Hello, We are flying into Marseille airport and renting a car at the airport before we head out to our inn in Provence. At the end of our stay in Provence, we will drop off the rental car back at the Marseille airport, and we need to take the train to Paris. Question: what is the closest train station to Marseille airport--Aix en Provence or Marseille St. Charles? What is the easiest to get to? We are about to purchase train tickets online, so we need to know the station. Also, what is the best way to purchase the tickets? (Website, tips, etc.) Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17432 posts
There is a train station called "Marseille Provence Aeroport." If that is where you are dropping the car, you can take a regional train from there to Aix-en-Provence TGV station, and the TGV to Paris from there. That is according to bahn.de, which is great for finding train schedules all over Europe.
Posted by
near Ringwood, Hampshire, UK
521 posts
As Lola says, Aix TGV is your best bet. There is a shuttle bus from the airport, it runs every half hour and takes about 10 minutes, details here: http://www.marseille-airport.com/access-car-parks/access/shuttle-buses and then this page for that particular bus: http://www.marseille-airport.com/access-car-parks/access/shuttle-buses/aix-en-provence
Posted by
OP
Somewhere in California
107 posts
Thanks. The rental car drop-off will be at the airport. We almost purchased tickets online for a Marseille St. Charles to Paris TGV trip. So it's good to know that Aix en Provence to Paris TGV is the way to go. We've never been to Provence, but it looks like the Marseille St. Charles station would be farther from the airport than the Aix train station.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
If you are going to Paris, you might return the car at the train station in Aix or Avignon or Marseilles. No need to return to the airport!
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Definitely get the bus from the airport to Aix TGV station. The train from the airport station goes to the old town-centre station in Aix, from where it's an equally long bus ride to Aix TGV which is well out of town.
Posted by
OP
Somewhere in California
107 posts
OK, Aix is closer. Take the shuttle bus, not the train from the airport to Aix TGV. Is there a cost to the bus or is it a complimentary shuttle? Another option, as someone mentioned, is to pick up and drop off the car at the Avignon TGV, which is only 13 minutes from our hotel, vs. picking and dropping off at Marseille airport, which is 1 hour from our hotel. The problem is we are flying into Marseille airport. So, if we rent a car at Avignon TGV instead of at Marseille airport when we land, how do we get to Avignon TGV from the airport? Bus/train? What are the costs? Thanks.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Annie: Rent the car at the airport when you arrive. Return it in Avignon at the train station. If your car-rental company won't do this for you (which would surprise me), ditch them and choose another. Mischief managed.
Posted by
OP
Somewhere in California
107 posts
Hi Adam,
That is what I want to do! It's the perfect scenario; just not sure if it costs more to drop off at a different location. I checked yesterday, and it seemed to cost more, but I may not be looking at the right websites. I'll check again right now.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The bus fare from the airport to Aix TGV is 7.60 euros. You need to buy the ticket from the kiosk by the bus stop, not the bus driver. Travelling from the airport to Avignon by public transport requires you to go into central Marseille, so it's better to go to Aix.