Take Eurostar & TGV high-speed train from London to Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Avignon, Strasbourg, Perpignan or anywhere in France

A double-deck 186 mph TGV Duplex about to leave Paris for Nice. Far better than flying.

I want to go from Nice to...

For journeys starting in another city, click here

Information updated for 2026.

Travelling from Cannes or Antibes?

I've written this page assuming you're leaving from Nice, but all trains heading west towards Marseille, Lyon or Paris call at Antibes 14-25 minutes after leaving Nice and Cannes 25-35 minutes after leaving Nice so you can also board the train there. Going east towards Italy, Nice-Ventimiglia local trains come from Cannes or Antibes so you can pick them up there, as shown on the Nice-Italy page.

Travelling from Monaco or Menton?

Trains heading east from Nice to Italy all call at Monte Carlo 15-20 minutes after leaving Nice and Menton 35-40 minutes after leaving Nice. If you're going west towards Marseille, Lyon or Paris, catch a local train every 30 minutes from Monte Carlo to Nice, allowing plenty of time for connections. Although there's usually at least one through train between Monte Carlo & Paris each day.

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Must I book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Nice to Paris by TGV from €25

See the Paris to Nice by train page.
Every day, high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex trains link Nice with Paris in as little as 5h40, city centre to city centre.
That's little more than it takes by plane, and a lot less hassle. It's a lovely journey, initially at low speed snaking along the coast past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas, then past Marseille with the Château d'If visible in the bay, then at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) along the high-speed line up the Rhone Valley past picturesque French villages with pretty churches.

Nice to Paris by sleeper train from €19

Discontinued in 2017, the Nice-Paris Intercité de Nuit was restored in 2021 and is now a popular time-saving option.

It leaves Nice Ville at 19:00 every day, Antibes 19:19, Cannes 19:30, St Raphael (for St Tropez) 19:56, arriving Paris Austerlitz 06:55.

The Intercité de Nuit has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like. More about Intercités de Nuit.

Fares start at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking should open 4 months in advance, but it can often be less than that for this particular train.

Nice to Cannes, Juan les Pins, Monte Carlo, Menton by local train

Frequent TER (Train Exprès Regional) local trains link all the towns along the Cote d'Azur.
No reservation is necessary or even possible, just turn up, buy a ticket at the station from the ticket office of self-service machines and hop on the next train.
You can check times and prices at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Nice to Marseille, Avignon, Lyon, Perpignan, Toulouse & other destinations in France

See the Train Travel in France page for a beginner's guide to domestic train travel wholly within France.

The view from the train...

Coastal views from the train between Toulon and Nice

Trains from Nice to Paris skirt the Cote d'Azur between Nice & St Raphael, past rocky headlands, yacht-filled bays and millionaires' villas. This is the way to arrive! Photo courtesy of Mike Sloan.

Nice to London

For train travel between Nice & London in either direction, see the London to France page.
Travel from Nice to Paris by TGV in 5h45, then from Paris to London by Eurostar in 2h20. Or take the overnight sleeper train from Nice to Paris, then a morning Eurostar to London.


Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.


Standard class. Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9. Larger photo.

Nice to Dublin & Ireland

Day 1, travel from Nice to Paris by overnight sleeper train as shown above.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com from €29 with couchette.
Or travel from Nice to Paris by TGV and stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the station.
Day 2, take a morning train to Cherbourg & overnight ferry to Dublin as shown in the Paris to Dublin section, arriving in the morning on Day 3.
Irish Ferries sails Cherbourg-Dublin several times a week.
Start by booking the ferry at www.irishferries.com and add a train connection at www.thetrainline.com, see the Paris to Dublin section.

Sail from Cherbourg to Dublin aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats. WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries.


Club cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.		Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.

Nice to Brussels or Bruges

Option 1, Nice to Brussels using the Nice-Paris overnight train - the most time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris by Intercité de Nuit overnight train, leaving Nice Ville at 19:00, Antibes 19:19, Cannes 19:30, St Raphael 19:56 & Toulon 20:50, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz 06:55.

The Intercité de Nuit has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like. More about Intercités de Nuit.

In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Gare du Nord.
Step 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 09:22, arriving Brussels Midi 10:44.

The Eurostar has 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

How much does it cost?

Nice to Paris starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

Or book at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
To book a whole 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see the advice on the Intercités de Nuit page.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Intercite de nuit overnight train at Paris Austerlitz

Step 1, Nice or Cannes to Paris by Intercité de nuit sleeper train, seen here at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz. More about Intercités de Nuit.


2nd class 6-berth couchettes.		A cosy 2nd class couchette.


1st class couchette, made up for the night.		1st class 4-berth couchettes.

Step 2, Paris to Brussels by Eurostar, seen here at Paris Nord. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).


Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across the car. Larger photo.		Standard seats, 2+2 across. Larger photo.

Option 2, Nice to Brussels using a direct Marseille-Brussels TGV train - the easiest option, avoids changing trains & stations in Paris

This is the easiest option, a chill-out day crossing France and Belgium with great scenery along the Cote d'Azur between Nice and Toulon, over the Rhone at Avignon with the Palais des Papes visible in the distance to your right, and up the Rhone Valley. Times vary, but for example:
Leave Nice Ville 07:25 by TER, change at Marseille St Charles onto the 12:12 TGV arriving Brussels Midi 17:43.
Leave Nice Ville 11:57 by TGV, change at Marseille St Charles onto the 15:12 TGV arriving Brussels Midi 20:43.
Leave Nice Ville 13:25 by TER, change at Marseille St Charles onto the 17:12 TGV arriving Brussels Midi 22:43.
These journeys use direct TGV high-speed trains from Marseille St Charles to Brussels Mid which by-pass Paris on the high-speed avoiding line through Marne la Vallée & CDG. TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times vary, but look for a 1-change journey. Change at Brussels Midi for a Belgian domestic train to Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent and so on.
How much does it cost?
Nice to Marseille by TER is a fixed-price €40.80 in 2nd class or €61.20 in 1st class.

