THE FRENCH RIVIERA - France 2014 - page 1061

to Monaco, or an hour to Antibes. The €1.50 ticket is good for 74 minutes of travel in one
direction anywhere within the bus system except for airport buses (and can't be used for
a round-trip). Buy your bus ticket from the driver (be sure to carry small bills or coins) or
fromthemachinesatstops,andvalidateyourticketinthemachineonboard.Youcaneven
transfer between the buses of the Lignes d'Azur and the smaller TAM (Transports Alpes-
Maritimes) system; if you board a TAM bus and need a transfer, ask for un ticket corres-
pondance . A €6 all-day ticket is good on Nice's city buses, tramway, and airport express
bus, plus selected buses serving nearby destinations (such as Villefranche and Eze-le-Vil-
lage).
The train is more expensive, but there's no quicker way to move about the Riviera
( http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en ) . Speedy trains link the Riviera's beachfront destina-
tions—Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, and Menton. If in Nice,
Villefranche,orMonaco,youcanassumetrainsmarkedfor Vintimille or Menton aregoing
east, and those marked for Grasse, Cannes, or Nice are going west. Never board a train
without a ticket or valid pass—fare inspectors don't accept any excuses, and the minimum
fine is €70.
Nice makes the most convenient base for day trips, though public transport also
works well from smaller Riviera towns such as Antibes and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Details
areprovidedundereachdestination's“Connections”section.Forascenicinlandtrainride,
take the narrow-gauge train into the Alps (see 899).
And a final tip: No matter where you go, bring along a swimsuit if the weather's
sunny—good beaches are plentiful.
For an overview of many Riviera train and bus connections, see the “Public Trans-
portation in the French Riviera” chart on here .
By Boat: Trans Côte d'Azur offers boat service from Nice to Monaco or to St-
Tropez from June into September (tel. [phone], www.trans-cote-azur.com ). For de-
tails, see “Getting Around the Riviera from Nice” ( here ) .
The Riviera's Art Scene
The list of artists who have painted the Riviera reads like a Who's Who of 20th-century
art. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Raoul Dufy,
FernandLéger,andPabloPicassoalllivedandworkedhere—andravedabouttheregion's
wonderful light. Their simple, semi-abstract, and—most importantly—colorful works re-
flect the pleasurable atmosphere of the Riviera. You'll experience the same landscapes
they painted in this bright, sun-drenched region, punctuated with views of the “azure sea.”
Try to imagine the Riviera with a fraction of the people and development you see today.