Has anyone done this route? This is the only leg of our trip that, due to time constraints, makes me nervous. Reading the comments here has convinced me to buy our Venice-Florence and Florence-Vernazza tickets when we are there. However, we need to get to Nice as early as possible and wonder if prepurchasing wouldn't be better. The Trenitalia website is moderately helpful but I am having the same problems with it as many others are. The Italia Rail website says that the trip isn't available for reservation. I'm going to call them today. Is it more advisable to prepurchase a ticket going from Italy to France? Thanks.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
From the timetables at the Trenitalia site: Leave Vernazza at 04:51 and arrive in Ventimiglia at 09:48. Leave Ventimiglia at 09:55 and arrive in Nice at 10:44. If you're late getting into Ventimiglia, take the next train to Nice which leaves at 10:19. You can easily buy your tickets for both legs at Vernazza. Or you could buy them in either Venice or Florence.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
A couple of things about the Trenitalia schedule. First, it looks like at least half the runs are on local regionale trains. No reservations are permitted on this category of trains. Second, make sure to select Nice Ville as your destination.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
My experience in riding trains in Italy is that you can buy your ticket the day before you travel without problem. Or even the day of travel.
I never buy in advance because I want to be flexible in my travel plans. It is sometimes impossible to keep to a pre-planned itinerary.
Posted by
OP
Olympia, WA
29 posts
Thanks guys. No worries. It's vacation, right? I'll just relax and get the tickets in Venice or Florence.