How to get from Nice to St-Tropez (by train, ferry, road, or helo)

Are you planning to visit St-Tropez from Nice? Figuring out how to get from Nice to St-Tropez is the first step.

Saint-Tropez only has a small private airport so most visitors arrive via Nice Côte d’Azur airport.

Not all visitors stay in Saint-Tropez for the duration of their visit. Many choose to stay in Nice and add a day tour to Saint-Tropez as part of their itinerary. The point-to-point distance between both French Riveria towns is only 69.75 km or 43.34 mi after all.

Regardless of how long you’ll be staying in Saint-Tropez, you’ll need reliable transportation to get there from Nice.

In this article, I break down all the ways to get to Saint-Tropez from Nice and list the pros, cons, transfer times, and costs for each. This is the only guide you need to decide on the best route in line with your travel plans.

So, are you ready to plan your mini-adventure to the French Riviera capital of glamour? Let’s go!

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You can use Expedia to check flight options to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and this article to plan your journey from Nice to Saint-Tropez. Once you get the logistics out of the way, it’s time to fine-tune your travel plans.

If you’re visiting Saint-Tropez from Nice, then be sure to read my guide to planning a day trip from Nice to St-Tropez (coming soon). It features the top attractions, some lesser-known sites, and my favorite shops, and includes a map for visualization.

And for more add-on inspiration, check out the best day trip destinations from Nice.

About Saint-Tropez

No matter which transportation you choose, it’s important to note that you won’t have an actual full day to spend in Saint-Tropez. The transfer takes time because Saint-Tropez is notoriously difficult to reach in high and shoulder season. It’s up to you to decide whether Saint-Tropez is worth visiting for a day.

The Provençal market on the Place des Lices is one of the most popular attractions in Saint-Tropez. However, it only takes place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, so plan accordingly.

Also good to know is that the most popular beaches in Saint-Tropez are located out of the city center and not reachable on foot if you only have a day to visit. So, if glitzy Pampelonne Beach is on your French Riviera bucket list, you’ll need to book a stay in Saint-Tropez. Here are some suggestions:

All the ways to get from Nice to St-Tropez

Getting to Saint-Tropez can be difficult. So, for your convenience, I ordered the transportation options in this overview from carefree to difficult.

Let’s zoom in on all the ways you can get from Nice to St-Tropez.

1. Direct Nice to St-Tropez ferry

The direct ferry to Saint-Tropez from Nice is the most convenient and carefree option.

It leaves from Quai Lunel in Nice, the side of Port Lympia closest to Castle Hill. Note that the transfer takes 2.5 hours each way. If you don’t mind the long transfer, this is a good way to travel to Saint-Tropez on a sunny day.

Some wonderful hotels near Port Lympia Palais Ségurane Boutique Hotel, Mama Shelter Nice, and Nice Pam Hotel.

Note that the ferry only operates from mid-May to October. Here’s an overview of the Nice – Saint-Tropez ferry schedule:

The Nice – St-Tropez ferry leaves at 9 AM and returns at 7 PM. You can enjoy Saint-Tropez at your own pace from 11.30 AM to 4.30 PM.

Pros are the convenient location of the point of departure and the scenic cruise along the stunning French Riviera coastline.

Cons are the seasonality and the cost of €90 per person (€75 for children between the ages of 4 and 10). Other disadvantages are the long transfer time, the early return, and the fact that you can’t spend the evening in Saint-Tropez. Plus, you need to book your ticket in advance.

You can check for availability here:

Conclusion: It takes 2.5 hours to get to St-Tropez from Nice by ferry and costs €100 per person for a return ticket.

2. Road + ferry from Nice to St-Tropez via Les Issambres

A combination of a self-drive or road-share from Nice to Les Issambres and a ferry from Les Issambres to Saint-Tropez is the best way to get to Saint-Tropez.

Les Issambres is a small coastal town just south of Fréjus. The drive from Nice takes under 1 hour and 20 minutes and the ferry transfers another 35 minutes. You can drive there with your own car or rental car or rely on Bolt (a ride-sharing app cheaper than Uber on the French Riviera).