Marseille to Brussels by TGV starts at around €67 in 2nd class or €101 in 1st class.
TGV fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Tip: If necessary, book Marseille to Brussels looking for the direct train, add to basket, then add a connecting Nice-Marseille ticket allowing at least half an hour between trains in Marseille.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Option 3, Nice to Brussels via Paris - a wider choice of departures, often cheaper fares, if you don't mind crossing Paris

Step 1, travel from Nice Ville to Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV Duplex in as little as 5h40, see the timetable here.
The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a lovely journey, initially at low speed snaking along the coast past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas, then past Marseille with the Château d'If visible in the bay, then at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) along the high-speed line up the Rhone Valley past picturesque French villages with pretty churches.
In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.
How about lunch between trains at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
Step 2, travel from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi by Eurostar (formerly Thalys). Trains leave every hour or so, taking 1h25.
These 300 km/h high-speed trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

How much does it cost?
Nice to Paris starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to check times & buy tickets
Book from Nice or Cannes to Brussels at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Tip: Use www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. That gets you a robust connection across Paris. By default, the French Railways system allows cross-Paris connections as short as 42 minutes, which I consider too tight. Increase the stopover time if you'd like lunch in Paris. Or just book Nice-Paris, add to basket, book Paris to Brussels, add to basket and check out.

Option 4, Nice to Brussels with overnight stop in Paris

Day 1, travel from Nice to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Nice Ville at 16:58, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:40.

Or there are earlier departures, see the timetable here.

The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Stay overnight in Paris.
If you want to walk straight off the train into a hotel on the Gare de Lyon itself, I recommend the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon, right next to the station's iconic clock tower. I've stayed here myself, it deserves its great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.
Other recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon include the Citizen M Hotel (a 2-minute 160m walk from the station, great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (in front of the station, 3-star); Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).
Next morning, transfer by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord, 2 stops on RER line D.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels on any Eurostar (formerly Thalys) you like.

On Mondays-Fridays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 06:22, arriving Brussels Midi 07:44.

On Saturdays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:23, arriving Brussels Midi 08:45.

On Sundays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 08:07, arriving Brussels Midi 09:39.

But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and book a later train.

Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show mobile tickets on your phone.

Nice to Amsterdam

Option 1, Nice to Amsterdam using the Nice-Paris overnight train - the most time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Nice Ville at 19:00, Antibes 19:19, Cannes 19:30 & St Raphael 19:56, arriving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz 06:55.

The Intercité de Nuit sleeper train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like. More about Intercités de Nuit.

In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare d'Austerlitz to the Gare du Nord.
Step 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 09:24, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 12:50.

The Eurostar has 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

How much does it cost?

Nice to Paris starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.
Paris to Amsterdam starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

Or book at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
To book a whole 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see the advice on the Intercités de Nuit page.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Nice or Cannes to Paris by Intercité de nuit sleeper train, seen here at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz. More about Intercités de Nuit.


2nd class 6-berth couchettes.		A cosy 2nd class couchette.


1st class couchette, made up for the night.		1st class 4-berth couchettes.

Step 2, Paris to Amsterdam by Eurostar, seen here at Paris Nord. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).


Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across the car. Larger photo.		Standard seats, 2+2 across. Larger photo.

Option 2, Nice to Amsterdam in a day

Step 1, take a TGV Duplex from Nice Ville to Paris Gare de Lyon in as little as 5h40, see the timetable here.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a lovely scenic run, initially at low speed along the Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, millionaires' villas and yacht-filled harbours, then at high-speed up the Rhône Valley.
In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.
Perhaps have lunch between trains at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.
Step 2, take a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal. They leave every hour or two, taking 3h20.
Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

How to check times & buy tickets
Buy tickets from Nice or Cannes to Amsterdam at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: Using www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. That gets you a robust connection, by default the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 42 minutes. Increase the stopover duration to 2 or 3 hours if you want lunch in Paris. Suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

Option 3, Nice to Amsterdam with an overnight stop in Paris - time-effective, with minimal impact on the working day

Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Nice Ville at 16:58, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:40.

The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Or there are earlier departures, see the timetable here.

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Stay overnight in Paris.
If you want to walk straight off the train into a hotel on the Gare de Lyon itself, I recommend the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon, right next to the station's iconic clock tower. I've stayed here myself, it deserves its great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.
Other recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon include the Citizen M Hotel (a 2-minute 160m walk from the station, great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (in front of the station, 3-star); Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).
Next morning, transfer by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord, 2 stops on RER line D.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) on any departure you like.

On Mondays-Fridays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 06:22, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.

On Saturdays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:23, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 10:50.

On Sundays, the first one leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 08:07, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:50.

But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and book a later train, they leave every couple of hours.

Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Nice to Luxembourg

Option 1, Nice to Luxembourg using a direct Marseille to Luxembourg TGV - avoids changing stations in Paris

Step 1, travel from Nice to Marseille by double-deck TER regional train, leaving Nice at 11:25, arriving Marseille St Charles 14:07.
This is a lovely run along the scenic Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, millionaires' villas and yacht-filled harbours. At Marseille St Charles, walk out of the station and have a look over the city and harbour. Have a late lunch in Marseille.

Step 2, travel from Marseille to Luxembourg by TGV, leaving Marseille St Charles at 15:56, arriving Luxembourg 23:49.
The high-speed TGV has a cafe-bar and power sockets at all seats. It by-passes Paris on the high-speed avoiding line through Marne la Vallée & CDG. This train runs when SNCF feels like it, check that it's running on your date of travel.

How much does it cost?

Nice to Marseille is a fixed-price €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.70 in 1st class.

Marseille to Luxembourg starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets from Nice or Cannes to Luxembourg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Tip: If necessary, book from Marseille to Luxembourg first, looking for the direct train, and add to basket. Then look for the train from Nice or Cannes to Marseille, add to basket and check out. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 2, Nice to Luxembourg via Paris

This involves crossing Paris, but it can be faster & cheaper this way, with a wider choice of departures. How about lunch between trains at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
Step 1, take a TGV Duplex from Nice Ville or Cannes to Paris Gare de Lyon in as little as 5h40, see the timetable here.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely scenic run, initially at low speed along the Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, millionaires' villas and yacht-filled harbours, then at high speed up the Rhône Valley.
In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord. Allow at least an hour between trains.
Step 2, travel from Paris Gare de l'Est to Luxembourg in 2h15, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?

Nice to Paris starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.

