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Flowers are in full bloom, days are getting longer, and the incessant rain that plagued much of Europe for the past few months has finally ceased, which can only mean one thing: summer is fast approaching, and it’s high time we hit the Mediterranean again.

Needless to say, the bustling ancient metropolis of Rome and France’s sun-drenched south will be teeming with guests this season. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could just hop on an overnight train in Italy and magically wake up in the idyllic French Riviera?

Starting this July, this will no longer be a fanciful dream, as the Espresso Riviera will make a triumphant comeback:

Rome To The French Riviera Overnight

As confirmed by Fs Treni Turistici Italiani, the overnight Riviera Express will be back on the tracks this summer, offering an affordable alternative to flying for tourists going from Rome to the French Riviera, or the other way round.

We’ve already written about night trains extensively, and how oftentimes, they make for budget-friendly, more efficient options to planes.

For starters, you can say goodbye to the stressful airport commutes, and the 2 to 3-hour wait in between security and getting to your gate: you can simply rock up 10-15 minutes before your train leaves, and it certainly helps that train stations are right in the center of town, not miles out like most airports.

Then there’s the fact that it’s a hotel-on-wheels, after all!

Instead of paying for a hotel and flights, you’ll be combining the cost of accommodation and travel into a single booking—and if we may add, ‘couchette’ tickets on the Riviera Express start from only $48, so it truly doesn’t get cheaper than this.

Which Destinations Can You Get To On The Riviera Express?

The train is scheduled to depart from Rome’s Termini station every Friday, and arrive to the South of France by Saturday morning. At this point, actual departure times have not been divulged, but you should expect it to be later in the evening.

Trains leave Marseille, the French terminus, on Saturday evenings and arrive in the Italian capital in the early hours of the following day.

The nighttime section of the journey comprises the 317 miles that separate Rome from Genoa, a coastal city in northwestern Italy. For maximized comfort, sleeping cars with private compartments or the more economical couchettes are available for the overnight section.

In the morning, the train will change layout, with lounges, and First and Second Class seats, and big panoramic windows so passengers can enjoy the views as they whoosh along the coast in the South of France.

Below, you’ll find the full itinerary and average prices for each category, traveling from Rome to Marseille:

Night Segment

• Rome (Termini), Italy
• Genoa (Piazza Principe), Italy

Day Segment

• Savona, Italy
• Alassio, Italy
• Imperia, Italy
• Sanremo, Italy
• Ventimiglia, Italy
• Menton, France
• Monaco–Monte Carlo, Monaco, the Principality of Monaco
• Nice, France
• Cannes, France
• Saint-Raphaël–Valescure, France
• Toulon, France
• Marseille, France

Top 7 Destinations To Visit With The Riviera Express

• Rome: a historically-charged capital packed with world-renowned landmarks, like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican Museums

• Sanremo: the ‘Cannes of Italy’, and an elegant resort city on the coast of Liguria, home to an iconic casino and a modern coastal promenade

• Menton: a colorful, small French town near the Italian border with narrow alleyways lined by skinny, vibrantly-painted buildings, and a picturesque pebbly beach

• Monaco: a city-state on the Mediterranean, home to the glamorous Monte Carlo district and a walled Old Town perched atop a prominent rock

• Nice: an elegant coastal metropolis best known for its Promenade des Anglais, straddling turquoise waters, and Vieux-Nice, a well-preserved, pastel-hue historic center

• Cannes: the French capital of cinema, and a glitzy, glamorous beach town boasting fine, white sands, luxury hotels, and a plethora of award-winning restaurants

• Marseille: a laid-back city on the shores of the Mediterranean characterized by its multicultural character, artsy Le Panier district, and proximity to some of France’s most beautiful calanques

The Riviera Express will be available as a train route from its July 4 launch through August 30.

Tickets can be purchased directly on the official website or via any Trenitalia sales channel starting May 24.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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We all know Rome is an instantly recognizable icon that lures all levels of travelers, from first-timers to the most seasoned of us with beat-up passports.

