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Taking the train from Nice to Bellinzona in 11 hours 45 minutes
Thinking about taking the train from Nice to Bellinzona? We’ve got you covered.
It usually takes around 17 hours 4 minutes to travel the 193 miles (310 km) from Nice to Bellinzona by train, although you can get there in as little as 11 hours 45 minutes on the fastest services. You’ll normally find around 14 trains per day running on this route. You’ll need to make 2 changes along the way as there aren't any direct services on this line. You can travel on this route with either Frecciarossa, SNCF or Trenitalia. As the main train operators on this route, all offer comfortable seating and plenty of space for luggage as standard.
Train tickets from Nice to Bellinzona are usually cheaper when you book in advance compared to buying them on the day. Start a search in our Journey Planner to check out the latest prices.
Keen to book your train tickets to Bellinzona? No need to wait, start a search with us today! If you want to find out a bit more about the journey first, you can find our train timetable below, tips on booking cheap tickets and our FAQs, including first and last train times.
Nice to Bellinzona by train
| First train | 06:57 | |
|---|---|---|
| Last train | 19:22 | |
| Departure station | Nice | |
| Arrival station | Bellinzona | |
| Journey time | From 11h 45m | |
| Distance | 193 miles (310 km) | |
| Frequency | 14 trains per day | |
| Changes | 2 changes | |
| Train and bus operators | Trenitalia, SNCF, Italo, Flixbus, SBB CFF FFS, Trenord |
FAQs about the train journey from Nice to Bellinzona
Want to know more about your journey from Nice to Bellinzona? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
What's the distance between Nice and Bellinzona by train?
Who runs the trains from Nice to Bellinzona?
Can you travel from Nice to Bellinzona without taking a flight?
What is the best way to get to Bellinzona from Nice?
What time is the first train from Nice to Bellinzona?
What time is the last train from Nice to Bellinzona?
How often do trains go from Nice to Bellinzona?
Do you need to prebook train tickets from Nice to Bellinzona?
Is there a return trip from Nice to Bellinzona?
Trenitalia, TER, SNCF and SBB trains from Nice to Bellinzona
Trenitalia
TER
SNCF
SBB
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.
More information
TER (Transport Express Régional) trains are the regional service from SNCF that allow you to make trips to nearby towns and villages located within the same region. With 20 regions in France, TER trains are ideal for travelling to destinations not covered by high-speed services, although ticket prices vary between each region. TER trains have dedicated spaces for bicycles and allow animals on board. Not all TER trains include a First Class carriage.
More information
SNCF is the national train operator of France. It operates all domestic trains and routes across France, as well as international services to Spain and Germany. There are three different types of domestic trains that operate under the SNCF banner – TGV (high-speed, full-service trains that connect the major cities in France), Intercités (usually a more frequent stopping service, but with all the amenities), and TER (regional train services with basic onboard facilities).
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The Swiss rail network is operated by SBB. SBB train ticket prices are based on travel and not on the type of trains. You will find available return tickets (standard price, one way or round trip), Multiple journey tickets (for six individual trips on a pre-determined itinerary) and the City-Ticket (including a one-day transportation pass from the city of departure or arrival).
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Frecciarossa, Italo, Intercity and TER classes from Nice to Bellinzona
Compare the different travel classes offered by Frecciarossa, Italo, Intercity and TER when travelling from Nice to Bellinzona.
Frecciarossa
Italo
Intercity
TER
Standard
With Frecciarossa Standard, you’ll enjoy high-quality services including eco-leather reclining seats, folding tables and free WiFi, but at a cheaper price.
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Free WiFi
- USB sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Welcome drink with sweet or salty snack
- Catering at your seat
- More legroom
- Foodbox + drink
- Quiet area
- Meeting room
- Open Bar
- Lounge access
- Free magazines/newspapers
Premium
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.
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Free WiFi
- USB sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Welcome drink with sweet or salty snack
- Catering at your seat
- More legroom
- Foodbox + drink
- Quiet area
- Meeting room
- Open Bar
- Lounge access
- Free magazines/newspapers
Business
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.
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Free WiFi
- USB sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Welcome drink with sweet or salty snack
- Catering at your seat
- More legroom
- Foodbox + drink
- Quiet area
- Meeting room
- Open Bar
- Lounge access
- Free magazines/newspapers
Executive
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.
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Free WiFi
- USB sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Welcome drink with sweet or salty snack
- Catering at your seat
- More legroom
- Foodbox + drink
- Quiet area
- Meeting room
- Open Bar
- Lounge access
- Free magazines/newspapers
Smart
Although Smart is Italo’s standard and cheapest class, you won’t miss out on the fantastic service! This class provides you with the following amenities:
- Vending machine
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Power sockets at each seat
- Free WiFi
- Welcome service
- Fast track
- More legroom
- Free magazines/newspapers
- Salotto
- Personal screens
- Catering at your seat
Prima
In addition to all the perks of Italo Smart, Italo Prima also provides a little extra, such as a dedicated Fast Track service and a welcome service.
- Vending machine
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Power sockets at each seat
- Free WiFi
- Welcome service
- Fast track
- More legroom
- Free magazines/newspapers
- Salotto
- Personal screens
- Catering at your seat
Club Executive
If you fancy travelling in style, upgrade to Italo Club Executive and enjoy dedicated catering service, personal screens, and free entry to Italo Club Lounge.
- Vending machine
- Entertainment portal
- Leather seats
- Power sockets at each seat
- Free WiFi
- Welcome service
- Fast track
- More legroom
- Free magazines/newspapers
- Salotto
- Personal screens
- Catering at your seat
Economy
Take advantage of the restaurant carriage which offers a menu made of high-quality produce. Travelling with kids? Choose your seats in the dedicated Family Zone.