Paris to Luxembourg starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
Buy tickets from Nice or Cannes to Luxembourg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: Using www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. That gets you a robust connection, by default the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 42 minutes. Increase the stopover duration to 2 or 3 hours if you want lunch in Paris.


2nd class with mix of unidirectional seats & tables for 4. Seats 2+2 across car width. Larger photo.		TGV arrived at Paris Gare de l'Est.


Cafe-bar selling tea, coffee, beer, wine, cold snacks & microwaved dishes. Larger photo.		1st class with mix of unidirectional seats, solo seats, tables for 2 & for 4. Seats 2+1 across car width. Larger photo.

Nice to Geneva, Zurich & Switzerland from €44

Option 1, Nice to Switzerland via Lyon - usually the best route if you're heading for Geneva, Lausanne or Montreux

Travel from Nice to Lyon by high-speed TGV, then Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train. For example:
Leave Nice Ville at 06:57 by TGV, change at Lyon Part Dieu onto the 12:38 TER regional train arriving Geneva 14:35.
Leave Nice Ville at 15:10 by TGV, change at Lyon Part Dieu onto the 20:38 TER regional train arriving Geneva 22:33.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It runs along the scenic Côte d'Azur past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas to Marseille, then up the Rhône Valley, a very enjoyable ride.
The Lyon-Geneva regional train takes you through mountains and along Rhône for much of the way. There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.
How much does it cost?

Nice to Lyon starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.

Lyon to Geneva costs €33.40 in 2nd class, €50.80 in 1st class.
Nice-Lyon fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. Lyon-Geneva is fixed-price, unlimited availability.
How to buy tickets
Buy tickets from Nice or Cannes to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
If you're going beyond Geneva to anywhere else in Switzerland, buy a separate ticket from Geneva to your Swiss destination at either www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.
Regular Swiss fares are good for any train from Geneva to your Swiss destination that day, no reservation is necessary or possible, but if you book ahead you may find a Saver Day Pass or Supersaver fares saving up to 50% off the normal full-flex fare.

Option 2, Nice to Switzerland via Milan - usually the best route if you're heading for Lugano, Lucerne, Brig, Interlaken, Zermatt or Zurich

Early morning departure:

Leave Nice Ville at 07:22 by TER local train, change at Ventimiglia onto the 09:10 Intercity train arriving Milan Centrale 12:55.

Leave Milan Centrale at 15:10 by EuroCity train to Zurich HB, arriving 18:27.
Late morning departure:

Leave Nice Ville at 09:23 by TER local train, change at Ventimiglia onto the 10:59 Intercity train arriving Milan Centrale 14:55.

Leave Milan Centrale at 17:10 by EuroCity train to Zurich HB, arriving 20:27.

Afternoon departure:

Leave Nice Ville at 13:22 by TER local train, change at Ventimiglia onto the 15:10 Intercity train arriving Milan Centrale 18:55.

Leave Milan Centrale at 19:10 by EuroCity train to Zurich HB, arriving 22:27.

It's a lovely ride along the coast from Ventimiglia to Genoa & Milan, see more about the journey the Nice-Milan page, then a scenic meander through the Alps past various Italian & Swiss lakes, see more about the journey on the Milan-Switzerland page.

How much does it cost?

Nice to Ventimiglia costs €10.20, fixed-price, can't sell out. Promotional fares are sometimes available.
Ventimiglia to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Zurich starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
First book from Ventimiglia to Switzerland as one transaction at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
Using www.raileurope.com it can help to click More options and specify Milan Centrale as a via station. Using www.thetrainline.com, look for the via field and enter Milan Centrale.
Add this to your basket, then add the recommended Nice-Ventimiglia connection which ensures at least 45 minutes between trains at Ventimiglia. More about this connection at Ventimiglia and why we allow 45-60 minutes.
If you have any problems, book each train individually.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
For Zermatt, book from Nice to Brig at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com then add a Brig-Zermatt local ticket either at www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.
For Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Grindelwald, book Nice to Spiez at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com then add a local ticket from Spiez to your final Swiss destination either at www.thetrainline.com or at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.
For St Moritz, book Nice to Tirano at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com then buy a Tirano-St Moritz ticket at the station or buy it at www.rhb.ch.

Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan to Zurich train

Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan to Zurich EuroCity train on the Gotthard route.

Nice to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy

Option 1, Nice to Italy in a single day

See the Nice to Italy page for train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

It's a great trip with lovely coastal scenery between Cannes, Nice and Genoa.

You take a TER local train along the coast from Cannes, Antibes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Allowing at least 45 minutes between trains, you then take a Trenitalia Intercity train from Ventimiglia to Genoa Piazza Principe & Milan Centrale.

Change at Genoa for La Spezia, Monterosso (Cinque Terre) & Pisa. Change at Milan Centrale for a high-speed Frecciarossa to Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome or Naples.

Fares start at €10.20 for Nice-Ventimiglia and €19.90 for Ventimiglia to Genoa or Milan.

The Nice-Ventimiglia TER fare is fixed-price, good for any train that day, unlimited availability. The Italian fare varies like air fares and comes with a reservation on a specific train (which is why we allow 45 minutes in Ventimiglia, not 10 minutes, in case of delay).
Buy tickets from Cannes or Nice to any Italian destination as shown on the Nice to Italy page.

Option 2, Nice to Italy with an overnight stop in Genoa or Milan - the time-effective way

Day 1, travel from Cannes or Nice to Milan, leaving Nice Ville at 17:23 by TER local train, change at Ventimiglia onto an Italian Intercity train arriving Genoa Piazza Principe at 22:08 or Milan Centrale at 22:55, as shown on the Nice to Italy page.

Fares start at €10.20 for Nice-Ventimiglia and €19.90 for Ventimiglia to Genoa or Milan.

Buy tickets from Cannes or Nice to Milan as shown on the Nice to Italy page.

Stay overnight in Genoa or Milan.

In Milan, cosy guesthouses near the station with good reviews include the Household Settembrini 17, Teodora B&B, Hotel Milano Central Station. Modern hotels nearby with good reviews: Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson. At the top end, the 5-star Excelsior Hotel Gallia is just across the road.
Day 2, travel from Genoa to Pisa or Rome, or from Milan to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples, on any morning train you like.

