How to Get from Nice to Antibes: Train, Bus & Driving Guide (2026)
Getting from Nice to Antibes is one of the simplest transfers on the French Riviera. The nice antibes distance is 22 kilometers by road. By train, the journey takes between 16 and 25 minutes. Three options exist, regional train, bus, or car and each suits a different type of trip. This guide covers all three, with the 2026 fares, passes, and one driving shortcut that saves exactly half the toll cost.
| Method | Cost | Travel Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TER Train | €5.20–6.70 | 16–25 min | Speed and reliability |
| Ligne 620 Bus | €2.50 | 1.5–2.5 hrs | Budget travelers |
| Car via A8 | €1.70–3.40 toll | 25–40 min | Flexibility and luggage |
Option 1: TER / ZOU! Regional Train — The Fastest Way to Get from Nice to Antibes
The ter train Nice Antibes is the most reliable option for this journey. Trains run every 15 minutes in both directions throughout the day. The journey from Nice-Ville central station to the antibes train station takes between 16 and 25 minutes depending on the service.
The Antibes station sits in the center of town, a 10-minute walk from the Old Town and the port. From there, Juan-les-Pins is one stop further, just 3 minutes. Not sure which area to base yourself in? Antibes vs Juan-les-Pins: Which Town is Best for You? breaks down exactly which stop suits your trip. Getting from Nice to Antibes by train eliminates the parking problem entirely — which matters significantly in summer.
Fares and Pass Options for the Nice to Antibes Train
A standard one-way adult ticket costs €5.20 to €6.70. However, several regional passes offer significant savings:
ZOU! Malin Card: Reduces the single fare by 30% to €4.70 per trip.
Mini-Groupe ZOU! Fare: Groups of three or more traveling together receive a 50% discount, bringing the individual ticket to €3.40.
Pass Isabelle Famille: €35 per day for unlimited regional train travel covering two adults and two children under 16. Available year-round across the full coastal line from Saint-Raphaël to the Italian border.
Pass SudAzur Explore: Multi-modal pass covering all trains, trams, and local buses across Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco. Available as a 3-day pass (€35), 7-day pass (€50), or 14-day pass (€80). Purchase at any Nice tram station ticket machine — a refundable €2 card fee applies — or at the Envibus agency in Antibes.
Check departure times and available tickets before heading to the station
Ticketing Rules That Catch Visitors
Standard paper tickets purchased at station kiosks must be validated in the yellow composteur machines near the platform entrance before boarding. Missing this step results in a fine. Digital tickets require a downloadable PDF with a scannable barcode — simple email confirmations are not accepted as valid proof of travel.
TER tickets are valid on any regional train running the specified route for the entire day. There are no luggage size or weight restrictions. Bicycles travel free without reservation. Pets of any size travel for a flat €5 ticket.
Option 2: Ligne 620 Bus — The Nice to Antibes Bus Option
The nice to antibes bus runs on Ligne 620, the Nice–Cannes coastal service via Antibes. This line was formerly called Ligne 200 — several older guides and mapping apps still show the old number. In Nice, the bus departs from the Grand Arénas transit station, connected to Nice Airport via the free municipal tram.
A standard one-way ticket costs €2.50, purchased from the driver. Travelers can also buy a Ticket Azur for €2.50 at any Nice tram kiosk, which covers a local tram trip plus a free transfer to Ligne 620 within two and a half hours. Note that the Ticket Azur is only valid departing from Nice. The return trip requires a standard cash ticket on board.
The honest reality: Ligne 620 has 50 scheduled stops along the congested RN7 coastal highway. The scheduled travel time to Antibes is around one hour. In practice, summer traffic regularly extends the journey beyond two hours. For budget travelers with time flexibility, the bus works fine. For anyone connecting to a hotel check-in or an evening reservation, take the train instead.
Night bus: Regular Ligne 620 service ends around 8:30pm. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Ligne 621 Night Bus runs from Cannes through Antibes toward Nice at 11:00pm, 12:30am, and 3:45am. The Nice tramway doesn’t operate during these hours — plan a taxi for the final stretch into central Nice.
