Tips to Travel to Aix-En-Provence – Flights, Train, Taxi and Bus
This article is next edition of series of Blog Posts about MGIM program.
Let’s talk about traveling to Aix-en-Provence, France.
My class mates came from several countries ( USA, India, Brazil, France, Taiwan, China, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua etc). So, people take different flights and routes to come to Aix-En-Provence.
Nearest airport is Marseille, France (MRS) which is about 30 minutes by bus to Aix-En-Provence.
Aix is connected to the MRS Airport by bus that runs every 30 minutes.
Travel Options to Aix
- Flight
- Train
Flights :
MRS is connected to major European Cities. So, folks flying to MRS will have a connecting flight in other Europe Cities like Brussels, Paris, London, Amsterdam, etc.
Train :
One of my class mate flew to Munich, Germany from Puerto Rico and took a train from Munich to Aix, since he had direct flight to Munich.
Another option would be to take a train from Paris to AIX.
If you fly to Paris CDG airport, then High Speed TGV train to Aix will be from Gare de Lyon Train station. You will take tickets to Aix-TGV station. Then take bus from Aix-TGV to Aix City center. Train tickets are cheap if you buy in advance.
For booking trains tickets for travel in and around France ( including other counties), I used Capitainetrain.com
If you’re traveling for the first time, you might want to keep it simple and fly direct to MRS.
How do I travel from Airport to Aix?
Once I landed, my two roommates and I took a taxi from MRS to AIX.
The ride cost us a total of €60.
If you cannot afford €60 or do not have anyone to share the ride with, you can take a bus from MRS airport to AIX (The bus stops are toward your right when you step out of the Hall 1 where Burger King is located).
You can buy your ticket on the bus, it costs €8 per person, and you will be dropped off at the AIX bus station called Gare Routiere.
I spent over 30 minutes trying to find the name or address of this bus stop, so I can figure out how far is my home. That’s what happens when Google doesn’t show the bus stop location when you search.
You can find the bus time table in this link. (above 2 images was taken from the same link).
The reason I suggest taking a taxi is because you will be carrying around all of your luggage from Gare Routiere to your destination, which takes you through uncomfortably narrow and cobble streets with slight elevation.
That’s me walking with my bags to bus station on the last day in Aix. As emotional as it sounds, it was an experience I would remember for rest of my life.
I posted the following on my Facebook update along with the above photo
As I pack my bags and walk through the paved streets of France, I recollect the wonderful memories that I carry back with me.
Tomorrow I’m going to miss waking up to the church bells, the fresh smell of baked baguettes, weekend travels, french kisses, house parties, my funny french, 40 rue venel, my Amorino and many many more.
I was used to the streets and directions in Aix after living there for 4 months, But, I wouldn’t take taxi on my first day in Aix, unless your place is walking distance from the bus stop.
Let me know if you have any questions about traveling to Aix-en-Provence.
MGIM Series
- MGIM : Application and Admission
- How to apply for France Student Visa?
- How to Find a place to rent and Where to Stay in Aix-en-Provence?
- What to buy and pack for your trip to France?
- Traveling to Aix-en-Provence – Flights, Train, Taxi and Bus
- Getting around Aix en Provence in Bus
- FAQ’s about Living in Aix-en-Provence
- Which SIM card and data plan to Buy?