Milan Centrale to Rome Termini by Frecciarossa takes as little as 2h55, Milan Centrale to Naples Centrale takes around 4h33, Milan Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia takes 2h27.

From Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples you can also try competing private high-speed operator Italo.

Buy tickets for from Genoa or Milan to any Italian destination at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

You can book Italo on those sites too, keeping all your bookings together, or www.italiarail.com (Italiarail will refund their €3.50 booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com after booking).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery between Nice & Ventimiglia

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, take a Trenitalia Intercity train from Ventimiglia to Milan. Here, a train has arrived at the magnificent Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples. This is a Frecciarossa 1000 at Rome Termini. More about Frecciarossas & their 4 classes.


Standard class, seats 2+2 across width.		Premium class, seats 2+2 across width.


Business class, seats 1+2 across car width.		Executive class, with food & drink included.

Nice to Sicily

There are many ways to travel from Nice to Sicily with various possible stopovers on the way. But the simplest is as follows:

Step 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia 14:18.

Times may vary, but always allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, arriving Milan Centrale 18:55.

Fares start at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
You'll find details of the Nice-Milan journey with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy page.
Earlier departures are possible from Nice if you'd like more time for dinner in Milan, see the Nice-Milan timetable here.

Step 3, travel from Milan to Sicily on Italy's most epic sleeper train, the InterCity Notte to Sicily.

It leaves Milan Centrale at 20:10 every night, next day one portion arrives Taormina 13:51, Catania 14:32 & Siracuse 15:48, another portion arrives Cefalù 15:57 & Palermo 16:55.

Both portions of this train have a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and 4-berth Comfort couchettes.

The train is ferried across the Straits of Messina to Sicily on a train ferry, a unique experience and one of the few places in the world where trains go onto ships. More about trains to Sicily.

Fares start at €39.90 with a couchette, €59.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, you print your ticket or can show it on your phone.

Coastal view from the Palermo to Milan sleeper train

Room with a view. The sleeper travels overnight from Milan to southern Italy, then along the coast in daylight, often right next to the water, before being shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina to Sicily. Courtesy Philip Dyer-Perry.


2-berth sleeper. It converts to a sofa by day. Larger photo		Yes, the train goes onto a ferry! This is the Milan-Sicily sleeper train on board the train ferry crossing the Straits of Messina. Photos courtesy of Andrew Harris.

Nice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Nice to Barcelona in a single day, early departure, Mondays-Fridays

Step 1, travel from Nice to Barcelona, leaving Nice at 05:33, change at Marseille St Charles & Béziers, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:32.
This runs Mondays-Fridays only. Nice to Marseille is by TER. Marseille to Béziers is by Intercité. Béziers to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a great trip: Between Nice and Marseille the train runs along the coast past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas. Passing Marseille you'll glimpse the Château d'If (France's Alcatraz) in the bay and the distinctive Eglise Notre Dame visible on its hill.
The TGV to Barcelona passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees. The TGV also calls at Figueres (for the amazing Salvador Dali museum) & Girona.
Fares start at around €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Tip: The system will suggest leaving Nice at 06:25 with a 22 minute connection in Marseille. I personally would split the booking at Marseille and book the earlier 05:33 from Nice to give a more robust connection (If you miss it you'll end up in Barcelona at 21:32). But it's your call!

Step 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid and other Spanish destinations by high-speed train:

For Madrid, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.

Another AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:00 every day, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.

For Cordoba & Seville, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Cordoba 20:16, Seville Santa Justa 21:24.

For Malaga, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 21:43.

For Valencia & Alicante, a fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Nord 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

All these trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Option 2, Nice to Barcelona in a single day, later departure, every day

Step 1, travel from Nice to Barcelona, leaving Nice at 11:57, change at Marseille St Charles & Nîmes, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:32.
This runs every day. Nice to Marseille by TER, Marseille to Nimes by Intercité, Nimes to Barcelona by TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a great trip: Between Nice and Marseille the train runs along the coast past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas. Passing Marseille you'll glimpse the Château d'If (France's Alcatraz) in the bay and the distinctive Eglise Notre Dame visible on its hill.
Between Nimes to Barcelona the TGV passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees. The TGV also calls at Figueres (for the amazing Salvador Dali museum) & Girona.
Fares start at around €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Tip: The system will suggest leaving Nice at 12:23 with a 22 minute connection in Marseille. I personally would split the booking at Marseille and book the earlier 11:57 from Nice to give a more robust connection (If you miss it you'll end up in Barcelona lunchtime next day). It's your call!

Stay overnight in Barcelona.

The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.

Step 2, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations:

For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.

For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:30 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 14:54.

For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:30 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:17 & Seville Santa Justa 14:22.

For Valencia & Alicante: Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Nord 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

Option 3, Nice to Barcelona & Madrid with overnight stop in Marseille - breaks up the trip & you see a little of Marseille

Day 1, travel from Nice Ville to Marseille St Charles on any train you like, taking around 2h35.

You can leave Nice as late as 20:25, but by all means take an earlier train and see something of Marseille as it's a great city. The train runs along the Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas.

Fares start at €20 if you use a TGV and book ahead. The fixed-price fare is €40.30 if you use a TER regional train.

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Stay overnight in Marseille.

Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:36 & Madrid Atocha 15:52.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about AVE S100 & the journey.
Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

A Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Nord 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

An Iryo train leaves Madrid Atocha at 17:00 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:43 & Seville Santa Justa at 19:39.
An AVE train leaves Madrid Atocha at 19:50 daily except Saturdays, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 22:40.
An AVE train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:35 Saturdays & Sundays, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 23:35.
An AVE train leaves Madrid Atocha at 19:50 every day, arriving Granada 23:15.
AVE, Iryo & Euromed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Buy tickets using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.

Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees. One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Nice to San Sebastian

Option 1, Nice to San Sebastian in a day

Step 1, travel from Nice to Hendaye, leaving Nice Ville at 07:25, change at Marseille St Charles & Bordeaux St Jean, arriving Hendaye 20:48.
You'll travel along the scenic Cote d'Azur past rocky headlands, millionaires' villas and yacht-filled harbours, later you'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses near Perpignan and the walled city of Carcassonne. Times may vary.

Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren, every half-hour, journey time 37 minutes, fare €2.90.
At Hendaye, walk out of the mainline station, the little Euskotren platform is outside to your right just 50m away. Metro trains leave every 30 minutes to San Sebastian-Donostia Amara, buy a ticket at the station from the staffed counter or the ticket machines with cash or card. Check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus.
See photos and tips for this Hendaye-San Sebastian transfer. See suggested hotels in San Sebastian.

Option 2, Nice to San Sebastian with overnight stop in Barcelona

Day 1, travel from Nice to Barcelona as explained above.
Stay overnight in Barcelona.

The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to San Sebastian on the mid-afternoon direct Alvia train, arriving in the evening.
Fares start at €22.90 in standard (2nd) class or €29.90 in comfort (1st) class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Nice to Ibiza & Mallorca

Option 1, Nice to Menorca or Alcudia (Mallorca) via Toulon - the most convenient way when running, several times a week, April-October

Step 1, travel by train from Nice to Toulon, leaving Nice Ville at around 13:25, arriving Toulon around 15:19.
Make sure you arrive in Toulon 2½-3 hours before your sailing. This is a lovely scenic journey along the coast.
The fare is around €30, fixed price.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com and print it out.

Step 2, cruise overnight from Toulon to Menorca or Alcudia (Mallorca) with Corsica Ferries.
Sailings operate several times a week, April to October, typically sailing around 18:00, arriving around 09:00, some going to Menorca and others to Alcudia. Their comfortable ships have bars, restaurants, and private cabins with en suite toilet & shower.
Fares start at around €25 for a foot passenger + a private cabin from around €32, Fares & cabin charges vary by date.
Check dates & times and book tickets at either www.directferries.co.uk or www.corsica-ferries.co.uk.

Option 2, Nice to Ibiza & Mallorca via Barcelona - daily all year round

Step 1, travel from Nice to Barcelona as shown above.
In Barcelona, it's a 3.8km 46-minute walk from Barcelona Sants to the Trasmed and Balearia ferry terminal at the foot of La Rambla, near the Columbus monument, see walking map. Or use a taxi or the metro, nearest metro station Drassanes.
Step 2, sail overnight from Barcelona to Ibiza or Palma de Mallorca by ferry.

Ibiza: Trasmed operate an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza on most nights of the week sailing at or around 22:00, arriving 07:00. Times and dates vary, check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.trasmed.com. Check-in for the ferry closes 30 minutes before sailing time. You can pre-print your boarding pass to save time at the terminal.

Mallorca: There are two overnight ferries from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, both with restaurants, bars & cosy en suite cabins, both usually sailing from Barcelona around around 22:00 and arriving in Palma around 07:00. One ferry is run by Trasmed (www.trasmed.com), the other run by Balearia (www.balearia.com). You can check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website.

Balearia ferry in Ibiza harbour. Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.

Nice to Lisbon, Porto & Portugal

Day 1, travel from Nice to Madrid as shown in the Nice to Spain section, leaving Nice at 07:25, arriving Madrid Atocha in the evening.

Stay overnight in Madrid.
The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

Day 2, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains, as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page. Or...
Day 2, travel from Madrid to Porto by daytime trains via Vigo, as shown on the Trains from Madrid page.

Nice to Faro & the Algarve

Option 1, Nice to Faro using a bus from Seville to Faro - fastest & easiest

Day 1, travel from Nice to Barcelona as shown in the Nice to Spain section.
Stay overnight in Barcelona.
The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's located above Barcelona Sants station itself and gets great reviews, with nice rooms, a great breakfast buffet and a delightfully kitsch space theme. Alternatively, the Nobu Hotel and AC Sants Hotel by Marriot are both just across the road from the station. Other suggested hotels near the station.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE high-speed train, then from Seville to Faro by bus, as shown in the Barcelona to Faro section.
The Alsa bus from Seville to Faro takes 3h15 and leaves from right outside Seville Santa Justa station, making connections easy.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Faro via Lisbon - a longer way round, but all-train.

Step 1, travel from Nice to Lisbon as shown above.
Step 2, take a train from Lisbon to Faro as shown here.

Nice to Andorra

Step 1, travel from Nice to Toulouse on either of these departures:

Leave Nice Ville at 05:33, change at Marseille St Charles arriving Toulouse Matabiau 13:13.

Leave Nice Ville at 07:25, change at Marseille St Charles arriving Toulouse Matabiau 15:15.

Fares start at €56 in 2nd class or €74 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Nice or Cannes to Toulouse at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: The system will suggest leaving Nice later than I show above, with a 22 minute connection in Marseille. I personally would split the booking at Marseille and book the train from Nice shown above, giving a more robust connection. But it's your call!

Step 2, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus:
If you took the 05:33 from Nice, a bus leaves Toulouse Matabiau at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45.
If you took the 07:25 from Nice, a bus leaves Toulouse Matabiau at 17:45 arriving Andorra 21:45.
The buses leave from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routière, just outside Toulouse Matabiau station.
The fare is €36. The bus is run by Andbus, check times & buy a ticket at Andbus.net or Omio.com.


Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, seen at bus stand 15. The bus station is next to the rail station.		Bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt. Photos courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

Nice to Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany

Option 1, Nice to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Frankfurt in a day, via Paris - means crossing Paris, by many possible departures

Step 1, travel from Nice to Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV Duplex in as little as 5h40, see the timetable here.

The 300 km/h double-deck TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

In Paris, transfer by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord (for Cologne) or Gare de l'Est (for Frankfurt).

Allow at least an hour between trains in Paris.

Step 2, travel from Paris Gare du Nord to Cologne Hbf by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) in 3h25, or from Paris Gare de l'Est to Frankfurt by ICE train in 3h50.

Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains usually have a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, both types have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Change at Mannheim or Cologne for destinations all over Germany.

Check times and buy tickets from Nice or Cannes to anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Tip: Using www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station with stopover duration of at least 1 hour. That forces the system to find journeys via Paris, and gives you a robust connection. By default, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes. If necessary, book Nice-Paris and Paris-Germany separately, adding each to your basket and checking out at the end.

Option 2, Nice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin with overnight stop in Marseille

Day 1, travel from Nice Ville to Marseille St Charles on any train you like, taking around 2h35.

You can leave as late as 20:25, but I'd take an earlier train and see something of Marseille as it's a great city. This train runs along the Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas.

