How to get from Italy (Genova/La Spezia) to French Riviera
May 28th, 2009, 02:44 PM
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How to get from Italy (Genova/La Spezia) to French Riviera
I would like to know the easiest and most affordable way to get from Genova/La Spezia to the south of France. Train? Car?
I will be staying at Cinque Terre and my final destination is Aix-En-Provence. However, along the way, I would like to stop by Monaco, possibly Cannes, and any other recommended cities for a day before reaching my final destination in Aix-En-Provence.
I've been looking at the Eurail Passes (as I will be visiting the main cities in Italy also before Cinque Terre) and also the possiblity using the train in Italy and then rent a car to southern France. There is also a Riviera train also from Italy to France?
Any thoughts? Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I will be staying at Cinque Terre and my final destination is Aix-En-Provence. However, along the way, I would like to stop by Monaco, possibly Cannes, and any other recommended cities for a day before reaching my final destination in Aix-En-Provence.
I've been looking at the Eurail Passes (as I will be visiting the main cities in Italy also before Cinque Terre) and also the possiblity using the train in Italy and then rent a car to southern France. There is also a Riviera train also from Italy to France?
Any thoughts? Any suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
May 28th, 2009, 02:50 PM
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The easiest way is by train. There is a train from Genoa to Nice. Trip time is about 2.5 hours. From Nice, you can take local trains ( opposite directions) to Monaco and Cannes. Trip time to either Monaco or Nice is about 20 minutes.
May 28th, 2009, 02:55 PM
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I have traveled by trains dozens of times from Italy to Nice. From Genoa there are non stop trains available. You will not need a rail pass. The trains are *cheap* in Italy and France. You may choose to rent a car in the Provence area. I have never done this, but most of the others who have, recommend a car for that area.
May 28th, 2009, 03:58 PM
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We took the train from La Spezia to Nice - and it took a good portion of the day. I sure wouldn't try to drive from La Spezia to Nice (we've done that 5-6 times - never again) plus you'll have a huge drop-off charge AND the cars you rent in Italy will be much more expensive than renting in France (insurance).
The site I use to determne train schedules doesn't seem to be working at the moment fro schedules from La Spezia, but I remember leaving La Spezia around 10 or so & arriving in Nice around 4pm. There probably are earlier trains, but I doubt that you'll arrive in Nice much before 12 or 2 - if that early. There is a train change in Genoa - which consumes time. Then you'll have to change trains for a 2 - 2 1/2 hr train to the Aix TGV station, then you'll have to get into Aix by train, shuttle, or car.. That might get you into Aix after 7:30PM. I really don't think you'll have time to visit any more than 1 destination between La Spezia & Nice - if any. Nice, of course, would be the least time consuming since you'll have to change trains anyway. The Nice station is about a 20-30 min walk from Old Nice - so you'll eat up some time there too. I'll assume that you're traveling with back packs - since I don't recall anyplace to stash bags in Nice.
Really, I would just get to Aix ASAP and forget visites in between.
Stu Dudley
The site I use to determne train schedules doesn't seem to be working at the moment fro schedules from La Spezia, but I remember leaving La Spezia around 10 or so & arriving in Nice around 4pm. There probably are earlier trains, but I doubt that you'll arrive in Nice much before 12 or 2 - if that early. There is a train change in Genoa - which consumes time. Then you'll have to change trains for a 2 - 2 1/2 hr train to the Aix TGV station, then you'll have to get into Aix by train, shuttle, or car.. That might get you into Aix after 7:30PM. I really don't think you'll have time to visit any more than 1 destination between La Spezia & Nice - if any. Nice, of course, would be the least time consuming since you'll have to change trains anyway. The Nice station is about a 20-30 min walk from Old Nice - so you'll eat up some time there too. I'll assume that you're traveling with back packs - since I don't recall anyplace to stash bags in Nice.
Really, I would just get to Aix ASAP and forget visites in between.
Stu Dudley
May 28th, 2009, 04:58 PM
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We drove in 2001.
If my Limoncello memory serves me (I wasnt driving !)...
We had to have someone from rental agency in San Remo
drive us over the I/F border.
I can ask travel buddy tomorrow if this sounds wrong to those who have done it.
If my Limoncello memory serves me (I wasnt driving !)...
We had to have someone from rental agency in San Remo
drive us over the I/F border.
