How Big is Nice Airport?
 

Is Nice Airport very big?
My flight from Rome arrives at Nice Airport at 12:10 and I have noticed that there is a TGV for Avignon at 13:35PM, the next depart at 15:35.
I wonder if I have time to take the 13:35 TGV or play it safe and wait for the next train?

It's a small airport - but then I use O'Hare :-) - I think you will be fine as long as the TGV stops at the airport ? - I don't remember if it stopped there when I took it or not.

amaclise, from the airport I must take a bus to Nice train station.
I know that it cant compare with Ohare Airport, my flight for Rome depart from there.

The airport is small and easy to navigate. There is no train station at the airport. You can take a direct bus or taxi to the train station. It will take about 20-25 minutes by bus. Do you already have your reservations for TGV?

There is not train station at Nice airport. It's not like CDG. The airport is not that big, but compared to what? (isn't it still the 2nd biggest airport of France after the huge CDG ?)

No, I would not take the risk with 13.35. Go for 15.35. If your flight is on time, if your checked-in luggage come out quickly ( or even better if you have only carry-on lugage), if you are not too direction challenged, if you take a taxi direct from airport to Nice-Ville station (15-20 min), with so many if's, maybe .. still no.

Second biggest? That can't be true...

Didn't think the TGV stopped there but DID assume NO checked bags and No bus trip! Silly me.

Given both of those, a late flight and the wrong day of the week or time of day and even the 15:35 could be tight...

Thanks everyone..I bought my TGV ticket last week for the 3:35 departure..I was just wondering if I had enough time to take the earlier train, but I realize that is better be safe then sorry.
I have been to Nice many times before coming from Italy but always by train..
Grazie, merci bien..

FYI, you won't actually be on the TGV at Nice; the high-speed tracks don't run that far. I think you pick up the real TGV at Marseille or Aix, and then things get speedy.

Oops--didn't catch the Avignon part first time around. In your case the TGV part of the trip will begin at Avignon.

I think you were wise to opt for the later train. Running with luggage ain't no fun.

<I bought my TGV LAST WEEK for the 3:35
departure> Why didn't you simply state that in your opening remarks?

KIsmet, you made a wise choice.

> Second biggest? That can't be true...

Can well be, I think I heard that and considering :Nice airport is at least bigger than Orly, then there is not many others comparable. Marseille is the 2nd biggest city but its airport is not that big. Lyon's St-Exupery is more commercilaized than Marseille but not as nearly as Nice. Maybe exact description was Nice airport is the 2nd of French airports in the number of annual passengers. Also it has been enlarged (about 5 years ago?) and had 2 terminals now. That makes you to take a bit more time to get out of the airport sometimes. That said, after landing at Nice last year, a short flight from GVA on Easyjet, I was out of the airport building in 15-20 min. That was the record, I think. I did not have check-in luggage to collect.

TGV will leave out of the Nice Ville station. I've traveled from Paris to Nice a couple of times on the TGV.

Underhill, TGV refers to the TGV type train itself so Nice - Marseille is not the fast track but you do get on a TGV train in Nice. And it should go Nice-Marseille-Avignon (not 100% sure though. I know there is a TGV GVA-Avignon-Marseille-Nice par day.)

Interesting. I just checked the time table.

13.35 Dep.Nice is a D (=Direct) and with that you have to change to a TGV in Marseille.

15:35 Dep.Nice is TGV direct to Avignon (via Marseille but no change of trains).

So Kismet, perhaps you did not realize that but you have done well by picking 15:35 in that sense too. You don't want to change a train.

I was in Nice for few days with my daughter and grandaughter this past June and I am pretty familiar with the city and the train station.
Normally when I travel to France I always visit my dear elderly cousin that lives in Avignon.
I have spent many happy times at my cousin's house in Provence since I was 17 years old.