Nice to St Tropez, every way in and when each one works
Four ways to cover the journey from Nice Côte d’Azur airport, with the timings we could check against official timetables, the seasons that limit them, and a plan B for the days when something slips.
There is no direct train from Nice to St Tropez, so you have four choices. A car with a chauffeur is the most practical door to door with luggage. A helicopter is the quickest, but flies by day only. The train to Saint-Raphaël takes about an hour, followed by a regional coach or, from April to late October, a boat across. Seasonal sailings straight from Nice also exist, but they are same-day return excursions, not a way to arrive with suitcases.
Which one is right depends on four things: the time your flight lands, the month, how much luggage you carry and where your villa actually is. Saint-Tropez sits at the tip of a peninsula, and many of the houses guests rent are not in the village at all but in villas near Saint-Tropez, in Gassin and Ramatuelle or along the road to Pampelonne. Public transport stops at the village bus station or the old port, so the last few kilometres often decide the method.
We arrange these arrivals every summer for guests staying in our luxury villas in Saint-Tropez, and this page sets out what we have learned: what each option involves, the figures published by the railway, the coach network and the tourist offices, and the problems that come up most often. We do not quote fares here; they change by season and are published on each official website, and our own transfers are on request.
The journey in verified figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Regional trains link Nice-Ville and Saint-Raphaël in about one hour on average, with more than 60 return journeys a day.
Source: ter.sncf.comNice Saint-Augustin station is about a 7-minute walk from Terminal 1 of Nice Côte d’Azur airport, along a pedestrian path.
Source: nice.aeroport.frSaint-Raphaël is about 38 to 41 km from Saint-Tropez by road, and regional coach line 876 links the two bus stations.
Source: sainttropeztourisme.comOn its autumn 2026 timetable, line 876 runs every day, with 12 departures from Saint-Raphaël and journeys timed at 1 hour 15 to 2 hours.
Source: zou.maregionsud.frThe Saint-Raphaël tourist office places the town 45 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur airport; its Valescure station has about 20 high-speed train stops a day, 22 in summer.
Source: saint-raphael.comGolfe de Saint-Tropez airport at La Môle opens daily, 8am to 7pm in summer, with a 1,071 m runway and 24 hours’ notice required.
Source: sainttropez.aeroport.frWhich way from Nice suits your arrival
Read the table from the right-hand column: start with your situation, then check the season and luggage columns before you commit. Timings are those published by official sources; where no reliable figure exists, we say so rather than guess.
| Option | Timing we can vouch for | When it runs | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car with chauffeur | Varies with traffic; the final approach to the peninsula is the slow part in summer | All year, any hour | No practical limit | Families, late landings, villas outside the village |
| Helicopter | The shortest option; ask for the flight time when booking | All year, daylight only | Limited by weight and volume | Short stays, guests who land in daylight |
| Train, then coach 876 | About 1 hour by train, then 1 hour 15 to 2 hours by coach | All year; check coach timetables by season | Manageable with one case each | Travellers without a car, flexible arrival |
| Train, then boat from Saint-Raphaël | About 1 hour by train, then the crossing | Roughly April to late October | Check with the boat service | A scenic arrival at the old port |
| Direct boat from Nice or Cannes | Leaves Nice 9am, docks 11.30am; Cannes 10.15am, docks 11.30am | Mid-May to 20 October in 2026, set days | Not designed for it: same-day return | A day trip, not an arrival |
Boat calendars are for the 2026 season; dates for 2027 are published each spring on the official websites.
By road with a chauffeur, and how to beat the summer traffic
For a transfer from Nice airport to St Tropez, a private car remains the default for most guests, because it is the only option that runs at any hour, takes any amount of luggage and stops at the villa gate rather than the port. The driver meets you in the arrivals hall, follows your flight and adjusts if it lands early or late. On a clear road the drive is comfortably over an hour: Saint-Raphaël alone is placed 45 minutes from the airport, and the coast road from there to Saint-Tropez is another 38 to 41 km.
The uncertain part is the end. In July and August, the months covered by our Saint-Tropez villa rentals for summer, and on Saturdays when villas change over, the roads around the Gulf of Saint-Tropez slow right down, and no published figure can tell you how long that will take on a given afternoon. A few habits help.
