Getting Around Nîmes
Nîmes is a compact, walkable city, and most visitors find that the main sights sit comfortably within walking distance of one another. For longer hops across town or trips out to the surrounding region, you have a solid choice of trains, buses, taxis and ride-hailing, plus a shuttle connection from the local airport.
On Foot
Walking is the simplest and often the best way to experience Nîmes. The principal attractions, including the Roman monuments that give the city its "French Rome" nickname, are clustered closely enough that you can move between them on foot without needing any transport at all. If your itinerary is focused on the historic centre, you can reasonably plan to leave the car behind and cover the highlights on foot.
Rail
The city's main train station, the Gare de Nîmes, sits on Boulevard Sergent Triaire, a short walk from Les Arènes, the Roman amphitheatre. That location makes it easy to arrive by train and walk straight into the heart of the sights.
Two broad categories of service call at Nîmes:
- TER regional trains run by SNCF connect the city with nearby destinations including Avignon, Arles and Montpellier.
- TGV high-speed services link Nîmes with Montpellier, Paris, Valence, Lyon, Lille and destinations in Spain.
For a visitor, this means Nîmes works well as a base or a stop on a wider trip through southern France, with easy rail connections to other major cities in the region and beyond.
Buses and Regional Transport
Regional bus services under the liO network serve Nîmes and the surrounding area. Useful routes for visitors include:
- Route C30 to and from Arles.
- Route C21 to and from the Pont du Gard, the famous Roman aqueduct crossing.
A one-way ticket on these services costs €1.50 per person. Buses arrive and depart from the Gare Routière (bus station) on Rue Sainte Félicité.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available in Nîmes and are a practical fallback when public transport does not line up with your plans, particularly late in the day or when heading to the airport outside shuttle hours. Ride-hailing apps are also an option for getting around the city and its surroundings. If you are relying on a specific connection, such as catching a flight, it is worth confirming your taxi or ride in advance rather than counting on finding one at short notice.
Getting In from the Airport
Nîmes–Alès–Camargue–Cévennes Airport (airport code FNI) lies roughly 20 km from the city centre. Ryanair operates regular flights to Nîmes.
To reach the city from the airport:
- Shuttle bus: A shuttle runs between the airport and Nîmes city centre. A one-way ticket costs €6.80 per person. The key practical caveat is that the shuttle timetable is tied to flight arrivals, with only a single bus provided for each flight. Check the bus times carefully in advance, because if you miss it your remaining options are limited.
- Taxi: If the shuttle does not suit your arrival time, a taxi is the reliable alternative. Walking is technically the only other option mentioned, and is not a realistic choice for most arrivals with luggage.
Because the shuttle schedule is built around individual flights, the safest approach is to confirm the departure time before you travel and have a taxi as a backup plan.
Arriving by Car
If you are driving, Nîmes is served by the A9 autoroute, which runs from the Spanish border and connects with the Spanish AP-7 motorway to the south, and with Orange and the A7 autoroute to the north. The A54 also connects Nîmes with Salon-de-Provence to the south-east. Once in the city, the walkable centre means you can often park and explore the main sights on foot.
Practical Summary
- Best for sightseeing: walking, since the main sights are close together.
- Best for regional trips: TER trains to Avignon, Arles and Montpellier, or liO buses to Arles and the Pont du Gard.
- Best for longer journeys: TGV services to Paris, Lyon, Lille, Montpellier, Valence and Spain.
- Bus tickets: €1.50 one-way on liO regional routes.
- Airport transfer: shuttle bus at €6.80 one-way, timed to flights, with taxis as the fallback.