What are the timetables/train schedule if we make a 2 hour stop in Monaco (from Nice) and then arrive in the evening at, say La Spezia (we're staying in Riomaggiore).
The schedules I've seen on-line are almost non-existent.
Is there something I've overlooked? It almost seems impossible to find a train that goes from Nice to La Spezia.
Joe, you might be looking to far out. Schedules are not always reliable beyond 60 days.
I suggest that you buy two tickets for this journey. The first would be from Nice to Monaco. The second would be from Monaco to Riomaggiore. (Note that if you go to La Spezia, Riomaggiore is the last stop before La Spezia Centrale).
Looking at the train schedule, I see that most trains for this journey are regional (R) trains. No reservations or seat assignments are permitted. Your ticket on an R train is open with no date or time shown. It's like getting on your local Baltimore bus. However, don't try this on a EC or ICPlus train that I also see on the schedule.
CLICK HERE to see what I see.
There are two or three trains per hour between Nice and Monaco.
You can leave Monaco at 12:28, 14:20, 14:34, or 16:58, arriving in Riomaggiore respectively at 18:51, 19:52, 20:59, or 23:30.
Go to www.bahn.de for detailed timetables. Click on the drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner for English. After you get summary timetables for Monaco-Riomaggiore, click on "Details for all" to see the connecting points. For even more detail, click on "Show intermediate stops" for the time(s) of your choice.
Tim, Larry,
Thanks a lot for the advice...I was beginning to lose my mind!
You've both have done your good deed for the day!
Jeff is being much too kind!
Someone I consider to truly be a train genius is the Man in Seat 61. Check out his Web site: www.seat61.com.
I've wanted to comment on Tim's help for a long time. I wonder what he does in his 'real' life, since he seems to be available ALL the time to help people here.
He always provides such incredibly specific responses too...............I think he is a star.
Yeah, friendly dog pile on Tim. I agree with Jeff and Emily. He really is the best transportation person on this site. The man in Seat 61 (Mark Smith) is excellent as well. As a frequent poster, I am constantly amazed at Tim's skills.
Help! I have been searching for information on the best way to get from La Spezia to Nice and then from Nice to Milan in mid-June. I am feeling very useless when it comes to trying to navigate the train timetables. Any advice would be greatly appreciated...including whether it is necessary to pre-book train travel or can I wing it and book a couple of days before travelling.
We will be on our first holiday (25th wedding Anniversary) without the kids! Usually I boook everything in advance...not sure if I need to do this this time.
In advance, thanks
Debbie from Melbourne
Debbie,
SNCF (French national rail) and Trenitalia (Italian national rail) are currently having a dispute over shared services. Because of that the timetables on their sites are incomplete for cross-border services.
The best timetable site for virtually all of Europe is the German national rail site, www.bahn.de. Click on the drop-down flag menu for English. After you get summary timetables for La Spezia-Nice or Nice-Milano, click on the arrow to the left of each departure time to see the connecting points, if any. You will also see the type of train for each leg and whether or not a reservation is required for that leg.
If a reservation is required, it is included in the price of the ticket. Seats are not likely to be sold out on the Italian trains you will take so you could buy tickets literally at the last minute, but it's a good idea to buy them a day or two ahead of time.
No reservations are possible on regional trains in either France or Italy, including the ones you would take between Nice and Ventimiglia.