- Send the flight number, not just the time
Your driver tracks the flight and waits without penalty for a delay. Share it with us when you book, along with the number of cases, golf bags and child seats you need.
- Avoid the late-afternoon peak if you can
If you have a choice of flights, a morning landing generally means a calmer final approach than arriving in the late afternoon, when beach traffic heads back towards the village.
- Consider the boat for the last leg
A car can drop you at Sainte-Maxime, across the gulf, where a passenger shuttle to the old port of Saint-Tropez runs most of the year and around the clock in high season, weather permitting. Your luggage can continue by road to the villa.
- Give the driver the gate code in advance
Many villas sit in gated estates in Gassin or Ramatuelle. We send access details to the driver before you land, so nobody waits at a barrier with the engine running.
Helicopter from Nice to Saint-Tropez, what it does and does not solve
Nice Côte d’Azur airport has its own helicopter terminal, and the tourist office lists helicopter links between Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Toulon. On the Saint-Tropez side, flights land at the Grimaud heliport on the gulf, and a car completes the journey. Two of our villas go further: Villa Vittoria in Saint-Tropez and Villa Calista each have a private helipad on the estate, so the transfer ends inside the grounds.
Three limits matter. Flights operate in daylight only, so a flight from London that lands at dusk may arrive too late. Wind and low cloud can ground helicopters on the day. And cabin space is limited, so large hard cases may need to follow by car. For guests arriving by private jet, Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport at La Môle takes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters, but asks for 24 hours’ notice.
Train to Saint-Raphaël, then coach or boat
This is the way to do the journey without a car, and it works all year, but plan for a change of mode and allow a generous margin.
- Reach the train
From the airport, walk about seven minutes from Terminal 1 to Nice Saint-Augustin station, which sits on the Marseille to Nice line through Saint-Raphaël. From central Nice, start at Nice-Ville, where regional trains to Saint-Raphaël run from about 5.30am to after 10.30pm. A coach line (90) also leaves Terminal 2 for Saint-Raphaël.
- Ride to Saint-Raphaël
The regional train takes about an hour on average. Get off at Saint-Raphaël-Valescure, the town’s main station, then head for the bus station or the port depending on the next leg.
- Either take coach 876
Line 876 runs daily from Saint-Raphaël bus station along the coast through Fréjus, Les Issambres, Sainte-Maxime and Grimaud, ending at Saint-Tropez bus station by the port. Journeys are timed at 1 hour 15 to 2 hours depending on the hour; check the current timetable, which changes with the season.
- Or cross by boat in season
From roughly April to the end of October, seasonal boat services sail from Saint-Raphaël to Saint-Tropez, docking at the Estacade in the old port. It is the most scenic arrival of all, but check luggage rules when booking and keep an eye on the weather.
- Arrange the last kilometres
If your villa is in Ramatuelle, Gassin or near Pampelonne, book a car from the port or bus station in advance. Taxis are in heavy demand in summer, and walking with luggage on these roads is not realistic.
Seasonal boats from Nice and Cannes to St Tropez
The boat from Nice is the option most often misunderstood. In 2026 it sails from 12 May to 20 October, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in spring and September, daily except Mondays in July and August, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays in October. It leaves Nice at 9am, reaches Saint-Tropez at about 11.30am, waits at the quay until 4.30pm and is back in Nice at 7pm. Tickets are return tickets for the same day, and booking is required.
The same pattern applies from Cannes, with a 10.15am departure, arrival at about 11.30am and a return to Cannes at 5.45pm; in July and August it runs every day. Both arrive at the Quai de l’Estacade and the Quai Guépratte in the old port. In other words, these are excursions for a day ashore, ideal if you are staying in Nice or Cannes and want to see the village, but not a way to begin a week in a villa. If that is your plan, our Saint-Tropez travel guide covers what to see in the hours you have.