Fares start at €20 if you use a TGV and book ahead. The fixed-price fare is €40.30 if you use a TER regional train.

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Stay overnight in Marseille.

Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Frankfurt by TGV Duplex leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:12, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 16:00.

Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin or anywhere in Germany. You can reach Berlin Hbf at 20:29.

Fares from Marseille to German cities start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Marseille to anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee) looking for the 08:12 departure.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The direct TGV Duplex from Marseille to Frankfurt, arrived at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.


The cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360º photo.


1st class seats on the upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		The TGV to Marseille, boarding at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

Option 3, Nice to Munich or Berlin with overnight stop in Verona - a scenic option with coastline and mountains

Day 1, travel from Nice to Verona, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, change at Ventimiglia & Milan Centrale arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:28.

Fares start at €10.20 for Nice-Ventimiglia and €39.80 for Ventimiglia-Verona.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

See the Nice to Italy page for details & how to buy tickets.
By all means catch an earlier train from Nice to Verona, or a later train from Verona to Germany, and spend some time here.
Stay overnight in Verona.

Hotels & B&Bs near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with great reviews) the Relais Empire.

Day 2, travel from Verona to Munich by railjet, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01, arriving Munich Hbf 14:34.

This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat. The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.
Change in Munich for ICE and IC trains to destinations all over Germany.

Fares from Verona to Germany start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Verona to anywhere in Germany using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding. More about these railjets.


First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.


Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Hilltop fortresses seen from the Brenner Pass train

Watch out for hilltop fortresses. See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.


Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck.

Mountains on the Brenner route.

Nice to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria

Option 1, Nice to Salzburg & Vienna using the Venice-Vienna nightjet sleeper train- the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:23, arriving Ventimiglia 10:17.

By all means take a slightly earlier train and have a coffee at Ventimiglia, they run twice per hour.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:12.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train with vending machines.

Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy by train page.

Step 3, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan to Venice. Above, an Intercity at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Option 2, Nice to Austria with overnight stop in Venice - a scenic option to Vienna or Salzburg

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, arriving Milan Centrale 18:55. Leave Milan Centrale at 19:15, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 21:42.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train with vending machines.

Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.80. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets from Ventimiglia to Venice at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
See the Nice to Italy page for more about the journey from Nice to Milan. A morning departure is available if you'd like an evening in Venice.
Stay overnight in Venice.
For a hotel that won't break the bank near Venice Santa Lucia, look no further than the friendly Albergo Marin (an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've stayed here myself, it even offers a glass of Prosecco with breakfast) or the Hotel Maggior Consiglio. For an upmarket hotel near the station, I recommend the Hotel Canal Grande (also an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've also stayed here myself) or the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:07.
The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains south of Vienna.
Change in Villach for Salzburg Hbf.
Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Scenery from the train on the Semmering Railway

Scenery between Venice & Vienna. More about the Venice to Vienna journey.

Option 3, Nice to Austria with an overnight stop in Verona - a scenic option to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna

Day 1, travel from Nice to Verona, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, change at Ventimiglia & Milan Centrale arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:28.

Fares start at €8 for Nice-Ventimiglia and €39.80 for Ventimiglia-Verona. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

See the Nice to Italy page for details & how to buy tickets.
By all means catch the morning train from Nice to Verona, or a later train from Verona to Germany, to spend some time here.
Stay overnight in Verona.

Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Sole Hotel Verona, Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.

Day 2, travel from Verona to Innsbruck by railjet, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 12:32.

This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat. The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the scenery photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.
Change at Innsbruck onto another railjet to Salzburg Hbf & Vienna Hbf, taking just a few hours more.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €34.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Verona to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, same fares, in €).

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding. More about these railjets.


First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.


Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Watch out for hilltop fortresses. See the Brenner Pass scenery video.


Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck.

Mountains on the Brenner route.

Nice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo & Stockholm

Option 1, Nice to Denmark & Sweden with overnight stops in Marseille & Hamburg - if you prefer day trains & hotels to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Nice Ville to Marseille St Charles on any train you like in around 2h35.

You can leave Nice as late as 20:25, but I'd take an earlier train and see something of Marseille as it's a great city. This train runs along the Cote d'Azur, past rocky headlands, yacht-filled harbours and millionaires' villas.

Fares start at €20 if you use a TGV and book ahead. The fixed-price fare is €40.30 if you use a TER regional train.

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Stay overnight in Marseille.

Inexpensive hotels with good reviews near Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles & Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Hamburg, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:12, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:29.

Marseille to Frankfurt is by double-deck TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, Frankfurt to Hamburg is by ICE with restaurant car, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class on the ICE, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Marseille to Hamburg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee) looking for the 08:12 departure with 1 change.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Stay overnight in Hamburg.
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

Day 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:53, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de, www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.

For Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h35.

For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Update 2026: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö as follows:

Leave Copenhagen 14:44, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:35.

All these trains cross the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link.

Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.99. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö as one transaction at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

If you have any problems, for example if you don't see any affordable 1st class fares, split the booking. First book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de, then book from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK, has been known to reject some overseas credit cards).

Nice to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, Nice to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:22, arriving Ventimiglia at 10:17.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, arriving Milan Centrale 14:55.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page.
Day 1, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 16:10, arriving Zurich HB 19:27.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the scenic Gotthard route, passing Lake Como and beautiful Lake Lugano, with a 20-minute transit through the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, see the video.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Stay overnight in Zurich.
For something special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
Day 2, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:15.

The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets & free WiFi. In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class, €71.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Tip: You should book from Zurich to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal.

Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (day 4 from Nice).

For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.
Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route. Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak. Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.


Standard cabin. Larger photo.		Gym with a view.		Sauna.

Option 2, Nice to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

Step 1, travel from Nice to Stockholm as shown above.
Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

Nice to Prague & Czechia

Option 1, Nice to Prague using the Venice-Vienna sleeper - a time-effective option

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:23, arriving Ventimiglia 10:17.

By all means take a slightly earlier one and have a coffee at Ventimiglia, they run twice per hour.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:12.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train, Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page.

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 13:23.

The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

Fares start at €14 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €34 in business class (= premium 1st class).

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking opens 3 months ahead), whichever is cheaper. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan to Venice. Above, an Intercity train at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, take the Nightjet sleeper train from Venice to Vienna. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Option 2, Nice to Prague with an overnight stop in Venice - the scenic option, if you prefer day trains & hotels to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia at 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 21:42.

You travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, then Milan to Venice by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.80. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets from Ventimiglia to Venice at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice to Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page.
A morning departure is available if you'd like an evening in Venice, see the Nice to Italy page.
Stay overnight in Venice.
For a hotel that won't break the bank near Venice Santa Lucia, look no further than the friendly Albergo Marin (an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've stayed here myself, it even offers a glass of Prosecco with breakfast) or the Hotel Maggior Consiglio. For an upmarket hotel near the station, I recommend the Hotel Canal Grande (also an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've also stayed here myself) or the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:07.
The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat. It takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains south of Vienna.
Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, WiFi.
Step 3, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 23:32.

The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking normally opens 3 months ahead), whichever is cheaper. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Scenery between Venice & Vienna. More about the Venice to Vienna journey.

Nice to Bratislava & Slovakia

Option 1, Nice to Bratislava using the Milan-Vienna sleeper - the time-effective option

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:23, arriving Ventimiglia 10:17.

By all means take a slightly earlier one and have a coffee at Ventimiglia, they run twice per hour.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:12.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train, Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page.

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Day 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna on the hourly regional express train, no reservation necessary or possible, just buy a ticket at the station for €12.30 and hop on the next train, journey time 56 minutes, see the timetable here. You can check times (and buy a ticket if you like, just to save time) at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan to Venice. Above, an Intercity at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, take the Nightjet sleeper train from Venice to Vienna. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

2nd class seats in an open-plan OBB Intercity car

OBB intercity cars as used between Vienna & Bratislava

Step 4, Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna by regional express train. More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.

Option 2, Nice to Bratislava with an overnight stop in Venice - the scenic option

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 21:42.

You travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, then Milan to Venice by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.80. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets from Ventimiglia to Venice at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
For more about the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page. There are earlier departures if you'd like an evening in Venice.
Stay overnight in Venice.
For a hotel that won't break the bank near Venice Santa Lucia, look no further than the friendly Albergo Marin (an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've stayed here myself, it even offers a glass of Prosecco with breakfast) or the Hotel Maggior Consiglio. For an upmarket hotel near the station, I recommend the Hotel Canal Grande (also an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've also stayed here myself) or the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:07.
The smart Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains south of Vienna.
Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you've a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

Day 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna on the hourly regional express train, no reservation necessary or possible, just buy a ticket at the station for €12.30 and hop on the next train, journey time 56 minutes. See the timetable here. You can check times (and buy a ticket if you like) at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Scenery between Venice & Vienna. More about the Venice to Vienna journey.

Nice to Budapest & Hungary

Option 1, Nice to Budapest using the Milan-Vienna sleeper

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:23, arriving Ventimiglia 10:17.

By all means take a slightly earlier one and have a coffee at Ventimiglia, they run twice per hour.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:12.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train, Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page. Earlier departures are available if you'd like an evening in Venice.

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

Trains leave every hour, by all means book a later train & spend some time in Vienna, see the timetable here. Luggage lockers are available.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Easy!

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan to Venice. Above, an Intercity train at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet. A railjet at Vienna Hbf. More about railjets.


Business class. About business class.		Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.


First class.		Economy (2nd) class.

A railjet train from Vienna to Budapest, arrived at Budapest Keleti

The railjet has landed. A railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.

Option 2, Nice to Budapest with an overnight stop in Venice - the scenic option, if you prefer day trains & hotels to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 21:42.

You travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, then Milan to Venice by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.80. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets from Ventimiglia to Venice at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
See the Nice to Italy page for more about the journey from Nice to Milan.
Earlier departures are also available if you'd like an evening in Venice, as shown on the Nice to Italy page.
Stay overnight in Venice.
For a hotel that won't break the bank near Venice Santa Lucia, look no further than the friendly Albergo Marin (an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've stayed here myself, it even offers a glass of Prosecco with breakfast) or the Hotel Maggior Consiglio. For an upmarket hotel near the station, I recommend the Hotel Canal Grande (also an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've also stayed here myself) or the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:07.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about railjets. It takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains south of Vienna.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with refreshments & WiFi.

Step 3, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42, arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44 in business class (premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket from Vienna to Budapest as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Scenery between Venice & Vienna. More about the Venice to Vienna journey.

Nice to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania

Option 1, via Budapest

Step 1, travel from Nice to Budapest, as shown in the Nice to Budapest section.
Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Braşov 07:57 & Bucharest Nord 10:37.

This comfortable sleeper train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and bottle of wine. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Booking opens 60 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.


1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.


The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .		4 or 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Option 2, using the Vienna-Bucharest sleeper train Dacia

Days 1 & 2, travel from Nice to Vienna as shown above.

You leave Milan early afternoon, stop overnight in Venice and arrive in Vienna late afternoon on day 2.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov or Bucharest overnight on the sleeper train Dacia, as shown here.

You leave Vienna in the evening, arriving Sighisoara & Brasov in the morning of day 3 and Bucharest at lunchtime on day 3.

Above right, the Dacia's sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf. The Dacia has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car of their most modern type. Each compartment can be sold as a single, double or triple. All compartments have a washbasin, some have shower & toilet. Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use. Larger photo.

Romanian couchette car from Vienna to Bucharest

The Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf. There is one Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6-berth compartments, bedding provided. Larger photo.

Transylvania: The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

The Carpathian mountains: Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Nice to Ljubljana & Zagreb

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 21:42.

You travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, then Milan to Venice by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.80. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets from Ventimiglia to Venice at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
See the Nice to Italy page for more about the journey from Nice to Milan.
Earlier departures are available if you'd like an evening in Venice, as shown on the Nice to Italy by train page.

Stay overnight in Venice.
For a hotel that won't break the bank near Venice Santa Lucia, look no further than the friendly Albergo Marin (an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've stayed here myself, it even offers a glass of Prosecco with breakfast) or the Hotel Maggior Consiglio. For an upmarket hotel near the station, I recommend the Hotel Canal Grande (also an easy 6-minute walk from the station, I've also stayed here myself) or the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Ljubljana or Zagreb by train as shown on the Venice to Ljubljana page.
The fixed-price fare is around €24.
No reservations are necessary for any of this journey, just turn up, buy a ticket and go. There are two departures every day.


