Aix-en-Provence Travel Logistics | Student Arrival | IAU

Arrivals in Aix-en-Provence
Travel Changes & Lost Luggage
Early/Late Arrival
Departure Day
Hotels in Aix-en-Provence


Arrivals in Aix-en-Provence, France

NOTE: If you have travel plans that do not include one of the following scenarios (e.g. arriving before or after the official arrival date or outside the 9:00am-7:00pm arrival day window), you will need to be in communication with IAU's Office of Student Life at studentlife@iau.edu to make specific arrangements. Additionally, if you choose to arrive before the program’s official arrival date you will be responsible for coordinating your own transportation to Aix and lodging (including covering the cost). It is not possible to move into your IAU housing accommodations before the program arrival date.

If arriving by flight

Students should fly into the Aix-Marseille airport (MRS) on arrival day between 9:00am and 7:00pm to be greeted by for check-in. When you arrive at the airport, you will need to make your way to the meeting point in Terminal 1 to check in with IAU staff and be connected with your housing setup. The meeting point is at the Paul café.

Once you have checked in at the Paul in Terminal 1, IAU staff will direct you on your next steps for getting to Aix. You will need to take a shuttle bus (la navette) from the airport to get to the bus station in the center of Aix, the Gare Routière. IAU staff will give you a ticket for the bus then show you where it leaves for the Gare Routière. It is about a 25-minute bus ride from the airport and will be the last stop on the route. Once you have arrived at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will either direct you to your host family or SRA.

If arriving by train

Students traveling via train must book their ticket to arrive at the Aix-en-Provence TGV station (Gare TGV), NOT the Marseille St. Charles station. IAU staff will only be there to check you in at the Aix Gare TGV. Students must arrive at the Gare TGV between 9:00am and 7:00pm to be greeted for check-in and guided to the navette that will take you to the Gare Routière (bus station in the center of Aix). Once at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will either direct you to your host family or SRA.

 *Additional tips if arriving by train from Paris, France*

• If you are flying into Paris and plan to take the train (TGV) the same day: Book a ticket departing from the TGV Station at Charles de Gaulle Airport (Terminal 2). It is recommended that your train departure time is at least 4 hours after your plane arrival time as getting through customs and picking up luggage can take quite a bit of time.
• If are flying into Paris and you do not plan to take the train to Aix on the same day: Trains traveling to the south of France depart from Paris's Gare de Lyon train station. You should book your ticket departing from Gare de Lyon and arriving at the Aix-en-Provence TGV station.
• Stay awake on the train and disembark at Aix TGV (about a three-hour ride from Paris). Passengers have approximately three minutes to board and detrain which is difficult with heavy luggage on a crowded train. The best rates for train tickets can be found on the French rail services website. 

Students will receive more detailed arrival instructions and day-of contact information closer to their arrival date.