The closest parking is the one of Port de San Peïre right next to the Bateaux Verts pier. It’s such a delight to sail along the coast towards Saint-Tropez on a sunny day.

This ferry operates from May to September. There are several departures every morning and even throughout the day. The same goes for the return ferry from Saint-Tropez. During the peak summer season, the last return is planned just before midnight.

You can check the schedule and book your tickets here.

Pros are the affordable cost of €17.60 per person (€10 for children between the ages of 4 and 11) for return tickets, the flexible transfer schedule, and the scenic cruise along the stunning French Riviera coastline.

Cons are the seasonality, the optional ride-share cost, and the need for and cost of parking when driving to Les Issambres yourself.

Conclusion: It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive to Les Issambres from Nice and another 35 minutes to reach Saint-Tropez by ferry. The ferry costs €17.60 per person for a return ticket and the drive involves either ride-sharing or gas and parking costs.

Tip: If you return to Nice before dark, then why not drive the scenic route? The Corniche d’Or between Fréjus and Mandelieu-la-Napoule is one of the most beautiful road trips in the South of France. It passes by the impressive Estérel mountain range and boasts countless sensational panoramic viewpoints and gorgeous bays along the way.

3. Road + ferry from Nice to St-Tropez via Sainte-Maxime

A combination of a road trip from Nice to Sainte-Maxime and a ferry from Sainte-Maxime to Saint-Tropez is another great way to get to Saint-Tropez from Nice.

Saint-Maxime is a family-friendly French Riviera destination about 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the Saint-Tropez peninsula. The traffic from Sainte-Maxime to Saint-Tropez is a nightmare any time of the year and the ferry is the only way to bypass this hectic stretch of road. Plus, arriving in Saint-Tropez by ferry is a real treat!

The drive from Nice takes 1.5 hours and the ferry transfers another 20 minutes.

Let’s break this down by transportation mode from Nice to Sainte-Maxime.

3.1 Self-drive or ride-share

Getting to Sainte-Maxime is a breeze. You can drive there with your own car or rental car or rely on Bolt (a ride-sharing app cheaper than Uber on the French Riviera).

The closest parking is Parking du Port but there’s also the free La Fourmi parking 900 m (0.55 mi) from the pier.

The Bateaux Verts ferry leaves from Quai Léon Condroyer in Sainte-Maxime.

This ferry operates from early February until a few days after New Year. There are several departures every morning and even throughout the day. The same goes for the return ferry from Saint-Tropez. During the peak summer season, you can even return after midnight.

You can check the schedule and book your ferry tickets here.

Pros are the affordable cost of €15.70 per person (€8.70 for children between the ages of 4 and 11) for return tickets, the flexible transfer schedule, and the scenic cruise along the stunning French Riviera coastline.

Cons are the seasonality, the optional ride-share cost, and the need for and cost of parking when driving to Sainte-Maxime yourself.

Conclusion: It takes 1.5 hours to drive to St-Maxime from Nice and another 20 minutes to reach Saint-Tropez by ferry. The ferry costs €15.70 per person for a return ticket and the drive involves either ride-sharing or gas and parking costs.

Tip: If you prefer to discover Saint-Tropez from the water, then this private boat tour makes for an amazing alternative. It also leaves from Sainte-Maxime.

3.2 Organized combination tour

If you prefer the comfort of a (small group) tour with pick-up from your accommodation in Nice, then a combo tour is perfect.

As a bonus, the tour makes a quick stop in Port Grimaud with its enchanting canals. Here are two tours that offer this combination and that, based on the reviews, seem to meet the expectations of travelers.

Note that tours may not be organized during the winter season.

Conclusion: It takes 1.5 hours to drive to St-Maxime from Nice and another 20 minutes to reach Saint-Tropez by ferry. The tour costs between €125 and €150 per person for a return ticket.

4. Train + ferry from Nice to St-Tropez via Saint-Raphaël

Saint-Tropez doesn’t have a train station so there’s no way to travel from Nice to Saint-Tropez by train directly. But you can easily take the train to Saint-Raphaël and hop on the ferry there.

