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NCE → Nice · head to head

Bus 12+ along the PromenadeorBus 81 Express to Cannes?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Bus 12+ along the Promenade reaches Place Masséna and avenue Jean Médecin — the Jean Médecin tram stop, where lines 1 and 2 cross; the old town, the port and Nice-Ville station all lie inside the taxi's Nice-Centre perimeter; the Bus 81 Express to Cannes does not. This goes to Cannes, not into Nice.

The Bus 12+ along the Promenade is quicker: 16 min against 50 min. The Bus 81 Express to Cannes varies between 45 and 58 minutes.

Bus 12+ along the Promenade: 06:04–00:54. Bus 81 Express to Cannes: 07:35–21:55.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersBus 12+ along the PromenadeBus 81 Express to CannesDifference
1€1.70€21.40€19.70
2€3.40€42.80€39.40
3€5.10€64.20€59.10
4€6.80€85.60€78.80
5€8.50€107€98.50
6€10.20€128.40€118.20
7€11.90€149.80€137.90
8€13.60€171.20€157.60

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
12+ · Lignes d'Azur, for the Métropole Nice Côte d'AzurBus 12+ along the Promenade
From
The "Aéroport / Promenade" stop on the Promenade des Anglais, 150 m on foot from Terminal 1, opposite the Sheraton; from Terminal 2 take the free tram one stop to Terminal 1 first
To
Albert 1er, beside Place Masséna, in 12 to 19 minutes; then Opéra - Vieille Ville for the old town and Garibaldi for the port
Luggage
A city bus with the same 55 x 25 x 35 cm rule as the tram in the operator's FAQ; no hold, no racks.
Runs
06:04–00:54
Journey
12–19 min

It is faster than the tram to Place Masséna — 12 to 19 minutes against 29 to 33 — and it is the last thing into the center at night, running to 00:54 when the tram stopped at 23:51.

The stop is on the Promenade, 150 m from Terminal 1; from Terminal 2, take the free tram to Terminal 1 first. There is no machine selling the EUR 2 card at the terminals, so load your Solo onto a card or the Android app before you walk out.

Sundays start late, at 07:04, and run every 19 minutes; take the tram before then.

Buy before boarding: the airport says no sales on board, and the operator's only on-board product is a EUR 4 Solo Secours.

A road along the seafront: the timetabled 12 to 19 minutes is a fair-weather figure, and it runs to 25 minutes to Garibaldi.

Bus 12+ along the Promenade: price for every party size

See Lignes d'Azur tickets
81 · ZOU! Express, for the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurBus 81 Express to Cannes
From
The Ligne 81 stop at Nice Aéroport Terminal 2, five minutes ahead of Terminal 1
To
Cannes Gare SNCF in about 50 minutes, after Le Cannet, Place Benidorm (Office de Tourisme)
Runs
07:35–21:55
Journey
45–58 min

The fare is EUR 21.40 bought ahead — agency, e-boutique, app, SMS at the stop or a tapped card on the validator — against EUR 21.80 paid in cash to the driver.

No local hop: the operator's own sheet says a trip cannot be bought only between Cannes Gare SNCF and Le Cannet — this line is for the airport run.

The last direct departure is 20:50; a 21:55 departure still reaches Cannes, at 22:46, on a slower routing via Antibes.

The TER from Nice-Ville also reaches Cannes, unpriced here.

Bus 81 Express to Cannes: price for every party size

See ZOU! tickets

This compares two of 12 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Côte d'Azur Airport