By train from Nice to Menton

Just 10 minutes from Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer is particularly easy to get to for train travellers. 5 minutes after having left the station, you’re already on Quai de l’Amiral Ponchardier, with its long succession of lively bars and restaurants. Dive into the maze of little streets in the old town via its main street, Rue du Poilu. Absolute musts: Rue Obscure, whose foundations date back to the 13th century. And for fans of Jean Cocteau, the Chapelle Saint-Pierre was decorated by the artist in 1957. This stage ends with Villefranche-sur-Mer, and a walk around the Citadel. The view over the sea is incredible.

Next stage in this journey to the Italian border: Beaulieu-sur-Mer. To get there from Villefranche-sur-Mer, it’s just 3 minutes by train! And everything is easy to reach from the station: la Baie des Fourmis to the west is only 5 minutes away. There you can see the Villa Kérylos, a building in ancient Greek style erected at the beginning of the 20th century by a keen archaeologist. When the sun is out, you can have a swim at the nearby beach or at la Plage de la Petite Afrique. A thirty-minute walk will take you to the Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, but the effort is well worth it!

Now the train is on its way to the Cap d’Ail station, a mere 10 minutes from Beaulieu. As you get off the train, you feel the soul of the Côte d’Azur: vast, luxury properties surrounded by lush green gardens filled with flowers, all look out to sea. Take a break on the very lovely private Plage de la Mala beach, nestled in a creek with a view of the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Then venture on to the Sentier du Littoral, for a 3½ hour walk with a view of the deep blue sea and the Belle Epoque villas. To find out more about the history of Cap d’Ail, visit the Villa des Camélias, which is now a museum.

Now’s the time to discover Cap-Martin-Roquebrune. Once again, the train journey was a short one – a mere 10 minutes, and the station is centrally situated which makes it a good starting point. This stop is devoted to architectural discoveries and visiting the three monuments of Cap Moderne: the Cabanon Le Corbusier, where the famous architect used to spend his summers, the Cabanon L’Etoile de Mer, and the designer Eileen Gray’s villa E-1027. After these enthralling discoveries, it’s time for a swim at Plage du Buse or a hike on the Stone on Stone circuit.

Last stage of our train journey towards Italy: Menton. There’s an Italian feel to the old town with its orange and ochre houses and green shutters. Get lost in the town in the lively pedestrian Rue Saint-Michel, before you get to the Musée Jean Cocteau. Here the lemon, with its PGI label, is king. Every year in February Menton celebrates the lemon lemon sculptures are erected in the Jardins de Biovès. All through the year, the garden of Palais Carnolès, a listed remarkable French garden, also pays homage to citrus fruits of all kindsand is home to 137 varieties! Our train circuit from Nice to Menton ends on a vitamin-packed note!