Nice to Marseille bus with FlixBus

Nice to Marseille coach

The Nice to Marseille coach is a comfortable and affordable way to travel between these cities and a popular choice among many travellers. The distance covered on the bus route is around 160 km (99 miles) and runs multiple times a day starting early in the morning and ending late in the evening. Two coach companies operate along these routes every day. The most frequent operator is FlixBus and the other operator is BlaBlaCar Bus. There are 3 departure points for these trips and 1 arrival point, with varying travel times depending on the route taken. There is also a carpooling service offered by BlaBlaCar a couple of times a day, which is roughly double the price of the standard bus ticket. The bus schedule from Nice to Marseille is consistent throughout the week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Nice to Marseille Bus Time: Daily Departures

Thanks to the popularity of the journey between these destinations, you'll find a bus to Marseille from Nice several times a day, starting early in the morning. These buses are operated by 2 different companies. Flixbus offers the most frequent and often the cheapest bus tickets from Nice to Marseille, with around 17 services a day, starting as early as 3:30 a.m. The last Flixbus departure is usually around 9:30 p.m. each evening. BlaBlaCar Bus is another operator, with around 8 coaches a day, which starts around 4:10 a.m. and ends around 9:15 p.m. If you want to get to the daily schedules page, start by navigating to the top of this page and make sure your departure and arrival destinations are selected, then choose your travel dates and click on the Search button. You'll be redirected to the daily schedule with all of the consolidated information displayed on a single page, which you can filter according to your needs.

How long is the journey by bus from Nice to Marseille?

There are 3 separate departure points in Nice and only 1 arrival point in Marseille, so the travel time for a bus Nice - Marseille depends on the route taken. The fastest Flixbus route is between Terminal 1 of the Nice Airport to Gare de Saint Charles Station, which takes around 2h 20min. The longest Flixbus route is between the same points and takes around 3h 15min. If you're looking for the fastest BlaBlaCar Bus route, it'll be an early morning trip between Nice Airport Terminal 2 and Gare Saint Charles, which will take around 2h 15min, while the longest route by BlaBlaCar Bus is between the same stations and takes close to 3 hours.

Nice: Aerial view of the city at evening. Source: Shutterstock

Where do Nice to Marseille coaches depart and arrive?

There are 3 departure points in Nice, 2 of them are at the airport while the third is a bus stop in the city. BlaBlaCar Bus services tend to depart from Nice Airport Terminal 2, outside of the Arrivals area. Since this is just a bus stop, there aren't any facilities connected to the station but you will have access to the airport terminal facilities. The other departure point is at the first terminal and offers the same setup as Terminal 2. Many of the FlixBus services depart from this point. Another of the departure points in the city is the Gare Routière Vauban bus stop, located west of the city centre along des Diables Bleus Avenue. This is also just a bus stop with no additional amenities and facilities.

The arrival station for the bus Nice Marseille is always the same, Gare Saint-Charles. Marseille, Gare Saint-Charles is the main railway station in the city and also serves as the main intercity bus station, located in the northeast part of the city, a short trip away from the city centre and connected to the rest of the city via buses and taxis. The station is home to numerous facilities including cash machines, toilets, ticket offices and more.

What are the bus stops when arriving to Marseille?

Due to all the services being direct trips between the 2 cities, there aren't any stops along the way and the only stop in Marseille is Gare Saint-Charles. This is located in the northeast part of the city and is well connected to the rest of the city by public transport and taxis. This is also the location of the main railway station in the city, so it's well-connected to various other major cities on the continent, including Paris and London.

What to see between Nice and Marseille

Because these are all direct routes, you won't have an opportunity to stop in other areas and explore different parts of the country, but you will pass through significant places along the way worth noting for the next trip. Shortly after leaving the station in Nice, you'll pass by the Saint-Nicolas Cathedral on the way to Ventebrun. Just after St Paul de Vence, you'll head past Grotte de la Chevre d'Or, the famous hiking ground, and a short trip away from the Aven Cachee tourist attraction, which is also close to Notre Dame Church. Just down the road from Pourrieres, you'll bypass the Oppidum en route towards Montagne Sainte-Victoire. just after heading past Aix-en-Provence, you'll turn left and head down alongside Bellevue and on to Marseille.

Information on Marseille, Gare Saint-Charles

The Saint-Charles Coach Station in the city is connected to the Gare Saint-Charles Railway Station, which is the major railway station serving the city. Every coach along this route is a bus from Nice to Marseille Gare Saint-Charles station. It's located a short distance northeast of the city centre and easily accessible via local buses and taxis and about a 10-minute walk from the heart of the city centre. The station is home to all of the standard facilities, including waiting rooms, ticket offices, toilets, shops and food kiosks. You'll also have access to the facilities at the Saint-Charles Railway Station.