I can ask travel buddy tomorrow if this sounds wrong to those who have done it.
May 28th, 2009, 05:40 PM
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>>There are luggage lockers at the Nice Ville station.<<
Risky in high season - they may be full.
jetsetj - we did something similar to that. We drove to the Monaco airport, rented a French car, drove 2 cars back to San Remo, returned the Italian car, then drove back into France. This consumed a LOT of time - as you could imagine.
Stu Dudley
Risky in high season - they may be full.
jetsetj - we did something similar to that. We drove to the Monaco airport, rented a French car, drove 2 cars back to San Remo, returned the Italian car, then drove back into France. This consumed a LOT of time - as you could imagine.
Stu Dudley
May 29th, 2009, 07:54 AM
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Thanks everyone for your responses!
I will take the train! So, 2.5 hours from Genoa to Nice. I was looking at a Riviera train from Genoa to Nice but the website is down.
Does anyone know how long the train is from Nice to Aix?
Thanks so much guys!
I will take the train! So, 2.5 hours from Genoa to Nice. I was looking at a Riviera train from Genoa to Nice but the website is down.
Does anyone know how long the train is from Nice to Aix?
Thanks so much guys!
May 29th, 2009, 09:30 AM
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Get schedules here
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Nice to Aix TGV station
lv 1;41 ar 4:15
lv 3;31 ar 6:21
lv 4:41 ar 7:11
add 30 mins to get from the TGV station to the city if Aix. Rental cars re available at the TGV station
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Nice to Aix TGV station
lv 1;41 ar 4:15
lv 3;31 ar 6:21
lv 4:41 ar 7:11
add 30 mins to get from the TGV station to the city if Aix. Rental cars re available at the TGV station
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
May 29th, 2009, 10:36 AM
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I'd like to chime in on the freedom and pleasure of driving. Many summers I've driven from my home in St. Remy (south of Avignon) to my friends' beach house in Bonassola, just north of the Cinque Terre. I love stopping along the way, taking photos, enjoying the sensation of France turning into Italy and vice versa on the way back. I love throwing my stuff in the back of the car...picking up bagfulls of Italian groceries at COOP before I hit the border...stopping along the way for lunch or dinner when the mood suits...dipping down from the highway to hit a Riviera beach town or two...and the freedom to set my own timetable. Et voila--I make a little adventure of it. Just my two cents. Enjoy!--Julie, www.provencepost.com
May 29th, 2009, 11:10 AM
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Julie - I assume you have your own personal car in France and not a rental. If that's the case, you're not paying a huge drop fee and also not paying increased rental fees in Italy because of the required insurance in Italy that is not required in France (CDW covered by CC in France - not in Italy)
Also, you must love those hundred tunnels (or at least it seems like that many) much more than I do.
Viamichelin says it's about a 5 1/2 drive from Bonassola to St Remy going the freeway almost all the way, and a 8 3/4 drive on the "sightseeing" route. Neither route leaves much time for grocery shopping, lunch/dinner, dips into a Riveria Beach, etc. Are you sure this isn't a 2 day trip for you??? Also remember, most tourist like to get to their hotels no later than 6-7PM (Hotels like that time too).
Stu Dudley
Also, you must love those hundred tunnels (or at least it seems like that many) much more than I do.
Viamichelin says it's about a 5 1/2 drive from Bonassola to St Remy going the freeway almost all the way, and a 8 3/4 drive on the "sightseeing" route. Neither route leaves much time for grocery shopping, lunch/dinner, dips into a Riveria Beach, etc. Are you sure this isn't a 2 day trip for you??? Also remember, most tourist like to get to their hotels no later than 6-7PM (Hotels like that time too).
Stu Dudley
May 29th, 2009, 11:16 AM
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We drove from the Cinque Terre to Provence, really enjoyed the drive (once we got past Genoa), stopped in Eze along with way. We had flown in/out of Paris on this trip, so the rental was Paris RT, so had no worries with drop off fees. We did like the freedom of having a car and did not find the roads that difficult.
Aug 11th, 2009, 03:18 AM
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Thank you Stu Dudley for amazing info. Planning a trip to Florence, La Spezia and then to Uzes in Provence in Sept 2010. Your outline of train travel from La Spezia to Aix en has been invaluable in our planning.
