Aix-en-Bus
Airport Bus
Busses from Aix depart from Aix-en-Provence Gare Routière. Shuttle 40 goes to the Aix TGV station and ends at the Aix-Marseille airport. Shuttle 50 goes to Marseille and back.
These websites will help searching for bus itineraries and rates:
ACM-IAU Bus Deal
Students under 26 years old pay €100 for unlimited usage of Aix inner-city bus lines (Note: Though this is a year-long subscription, it is the best deal for students. As purchasing individual bus tickets adds up fast, this pass becomes the most economic mode of transport. Therefore, ACM-IAU will reimburse fall and spring semester students €50 towards this student bus pass only. To obtain this pass go in person to the Office de Tourisme (300 Avenue Guiseppe Verdi) with the following:
- IAU Proof of Housing Form (Attestation de Logement)
- ACM-IAU Student ID
- Copy of your passport or ID
- Photo (take at photo booth inside Monoprix for €5)
- €100 (Cash recommended but card accepted)
To get this reimbursement, the student must take a photo of both their pass and receipt, email that photo to our Student Life Assistant, Chloé Dhalluin (chloe.dhalluin@iau.edu), and once you get a response saying your reimbursement is ready, you go to Chloé to receive your cash!
Biking in Aix
While Aix is a city easily navigated by foot, some students find it helpful to rent a bike during their stay in Aix.
The following resources include bike offers on bike shop pages and websites similar to Craigslist.
BeCloo:
- BeCloo is a non-profit where you can rent a second-hand bike for a lower price.
- Here you can find the Conditions and Prices
- Here you can find the waiver for IAU/ACM Students
- L’Adava Pays d’Aix is an association that sells and fixes bikes.
- They have lessons for adults, as well as events in Aix-en-Provence.
The Surrounding Area
- Metropole: Obtain a Metropole card at the Gare Routière to go to locations surrounding Aix. This includes Marseille, Cassis, Avignon, La Ciotat and more. Learn more HERE.
- Flixbus: Low-cost bus for long-distance travel (i.e. Barcelona, Bordeaux, Milan). Follow this link to book your next weekend trip!
- Blabla Car: Long-distance carpooling at low costs. Find a driver who is traveling somewhere you want to go by clicking here!
- Ryanair & EasyJet: Low-cost airlines predominantly within the EU. Be advised that you must pack light; adding carry-on or check-in bags will drastically increase the cost! Click for Ryanair; Click for EasyJet. Searching via Google Flights can also be beneficial.
- Ouigo & SNCF: Low-cost trains within France or to surrounding countries. IF YOU ARE UNDER 26, book via the app Trainline for cheaper costs.
Helpful Apps
- Kiwi: Easily finds the cheapest flights across a multitude of airlines. Enter your dates, either flexible or precise, and it will give you dozens of options (but usually just recommends RyanAir anyway).
- Moovit: Find metro, tram, and bus itineraries in any city you visit in Europe. Enter your departure and arrival locations and this app will show you how to get there via public transportation.
- Trainline: Buy your OUIGO or SNCF tickets via this app for cheap prices if you are under the age of 26!
- Heetch: Alternative to Uber and payable in cash
- Transferwise: Venmo is not available to European users. If you ever need to send money to/receive money from a European friend, this app is how you do it!