- Free WiFi
- Power sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Family area
- Power sockets at each seat
- Extra luggage
- Fold-down table
- Quiet area
First Class
In First Class, you'll get to travel in comfortable seats, enjoy free WiFi, as well as more space for your luggage and individual plug sockets (German + Swiss).
- Free WiFi
- Power sockets
- Bar/restaurant carriage
- Family area
- Power sockets at each seat
- Extra luggage
- Fold-down table
- Quiet area
Second Class
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.
- Luggage storage
- Fold-down table
Onboard services on Frecciarossa, Italo, Intercity and TER
Discover more about the onboard services offered on trains from Nice to Bellinzona.
Frecciarossa
Italo
Intercity
TER
- You can take your bags on board Frecciarossa trains free of charge.
- In most cases, there are no luggage size limits. You’ll need to make sure that your luggage is compatible with the space available on board.
- You can go to the FrecciaBistrò café-bar counter located in the middle part of the train to get snacks, main courses, and drinks.
- You can also order your favourite meal from the comfort of your seat – go to the entertainment portal called Portale FRECCE and use the EasyBistrò service or ask a member of staff.
- If you travel in Premium or Business Class, you’ll get a free snack and drink. If you travel in Executive Class, you’ll get a complimentary meal by the renowned TV chef Carlo Cracco.
- You’ll find free WiFi on all Frecciarossa trains. 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.
- Children under 4 can travel for free if a seat is not assigned to them. If they do have a seat, they can get 50% off Base tickets (Frecciarossa’s standard fare).
- Children aged 4-14 also get 50% off.
- Bimbi Gratis offer: You can also get free travel for children under 15 plus 40% off Base tickets for adults, if you’re travelling in a family group of 2 to 5 people (including at least one adult and one child).
- You can travel with your bike for free on all Frecciarossa trains provided it’s not larger than 80 x 110 x 45cm.
- Your bike must be disassembled or folded and stored in a bag in one of the dedicated luggage racks.
- Small pets can travel on all Frecciarossa trains free of charge if they’re placed in a carrier or cage of max dimensions of 70 x 30 x 50cm.
- Bigger dogs are allowed on all trains if they have a half-price Standard ticket, they’re kept on a leash and equipped with a muzzle. You can’t travel with bigger dogs in Executive and Premium Class, in quiet carriages and in restaurant carriages.
- Guide and assistance dogs are allowed on all trains at no additional cost.
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 can take your bags on board Italo trains free of charge.
- If you have a small bag or backpack, you can place it under your seat. If you’re travelling with a larger bag, you can place it on the luggage racks above your seat.
- In most cases, there are no luggage size limits. However, if you travel in Italo Smart, your bags must not be larger than 75 x 53 x 30cm.
While there’s no bar or restaurant carriage on Italo trains, you can use the vending machines on board to get snacks and drinks during your journey.
- Italo trains offer free WiFi and a free entertainment portal called ItaloLive, where you can choose from a wide selection of movies, TV series, live news, eBooks, games, music, and podcasts.
- You can also charge your devices thanks to the power sockets that are available at your seat.
- Children aged 0-3 travel for free on Italo trains if they don’t occupy a seat. However, if an adult travels with more than one child aged 0-3, they will need to pay for a seat.
- Children aged 2-14 get 50% off the Flex fare if they’re travelling in Italo’s Smart Class.
- You can travel with a folding bike if it’s stored in one of the dedicated luggage racks.
- You can travel with a traditional bike if it’s disassembled and placed in a bag that is not larger than 80 x 110 x 40cm.
- Pets under 10kg can travel for free on all Italo trains provided they’re placed in a carrier or cage.
- Pets over 10kg will need a ticket to travel with you. They must also be kept on a leash and equipped with a muzzle.
Priority seats for passengers with reduced mobility are available on Italo trains. They’re usually located next to an accessible toilet. All accessible toilets also have tactile and Braille signs.
Air-conditioning is available on all Italo trains, as well as at-seat power sockets.
You can take as much luggage as you want on SBB Intercity trains, provided that it fits in the luggage racks provided.
Many SBB Intercity trains will have a restaurant or bistro carriage so you can buy food and drink throughout your journey. You may be able to sit at a table in the restaurant carriage or take your meal back to your seat.
There are plug sockets on SBB trains. You can also enjoy free WiFi on Intercity trains via the SBB FreeSurf portal.
There is pushchair storage available on the train, as well as a baby changing toilet onboard. On Intercity trains, there is also a dedicated family carriage.
You can take your bicycle onboard SBB Intercity trains. Between 21st March and 31st October, it's compulsory to reserve a bike space on some Intercity trains. You must also buy a ticket for your bike at a ticket office, ticket machine or online.
Dogs under 30cm in height can travel for free if they're in a carrier and placed under your seat. Larger dogs can travel with you if you buy a Dog Day Pass for CHF 25, which can be purchased at a ticket office, at a ticket machine, online or on the SBB app. The pass is valid for a day on trains, ships, trams and buses in most Swiss cities.
SBB Intercity trains have priority seats for passengers with reduced mobility, as well as a wheelchair-accessible toilet.
There is a Business Zone and a Quiet Zone in First Class on SBB Intercity 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.
Cheap train tickets from Nice to Bellinzona
Book in advance
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 Nice to Bellinzona by booking early.§
Be flexible with your travel times
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.
Choose a slower or connecting train
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!
Look out for special deals
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.