Travel Guide
New Sleeper Train Launching From Rome To The French Riviera
May
Flowers are in full bloom, days are getting longer, and the incessant rain that plagued much of Europe for the past few months has finally ceased, which can only mean one thing: summer is fast approaching, and it’s high time we hit the Mediterranean again.
Needless to say, the bustling ancient metropolis of Rome and France’s sun-drenched south will be teeming with guests this season. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could just hop on an overnight train in Italy and magically wake up in the idyllic French Riviera?
Starting this July, this will no longer be a fanciful dream, as the Espresso Riviera will make a triumphant comeback:
Rome To The French Riviera Overnight
As confirmed by Fs Treni Turistici Italiani, the overnight Riviera Express will be back on the tracks this summer, offering an affordable alternative to flying for tourists going from Rome to the French Riviera, or the other way round.
We’ve already written about night trains extensively, and how oftentimes, they make for budget-friendly, more efficient options to planes.
For starters, you can say goodbye to the stressful airport commutes, and the 2 to 3-hour wait in between security and getting to your gate: you can simply rock up 10-15 minutes before your train leaves, and it certainly helps that train stations are right in the center of town, not miles out like most airports.
Then there’s the fact that it’s a hotel-on-wheels, after all!
Instead of paying for a hotel and flights, you’ll be combining the cost of accommodation and travel into a single booking—and if we may add, ‘couchette’ tickets on the Riviera Express start from only $48, so it truly doesn’t get cheaper than this.
Which Destinations Can You Get To On The Riviera Express?
The train is scheduled to depart from Rome’s Termini station every Friday, and arrive to the South of France by Saturday morning. At this point, actual departure times have not been divulged, but you should expect it to be later in the evening.
Trains leave Marseille, the French terminus, on Saturday evenings and arrive in the Italian capital in the early hours of the following day.
The nighttime section of the journey comprises the 317 miles that separate Rome from Genoa, a coastal city in northwestern Italy. For maximized comfort, sleeping cars with private compartments or the more economical couchettes are available for the overnight section.
In the morning, the train will change layout, with lounges, and First and Second Class seats, and big panoramic windows so passengers can enjoy the views as they whoosh along the coast in the South of France.
Below, you’ll find the full itinerary and average prices for each category, traveling from Rome to Marseille:
Night Segment
- Rome (Termini), Italy
- Genoa (Piazza Principe), Italy
| Sleeping arrangement | Sleeping car (private cabins) | Couchette (shared bunk cabins) |
| Single | $150–$200 | $100–$150 |
| Double/exclusive use | $100–200 per person | $400–$600 |
Day Segment
- Savona, Italy
- Alassio, Italy
- Imperia, Italy
- Sanremo, Italy
- Ventimiglia, Italy
- Menton, France
- Monaco–Monte Carlo, Monaco, the Principality of Monaco
- Nice, France
- Cannes, France
- Saint-Raphaël–Valescure, France
- Toulon, France
- Marseille, France
| Seat category | Average one-way price |
| Second class | $48 |
| First class | $65 |
Top 7 Destinations To Visit With The Riviera Express
- Rome: a historically-charged capital packed with world-renowned landmarks, like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican Museums
- Sanremo: the ‘Cannes of Italy’, and an elegant resort city on the coast of Liguria, home to an iconic casino and a modern coastal promenade
- Menton: a colorful, small French town near the Italian border with narrow alleyways lined by skinny, vibrantly-painted buildings, and a picturesque pebbly beach
- Monaco: a city-state on the Mediterranean, home to the glamorous Monte Carlo district and a walled Old Town perched atop a prominent rock
- Nice: an elegant coastal metropolis best known for its Promenade des Anglais, straddling turquoise waters, and Vieux-Nice, a well-preserved, pastel-hue historic center
- Cannes: the French capital of cinema, and a glitzy, glamorous beach town boasting fine, white sands, luxury hotels, and a plethora of award-winning restaurants
- Marseille: a laid-back city on the shores of the Mediterranean characterized by its multicultural character, artsy Le Panier district, and proximity to some of France’s most beautiful calanques
The Riviera Express will be available as a train route from its July 4 launch through August 30.
Tickets can be purchased directly on the official website or via any Trenitalia sales channel starting May 24.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