Troubleshooting the journey
Most arrival problems fall into a handful of patterns. Here is what we suggest for each.
| The problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your flight lands late and the helicopter can no longer fly in daylight | Switch to a car on the spot; a chauffeur can be on standby for exactly this case. The helicopter can often be rebooked for your departure instead. |
| Wind or a rough sea cancels the boat | Fall back on the coach from Saint-Raphaël or a car. Never plan a boat as the only link on the day you must reach the villa. |
| You arrive between November and April | The direct boats from Nice and Cannes do not sail. Use the train and coach, or a car, which run all year. |
| You missed the last coach from Saint-Raphaël | Look for a taxi at the station or, better, book a car ahead if your train is due in the evening. |
| Traffic is at a standstill on the way into the peninsula | Ask the driver to divert to Sainte-Maxime and cross the gulf by passenger shuttle, while your luggage continues by road. |
| You are flying into Marseille or Toulon instead | From Marseille to St Tropez without a car, take the train to Toulon (about one hour), then coach 878 or 879; Toulon is about 70 km from Saint-Tropez by road. A car from either airport is simpler with luggage. |
Villas where arrival is simplest
Two of these have a private helipad, and the others sit close to the village or Pampelonne, so the transfer ends at your door.
The villas side by side
Size, bedrooms and highlights for each residence.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa VittoriaSaint-Tropez | 16 | 8 | 9 | 460 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Massage Room, Gym |
| Villa CalistaSaint-Tropez | 12 | 6 | 6 | 400 m² | Heated Pool, Wine Cellar, Gym, Gated Estate |
| Villa OreaSaint-Tropez | 12 | 6 | 7 | 510 m² | Heated Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa AmaraSaint-Tropez | 25 | 14 | 14 | 900 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
The arrival, planned with the house
What we take care of between the aircraft door and your terrace.
One plan, two fallbacks
We build the transfer around your flight time and the month, and agree a backup if the helicopter cannot fly or the boat stays in port.
We know the gate
Every villa has been visited by our team, so we know which ones sit in a gated estate, where a car can turn and which have a helipad.
Transfers by car or helicopter
Chauffeur and helicopter transfers are arranged on request, and at Villa Calista a private driver is already part of the stay.
Luggage handled separately
If you choose the boat or a helicopter, heavy cases can follow by road on request, so they are waiting at the villa when you arrive.
Questions about getting there
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamHow do you get to St Tropez from Nice?
By car with a chauffeur, by helicopter, or by train to Saint-Raphaël (about one hour) followed by coach line 876 or, from roughly April to late October, a boat across. Seasonal sailings also leave Nice directly, but as same-day return excursions. With luggage and a villa outside the village, the car is the most practical; for speed in daylight, the helicopter.
Is there a train from Nice to St Tropez?
No. Saint-Tropez has no railway station. The nearest practical one is Saint-Raphaël-Valescure, about an hour from Nice-Ville by regional train, with more than 60 return journeys a day. From there, coach line 876 runs daily to Saint-Tropez bus station, and seasonal boats cross to the old port in the warmer months.
How far is St Tropez from Nice?
There is no single official figure, because the route depends on the road you take. As a guide, the Saint-Raphaël tourist office places the town 45 minutes from Nice airport, and the Saint-Tropez tourist office puts Saint-Raphaël 38 to 41 km from Saint-Tropez by road. In summer, traffic around the gulf matters more than distance.
Is there a boat from Nice to Saint-Tropez?
Yes, in season. In 2026 it sails from 12 May to 20 October on set days, leaving Nice at 9am and reaching Saint-Tropez at about 11.30am, then returning at 4.30pm. Tickets cover a same-day return and must be booked, so it suits a day trip rather than an arrival with luggage.
Can you take a helicopter from Nice to St Tropez?
Yes. Helicopters leave from the terminal at Nice Côte d’Azur airport and land at the Grimaud heliport, or on a private helipad such as those at Villa Vittoria and Villa Calista. Flights run in daylight only and depend on the weather, and luggage space is limited, so bulky cases may follow by car.
What is the best way from Cannes to St Tropez?
The same options apply. By train, Cannes has more than 30 return journeys a day to Saint-Raphaël, where you change for coach 876 or a seasonal boat. A seasonal boat also leaves Cannes at 10.15am, docking at Saint-Tropez at about 11.30am, on a same-day return ticket. For a villa stay, a car or helicopter is simpler.
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Tell us your flight, we plan the rest
Send Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your landing time, the number of guests and cases, and the villa you have in mind, or the one you are still choosing. We suggest the right transfer with a fallback, and arrange the car or helicopter on request. Reply usually within the day, on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or by email at contact@lutetia-group.com.