I'm going to listen to everyone's feedback on this forum and do some of the day trips from Nice to Cannes, Monaco, St. Paul etc...
I'm just wondering if you need to reserve train or bus tickets, or can you show up at the stations and purchase a ticket same-day (or day before)?

pretty sure you cannot reserve the local trains of the Cote d'Azur metro - nickname of train that runs about twice hourly along the coast or the buses that go up into the hills and i've nver had a problem getting on though trains can be quite crowded.

You could reserve mainline trains over the same tracks between say Nice and Cannes or Monaco but you'd pay much more i think for the few minute ride - indeed some of the TGVs that link these cities on their way north demand reservations before boarding. So just take the 'Michelines' or local trains that act like metros.

Trains run frequently thru this area - no need to pre-purchase. Some trips may be done by bus - we stayed near the water in Nice and it was a ways from the train station - on our last day there I realized that there was a bus station much nearer our hotel that we could have used for our day trip to Antibes. We went there for a market day, then went to the beach - it is sandy there - there is a public beach and a private club where you get chairs and an umbrella - it was one of our best days on the trip. Antibes has much more of a medieval feel than Nice - I think there is a Picasso museum there too but we did not visit that. Enjoy!

Investigate the regional day passes that i believe exist at least for the trains if not buses as well.

Buses are a great way to travel around Nice. 1.35 eouros, cheaper if you by 10 tickets, will take you to VF, MC, Eze, etc.
You can get the bus route map from the Tourist Office in Nice.

Thanks for the quick feedback everyone. I really appreciate it.

Would not recommend a bus or train to visit sites near Nice, there is too much to miss between the stops. Rent a car, and explore the region better.

Yes, I would rent a car as well. You can see much more at your own pace. The roads are sometimes twisted and narrow, but it really is not hard to navigate and get around.

FYI my folks just returned from France, and informed me that the Picasso Museum in Antibes in closed until the summer of 2008

<The roads are sometimes twisted and narrow, but it really is not hard to navigate and get around.>

fine unless it's July or August then i can attest to having driven there then and the whole region being practically gridlocked - i spent about two hours getting from Grasse to Biot one day

so depends on time of year.

we drove around in early May and many rodes were already jammed . Also, in some places ( like Eze ) finding parking was a problem

There's no way I'd recommend a car for Nice and environs in July/August. The bus and train are very easy and cheap, and you won't be a frazzled wreck when you get off at your stop.

I agree that there's no better region for bus and train travel between the major sights. A lot of people (myself included) like to be free of the responsibility of a car (parking, traffic, navigating) when good public transport is available.

Rite, pse use public transport systems.
Very common, used by many tourists and foreigners. Yday, i went to Villefranche sur mer by bus (i live in Eze bord de mer) and this bus was full of american travellers regaining villefranche where their cruise boat was waiting for them.
I already had the same experience from nice (gare routière) to villefranche.

Could someone post the weblink for the train services that run from Nice along the coast of the Cote d'Azur?

Many thanks!

s

Well I'm going to be driving in the area in July.

Sorry, did it years ago and have taken trains or buses too and wished I had at least rented a scooter.

I'm thinking of going to Ventimiglia. What is the border crossing situation, just show your passport?

Also, I've heard Nice has a tram going from the coast to up in the hills? I hiked north from along the eastern edge of town once.

Swagman, this is the requested link.
Down on the right hand side, there is a "click" for an english version.

http://www.ter-sncf.com/paca/index.asp

Scrb, regarding your access to Ventimiglia
there is no permanent control at all between France and Italy (Schengen area).
You are supposed to have been controlled when arriving in Schengen area. Nice airport for example. Your car or luggage in the train can be checked by Douanes (Custom officers) but it is quite rare. Controls are more frequent on fridays as there is a huge market in Ventimiglia as Customs are searching for brand fakes products (Vuitton bags, for instance) that are sold on this market among other products. It is, by the way, not a fakes market or a flea market but it s well know for that. Every fridays, Customs are making quite a good deal of money when making people pay fines (mostly on the motorway Nice-Genova)

Tram is not yet operating in Nice, works are still continuing creating quite a mess in local traffic. Keep it in mind.
Anyway, in summer time, remember that there is a lot of people (trafic) on Côte d'Azur.

Thank you Eze for the weblink.

Given you are a local, could you advise if train travel between St Tropez (or nearest station) and Menton?

Thanks again.

s

Thanks Eze.

I've heard different reports about driving to Eze. I hear it's not to bad to drive to a parking lot near the coast and then go up to the village?

Same thing with going to somewhere like Villa Rothschild. Also remember driving to Monaco and it not being so bad. This was maybe 10 years ago.

Also, do you know of any supermarket chains open on Sundays? Or téléboutiques which may have prepaid SIMs for mobile phones?

Swagman,
I have checked (through the link i sent you this morning) the feasability of a train journey between menton and st tropez or the other way around.
I must admit that it seems quite complicated even it is possible but :

you have to change twice of trains AND there is no train going to Saint Tropez.
The closiest station seems to be Frejus St Raphael from where you would have to take (i suppose) a bus.
I do hope that your french is fluent, otherwise...
The best is to forget this trip in my opinion or do it with a rented car but, depending on the season, i am afraid that you will have to spend, if it's during summer vacations, a lot of time in traffic jams;;