The Train of Marvels is back!
All aboard! One of the French Riviera’s most spectacular rail journeys is officially back on track.
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After 15 months of major renovation work, the beloved Train des Merveilles (Train of Marvels) has resumed service through the Roya Valley, reconnecting Nice with the mountain villages of Tende, Saorge, Breil-sur-Roya, and Mercantour National Park.
The line, which winds dramatically from the Mediterranean Sea into the southern Alps, closed in 2024 for a sweeping €74 million modernization project.
Among the finished works are tunnel reinforcements, rockfall protection, bridge replacements, and track upgrades designed to secure the rail route for the future.
This is very good news for French Riviera travelers.
The Train des Merveilles offers a completely different side of the CĂ´te d’Azur — one filled with medieval villages, mountain scenery, deep gorges, and alpine hikes that feel worlds away from coast’s frenzy.
And when the summer heat and crowds get too much on French Riviera beaches, the weather gets cooler as the train ascends, crossing more than 400 bridges and viaducts while threading through dozens of tunnels carved directly into the mountains.
If you’re planning a French Riviera trip, it absolutely deserves a spot on your itinerary.
I included the Train des Merveilles in my guide to the best day trips by train from Nice, along with other easy rail escapes across the French Riviera.
You can book directly with SNCF Connect, but I prefer the Omio App, an all-in-one travel booking platform that allows you to search, compare, and book trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
đź“ŤFor easy travel and a more personalized experience, this top-rated Alpine Train Tour from Nice includes lunch in a mountain restaurant and visits to a couple of villages with a local expert.
