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Transportation from Milan to Nice (Villefranche Sur Mer)

Posted by (Massachusetts) on

We have run into a small snafu in planning our Italy/France trip in May and that is getting from Florence to Villefranche sur mer. We want to stop in Milan to see "The Last Supper" and the Duomo before heading to France so this is the plan:

Take early train from Florence to Milan. Drop bags off at train station and head into the city.
Take in "The Last Supper" - tickets to be purchased online prior to trip.
Visit the Duomo.
Eat lunch.
Head back to train station to pick up bags.
Pick up rental car.
Drive to Nice to drop off rental car.
Take train to Villefranche sur mer to check into hotel.

Are we crazy to attempt this and should we simply skip Milan? Should we take a train from Milan to Nice and skip rental (takes longer according to google maps)?

This is really the only hectic day we have planned. We have been careful to build in down time throughout the 3 week trip. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Diane

Posted by
8230 posts

Not worth it. Stay in Milan for the night instead of rushing off to Nice and Villefranche, that part is going to be a 4 to 5 hours drag. And most people always say it costs a whole lot of dough to drop a rental car in another country but maybe you can afford it.

Posted by
16895 posts

What is the rental car about? Train departures from Milan that will get you to Villefranche-sur-Mer with one connection depart around noon, 15:00, and 17:00.

Posted by
5656 posts

I'd forget the car rental. The added charge to drop off in a different country would likely be an eye opener, and you'd need to get an IDP before you left home. If you could get the noon train out of Milan, you could be in Villefranche (pretty little town, by the way) by 1800 hrs.

Posted by
28450 posts

Yeah, that international car-rental drop-off fee is going to make this idea impractical. And by the time you dealt with car-rental pick-up and drop-off procedures, the drive would definitely take longer than you're expecting.

The train station in Villefranche-sur-Mer is a bit isolated from the town. I don't remember the terrain because I didn't travel there with luggage. There might be a steep uphill walk or even some steps. Check on that ahead of time and verify (with your hotel) that taxis will be available if you need one. It is not a large station. You might need to have a taxi telephone number with you and a phone you can use.

Posted by
29 posts

Thank you for all helpful advice. We are going to bag the idea of renting a car, especially given the cost. Thank you especially, acraven, for the helpful hint to contact our hotel. They may even have a service that picks up at the train station.

This forum is so very helpful!

Posted by
2333 posts

We're a little bit "older" and we walked from the train station to our Villefranche apartment with our backpack suitcases with no problem. Yes, there are a few stairs getting out of the train station but then I recall it as a pretty flat stroll into town.

Posted by
23653 posts

Janet is correct. There are stairs down from the train but the beach area is fairly flat. You will be fine. Do you have reservations for the Last Supper? That could be a big hole in your plan.

Posted by
29 posts

Janet - thanks for the input.
Frank - working on the Last Supper tickets next..

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