For just €10, cruise passengers can buy a ticket at the train station in Villefranche-sur-Mer for unlimited travel between Menton and Cannes for the day that their ship is in port. It’s a rail line that includes Monaco, Nice, Antibes and several other resort villages.
It’s a great deal for cruisers that seems to have been quietly rolled out by the region’s transport authorities, SNCF/the regional TER network. You can buy it at the ticket machines on the platform.
The ticket is available to purchase on days when a cruise ship is in Villefranche sur Mer, for cruise passengers only.
It’s Such Good Value
It’s quite the bargain, considering that the normal adult fare from Villefranche to Menton is €6.20 each one way, with a ticket from Villefranche to Cannes costing €10.30 one way. All stops are on the Marseille-Ventimiglia (Italy) regional TER line.
On the days cruise ships are visiting, there are also dedicated English-speaking staff members on the platform from 8am-12 noon to help advise not only on the ticket, but on train times and itineraries.
As a reminder, the Gare de Villefranche-sur-Mer station is an easy 8-minute walk along the waterfront from where the tender drops you.
How I Found Out About the Pass
Azamara Quest is at anchor in the bay today, and I was at the train station early to catch a train to Ventimiglia across the border, which is how I found out about it. I started chatting to a couple from Chicago on the ship who were planning to make the most of the 12 hours they had in port (the ship was leaving at 9pm; one of Azamara’s strong points is late nights and overnights in destination).
They were starting with Monaco, then heading to Menton and, if time allowed, Cannes (although considering the train between Menton and Cannes takes 1 hour 18 minutes, I did caution them that I thought they were being at tad ambitious).
A Tip for Using the Pass
One tip I would say is, if you are keen to use the train on your day in Villefranche, to download the SNCF app beforehand or keep the website www.sncfconnect.com handy. That way you have real-time train times and a journey planner at your fingertips.
Where Can You Go With the Pass?
The Menton–Cannes TER line passes through some of the most visited destinations on the French Riviera. With the day pass, you can hop on and off freely at:
- Monaco-Monte Carlo (~10 minutes from Villefranche)
- Menton (~30 minutes) — gardens, lemons, Italian border atmosphere
- Nice Ville (~5 minutes) — Vieux Nice, Promenade des Anglais, art galleries
- Antibes (~40 minutes) — Picasso Museum, ramparts, produce market
- Cannes (~50 minutes) — La Croisette, produce market, Le Suquet old town
Have you used it? I’d love to know in the comments about your experience
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