As such, we all know Rome’s crowds can be a bit out of control. Perhaps more so in a Jubilee Year. Not to trash one of the world’s most renowned cities, but it’s safe to say 2025 isn’t the best year to visit for the best possible experience.

According to Travel + Leisure, one local innkeeper was quoted as saying, ““If you’re coming in 2025, you should plan ahead for accommodation, sights like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, for all the things you need reservations and tickets for”.

Plus, Rome’s new tourist taxes are taking a bite from your coffee budget, and what better country to indulge in velvety cappuccinos?

Rome aside, there’s obviously a treasure trove of premiere destinations to immerse in Italy’s fascinating timeline, such as the romantic streets of Florence, ancient wonders of Pompeii, or whatever you believe about the Shroud of Turin, which has garnered more attention as of late with new findings.

But hey, let’s not sleep on Italy’s postcard coastlines either, where you don’t have to venture all the way down to the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

Just 1 hour from Rome lies one of Italy’s most hush-hush paradises — and TimeOut just let the cat out of the bag.

Day Trip Or Main Stay, Don’t Skip Terracina!

Terracina is located on Italy’s Pontine Coast. Between Rome and Naples lies numerous secluded beach towns falling in the shadow of this pair of cultural cities.

With many tourists being more food and wine focused, beach getaways fall to the wayside, leaving a cluster of coastal paradises relatively undiscovered by mainstream travelers who care more about Rome’s Colosseum and Naples’ endless rows of pizza parlors.

TimeOut believes Terracina stands out the most, despite Sperlonga, Sabaudia, and Nettuno being worthwhile beach hideaways in their own right.

Terracina is perched between the foothills of Monte Sant’Angelo and the vibrant Tyrrhenian Sea, boasting a charming waterfront promenade and timeless Old Town giving a glimpse into the bygone era of Romans, while also embracing more modern acclaim as a seafood hub with TimeOut-backed Vicoletto.

For what its’ worth, Old Town Terracina is renowned by visitors on TripAdvisor with one recent tourist claiming ‘Terracina surprised us! Walking on the ancient pavement of the square transforms the visitor into a real Roman citizen’.

Terracina’s Best Beaches

Where to start? Terracina is speckled with gleaming blue-water shores from the jump, connecting from each end of town to aforementioned neighbors.

Spiaggia Sperlonga is Terracina’s top-reviewed beach on Google (technically one town over). One beachgoer said it’s a ‘clean beach, possibility of long walks, fantastic sunsets, kiosks present with excellent food’.

Fiumetta Beach is another top-rated beach, but locals are ashamed of the trash left behind. According to recent reviews, the aftermath of a many-a good times has presented painful moments of stepping on beer caps, which might be worse than LEGO pieces!

There are numerous beach hotels to choose from whether in Terracina proper or the connecting towns of Porte Dabino.

There you’ll find one of travelers’ favorite stays, Torre del Sol, a 4-star beachfront hotel with fantastic sea views and a $3 shuttle to go out and about town.

As for Terracina, you simply can’t beat the serenity of Hotel Acquasanta, which is nestled away from the “action” on a private beach and won’t break the bank at about $130 per night.

All Aboard! Easy 1-Hour Train Ride From Rome

Given Terracina is home to just 44,000 residents, you’ve probably gathered there’s no direct flight here.

The easiest journey is to fly into Rome and hop aboard a train that takes 51 to 69 minutes, depending on the schedule that day.

Operated by Trenitalia, you can purchase tickets on their official website or popular third parties like Omio.

Best of all, it’s as low as $4, according to Trainline. The official website has it listed for $6 most days.

Local publication Terracina Online claims the $16 Leonardo Express takes arriving tourists from Rome’s Fiumicino airport to Rome Termini, where there’s a direct train to Terracina every hour.

You could also take a train from Naples, also operated by Trenitalia, but expect to tack on another 30 to 45 minutes to your trip as well as a few more dollars.

Omio has $10 tickets on sale from Naples.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

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Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.