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How to Get from Nice to Marseille by Train

Both Nice and Marseille are popular tourist destinations in the South of France. With their close proximity, it’s ideal to visit both of these unique cities during your stay on the French Riviera. One of the easiest ways to do this is by going on the Nice to Marseille train. 

There are upwards of 50 direct trains a day, taking 2 hours and 34 minutes to get from Nice to Marseille. Prices vary based on when you book and when you’re planning on traveling, but on average around £32.

For more details and information on how and when to book your tickets, read below.

Is There a Direct Train from Nice to Marseille?

Yes, there are plenty of direct trains between Nice and Marseille. In fact, on weekdays there are around 56 direct trains a day and on weekends it drops slightly to 54. Safe to say, there are plenty of direct trains to help you travel between the two as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

a man looking out the window on a train from Marseille to Nice
Jake on the train from Marseille to Nice

How Often Are the Trains from Nice to Marseille?

With so many trains every day, you never have to wait that long for the next train. On average, there is a train from Nice to Marseille every nine minutes. That’s more frequent than most inner-city train services.

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If you’re traveling on a weekday, you’ll find the first train at 05.19 and the last train at 20.23. On weekends, the last train is the same, but the first train is slightly later at 6.18. These trains stop pretty early, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a day trip.

How Long is the Trip from Nice to Marseille?

The train from Nice to Marseille usually takes around 2 hours and 34 minutes. It takes a scenic route along the coast, allowing you to take in the beauty of the Mediterranean. It’s always a good idea to try and get a window seat!

Marseille is also the perfect place to see the Calanques from! Here’s how you can visit the Calanques National Park.

How Much is a Ticket from Nice to Marseille?

This all depends on how far in advance you book your tickets. There are cheap tickets that start at £22, but on average if you’re buying tickets 30 days in advance, you can expect to pay £32 for this journey.

As with most train routes and journeys, the ticket prices tend to be more expensive on the day of travel, so it’s always a good idea to book in advance. 

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What Operators Run the trains from Nice to Marseille?

There are quite a few operators that run the trains from Nice to Marseille:

  • Autocar
  • TER
  • Train Express Regional
  • TGV
  • Intercités

Who you travel with will determine the price of your ticket and the comfort level on board, so think about whether you prefer an affordable ticket or comfort because they’re often at odds with each other.

How Far in Advance Should I Book Tickets from Nice to Marseille?

With most trains in France, you should be able to book three months in advance. This can vary on certain routes and operators, but as a general rule, it’s 90 days before you’d like to travel.

If you’re looking to get cheap tickets, I’d recommend buying at least a month in advance. After that point, the prices slowly tend to creep up the closer you get to the departure date. 

You can buy tickets from Nice to Marseille online. You can use transport sites like RailEurope or Omio to find the best train and price for you.

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The added bonus with Omio is that it not only shows you all operators, it also compares prices and journey lengths to buses, which are normally much cheaper and can have a similar journey time.

Alternatively, you can go directly to the operator’s website and buy through them. Tickets will normally be on your phone as a digital ticket, or you’ll have to collect them at the station. If you need to collect your tickets, make sure you leave plenty of time before your train to pick them up.

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