Inside the ETR563. Larger photo.		The train to Ljubljana about to leave Trieste. Courtesy of Marc Williams.

Nice to Belgrade & Montenegro

Step 1, travel from Nice to Zagreb as shown in the Nice to Zagreb section.
Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade as shown on the Trains from Zagreb page.

If you're going to Montenegro:

A daytime and overnight train link Belgrade Centar station with Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, fare around €22 paid at the station on the day. For train times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page. Change at Podgorica for buses to Budva or Kotor.

Nice to Sofia

Step 1, travel from Nice to Bucharest as shown above.
Stay overnight in Bucharest.

The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord, Hello Hotels Gara de Nord & Euro Hotel Grivita are all just a 350m 5 minute walk from the station, inexpensive with good reviews. I personally didn't get on with the Grivita in spite of its good reviews, perhaps try Hello Hotels Gara de Nord. The Ibis Styles Bucharest Center is an 18-minute hike from the station (see walking map), but would be a reliable choice.

However, if you want an upmarket landmark hotel in the city centre, go for the Athenee Palace Hotel, see why I love that hotel here.

Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia as shown on the Trains from Bucharest page.

Nice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland

Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 09:23, arriving Ventimiglia 10:17.

By all means take a slightly earlier one and have a coffee at Ventimiglia, they run twice per hour.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Venice, leaving Ventimiglia at 10:59, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:12.

Ventimiglia to Milan is by Intercity train, Milan to Venice is by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
For full details of the Nice-Milan journey, see the Nice to Italy page.

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Day 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by EuroCity train:
The EuroCity train Prater leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 17:48.
The EuroCity train Polonia leaves Vienna Hbf at 14:10, arriving Warsaw Centralna 22:08.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, take a TER local train from Cannes or Nice to Ventimiglia on the Italian border. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes - the TERs also call here.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Cannes & Nice to Ventimiglia.

Step 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan to Venice. Above, an Intercity train at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Morning EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw

Step 4, Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train, seen here at Vienna Hbf. On these PKP Polish Railways cars, the green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class. Yellow indicates first class. Red indicates the restaurant car. Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney.


Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments, although one or two cars may have open-plan saloons. All 1st class seats are in 6-seat compartments on these trains. Click images for larger photos.

Restaurant car.

Nice to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn

Day 1 & 2, travel from Nice to Warsaw as shown in the Nice to Warsaw section.

Stay overnight in Warsaw.
The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station. For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum. Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city guide.

Day 3, travel from Warsaw to Vilnius by train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 08:57, change at Mockava, arriving Vilnius 17:25.

Fares start at €15.90, standard price is €29.

For details & how to buy tickets, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
Stay overnight in Vilnius.
Try the inexpensive Stay Vilnius hotel, a 6-minute walk from the station, or the quirky and comfortable Grotthuss Boutique Hotel, a 11-minute walk from the station towards the old town, both with excellent reviews. At the upmarket end, the Radisson Blu Royal Astorija Hotel gets great reviews and is just a 13 minute walk from the station.

Day 4, travel from Vilnius to Riga (Latvia) or Tallinn (Estonia) by train as shown on the Vilnius-Riga-Tallinn page.

Nice to Kyiv, Lviv & Ukraine

Step 1, travel from Nice to Vienna as shown above in option 1, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.
Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:08 daily, arriving Lviv 10:40 & Kyiv 17:23 next day, as shown on the trains from Vienna page.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Kyiv Pass. Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.


The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

Nice to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia

Nice to Moscow via Kyiv - avoids Belarus

Step 1, travel to Kyiv as shown in the Nice to Kyiv section above. It takes 2 nights.
Step 2, take one of the Kyiv to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09.

These trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and now sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!

Nice to Athens & Greece

Nice to Athens takes less than 48 hours this way, an epic adventure, and a great journey. Recommended!
Day 1, travel from Nice to Ventimiglia by TER local train, leaving Nice Ville at 13:22, arriving Ventimiglia at 14:18.

The fare is €10.20, cheaper promotional fares are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Ventimiglia.
Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Milan by Intercity train, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:10, arriving Milan Centrale at 18:55.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
See the Nice to Italy page for more about the journey from Nice to Milan and for earlier & later departures.

Stay overnight in Milan.

Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora. Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

Day 2, travel from Milan to Bari by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 07:50, arriving Bari Centrale 15:27.

The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a pleasant journey along Italy's Adriatic coast.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.

You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes. A taxi will take 10 minutes.

Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.

You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.

You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck. You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €9, journey time 15-20 minutes.
Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around €18. No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.
For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos. At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.

Superfast ferry from Bari to Patras in Greece

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari. Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.


The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.


Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.		Self-service restaurant.


Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

Scenic views from the ferry from Italy to Greece

The ferry passes Cephalonia & Ithaca then approaches mainland Greece. This is what travel to Greece should be like!

The ferry from Bari arrives at Patras

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras.

Nice to Istanbul

Step 1, travel from Nice to Bucharest using any option shown above.
Stay overnight in Bucharest.

The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord, Hello Hotels Gara de Nord & Euro Hotel Grivita are all just a 350m 5 minute walk from the station, inexpensive with good reviews. I personally didn't get on with the Grivita in spite of its good reviews, perhaps try Hello Hotels Gara de Nord. The Ibis Styles Bucharest Center is an 18-minute hike from the station (see walking map), but would be a reliable choice.

However, if you want an upmarket landmark hotel in the city centre, go for the Athenee Palace Hotel, see why I love that hotel here.

Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives. You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.

Hotels in Nice

The Hotel Negresco is Nice's most famous & historic hotel, on the Promenade des Anglais itself facing the Med. Named after its founder, Henri Negresco, it has been an institution in Nice since 1912. More about the hotel at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Negresco.
The Hotel La Villa Nice Promenade is in a similar location, one road back from the seafront's Promenade des Anglais, but much cheaper!
Consider staying between the Promenade des Anglais and Nice old town, such as the Hotel de la Mer. More hotels in Nice.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place. I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more. Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip. I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.

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Hotels in Nice

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Backpacker hostels

Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN

Carry an Anker powerbank

Train travel
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