We are going to be in Nice for Carnival at the end of Feb. and we need to get to Milan afterwards. The direct trains seemed to have stopped running with the new schedule and there seems to be no direct flights from the airport. Any suggestions? If we drive, is it a difficult drive in the winter and how long should it take?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I can't remember anyone here recommending trying to drive into Milan, the train takes you city center to city center and you don't have to tackle Milan traffic or find parking.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The German Rail timetables are excellent for virtually all of Europe. However, for reasons unknown, they do not match what I just found on the French Rail site specifically for Nice-Milan.
That site shows departures at 07:53, 09:53, 13:53, 15:53, and 17:53. All require a connection in Ventimiglia and all have a travel time of around five hours. The fare is 31.10 euro.
The site does not show any direct trains. The Italian Rail site doesn't show any direct trains either.
My recommendation would be to go with the French Rail timetables.
A small but important correction to a statement in one of Steve's posts: When you go to www.tgv-europe.com, to keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. If you choose the USA, you will be bumped to the RE site.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
After reading a thread on the Fodor's board, I found out why there is a discrepancy between the SNCF and Trenitalia timetables and the German Rail timetables. SNCF and Trenitalia are having a dispute about shared service so the direct trains between Nice and Milano have been canceled--at least for the time being. Apparently the German Rail timetables don't take that into account.
Posted by
OP
Huntington
4 posts
Thank you everyone. From what I can gather from all of your really wonderful replies there is no direct train right now due to a dispute. If we need to change trains how much time should we allow to get the luggage off the first train, buy a new ticket and board. We are totally unfamiliar with the rail system in Europe and we have a lot of luggage!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Since the tgv-europe.com site shows the whole route and gives a total fare of €31.10, you probably can buy your tickets for both Nice-Ventimiglia and Ventimiglia-Milan in Nice, but it probably would be best to validate just your Nice-Ventimiglia tickets in a machine at the Nice station and validate your Ventimiglia-Milan tickets in a machine at the Ventimiglia station.
For all of the departure times I listed in my previous post, the connection time in Ventimiglia is 15-16 minutes. Even with lots of luggage, that's plenty of time. However, the less luggage you have to haul up and down train steps the happier you'll be. Pack as light as you can. You won't be sorry!
Posted by
OP
Huntington
4 posts
Thanks, I was wondering about the track widths since there was obviously a direct train at one time - now it all makes sense. This New York girl is going to ditch the car and use mass transit!
Has anyone ever been to Nice during Carnival? I wonder how hard it will be to drive into town with all the parades and festivities going on. Any tips on anything during Carnival would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
I did that trip this summer. There are no direct trains from Milan to Nice because you have to change trains at the border. The rails are different widths and Italian engines and cars will not work on French rails and visa-versa.
The closest you can get is the train is waiting for you at the border for you to change. You have about 5 minutes to get yourself and luggage off and on.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
There are frequent trains from Nice to Ventimiglia, IT. It takes about an hour. Usually travelers change trains there to the Trenitalia system for further travel in to Italy.
Posted by
OP
Huntington
4 posts
Thank you everyone, you have been so helpful. It looks as if a change of trains is what is going to happen!
Since you are all so knowledgable - one more question. We will be driving from Aix to Nice. Should I turn my car in once in Nice? I am concerned it will be difficult getting around with Carnival and I wasn't sure we really needed it if say we wanted to go to Eze or Monte Carlo for an afternoon?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I need to correct John's comment about track widths. They're the same in France and Italy. (If they weren't, we wouldn't be having this discussion about why the direct Nice-Milan train currently isn't running.)
However, the track widths do differ between France and Spain. Wheel widths are adjustable on the overnight trainhotel that operates between those countries. For all other trains a change at the border is required.
Leslie, you won't need a car in Nice. The city has a good bus system and there also is a new tram. There are at least two trains/hour between Nice and Monaco. Bus #112 goes from Nice to Eze-le-Village and on to Monaco. For bus timetables go here.
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
My Bad. I was going on what the train conductor told me. Oh well. I booked a direct train -Milan to Nice- and had to change at the border. I asked why, and that is what I was told.
Driving in Nice is not needed. Parking can be a chore and expensive. Turn the car in and use buses and tram.