The Coastal Train from Nice to Menton: The French Riviera by Rail

May 19
5 min read

There are train journeys that take you somewhere.

And then there are those where the journey itself becomes the reason to travel.

The short coastal line from Nice-Ville Station to Menton is one of the latter.

It takes less than an hour.

But in that time, you pass through some of the most sought-after coastline in Europe — Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu, Monaco — with the Mediterranean opening up beside you almost the entire way.

No driving. No parking. No coastal traffic.

Just a sequence of places that feel increasingly cinematic as you move east toward the Italian border.

This is one of the easiest and most rewarding train journeys in France — and one of the best examples of how to explore the Riviera properly.

Why Plan This Now

The Riviera changes dramatically depending on when you visit.

In July and August, the coastline is beautiful but crowded, expensive and often frustrating to move around.

May and June are different.

The light is softer, the sea has begun warming, restaurants are fully open, and the train line feels like a genuine alternative to driving rather than a necessity.

This is when the journey works best.

You can step on and off trains, linger in smaller towns, find space on terraces and experience the Riviera at something closer to its natural pace.

It is also when accommodation and train fares remain relatively reasonable compared with peak summer.

Why This Route Works So Well by Train

The Marseille–Ventimiglia railway line was engineered to follow the coastline closely, which means the train often runs just metres from the sea.

You don’t sit back from the landscape.

You move through it.

Trains run frequently — often every 20–30 minutes — and require no reservation. You can treat the line almost like a metro system linking a series of very different destinations.

This flexibility is what most visitors miss.

They base themselves in one place, visit Monaco briefly, and leave.

The smarter approach is to treat the railway as the spine of the Riviera.

How to Do It Properly

The biggest mistake people make is trying to “do” the Riviera in a single stop.

The better approach is to move slowly.

Start early from Nice, sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best coastal views, and plan two or three stops rather than rushing the entire line.

This is not about ticking destinations off.

It is about understanding how the coastline changes — from wide bays to smaller harbours, from polished Monaco to quieter towns near the Italian border.

First Stop: Villefranche-sur-Mer

The first stop worth getting off for is Villefranche-sur-Mer.

The train arrives just above the bay, and the descent into town reveals one of the most perfectly formed natural harbours on the Riviera.

Unlike Nice or Monaco, Villefranche still feels human in scale.

Fishing boats sit in the water below pastel buildings, and the waterfront remains more about cafés and long lunches than luxury branding.

For lunch, La Mère Germaine has been a fixture here for decades. It sits directly on the harbour and specialises in seafood that reflects the setting — gastronomic excellence, exquisite seafood and deeply tied to place.@lameregermaine_villefranche

Another lovely option if you are yearning for a view to die for is Welcome Hotel Restaurant, where the terrace looks directly across the bay toward Cap Ferrat. @welcome_hotel

Passing Through Monaco

Back on the train, the line curves toward Monaco.

Even if you don’t stop, the contrast is striking.

The coastline tightens, buildings rise vertically, and the atmosphere shifts toward something more engineered and controlled.

If you do get off, one of the most visually dramatic places to stop is MayaBay. Set high above the coast, it beautifully combines Japanese and Thai influences with sweeping views over Monaco. @mayabaymonaco

For something understated, simply walking from the station down toward the harbour reveals Monaco at its most interesting — away from the casinos and closer to daily life.

Final Stop: Menton

The journey ends at Menton, almost at the Italian border.

Menton feels different from everywhere that comes before it.

The colours deepen — ochres, oranges and yellows stacked above the sea — and the atmosphere becomes noticeably more relaxed. There is less urgency here, less display.

It is one of the Riviera’s most underrated towns.

For food, Mirazur is a destination in its own right. Internationally renowned and for good reason, it has held the title of one of the world’s best restaurants for many years and has 3 Michelin Stars - make it part of your most memorable meals and include this on your journey ( and of course be sure to book ahead ). Even if you don’t dine there, Mirazur's presence speaks to the quality of produce and culinary culture in the region. @mirazur

For something more accessible but still refined, Les Enfants Terribles Menton offers a more relaxed take on Riviera dining without losing a sense of occasion.

Set above the coastline with a terrace looking out across the Mediterranean, it strikes a balance between modern cooking and local ingredients. The menu changes regularly, but expect seasonal vegetables, seafood and lighter southern flavours that feel appropriate to the setting rather than overly elaborate.

It’s the kind of place that works particularly well at the end of this journey — somewhere to sit, slow down and absorb the shift in atmosphere as France begins to blend into Italy just beyond the border.@lesenfantsterribles_menton

Where to Stay Along the Route

Where you base yourself shapes the experience.

In Nice, Hôtel Amour Nice remains one of the most distinctive stays on the Riviera — informal, design-led and with a strong sense of personality.@hotelamournice

In Villefranche, Welcome Hotel offers one of the best waterfront locations on the coast.

@welcome_hotel

For a more aspirational stay, The Maybourne Riviera sits dramatically above the coastline between Monaco and Menton, with architecture and views that feel almost unreal. @themaybourneriviera

The Real Insight: Why This Journey Matters

What makes this route special is not distance.

It is continuity.

You see how the Riviera changes kilometre by kilometre — culturally, visually and atmospherically — rather than arriving in isolated points.

It also reveals something important about travelling in France.

The train network is not just a way to get between cities.

It is often the best way to experience the landscape itself.

Exploring France by Train

Journeys like this are exactly why travelling by rail works so well in France.

You move easily between places, arrive in the centre, and experience the country gradually rather than in fragments.

If you want to explore France this way — beyond just Paris and into regions like the Riviera, Provence and beyond — Touring France by Train is designed to help you do it independently.

It includes: