Is it practical to tour French Riviera by scenic train?
Oct 6th, 2019 | 09:04 AM
#21
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,518
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>> The views going west from St. Raphael are indeed more scenic than heading east. <<
They won't be on a train for "west" portion of the trip. I assume you are describing the scenic drive by car or bus (never done it by bus) from St Tropez to St Raphael. It is indeed scenic - especially the view back to St Tropez. However, that view is only good in the morning when the sun is not in your face for the views back to St Tropez.
Attached is my Cote d'Azur & Provence itinerary. Lots of info about St Tropez & Bormes (must see, IMO)
They won't be on a train for "west" portion of the trip. I assume you are describing the scenic drive by car or bus (never done it by bus) from St Tropez to St Raphael. It is indeed scenic - especially the view back to St Tropez. However, that view is only good in the morning when the sun is not in your face for the views back to St Tropez.
Attached is my Cote d'Azur & Provence itinerary. Lots of info about St Tropez & Bormes (must see, IMO)
Oct 6th, 2019 | 01:58 PM
#22
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 429
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As noted, much of the train ride is less than scenic. Driving by car is more so, along the coast (but as noted, even better to the west). You could depart from St. Raphael but the train service may be a bit less frequent, as someone noted. Note that there are private ferries to both Cannes and Nice from St. Tropez (check for timing/seasons). Note in Nice you can take the Tram Line 1 down to Place Massena, if you don't want to walk. Another alternative is to hire a car and driver for the day, or a minivan tour.
In the summer, you can buy a day pass for 15E for unlimited journeys. The ticket offices are marginally helpful; you may have more luck with the tourist offices. The former are just too overwhelmed getting people ticketed.
In the summer, you can buy a day pass for 15E for unlimited journeys. The ticket offices are marginally helpful; you may have more luck with the tourist offices. The former are just too overwhelmed getting people ticketed.
Oct 8th, 2019 | 10:32 AM
#23
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I wouldn’t advice you to take the train. I have done it a few times from Saint Raphael to Nice because I couldn’t drive and ddn’t enjoy it at all! The seats are no comfortable and it can be so incredibly hot (no airco). My parents in law have a house there and they also prefer to drive when going to Cannes, Antibes, etc.
Unless there is a luxory train that we haven’t heard off we would drive.
Unless there is a luxory train that we haven’t heard off we would drive.
Oct 9th, 2019 | 08:27 AM
#25
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,574
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We took the train from Nice to Monaco, and found that to be easy. Not as scenic, however, as the bus on the moyenne corniche, as it went in and out of tunnels--you might consider something like taking a train to Monaco, bus to Eze, then on to Nice to catch the train back to St. Raphel.
As to walking from the train station, we walked a loop in Monaco that was mostly the grand prix circuit. I can't remember whether we went up or down from the train station (seems to me that the train was closer to sea level, and we took an elevator or escalator up to gain some elevation, then walked downhill to the casino, then on to the harbor, and back to the train station. Whatever it was, the walk was easy done this way.
As to walking from the train station, we walked a loop in Monaco that was mostly the grand prix circuit. I can't remember whether we went up or down from the train station (seems to me that the train was closer to sea level, and we took an elevator or escalator up to gain some elevation, then walked downhill to the casino, then on to the harbor, and back to the train station. Whatever it was, the walk was easy done this way.
