Mediterranean Coast
Where the railway meets the sea: Italy to France along the azure shore
Where the railway meets the sea: Italy to France along the azure shore
The Mediterranean coastal route is a study in blue and ochre: the impossibly azure sea against sun-bleached villages clinging to cliffs. This journey follows one of Europe's most scenic railway lines, carved into cliffsides and threaded through tunnels that open suddenly to panoramic sea views.
From La Spezia through Cinque Terre's five villages, along the Ligurian coast to Genoa, then into France via Monaco and Nice to end in Marseille, this route prioritizes stops in small fishing villages over resort towns. You'll travel on local trains that pause at tiny stations, allowing time to wander steep village paths and return to the platform for the next connection.
The railway here is a feat of 19th-century engineering—entire mountainsides excavated to allow passage, viaducts spanning ravines, tunnels boring through headlands. Between tunnels, the views are sudden and complete: the Ligurian Sea stretching to a hazy horizon, terraced vineyards somehow clinging to near-vertical slopes, pastel villages that seem to grow from the rock itself.
Best traveled in spring or autumn when the crowds thin and the light turns golden. Summer brings heat and tourists, but also the full Mediterranean experience of sun-warmed stone and late dinners. Winter is quiet, with storms that make the sea dramatic and the trains feel cozy.
Arrive in La Spezia, the jumping-off point for Cinque Terre. Check into hotel near the station. Evening walk along the harbor promenade. Early to bed before exploring the five villages begins.
Two full days to explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso via local trains and hiking paths. Each village reveals a different character. The trains run every 15 minutes in season, making island-hopping easy. Time for swimming, wine tasting, and watching sunsets from harbor walls.
Coastal train northwest to Genoa. The route stays close to the sea, with views of small ports and rocky beaches. Afternoon arrival gives time to explore Genoa's historic center—narrow caruggi alleys, the port where Columbus was born, seafood markets.
A day without trains. Visit the Palazzo Reale, wander the old port area being revitalized by Renzo Piano, eat focaccia from century-old bakeries. Genoa rewards slow exploration.
Continue west along the Riviera dei Fiori. The train hugs the coast through tunnel after tunnel, each exit offering new sea views. San Remo, the "City of Flowers," still retains its Belle Époque glamour. Evening passeggiata along the waterfront.
Cross into France with a stop in Monaco—the railway station carved into the mountainside, the principality spread above and below. Continue to Nice for a three-night stay. The Promenade des Anglais awaits.
Two days exploring the French Riviera from Nice. Day trips to Antibes for Picasso's museum and old town walls. Another day to Èze, the medieval village perched above the sea, accessible by local train and bus. Return each evening to Nice's vibrant food scene.
The final coastal stretch. The train pulls away from the Riviera's glamour toward Provence's grittier charm. Marseille is France's oldest city, multicultural and vibrant. Evening exploring the Vieux Port.
Full day in Marseille. Option to boat to Château d'If, hike the Calanques, or simply absorb the city's energy. Bouillabaisse for dinner in the port—this is where the dish was born.
Morning at leisure. Depart by TGV to Paris, Lyon, or onward destinations. The Mediterranean fades behind as you travel north.
This route operates April through October. Custom extensions to Provence or Barcelona available.
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