Have you been dreaming of an idyllic getaway to Mediterranean Europe lately, eating gelato as you stroll down a palm-lined boardwalk, to the sound of crashing waves, or maybe going for your usual noon apéro, except views are of imposing medieval cathedrals?
If you’re planning on flying across the pond this year for some of that, you should know there is a new train launching that will make it a lot easier for travelers to commute between two of the continent’s top summer destinations and experience the dolce vita.
Soon enough, you’ll be able to travel from the cultural heart of Northern Italy to the liveliest coastal city in Southern France, the way you’re meant to explore Europe: on rails, admiring the scenery, and most importantly, stress-free.
New Tourist Trains Traveling From Milan To The French Riviera
As confirmed by local media, Trenitalia, the primary train operator in Italy, is planning on introducing a tourist train from Milan, one of the most popular destinations in the country, to Nice, the summer capital of France, from June onward.
It’s always been possible to travel overland between both cities, as they are separated by only 196 miles, but surprisingly enough, there hasn’t been a nonstop connection in years, with tourists often having to book two to three-stop routes or alternatively use buses.
Flights have never been a popular option, either, as there is no regular service between both metropolises (with the exception of a seasonal flight operated by Gulf Air), precisely due to their proximity and already-existing, albeit suboptimal railway links.
Fortunately for American travelers who have added both Milan’s landmark Duomo and Nice’s pastel-tone alleyways to their bucket list this year, the new train will eliminate the need for stopovers and switches in intermediate hubs.
What Can Tourists Expect From The New Scenic Train?
The new Southern France-bound tourist train will run in collaboration with the SCNF, the French equivalent to Trenitalia, and while the exact route is yet to be confirmed, Managing Director Luigi Cantamessa has affirmed Nice is included, as well as Monaco.
Monaco is a small principality and sovereign state located on the Côte d’Azur, a short half-hour drive from Nice, and it’s a major yachting and luxury tourism hotspot, packed with luxury hotels, historic casinos – does Monte Carlo ring a bell? – and regal palaces.
Seeing it is on the way to Nice, and it’s a major attraction in the wider French Riviera, attracting exclusivity-seeking millionaires and curious onlookers alike, it makes sense Trenitalia is aiming to add it to their new scenic train route. You know, two birds one stone.
The Milan-Nice service is being touted as Trenitalia’s and SCNF’s next big joint launch following the successful Paris-Milan train, debuted in 2021, and it follows a Europe-wide trend of reactivation of, and improvement of railway links.
Nice is not their end goal, either: Cantamessa reiterated their goal is to eventually reach Marseille, the largest city on the Mediterranean coast of France, an additional 119 miles west of Nice, and ‘who knows one day, Avignon’, in the historical region of Provence.
For now, the only confirmed stops are the Nice-Monaco duo.
Two Of Europe’s Most Popular Summer Destinations
Milan is one of the most important cities in Italy, famous for its Lombardian cuisine and home to the Duomo di Milano, a magnificent medieval cathedral with a Baroque facade, the stately Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery, and a vibrant fashion scene.
As for Nice, it is often described as the most ‘Itallic’ city of France, with a UNESCO-listed Old Town characterized by narrow, yellow-washed buildings, and an arching coastline hugged by the warm, turquoise-colored waters of the Mediterranean.
Nice is also the official gateway to Côte d’Azur, or as it is known in English, the French Riviera, a stretch of coastline interspersed with sandy beaches and all your most iconic seaside towns, from Menton to Cannes to Antibes to celeb-frequented Saint-Tropez.
When Will The Train Launch And How Much Will Tickets Cost?
The exact launch date has not yet been unveiled, but we expect it to be up and running this summer – unlike Mexico’s Maya Train, which has been plagued by construction delays, Europe has a rather extensive rail network in place.
Ticket fares have not been released, either, but based on pricing for the Trenitalia-SCNF joint Paris-Milan service, which starts from around $60 booked at least a month in advance, we can speculate it might be even cheaper, as Nice and Milan are closer neighbors.
Trains are back to being the preferred mode of transport for travelers in Europe, as journey times are not that much longer, when you factor in commuting to and from airports, waiting times and potential flight delays, and luggage policies are far more generous.
Traveling via rail in Europe, you are not required to pay extra to bring hold luggage within reasonable limits, and only rarely will train operators be overwhelmed by a surge in demand, unlike European airports, where chaos reigns throughout summer.
Once the Milan-Nice train is operational, Trenitalia will roll out a Nice-Turin service, linking the French Riviera to the lesser-known Italian city famous for its tall spires and centuries-long chocolate-making tradition from 2025.
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