The cheapest way to get from Nice to Auron is Lignes d’Azur bus 91. It now leaves from Les Arboras / Université (it used to leave from Grand Arénas), costs €1.70 one way, the same as a city bus ticket, and takes about 2 hours. In ski season there is also a ski bus you book ahead.
Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, the village just below Auron, is our go-to regular escape from Nice, and this bus is how we usually get there. We've even taken our dog Ingi on it.
Bus 91 from Nice to Auron: the quick version
- Bus: Lignes d’Azur bus 91
- Where it leaves from: Les Arboras / Université
- Price: €1.70 one way
- How long: about 2 hours
- When: 8:40am, 4:10pm and 6:40pm Monday to Saturday, and 8:40am on Sundays and holidays. Times change with the seasons, so check the current timetable on the Lignes d’Azur app or website before you go.
- Stops on the way up: Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, then Auron
Where the bus leaves from
Bus 91 used to leave from the Grand Arénas bus station next to the airport. It now starts at Les Arboras / Université, a stop on tram line 3, so the easiest way to get there from the airport or the city is to take the tram and get off at Les Arboras.
Give yourself some extra time the first time. With only a few buses a day, missing one means a long wait.
How to pay for the bus
Bus 91 is part of the Lignes d’Azur network, so it costs the same as a ride on a city bus or tram. You can load rides onto a Lignes d’Azur card at the ticket machines at tram stops, then top it up in the Lignes d’Azur app.
If you're traveling with someone, you only need one card. You can scan it once for each person. My husband and I share a card, and when we get on the tram or bus, I scan it twice.
The 100% Neige ski bus
In ski season (December 5, 2026 to April 12, 2027), there is also the 100% Neige ski bus from Nice to Auron. It costs €14 round trip (€10 one way), skis and one bag included, you have to book it ahead, and it only runs while the slopes are open.
If you're not skiing, bus 91 is the cheaper choice.
Stay in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée
The bus stops in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée before it climbs up to Auron. Saint-Étienne also has a télécabine (gondola) up to Auron, so you can stay in Saint-Étienne and go skiing or snowboarding during the day in the winter. It's usually cheaper to stay in the village than at the resort if you're planning several days.
Once you're there, an inter-village shuttle links Auron, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée and Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage for €1.70 a ride.
A fall hike in Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage
Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage is about 7 km down the road from Saint-Étienne. Last fall we went on a fall-color spotting hike there, the one that ends at a waterfall, and it was a fall wonderland, with no one else around. We had the whole trail to ourselves.
A few things I learned:
- Bring proper walking shoes. I really regretted wearing my boots and was seriously sore for weeks after this hike.
- It's a lot for one day, so plan just to do the hike and then head back to Saint-Étienne.
- Bring lots of snacks and water, and pack a lunch. There are so many pretty picnic spots.
- Be careful to get back before you get too cold. The sun sets and the temperature goes down pretty quickly.
Driving instead
For when we have a bit more money to spend, we rent a car from OK Mobility, which is insanely cheap (we paid €130 for a week). The drive is about an hour and a half, and you can stop in the villages along the Tinée on the way.