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La Spezia is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Italy, while Nice is one of the prettiest in France, and you can travel from one to the other in just five hours on board Frecciabianca, Intercity and Thello trains. It’s a stunning journey, and you’ll get lots of onboard comforts like Wi-Fi and refreshments for your convenience.
Arriving in the centre of Nice, you’ll step straight out of the train station and find yourself mere minutes away from the Promenade des Anglais, ready to snap some selfies in the heart of the French Riviera. Need a little more info before you decide? Scroll down for further details, including train times, ticket prices and FAQs.
First train | 01:02 | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 18:38 | |
Departure station | La Spezia Centrale | |
Arrival station | Nice Ville | |
Journey time | From 17h 13m | |
Distance | 130 miles (209 km) | |
Frequency | 12 trains per day | |
Changes | 3 changes | |
Price | From £124.48 | |
Train and bus operators | Trenitalia, SNCF, Flixbus, Marino, Trenord |
Frecciarossa trains are Trenitalia's flagship high-speed trains, capable of reaching speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). The "red arrow" trains are distinguished by their comfort, their ultra-modern design and their reduced impact on the environment. All Frecciarossa trains are equipped with a food carriage, free WiFi connection and 4 levels of service – Standard, Premium (with drinks and welcome snacks served on arrival, as well as a morning newspaper), Business (with drinks and snacks, morning newspaper and larger seats) and Executive (with Fast Track, access to FrecciaClub lounges in selected stations, and gourmet meals served to your seat). You can now also travel with Frecciarossa between Milan and Paris via Turin, Modane and Chambéry. The new Frecciarossa trains have 4 levels of service – Standard, Business, Executive and Meeting Room – and two types of carriage: Silence Area, for those who want to travel in total tranquillity, and Allegro Area, for those who want to chat with their fellow passengers.
Trenitalia is the national railway company of Italy, with a fleet including high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca), Intercity and Intercity night trains and regional trains. Trenitalia offers discounts and special promotions on selected routes, two types of discounted tickets for young people under 30 and people over 60.
Frecciargento "silver arrow" high-speed trains connect the main cities of the north-west, central and southern Italy at speeds of up to 155 mph (250 km/h). All Frecciargento trains are equipped with a food carriage, free WiFi, reclining seats and power sockets. There are two levels of service – First Class and Second Class. First Class travellers can enjoy reclining leather seats, welcome service with drink and a sweet or savoury snack, and a free morning newspaper.
Frecciabianca trains operate outside Trenitalia high-speed lines. Offering more than 40 daily routes, they're capable of reaching a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h). Frecciabianca trains connect the centres of northern and southern Italy, running along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. All Frecciabianca trains have power sockets and large reclining seats, as well as ample space for luggage. There are two classes of service – First Class and Second Class. In First Class, customers can look forward to a welcome service with snacks and drinks and a morning newspaper.
With Frecciarossa Standard, you’ll enjoy high-quality services including eco-leather reclining seats, folding tables and free WiFi, but at a cheaper price.
Providing all the perks of First Class for the price of Second Class, Frecciarossa Premium offers more legroom and luggage space, as well as a welcome service offering a complimentary sweet or salty snack and drink. You can also order your meal via the EasyBistrò paid service available on board.
If you’re travelling for work, Frecciarossa Business is the ideal option for you – it offers more legroom, glass dividers for more privacy, EasyBistrò meal service and a private 4-seat compartment called Salottino. A free foodbox containing a fresh product, a snack and a drink is also served to your seat.
Frecciarossa Executive can accommodate up to 10 single armchairs and offers plenty of legroom, wider reclining leather seats, free entry to FRECCIALounge at the main train stations, an exclusive open bar and Michelin-starred menu by the renowned Italian TV chef Carlo Cracco.
Frecciargento's Standard Class comes with plenty of amenities, including reclining seats, power sockets, a Bistrò bar, free WiFi and an entertainment portal.
In addition to all the perks available in Second Class, Frecciargento's First Class also offers a welcome service including a complimentary sweet or savoury snack and a bottle of water of 0.25L.
In Second Class, you'll find comfy seats with fold-down tables, reading lights and power sockets. Feeling peckish? Head to the FrecciaBistrò café-bar counter located in the middle part of the train to get food and drinks.
Enjoy larger and comfier seats in Frecciabianca's First Class. In carriage 3, you'll also find a bar service as well as baby changing facilities, if you're travelling with your baby.
Most TER trains don't have First or Second Class so the services offered on board are the same for all passengers. Please note that WiFi is not available on TER trains at the moment.
If you need to request special assistance, you can call: the toll-free number 800 90 60 60, which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232 which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply).
Air-conditioning is available on board. You can also charge your devices thanks to the power sockets you can find at your seat.
You’ll find free WiFi on all Frecciargento trains. Simply connect to their entertainment portal called Portale FRECCE and choose from a wide selection of movies, TV series, live news, eBooks, games, music, and podcasts.
You can also use Portale FRECCE to get the latest updates on your journey, as well as book other services that will help you reach your destination.
If you need to request special assistance, you can call the toll-free number 800 90 60 60 which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232 which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply).
Air-conditioning is available on board. You can also charge your devices thanks to the power sockets you can find at your seat.
At the moment, Frecciabianca trains do not offer an entertainment portal on board. However, you can make use of your internet data, as well as charge your devices thanks to the power sockets that are available at your seat.
If you need to request special assistance, you can call the toll-free number 800 90 60 60 which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232 which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply).
Air-conditioning is available on all Frecciabianca trains.
There are no size limits for the luggage you take on board TER trains, so you can travel your way. However, you must be able to carry any luggage you bring unassisted, and it must fit into the dedicated luggage storage spaces on the train.
TER trains do not have any onboard catering facilities, so don't forget to pick up a snack at the station before you leave!
TER trains do not currently have WiFi available.
All children under 12 years old get 50% off the price of a TER ticket - input the age of your child when searching your journey and the discount will be applied automatically. Children under the age of 4 travel for free if they're sat on your lap throughout the journey.
On TER trains, it's free to take your bicycle on board. You can hang it up or store it in a dedicated bicycle area. There are a fixed number of spaces available on each train - they're first come, first served and can't be reserved.
Animals weighing less than 6kg must travel in an appropriate carrier (no larger than 45 x 30 x 25 cm), stored at your feet or on your lap. Tickets for small animals cost 7€. Animals weighing more than 6kg must wear a muzzle and be kept on a lead at all times. Tickets for larger animals cost 50% of the price of a second class ticket. Up to 2 animals or 2 carriers allowed per passenger. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free of charge on board all SNCF trains.
If you are disabled or have reduced mobility, you can reserve special assistance through 'Accès TER'. Someone can meet you at the station and accompany you to your train or TER bus, helping you to get around more easily.
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from La Spezia Centrale to Nice Ville by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.