Riviera Coastal Railway: Nice to Cinque Terre
Follow the coastal railway from Nice through Monaco, Sanremo, and Genoa all the way to Cinque Terre.
Travel entirely by train across France, Monaco, and Italy, with each leg taking no more than about two hours, moving your luggage with you as you change hotels. Dedicate at least half a day each to Monaco and Genoa, use Sanremo as a one-night transit stop, and hop between the Cinque Terre villages by train, skipping the currently closed northern section of the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro). This itinerary is perfect for those who love slow rail travel and don't mind changing accommodations frequently, ending with a one-way trip to La Spezia.
Several sections of the Blue Trail are closed, and the Cinque Terre railway may undergo weekend maintenance closures in winter.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Nice & Explore the Old Town
Nice & Côte d'Azur（Vieux Nice / Cours Saleya、Castle Hill、Promenade des Anglais）
Take Tram Line 2 from the airport to the city center (approx. 30 minutes). After checking in, explore the Old Town and Promenade des Anglais on foot.
Museums such as the Matisse and Chagall museums are closed on Tuesdays and are not included in today's schedule.
Stay: Vieux Nice
Day 2 · Train to Monaco & Explore the Old Town
Monaco（Prince's Palace of Monaco、Monaco-Ville (Le Rocher)、Oceanographic Museum of Monaco、Port Hercules）
Take the TER train from Nice to Monaco (approx. 25 minutes). Store your luggage and head up to the Rock of Monaco (Old Town). In the afternoon, walk or take a bus back to the harbor.
To catch the changing of the guard, you must arrive at the Palace Square before 11:30 AM, so an early morning departure is recommended.
Stay: La Condamine and Port Hercule
Day 3 · Monte Carlo to Sanremo
Monaco（Casino de Monte-Carlo、Japanese Garden Monaco） → Sanremo（La Pigna、Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour）
Explore Monte Carlo on foot in the morning. Take the TER train to Ventimiglia (approx. 30 minutes), then transfer to a Trenitalia train to Sanremo (approx. 15 minutes).
The Friday market below Ventimiglia's Old Town is very large; if you travel on a Friday, it is worth stopping to explore.
Stay: City Centre (Casino and Corso Matteotti)
Day 4 · Coastal Train to Genoa
Genoa（Porto Antico、Caruggi & Via del Campo、Genoa Cathedral (San Lorenzo)）
Take an Intercity train from Sanremo to Genova Piazza Principe station (approx. 1 hour 50 minutes). In the afternoon, explore the Old Port and the historic alleyways (caruggi) on foot.
Intercity trains are infrequent and require seat reservations; check the schedule for the day in advance.
Stay: Old Town (Centro Storico)
Day 5 · Genoa's Palaces & Nervi
Genoa（Strade Nuove & Palazzi dei Rolli、Musei di Strada Nuova、Spianata Castelletto、Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, Nervi）
In the morning, walk along Via Garibaldi (Strada Nuova) and visit the high-altitude viewpoints. In the afternoon, take a suburban train to Nervi (approx. 20 minutes), returning to the Old Town in the evening.
The alleyways of the Old Town can be dark at night, so stick to main streets if returning late. Most museums on Via Garibaldi are closed on Mondays.
Stay: Old Town (Centro Storico)
Day 6 · To Monterosso & Vernazza
Cinque Terre（Monterosso al Mare、Vernazza、Doria Castle, Vernazza）
Take a direct train from Genoa to Monterosso (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes). Drop off your luggage, then take the regional train one stop to Vernazza.
The hiking trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is closed starting September 2026; please take the train instead.
Stay: Monterosso
Day 7 · Via dell'Amore & Depart Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre（Riomaggiore、Via dell'Amore、Manarola）
Take the morning train to Riomaggiore, walk the one-way Via dell'Amore (Path of Love) to Manarola, and then take the train to La Spezia to depart.
The Via dell'Amore requires booking a time slot in advance; check the national park's official announcements on your departure day to confirm it is open.