The village of Saint Paul de Vence is one of the best day trips from Nice and it's easy to reach by public transport.

Bus to Saint Paul de Vence from Nice

Step 1: Take tram line number 2 to the Parc Phoenix stop.

Step 2: Take the 400 bus to the St Paul de Vence stop which takes about 50 minutes.

Step 3: Walk downhill about 100m to the entrance to the village

The bus stop to return to Nice is about 100m uphill from the village entrance.

Tickets

Note that your Lignes d'Azur ticket is not valid for a transfer to the 400 bus. You must buy a new ticket (2.50) from the driver UNLESS you buy a special TicketAzur from the vending machine for €2.50 which allows you a tram ride plus a ride on the 400 bus. Don't forget to buy two if you plan on returning. There's a small discount if purchased in advance.

Timetables

The 400 line runs half-hourly during the week with 27 daily buses; on Saturday there are 18 buses and on Sunday 17 buses. Note that the last bus back leaves around 7.30pm from the village.

Visiting the Fondation Maeght

The Fondation Maeght is an outstanding work of architecture and art museum that is well worth a stop. Note that it lies atop a steep hill amid pines and Mediterranean greenery. The bus stop for the Fondation Maeght is before Saint Paul. Make sure you tell the driver you intend to stop there. You'll still need to climb the hill though! If you intend to include the Fondation Maeght in your visit I highly recommend making the climb in the morning before the heat sets in. It's easy to go down the hill after your visit and walk a few hundred meters up a gentler slope to Saint Paul village.

Driving to Saint Paul de Vence

Obviously the easiest way to reach Saint Paul de Vence and also visit the Fondation Maeght is to drive. Take the A8 motorway to exit 48 and follow signs to La Colle sur Loup and Saint Paul de Vence on Rte 436. There's ample paid parking around the village. I strongly advise not leaving valuables in the car as there have been "incidents".

More about Saint Paul de Vence

Last Modified March 16, 2023

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