Menton Transportation

3 more images

There are regular trains from Menton to the Italian town of Ventimiglia (Vintimille in French), where you can then connect to other destinations in Italy.

During our visit in May 2009, we visited Ventimiglia from Nice (via Menton), using the following transport:

Bus #100 from Nice central bus station to Menton = 1 Euro = 1 hour 15 minutes

Train from Menton to Ventimiglia = 4.60 Euros return (2nd class) = 10 minutes

Upon arrival at Menton from Nice, we assumed that we’d be able to catch a connecting bus over the border into Italy. However, when we enquired at the bus station information desk, we were told that catching the train was our only option.

Menton train station (located along Avenue de la Gare, just off Avenue de Vedrun) is only a 5 minute walk from the bus station so we walked down there and checked the timetables. During the day, trains from Menton to Ventimiglia run approximately every 30 minutes.

We bought tickets from a machine at Menton station (I think the return ticket gave us a small saving compared to two singles) and validated them before going to the platform to wait for the train.

The journey from Menton to Ventimiglia is a mere 10 minutes, including a stop at Menton Garavan on the way.

Ventimiglia isn’t particularly large and its station is fairly centrally located. Exit through the main front doors and head straight down the main road towards the seafront. You’ll pass the town’s famous market on the right hand side after a few minutes and reach the beach in 5-10 minutes.

The journey back from Ventimiglia to Menton wasn’t quite as smooth. After waiting for a while on one platform, an announcement then directed us to another platform. We arrived there and boarded a Trenitalia train, then sat and waited for a good 20 minutes for it to depart. There was clearly a problem with the train and it became apparent that a French train at another platform would leave before this one did, so passengers switched en-masse to the French train. As we sat there waiting to depart, a couple of Italian guys told us that this train would leave on time as the French trains were far more reliable than the notorious Trenitalia ones. We eventually set off and arrived back in France 10 minutes later.

When catching a train from Ventimiglia to Menton, you can catch any of the trains bound for Monte Carlo, Nice or Grasse, as they all stop at Menton en-route.

We visited Menton by local bus during our visit to Nice in May 2009.

The following details were correct as at that time:

Bus # 100 travels frequently throughout the day from Nice to Menton, calling at Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Eze-sur-Mer and Monaco en route. The total journey time from Nice to Menton is around 1 hour 15 minutes. During the day, bus #100 runs approximately every 15 minutes.

The bus costs just 1 Euro per person along this route, regardless of whether you are travelling a few hundred metres or all the way from Nice to Menton.

Bus tickets are purchased from the driver on boarding the bus. Sometimes, you’ll receive a paper receipt; other times you’ll receive a card which needs to be validated in a machine next to the driver.

There are several bus stops throughout Menton and the main station is located on Avenue Sospel, about a 10 minute walk inland from the seafront, along Avenue de Verdun. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from Menton bus station to Menton train station, where you can catch a train over the border to Ventimiglia in Italy. We enquired at the information desk at Menton bus station about catching a bus to Ventimiglia but were told that the train was our only option.

From Nice you must take the bus, as the train only goes as far as Monaco where you must then take a bus the rest of the way. This will be true throughout the 1st quarter of 2004, as repair work is underway.

The best way to reach Menton or any Cote d'Azur harbour town must be by boat. Sailing the wonderful blue waters of the Mediterranean and then visit these beautiful town must be a great pleasure.

Well, at least Ilja had a lot of fun with them ... sitting in his carriage home. Toy machine for children in the shopping pedestrian zones in Menton.