Perpignan to Nice by Car
Jan 27th, 2009, 06:37 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perpignan to Nice by Car
We are taking the train from Barcelona to Perpignan and renting a car about midday, we have 2 nites before we board a cruise in Nice. Please, help us to make some plans for stops and things to see along the way. We don't like less than 2 nites in one hotel, but I think we will have to give that up for this trip. Where to stay on tha way and what to see., please Thanks for all you help.
Jan 28th, 2009, 05:27 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jan 28th, 2009, 05:52 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ViaMichelin estimates about 4.5 hours and I think they are grossly underestimating traffic around Marseille. An obvious, nice stop is Aix-en Provence, which I thought was a breathtakingly beautiful city. The shopping is FABULOUS! I also enjoyed Nimes, with its amazing Roman ruins smack in the midst of a bustling city. Truth is that area could probably take two years to explore and there would still be things one would missed! Enjoy, yiou guys are planning a fabulous summer, I posted on your other Spain inquiry! HAVE FUN!!!!
Jan 28th, 2009, 06:36 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's not a terribly far distance to travel in one day, but if you want to break it up I'd suggest you explore the Camargue and stop in Aigues-Mortes for the night. And take the coastal route all the way.
Jan 28th, 2009, 07:03 AM
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are so many wonderful places in which to stop; I think the hardest part of your trip is going to be making choices.
Nonetheless, please forgive the gratuitous advice if you are already familiar with Nice.
Most of the car rental returns are at the train station and the airport. The train station is closer to the harbor than the airport, but urban traffic usually requires more time to get to the harbor than a trip along the Boulevard des Anglais from the airport to the harbor.
If it were me on your route, which sounds wonderful, I'd allow between an hour and 90 minutes from return at the airport to the time I wanted to board the ship. If you find a disastrous lack of crowds and a sudden infection of efficiency at the car rental return (I'm not being snarky; the last time I picked up a car at the Nice airport in May, it took nearly two hours to pick up the car) there are many cafes in the harbor area and you can happily kill time over coffee or a pastis.
Nonetheless, please forgive the gratuitous advice if you are already familiar with Nice.
Most of the car rental returns are at the train station and the airport. The train station is closer to the harbor than the airport, but urban traffic usually requires more time to get to the harbor than a trip along the Boulevard des Anglais from the airport to the harbor.
If it were me on your route, which sounds wonderful, I'd allow between an hour and 90 minutes from return at the airport to the time I wanted to board the ship. If you find a disastrous lack of crowds and a sudden infection of efficiency at the car rental return (I'm not being snarky; the last time I picked up a car at the Nice airport in May, it took nearly two hours to pick up the car) there are many cafes in the harbor area and you can happily kill time over coffee or a pastis.
Jan 28th, 2009, 07:42 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,505
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"ViaMichelin estimates about 4.5 hours and I think they are grossly underestimating traffic around Marseille."
It is very doable in 5 hrs (living in Perpignan and having family in Nice I do it regularly) and you don't get anywhere near Marseilles traffic if you take the motorway.
I agree that Aix or Nîmes are good places to stop. Besides they are roughly mid-way.
It is very doable in 5 hrs (living in Perpignan and having family in Nice I do it regularly) and you don't get anywhere near Marseilles traffic if you take the motorway.
I agree that Aix or Nîmes are good places to stop. Besides they are roughly mid-way.
Jan 28th, 2009, 06:08 PM
#7
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We transfered in Perpignan but then went south to Colliouire, one of my most favorite places, ever! You could stop there coming north from Barcelona, and have one night (stay on the little harbor!)and plenty of time to wander the shops and the little beach. It was an easy ten- minute walk from the train station to the wataerfront. Then you could continue on the next day and pick up your car in Perpignan, with all the suggestions for stopping points. We did stay in Arles (after Collioure) but used the train to get there...I suppose it will come down to whether you enjoy cities over small towns? art? history?
