are often beset by strikes.
The only company that handles intercity travel in region is Zou. Zou is an agglomeration of all regional buses and trains. The main bus lines are:
Line 600 (formerly line 100) connecting Nice and coastal towns to Monaco. This is a busy line in summer. Fortunately the bus runs every 15 minutes or so.
Line 112 connecting Nice and Monaco
Line 200 connecting the coastal towns between Nice and Cannes
Line 600 connecting Cannes and Grasse
Other lines connect Nice Airport with various towns along the coast as well as connecting Nice with La Turbie and Beausoleil.
The Zou app available on Apple or Android is a handy way to check schedules and buy single tickets. The ticket that sells for €2.10 on the app costs €2.50 if you buy it from the driver.
Zou offers a variety of discounts that are mostly geared to residents. The discount of greatest interest to visitors is the "small group discount". A group of three people pay 4.40; four people pay 5 and so on with a maximum of eight people who pay €8.40. This discount is only available if you buy from the driver.
There's also a discount if you buy a carnet of 10 tickets which sells for €14.70. Note that you cannot buy a carnet of 10 tickets on the app. You can buy a carnet of 10 tickets on the Zou website or in a Zou sales outlet which are at
the train station (17 ave Thiers);
the Vauban bus station (16 ave des Diables Bleus); and
the Parc Phoenix bus station (94 bd Rene Cassin).
Buying the carnet involves ordering a free Zou card with an ID photo and then adding the carnet to the card by paying either on the website or in the agency.
A ticket is not a reservation. You still must wait to board the bus. For major events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Nice Carnival and major events in Monaco, arrive well in advance to be assured of a seat.
All bus rides are €2.50. The bus drivers give change. There is no WiFi on the bus.
Avoid Sunday. The frequency is far less than on weekdays and less than Saturday. Some lines don't run at all on Sunday.
Avoid rush hours. It can be unpleasantly crowded and traffic along the coast can substantially prolong your journey. Rush hours would be from 7 to 9am into major towns (Nice, Cannes, Monaco) and 4.30 to 7pm out of the major towns.
Line 600 (formerly line 100) from Nice to Monaco along the Basse Corniche.
Line 112 from Nice to Monaco along the Moyenne Corniche.
Line 106 from Nice to Monaco, stopping at La Turbie and Peille, which runs along the Grand Corniche.
Line 604 from Monaco to La Turbie on the Grand Corniche.
BusAzur
This company serves Cannes, connecting it with nearby towns as well as
La Turbie.
Envibus
This company connects Antibes with Biot, Villeneuve-Loubet, St-Paul de
Vence and other inland towns and villages.
Sillages STGA
This company provides bus service for Grasse, Le Tignet,
Pegomas, Antibes, Valbonne and Cannes central.
Lignes d'Azur
In addition to providing local bus service in Nice, this company connects
Nice with the nearby towns of Cagnes-sur-Mer, St Laurent du Var and Vence.
Related PagesTrain Travel on the French Riviera Getting Around the French Riviera Further Resources |
Hi! I'm Jeanne and I've been living on the Riviera for years. With my local insights your trip will be easy and fun. And, do check out my book Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City. More about me here.
