The coast by train: the back story

About The coast by train: the back story

By the ULTIMATE the French Riviera Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The coastal line runs from Marseille and Toulon through Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes and Nice to Villefranche, Beaulieu, Monaco and Menton, and on to Ventimiglia in Italy. For much of the way it hugs the sea, and the regional TER trains (Zou! in the Région Sud) stop at the small towns.

West of Nice

Trains from Nice-Ville run west to Antibes (for Juan-les-Pins and the cape) and Cannes. Between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël the line runs along the red rocks of the Esterel, past Théoule-sur-Mer.

East of Nice

East of Nice, the line stops at Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer (for Cap Ferrat and Villa Kérylos), Èze-sur-Mer (for the Chemin de Nietzsche), Monaco-Monte-Carlo and Menton, before crossing into Italy.

Avoid driving in July and August: the train is quicker between the coastal towns.

Tickets

Buy tickets and check times on the Zou! and SNCF sites or at stations. The airport’s site sells the Pass Sud Azur Explore, unlimited train, tram and bus travel in the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco for 3, 7 or 14 days (nice.aeroport.fr).

Our advice: take the train east from Nice in the morning and sit on the right-hand side for the sea.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The coast by train: the back story before you go.