Search all available departures and compare fares across operators
Option 3: Driving from Nice to Antibes by Car
The nice to antibes by car route via the A8 motorway covers 22 kilometers and takes 25 to 40 minutes in normal traffic. Summer Friday afternoon congestion on the coastal approach can push this beyond an hour.
The Toll Bypass That Saves Half the Cost
On February 1, 2026, Vinci Autoroutes introduced a 0.62% toll increase on the A8. The standard toll at the main Antibes barrier for a Class 1 vehicle is now €3.40.
However, by exiting the A8 a few kilometers early at the Antibes Interchange — Échangeur 44 — rather than continuing to the main barrier, the toll drops to €1.70. Exactly half. Local drivers use this routinely. Most visitors never know it exists.
Parking in Antibes
Driving into Antibes introduces the parking challenge that the train eliminates entirely. The Old Town is pedestrianized and inaccessible by car. Use the underground garages on the perimeter. Parking Masséna and Parking Vauban both cost around €12 for 24 hours and are two to three minutes from the Old Town gates.
Street parking has an absolute maximum of two hours and fifteen minutes. Exceeding that triggers a €12-per-quarter-hour overstay fee.
If you need a car specifically for Cap d’Antibes — the peninsula has no reliable public transport — compare available rates at Nice Airport before your dates — summer fleet availability tightens fast.
Getting Around Once You Arrive in Antibes
Getting from Nice to Antibes is the easy part. Moving between the three main areas — Old Town, Juan-les-Pins, and Cap d’Antibes — once you arrive requires its own plan.
The TER regional train connects Antibes and Juan-les-Pins stations in 3 minutes. For Cap d’Antibes, a car is the most practical option. The peninsula has no reliable public transport between properties, and app-based taxis cancel frequently on the narrow Cap roads.
For accommodation options once you arrive, Where to Stay in Antibes: Best Areas & Handpicked Hotels covers every neighborhood by location, beach access, and budget. The full beach breakdown, including the new La Pinède municipal beach opening July 1, is in The Best Beaches in Antibes: Public Sands vs Private Beach Clubs. Planning day trips to Cannes, Monaco, and Nice by train? Best Day Trips from Antibes: How to Explore the French Riviera by Train covers the full regional network.
If you need a car for Cap d’Antibes or inland driving, local operators often have better summer availability than major international agencies at Nice Airport.
Practical Tips for the Nice to Antibes Journey (2026)
The fastest way to get from Nice to Antibes remains the regional train — 20 minutes, every 15 minutes, no parking required. For everything else, the tips below save real time and money.
Validate your paper ticket. The yellow composteur machines are beside the platform entrance at Nice-Ville. Unvalidated tickets result in on-the-spot fines. Digital tickets with barcode PDFs don’t require validation.
The Ligne 200 no longer exists. The former coastal bus has been renumbered as Ligne 620. Several mapping apps still show the old number — search for Ligne 620 or the Grand Arénas departure point.
Exit at Échangeur 44. The toll drops from €3.40 to €1.70. The route adds less than two minutes.
Ignore the Parking Lamy Rue d’Antibes result. Several mapping apps list this as a central Antibes option. That garage is in Cannes, 11 kilometers away.
Activate your eSIM before departure. Activate an eSIM before your flight and download offline maps for the Alpes-Maritimes region — useful for navigating Cap d’Antibes roads where signal drops.
Book your rental car at Nice Airport in advance — summer availability at major agencies depletes quickly, and prices rise significantly in the final week before pickup.
FAQ
How long does it take to get from Nice to Antibes by train? Between 16 and 25 minutes on the TER regional service, running every 15 minutes from Nice-Ville station.
Is there a direct bus from Nice to Antibes? Yes — Ligne 620 runs from Nice’s Grand Arénas station to Antibes along the coastal RN7. The scheduled journey is around one hour, but summer traffic regularly extends this to two hours or more.
What is the toll from Nice to Antibes on the A8? The standard toll at the main barrier is €3.40 in 2026. Exiting early at Échangeur 44 reduces this to €1.70.
Can I get from Nice Airport directly to Antibes by train? Not directly. Take the free tram from Nice Airport Terminal 1 or 2 to Nice-Ville station, then board the TER regional train to Antibes. Total journey time from the airport is approximately 45 to 55 minutes.
