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 students have travel plans that do not include one of the following scenarios (e.g. arriving before or after the official arrival date or their flight/train will not permit them to arrive in the arrival area of the airport/train station within the arrival window of 10:00am-7:00pm), they will need to be in communication with IAU's Office of Student Life at studentlife.aix@iau.edu to make specific arrangements. Additionally, if they choose to arrive before the program’s official arrival date, they will be responsible for coordinating their own transportation to Aix and lodging (including covering the cost). It is not possible to move into their IAU housing accommodations before the program arrival date.

If arriving by flight

Students should fly into the Aix-Marseille airport (MRS) on arrival day, and their flight must permit them to make their way to the arrival area of the airport between 10:00am and 7:00pm to be greeted by for check-in. IAU reccommends a flight arriving by 5pm at the latest to permit sufficient time for customs. After customs and claiming their baggage, students should make their way to the meeting point in Terminal 1 to check in with IAU staff and be connected with their housing setup. 

Once students have checked in with IAU staff, IAU staff will direct them on their next steps for getting to Aix. Students will take a shuttle bus (la navette) from the airport to get to the bus station in the center of Aix, the Gare Routière. It is about a 25-minute bus ride from the airport and will be the last stop on the route. Once they have arrived at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will direct them to their housing.

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 them in at the Aix Gare TGV. Students must arrive at the Gare TGV meeting point between 10:00am and 7:00pm to be greeted for check-in and guided to the navette that will take them to the Gare Routière (bus station in the center of Aix). Once at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will direct them to their housing.

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

• If students 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 their train departure time is at least 4 hours after their plane arrival time as getting through customs and picking up luggage can take quite a bit of time.
• If students are flying into Paris and they 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. They should book their 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.