Imagine yourself sitting in a cute French pastry shop, enjoying a dessert and a cup of coffee in the sun-kissed Aix-en-Provence. How lovely this must be! It’s a picture-perfect town in southern France. You will fall in love with the pastel-colored houses, countless authentic fountains, cute shops, cobbled streets, and farmers' markets.
Make sure to visit the former studio of Paul Cézanne, too. From Marseille airport, you can get here by bus, by rail, by taxi or by airport transfer. The distance is about 28km (18mi).
Although rail travel might seem like a good idea, it is not at all convenient. You would first need to reach St Charles station in the city, and from there catch a train further to your final destination. However, they are not frequent at all, and you might be ending up waiting for hours to catch a direct train.
You could also end up traveling for more than 2 hours. TGV would be your best option, at 13 minutes travel time at € 6,40 for an adult ticket. Unfortunately, there are only a couple of departures a day. For timetables and prices visit en.oui.sncf
Taking a shuttle will save you money, plus it’s a direct service. You can get on the shuttle in front of the Marseille airport building. The bus stops are just across the street, and there are screens posted with timetables. You want to get shuttle number 40, operated by Car Treize, headed to Aix-en-Provence. The shuttle is leaving every half an hour, and you’ll be riding for about 30 – 40 minutes.
Don’t forget that once you reach the city, you’ll have to figure out how to get to your final address. You can buy the tickets online, via a smartphone app, at the airport, or from the driver. An adult one-way ticket is € 10,00 (round trip €16,00). Kids under 6 are free. For more info on schedules and costs check out marseille.aeroport.fr
Although rail travel might seem like a good idea, it is not at all convenient. You would first need to reach St Charles station in the city, and from there catch a train further to your final destination. However, they are not frequent at all, and you might be ending up waiting for hours to catch a direct train. You could also end up traveling for more than 2 hours.
TGV would be your best option, at 13 minutes travel time at € 6,40 for an adult ticket. Unfortunately, there are only a couple of departures a day. For timetables and prices visit en.oui.sncf
If you want to avoid the unpleasant surprises of taxi rates, but still want to travel comfortably and conveniently, book an airport transfer. It is a private taxi which you order in advance. Fill out a quick form and submit your reservation. You’ll be able to see the rates online, which are fixed, and all-inclusive. They are affordable and cheaper than local taxis. There will be no extra charges on the day of your travel. This means no worries and no stress.
After you land, there will be a driver waiting for you. You will recognize him by the sign with your name on it. After a warm welcome, he will escort you to the car, and you’ll be on your way Aix-en-Provence in no time! No stress, no waiting, no wasting your precious time. You will see the value you’re getting for your money.