Intercity Milan to Ventimiglia

[citycat]

Hi. Just one small question.

I'm booking the Intercity from Milan to Ventimiglia for September and I want to try and be sat on the coastal side from Genoa onwards, though I know there are a lot of tunnels these days. I believe the train reverses at some point, possibly twice.

Has anyone done the route and knows which side of the train I should reserve a seat leaving Milan? Should it be left hand side or right hand side and with back to the leading power car? Thanks for any info.

 

[StarCrossing]

I travelled on this route last month and there was one reversal at Genoa. Therefore, those on the right hand side of the train leaving Milan were on the coastal/left side from Genoa onwards.

I couldn't say whether or not this was the usual route.

The coastal scenery is lovely, and in my opinion is even better if you carry on into France. Enjoy!

 

[rvdborgt]

AFAIK you can't predict which way the IC carriages are faced so it doesn't really matter what you book.

 

[citycat]

I travelled on this route last month and there was one reversal at Genoa. Therefore, those on the right hand side of the train leaving Milan were on the coastal/left side from Genoa onwards.

I couldn't say whether or not this was the usual route.

The coastal scenery is lovely, and in my opinion is even better if you carry on into France. Enjoy!

I will indeed carry on into France. I will stop off in Juan les Pins to revisit the location of many a childhood holiday in the seventies, and then overnight in Toulon before taking the overnight ferry to Alcudia in Majorca.

Thanks for the info.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2026 ==

AFAIK you can't predict which way the IC carriages are faced so it doesn't really matter what you book.

Ah well, if I end up on the wrong side, I will try to move to an unoccupied seat after Genoa. Thanks for the reply.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I can confirm the single reversal at Genoa.
Spectacular through the coastal chain into Genoa and the first half of the coastal run to Ventimiglia.
Initially the line runs right next to the sea - but further west the line has been progressively moved inland mainly through tunnels, as it has through Monaco.

There should be signs of a new high speed line approaching Genoa from the north, supposed to open this year. Again this involves extensive tunnelling.

 

[Mag_seven]

Hi. Just one small question.

I'm booking the Intercity from Milan to Ventimiglia for September and I want to try and be sat on the coastal side from Genoa onwards, though I know there are a lot of tunnels these days. I believe the train reverses at some point, possibly twice.

Has anyone done the route and knows which side of the train I should reserve a seat leaving Milan? Should it be left hand side or right hand side and with back to the leading power car? Thanks for any info.

Another option depending on what ticket you have is to change at Genoa on to a non reservable regional train that starts there. Journey time will be a bit longer (more stops) but you should get your choice of seat.

 

[Jamesrob637]

San Remo is nice once you've done the long walk from the underground station to the seafront.

 

[citycat]

Thanks again for the replies. I've booked a single seat in First class (as it was only 6 euros extra), hopefully on the correct side taking into account the reversal in Genoa.

 

[Rab Smith]

Another option depending on what ticket you have is to change at Genoa on to a non reservable regional train that starts there. Journey time will be a bit longer (more stops) but you should get your choice of seat.

I did the regional train last year and there were plenty seats on both sides. Ventimiglia to Nice was very busy after Monaco

 

[citycat]

My entire trip is Netherlands to London via Flixbus with a couple of nights back in my home city.

Then an early morning Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Catania.

As I have done Sicily already, I’ll spend four hours in the city before joining the overnight train from Catania to Milan via the train ferry and in a solo sleeper cabin, and then Milan to Ventimiglia overnighting in Diano Marina which was the location of childhood holidays.

Then the next day, train hopping along the Cote d’Azur using a Zou one day pass and overnighting in Toulon before joining the overnight ferry to Alcudia in Majorca.

Two nights there riding the Soller railway amongst other things and then Ryanair back to the Netherlands.

It should’ve been with a friend but he had to pull out, so decided to carry on solo which is fine.

I will do a trip report when I get back.

 

[duesselmartin]

San Remo is nice once you've done the long walk from the underground station to the seafront.

and the old station still stands. The rail alignment is now a cycle path.

 

[Tester]

and the old station still stands. The rail alignment is now a cycle path.

Thank you for mentioning this disused railway path, which I did not know of. It turns out to be about 30km long.

On the list for this summer!