Looking for suggestions for the easiest way to get from Nice to Tours that does not involve renting a car. If we fly into Paris, recommendations on airport and steps to get from the airport to the train would be helpful.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
It's a long train ride in one day, about 9 hours via Paris with a change of stations in Paris by taxi or public transport. If you were interested in breaking the trip with an overnight stop in Lyon, that city has a couple of direct trains to either Tours or nearby St. Pierre-des-Corps.
EasyJet and HOP/Air France both fly from Nice to Nantes Airport, from where you can catch a bus into the train station. From central Nantes to Tours, a few train rides are direct and as fast as 1.5 hours.
In Paris, trains to Tours depart from either Montparnasse or Austerlitz station. From Orly airport, Le Bus Direct Line 1 reaches Montparnasse in 20-30 minutes.
Charles de Gaulle airport is huge and just walking through it takes time, so that would be my last choice. From CDG, Le Bus Direct Line 4 takes 70-80 minutes to reach Montparnasse station.