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

If arriving by flight

Students should fly into the Aix-Marseille airport (MRS) which is about a 25-minute bus ride from Aix. Students must arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to be greeted for check-in. When you arrive at the Aix-Marseille airport, you will be coming in one of three terminals (1A, 1B, or 2). The middle and largest of these terminals is 1A. Make your way to Terminal 1A to check in with IAU staff and be connected with your housing setup. Enter Terminal 1A at one of the Arrivals doors and look for the IAU table. 

Once you have checked in at the welcome table in Terminal 1A, IAU staff will direct you on your next steps for getting to Aix. If you’re staying with a French host family and they are picking you up at the airport, we will match you with that host family at the table. If you are staying with a host family and meeting them at the bus station (Gare Routière) in the center of Aix, or if you are staying in one of our Student Residence Apartments (SRAs), we will give you a ticket to the airport shuttle bus (navette) and show you where it leaves for the Gare Routière (at the other end of Terminal 1A). Once you have arrived at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will either direct you to your host family or Student Residence Apartment.

If arriving by train

Students traveling via train must book their ticket to arrive at the Aix-en-Provence TGV station, NOT the Marseille St. Charles station (There will not be IAU staff at the Marseille St. Charles TGV station). Students must arrive at the Aix TGV station between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to be greeted for check-in. IAU staff will greet you at the Aix-en-Provence TGV station (Gare TGV) and either match you with your host family or guide you to the airport shuttle bus (navette) that will take you to the bus station (Gare Routière) in the center of Aix to be connected with your housing setup. Once you have arrived at the Gare Routière, IAU staff will either direct you to your host family or Student Residence Apartment.

NOTE: If you have travel plans that do not include one of these two scenarios (you are, for instance, coming in 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. If you choose to arrive before the program’s official arrival date or outside of the 9am-7pm reception hours on the official arrival day, you are responsible for finding your own lodging and transportation to Aix (including covering the cost). It is not possible to move into your IAU housing accommodations earlier than the program arrival date.

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

• If you plan to take the train (TGV) the same day that you fly into Paris: Book a ticket departing from the TGV Station at Charles de Gaulle Airport (Terminal 2). It is recommended that you leave at least 4 hours between your plane arrival time and your train departure time, as there are often long lines with customs, and it can take a while to pick up luggage.
• If you do not plan to take the train on the same day that you fly into Paris: Your train will depart from the train station Paris Gare de Lyon. Therefore, book your ticket departing from the Paris Gare de Lyon and arriving at the Aix-en-Provence TGV station.
• Stay awake on the train and detrain 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. It might be necessary to carry luggage up/down staircases, as not all French buildings are equipped with elevators. Additionally, the best rates for trains 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.