France or Italy-bound travelers this summer, rejoice!
A historic train is being reactivated between the sisterly nations.
It will connect the most beautiful coastal zones in both countries and make it easier for passengers to commute from the French Riviera to the Italian Riviera and back without any transfers.
Previously, those traveling from Nice, the capital of France’s bougie Côte d’Azur, to destinations in nearby Liguria in Italy were required to switch trains in Ventimiglia, near the border, but once the Riviera Express launches, the crossing will feel smoother than ever.
It’s two rivieras, one train, so just sit back comfortably and enjoy the panoramic views as you ride along the turquoise Mediterranean:
Travel From The French Riviera To The Italian Riviera And Back Effortlessly
From August 3 to September 1, during the peak of European summer, Italy’s national railway service, Trenitalia, will resume operations on its Espresso Riviera, connecting the tourism hotspots of Milan and Nice.
This is hardly any news, as we have covered that already back in March, but something we did not know for sure at the time was the train’s exact itinerary, nor that it would travel up the coastal route linking Italy to France.
Essentially, this new service eliminates the need for multi-ticket journeys traveling from the French to the Italian Rivieras: you may now board the train in Nice as planned and travel towards Milan while hopping off at a number of iconic destinations along the way.
Every weekend, Saturdays and Sundays, journeying eastward from Nice at 5:12 p.m., the Riviera Express will arrive at its final destination of Milan at 11:40 p.m., with stops in the following stations:
In Monaco
- Monaco-Monte-Carlo
In France
- Menton
In Italy
- Ventimiglia
- Bordighera
- Sanremo
- Imperia
- Diano
- Alassio
- Albenga
- Savona
- Varazze
- Genoa (Piazza Principe Station)
- Pavia
- Milan (Central Station)
Starting from Milan, on the reverse way-round, departures are scheduled for 7:35 a.m., arriving in Nice at 1:58 p.m. The total travel duration is 6h23, and tickets start at a surprisingly affordable €44.50 or $48.30 one-way based on the current exchange rate.
After September 1, the Riviera Express will remain operational up until Ventimiglia, the last Italian town before the French border, where tourists will then have to switch trains if they wish to travel onward to Menton in the French Riviera.
Unlike the usual SCNF (French-operated) or Trenitalia trains that normally operate between the French and Italian Rivieras, the Riviera Express will be equipped with a bar and dining car, where breakfast and dinner are served in actual tables and a storage-only car for bicycles and bulky sports equipment.
If you’re booking a first-class tickets, which starts from €59,50, or around $64.57, breakfast on the Milan-Nice route, or dinner on the Nice-Milan is already included; you will also enjoy comfier seats with power sockets, folding tables and a more peaceful environment.
Interested? You. can book tickets on Trenalita’s site here.
Top 5 Best Towns To Visit With The New Riviera Express
The French and Italian Rivieras are some of the most sought-after destinations in their respective countries, and culturally, they almost form a contiguous territory sharing similar architectural traits, dialects, and even cuisine.
Côte d’Azur and Liguria have been historically intertwined, and an express train making travel between the neighboring regions seamless was only a matter of time––that being said, if you’re wondering what are some of the highlights on this trip, here are 5 must-sees:
Monaco
A wealthy coastal town that’s an actual country, Monaco is the first stop on the train traveling from Nice, only 31 minutes away, and it’s an iconic destination playing host to a number of world-renowned landmarks, including Casino de Monte-Carlo and the glitzy Port Hercule.
Nicknamed The Rock, it sits on a headland extending into the Mediterranean.
It combines 21st-century opulence with a string of luxurious developments lining its short waterfront and Old World allure, with a fortified medieval center cut through with cobbled streets.
Menton
The most Italian ville in France, Menton is a (literal) stone’s throw away from the next country, and it’s somewhere you’ll hear both languages being widely spoken, and where you may get fresh pasta and beef tartare served in the same restaurant.
Its most striking feature, however, is the well-preserved Old Town, with narrow, skinny houses painted in warm tones that unfold along a sand-and-pebble beach: one of the postcard views of Côte d’Azur, and just quintessential Mediterranean.
Ventimiglia
On the Italian side, Ventimiglia is a laid-back coastal commune split between a Lower and Upper Town.
The former is full of elegant Belle époque-era Riviera villas and grand boulevards, while the former is a pedestrian-friendly maze of medieval alleys.
Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, the main attraction in the Upper Town, dates back to the 12th century and houses a crypt.
For the foodies out there, it’s only a 14-minute walk to the traditional La Musa Restaurant, where a freshly made tortelli cacio e pepe will cost only $15.20.
Sanremo
Home to the Sanremo Music Festival, Italy’s very own ‘Eurovision’, and a palm-lined waterfront interspersed with green spaces and Art Nouveau buildings, this is a posh coastal city where you actively go to experience that Italian high life.
From the refined Ristorante Flipper, found along Corso Augusto Mombello, to the regal villas and Belle époque casino hotels that loom over Corso dell’Imperatrice, a lively seafront promenade, Sanremo just exudes elegance (and old money, if you will).
Genoa
The capital of the Liguria region, and thus of the Italian Riviera, Genoa was once the beating heart of a powerful maritime republic that thrived for almost seven centuries before Italy came into being, and its frescoed churches, stately piazze, and Renaissance-era Old Town are still living proof.
Among Genoa’s main points of interest, there’s the striped-exterior Cathedral of San Lorenzo with a black-and-white pattern, the stylish Piazza De Ferrari, and Boccadasse, a residential district famous for its pastel-colored houses with green shutters and small pebbly beach.
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