From the coast into the valleys

Join the Train des Merveilles in Nice

TER presents a Nice–Tende route via Sospel and Breil-sur-Roya, with guided commentary on selected departures and dates. From Menton, first travel to Nice-Ville to join this route.

Or travel through Ventimiglia

Another option is a coastal train to Ventimiglia, followed by the Ventimiglia–Breil-sur-Roya–Tende–Cuneo line, subject to services and connections. This Italian railway serves several French places in the valley.

Menton–Ventimiglia is the coastal part of the journey. Travelling inland from Ventimiglia does not include the Nice–Sospel section, and you should not assume that guided commentary is available on that service.

Choose one main stop

Tende and its Musée des Merveilles can provide a cultural focus. Saorge is another possibility, but requires planning the journey from Fontan-Saorge station to the village. A station name does not necessarily mean an arrival in the centre.

For a first outing, choose one main destination, plan lunch and select your return journey before leaving. Visiting the museum in Tende is different from hiking to the rock engravings in the Vallée des Merveilles, which needs separate preparation.

Check the complete journey

Use TER/ZOU! and Trenitalia for your travel date. Check connections, engineering works, tickets and the final useful service back to Menton. Only plan a circular journey through Nice and Ventimiglia once every connection has been confirmed.