Flixbus Nice to Marseille coach

Flixbus Nice to Marseille coaches are the most frequent services between these cities, with roughly 17 trips every day. These buses start running at around 3:30 a.m. every morning, including Saturdays and Sundays, and operate hourly until the last departure at around 9:30 p.m. These coaches run from the airport to Saint-Charles or from Gare Routière Vauban to Saint-Charles, and your travel time will be between 2h 20min and 3h 15min.

BlaBlaCar Bus Nice to Marseille coach

BlaBlaCar Bus is the second operator along this route and provide some of the cheapest options along these routes. There are at least 8 trips a day that runs from the airport to Marseille Saint-Charles Bus Station, with a travel time between 2h 15min and 3 hours. The BlaBlaCar Bus starts running at around 4:10 a.m. each morning and runs a couple of times a day between then and the last departure at about 9:15 p.m.

Buses Nice to Marseille: Sustainability Travel

According to various climate activists, one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to choose more eco-friendly ways to travel. Apart from walking, biking, and sometimes train travel, taking a bus is one of the most sustainable ways to move between these cities. Buses require less fuel and produce fewer emissions than plane travel and offer more efficient use of space compared to cars. Flixbus is a leader in sustainable travel and is the first company to provide electric buses along certain routes, and since 2020, the company has had several solar-powered buses operating in France.

Bus Nice to Marseille: Services on Board

These routes are operated by 2 different bus companies, which both offer similar onboard services:

• Neither BlaBlaCar Bus nor Flixbus has different classes of tickets. Standard tickets and seats are the only ones available.
• There is no food served on either bus service and though there may be unscheduled food stops en route, it's best to pack your own refreshments. Remember, hot food cannot be taken on the bus.
• Pet travel isn't possible on these services. Only guide dogs are permitted and the company must be notified beforehand.
• Foldable bicycles can be transported, as long as they fit in the luggage compartment. There is no space on these buses to transport non-foldable bikes.
• Both companies are committed to providing accessible travel to those with reduced mobility and other disabilities. Contact the company a few days ahead of time to arrange the help you need.
• Seat reservation isn't available on these services

When to book your bus tickets from Nice to Marseille

There are a couple of ways to make sure you get the best Nice to Marseille bus price along these routes, and the first is to buy tickets as far in advance as you can. They generally go on sale a few months in advance and increase in price gradually as the departure date looms. closer. If you're able to, searching with flexible dates might give you access to different deals offered on different days, something bus companies tend to do. The prices for these tickets are quite consistent but you'll usually find a few of the cheapest options during the week. If you have a student card or are a senior citizen, some routes will offer you discounts.

To Marseille by bus — travel tips

Marseille is a sought-after travel spot for many and a melting pot of influences and cultures from around the world, largely thanks to the historical relevance of the city's port. From the city's bustling waterfront, picturesque neighbourhoods and sandy beaches to the architectural rise of the modern era, museums, and restaurants, this city has something for everyone. Some of the favourite things to do in the city include discovering ancient buildings and frequenting art galleries or perusing the street art. Thanks to the diverse cultural influence, you'll be able to sample cuisine from all over the world or check out some of the historical architecture in the city. For a few tips and tricks on things to do, check out the Marseille Window Seat article, and have a look at a few of these things too:

• Wander along the three quays to try the bars, restaurants, and cafes looking over the water.
• Visit the biggest urban history museum in the country, The Musée d’Histoire de Marseille
• Head south of the Old Port and visit the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde.
• The Old Port, which has been trading for over 2600 years.
• Check out the Statue of Mary holding baby Jesus at the top of the church
• Explore Calanques National Park and hike one of its many trails.

Marseille: View of the Fort Saint Jean le Mucem. Source: Shutterstock

What are the other cities you can go to from Marseille?

Thanks to the popularity of Marseille, it's well-connected to many other major cities on the continent. One of the most favoured routes is Marseille to Paris, with several routes a day that have an average travel time of around 9h 30min. If you want something a little more local, consider catching a bus to Saint-Tropez, which only takes around 1h 20min. If you're keen on a trip to Spain, Alsa offers daily services from Marseille to Madrid that take less than 16h without any changeovers en route. Marseille to Cannes is another popular local route operated by BlaBlaCar Bus daily, which takes around 1 hour.