Nice-Ville is the train station closest to the city center of Nice. The train ride on the Regional Express Train (TER) from Nice-Ville to Saint-Raphaël – Valescure train station takes just under 1 hour.

Some wonderful hotels near the Nice-Ville train station are Hôtel Apollinaire, Hotel Florence, and Aparthotel AMMI Nice Lafayette.

You can also take the train from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. The closest train station is Nice Saint-Augustin.

From there, take the TER train to the Saint-Raphaël – Valescure station. The train ride will take just over 50 minutes. Train tickets for the return journey cost €28.80 more, depending on your train of choice.

Once you arrive at the Saint-Raphaël – Valescure train station, you can walk to the Bateaux Bleus office at Quai Amiral Nomy in 5 minutes.

The Saint-Raphaël to Saint-Tropez ferry operates from April to November. Departure in Saint-Raphaël is planned at 9.30 AM and return from Saint-Tropez at 3.30 PM. During the peak summer season, there may be more options.

You can check the schedule and book your ferry tickets here. Tickets cost €33.80 per person (€17.80 for children between the ages of 2 and 9) for return tickets.

Pros are the affordability and the scenic cruise along the stunning French Riviera coastline.

A con is the limited ferry timetable, especially outside the summer season.

Conclusion: It takes just under 1 hour to get to Saint-Raphaël from Nice by train and another 1 hour to reach Saint-Tropez by ferry. The total return journey costs around €62.60 per person.

5. Nice to Saint-Tropez by helicopter

How about arriving in style with a helicopter ride to Saint-Tropez? The private transfer from Nice Côte d’Azur airport takes just 25 minutes and starts at €2,100 one-way for up to 5 passengers.

The St-Tropez heliport is located in La Môle. Upon landing, a valet driver will await you to drive you to your accommodation in Saint-Tropez. This service is included in the price of your helicopter ride with Blade.

Pros are the fast transfer, the panorama, and the chauffeur service to your accommodation in Monaco.

Cons are the cost and the fact that this option is only available from Nice Côte d’Azur airport and that there’s an additional transfer by car from La Môle Airport to Saint-Tropez.

Conclusion: It takes 25 to get near Saint-Tropez from Nice Airport by helicopter and an additional 25 minutes by car to reach Saint-Tropez and it costs onwards of €2,100 one-way for up to 5 passengers.

6. Nice to Saint-Tropez by road (self-drive, ride-sharing, taxi, or tour) is not recommended

As I mentioned before, Saint-Tropez is notoriously difficult to reach by car. Not only in the high season but even in the shoulder seasons. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend driving there unless you’re prepared to leave Nice well before sunrise.

While, technically, the drive to Saint-Tropez from Nice takes just over 1.5 hours, the reality is that it takes much longer. From April to October, you might be stuck in traffic for hours. Especially the stretch of road between Sainte-Maxime and the De la Foux roundabout is crazy busy.

And when you finally arrive in Saint-Tropez after a self-drive, you still need to find parking. That in itself can be mission impossible during the high season.

That’s why I would advise against going to Saint-Tropez by car. The only exception might be during late fall and winter when there’s not much to experience in Saint-Tropez.

Conclusion: Not accounting for the traffic, from which there’s no escape, it takes just over 1.5 hours to get to St-Tropez from Nice by car (one hour more if you take the scenic route) and you’ll have to pay extra for toll and parking.

7. Nice to Saint-Tropez by train or bus is not an option

Unlike Nice, which has a magnificent transportation network, Saint-Tropez is poorly connected. It has no train station and there’s no such thing as a Nice to Saint-Tropez train.

There’s no direct – or remotely fast – bus from Nice to Saint-Tropez either.

Conclusion: Getting to Saint-Tropez from Nice by train or bus is not an option because of the lack of public transportation options.

FAQ on how to get from Nice to Saint-Tropez

How will you travel from Nice to St-Tropez?

That’s it for this detailed guide on getting to Saint-Tropez from Nice. Now all that’s left for you to do is set a date and read up on the best things to do in Saint-Tropez in one day before experiencing this glamorous French Riviera destination for yourself.

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