It’s an hour by train from Nice to the Italian Riviera. The Nice–Ventimiglia TER runs along the coast, passing through Monaco and Menton, with about thirty trips a day, almost all of which are direct. In Ventimiglia, you’ll need to transfer: Trenitalia’s regional trains will take you to Bordighera and Sanremo in just a few minutes, to Alassio in less than an hour, and to Genoa in about two and a half hours. You can reach the Cinque Terre, but it’s a long day—it’s better to stay overnight there.
- Nice – Ventimiglia: about 32 TER trains per day, travel time of about 1 hour
- Transfer: in Ventimiglia, for all Italian trains
- Tickets: a TER ticket to Ventimiglia, then a Trenitalia ticket
- Sanremo from Nice: about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, including a transfer
- Cinque Terre: about 5 hours or more, with two transfers—it’s best to stay overnight
- 2026 Construction Work: No trains between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday until December 11
Nice – Ventimiglia: The Côte d’Azur TER
The TER ZOU! departs from Nice Ville and follows the coast to the border: Villefranche, Monaco, Menton, and then Ventimiglia, the first Italian city. There are about 32 trips a day, almost all of them direct, and the trip takes about an hour (57 minutes on average). Sit on the right side, facing the sea, when traveling toward Italy.
Be aware of nighttime construction on the French line. Until December 11, 2026, there will be no trains running between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. If you’re having dinner in Sanremo or Bordighera, check the last train to Nice before ordering dessert. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the regular schedule applies.
Changing Trains in Ventimiglia: Italian Trains
The Ventimiglia station is where the Côte d’Azur line and the Ventimiglia–Genoa line in Liguria meet. French TER trains stop here; to continue your journey, take a Trenitalia regional or Intercity train, often from a nearby platform. The transfer takes just a few minutes, but connections aren’t guaranteed: check both schedules before you leave.
| From Ventimiglia to | Travel time (approximate) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bordighera | 5–10 min | first stop after Ventimiglia |
| Sanremo | 12–23 min | about 46 direct trains per day |
| Alassio | about 40 minutes to 1 hour | Intercity trains are faster than regional trains |
| Genoa Brignole | about 2 hours 30 minutes | about ten direct trains per day |
| Cinque Terre | about 4 hours, often longer | usually with a transfer in Genoa |
Between Ventimiglia, Bordighera, and Sanremo, there is also the Riviera Trasporti Line 2 bus, which runs every 15–20 minutes on weekdays. It’s slower than the train, but it passes through the city center and along the waterfront.
Tickets: French TER and Trenitalia
These are two different networks. The simplest solution is to buy two tickets:
- Nice – Ventimiglia: Purchase a TER ZOU! ticket on the SNCF Connect app, at the ticket office, or at regional ticket machines at the stations. Paper tickets must be validated before boarding; tickets loaded onto the ZOU! card must be validated.
- Ventimiglia – Italy: Purchase a Trenitalia ticket on the Trenitalia website or app, at the ticket office, or at the self-service kiosks at the Ventimiglia station.
The rules on Italian trains are strict. You must validate your paper regional ticket before departure at the ticket validators at the station where you’re boarding; if you don’t validate it, you risk a fine even if you’ve paid for it. The digital regional ticket, purchased online or via an app, activates automatically at the time of your selected train: show it to the conductor along with a form of ID. During peak season, there’s a special fare for the Cinque Terre: see the Cinque Terre trains page.
Day Trips from Nice
The Riviera dei Fiori, between Ventimiglia and Sanremo, is easy to visit on a day trip. Here are a few ideas:
Ventimiglia and the Friday Market
The large open-air market takes over the waterfront and the banks of the Roja River every Friday, just a few minutes’ walk from the station. Go in the morning and check out our tips on the Ventimiglia market. On other days, head up to Ventimiglia Alta, the historic center on the hill.
Bordighera
Just a 5-minute train ride from Ventimiglia: the Argentina Promenade, the villas nestled among the palm trees, and the village of Bordighera Alta. Find out all about it on our Bordighera page.
Sanremo
The city of the Casino and the Festival, with the historic Pigna district and the Imperatrice Promenade. The train tracks are underground: a long corridor about 700 meters long leads to the exit; allow about ten minutes. See the Sanremo guide.
Dolceacqua by bus
The village with the stone bridge painted by Monet is about ten kilometers from Ventimiglia. From the train station, take the Riviera Trasporti bus on Line 7 (toward Pigna); check the schedule, as buses don’t run very often. More information about Dolceacqua.
The Hanbury Gardens
The Hanbury Botanical Gardens, in Mortola, are 6 km from Ventimiglia, just before the border. Bus Line 1 stops there, but only on weekdays; on weekends, take a taxi.
Genoa and the Cinque Terre from Nice
Genoa is about three and a half hours from Nice: one hour to Ventimiglia, then two and a half hours by direct train. You can do it in a day, but you’d spend more time on the train than in the city.
For the Cinque Terre, allow about five hours for the trip—often longer—with two transfers, in Ventimiglia and Genoa (sometimes an Intercity train runs directly from Ventimiglia to La Spezia). A same-day round trip is exhausting: spend at least one night there, in Monterosso, La Spezia, or Levanto. Once there, get around by train: fares and the Cinque Terre Card are listed on the Cinque Terre train schedules and tickets page.
Where to Stay in Italy
To explore the Riviera dei Fiori without having to return to Nice every evening, Sanremo is the most convenient base: plenty of hotels, a train station served by almost all trains, and restaurants open late. Bordighera is quieter: see where to stay in Bordighera. For the entire area, read the Riviera dei Fiori guide.
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If you would rather stay by the sea just across the border, Bordighera is 5–10 minutes by train from Ventimiglia: see Bordighera as a base for day trips and where to stay in Bordighera for the areas.
Practical Tips
- On Fridays: In the morning, the Nice–Ventimiglia trains are packed because of the market. Leave early or choose another day if you’re traveling farther.
- Evenings: Through December 11, 2026, there will be no night trains Sunday through Thursday on the French line.
- Construction and Strikes: In September and October 2026, there will be construction on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line, resulting in cancellations and replacement buses. Check the announcements from SNCF and Trenitalia the day before.
- Documents: Be sure to carry a form of identification with you; there may be checks at the border.
- Schedules: They change frequently; check them on the day of travel on TER Sud and Trenitalia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the train ride from Nice to Ventimiglia take?
About an hour. About thirty TER trains depart from Nice Ville each day, almost all of them direct, with stops in Monaco and Menton.
Is there a direct train from Nice to Sanremo?
Usually not: you change trains in Ventimiglia. The trip from Ventimiglia to Sanremo takes 12–23 minutes, for a total travel time of 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.
Is the TER ticket also valid in Italy?
You’ll need two tickets: a TER ZOU! ticket to Ventimiglia and a Trenitalia ticket for the rest of your trip in Italy.
Do I need to validate my ticket in Italy?
Yes, if it’s a paper ticket: validate it at the station before boarding. The Trenitalia digital ticket activates automatically at the scheduled departure time of your chosen train.
Is it possible to visit the Cinque Terre as a day trip from Nice?
It’s possible, but not worth it: the trip takes about five hours each way—often longer—with two transfers. It’s better to stay there for one or two nights.
Are there any trains in the evening between Ventimiglia and Nice?
Yes, but until December 11, 2026, due to construction, there are no trains running between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday. Check the last train.