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Calling all lovers of Italy and rail travel: in its first summer season in 2025, the Espresso Riviera night train from Rome to Marseille was a resounding success. And it's easy to see why: a direct train, a vintage atmosphere, the sea almost the whole way, waking up facing the Italian coast... In short: a unique rail experience, between retro comfort and breathtaking Mediterranean landscapes!
And the good news is that it should be renewed for the summer of 2026, with an expanded offer and more weekly trains to meet the strong demand observed in 2025. A renewal in line with the FS Group's strategy of developing tourist and international trains, and one we can only welcome.
The renewal and official timetable for 2026 have yet to be confirmed. But here's everything you need to know about the Rome-Marseille night train: companies, dates, timetables, fares and reservations.
Unlike traditional connections between Marseille and Rome, which usually require connections, the Espresso Riviera offers a direct route between the two cities.
But practicality aside, what sets this overnight train apart from other high-speed trains (such as Trenitalia's Frecciarossa or SNCF's TGV) is its unique travel experience, focused on comfort and discovery.
After Nice-Milan in 2024, Marseille-Rome in 2025! Operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, the Espresso Riviera offers passengers the chance to relive the golden age of the great international trains. With its beautifully renovated old trains, this night train gives the impression of stepping back in time.
And its retro ambience doesn't detract from its modernity: the experience is rather upscale, and most of the locomotives used by the company are electric.
Doesn't that make you want to?
The Rome-Marseille route is operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani a company created by Italy's state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) to develop tourist train offers.
This company brings back into service carefully renovated old rolling stock and offers travel experiences akin to the great international trains of yesteryear. The idea is not just to transport passengers from point A to point B, but to make the journey itself a memorable experience.
On board, the atmosphere focuses on the charm of traditional materials (wood, velvet, soft lighting) while offering modern comfort.
Information not yet confirmed (March 2026) The Espresso Riviera's precise dates and frequency for summer 2026 have not yet been published by the company.
What we do know for sure is this:
We will, of course, update this article as soon as the 2026 dates are made public. And to keep up to date with the 2026 calendar and the opening of sales, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter (good deals and inspiration, every other Thursday in your mailbox):
The timetables for the 2025 season give a good idea of the likely format of the route:
The train stops in Ventimiglia for a locomotive change, necessary because of the differences in rail regulations between France and Italy. This takes a little longer than a standard stop, but is part of the experience.
These schedules enable travelers to make the most of a long weekend or a week-long stay without wasting a day in transit.
The Espresso Riviera links Rome directly to Marseille, but also serves numerous stations along the way.
The first part of the journey, between Rome Termini and Genoa Piazza Principe is performed in night with sleeper cabins or sleeping cars.
The sleeper in "night" configuration - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
Then, from Genoa onwards, the train switches to day and follows the coast towards France, stopping off at Savona, Alassio, Imperia, Sanremo, Ventimiglia then to Menton, Monaco-Monte-Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël and Toulon before reaching Marseille.
The sleeper in daytime configuration - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
This progression makes for a particularly pleasant journey, with the sea often visible on the horizon...
The appeal of this train lies in a different travel experience to that of "classic" night trains:
Dedicated space is provided for transporting bulky luggage and bicycles, which is particularly practical for cyclists and long-distance adventurers.
Eating aboard the Espresso Riviera: a dream come true, don't you think? - Alexandre Jeanpierre
The train combines retro charm: the interior aesthetic is clearly inspired by the great trains of the era: wood, velvet, elegant details... A vintage atmosphere, with comfort that has nothing to envy by contemporary standards.
Fares for summer 2026 have not yet been published..
To give an idea, here are the price levels observed in 2025:
These fares are subject to change depending on demand, the level of comfort chosen and the company's fare policy for 2026.
Reservations can be made directly with FS Treni Turistici Italiani or, when it opens, via dedicated ticketing platforms.
In 2025, tickets went on sale at the end of May. In view of this success, we strongly advise you to book as soon as the opening of 2026 sales is announced.
The Espresso Riviera is not included in the Interrail pass. It is a specific tourist train, distinct from the Intercity Notte trains operated by Trenitalia, which can be accessed at extra cost.
Interrail pass holders must therefore purchase a separate ticket for this route.
Yes, bicycles are accepted on board, thanks to a dedicated space for bulky luggage. Please note that additional charges may apply, depending on your ticket category.
As for pets, in principle they are allowed, subject to certain conditions. We advise you to check the exact terms with the company at the time of booking.
Of course, the night train will never be the fastest. On the other hand, you can optimize your travel time by sleeping during the journey, avoiding airport checks and, above all, drastically reducing your carbon footprint.
Above all, it transforms your journey into an adventure. Dining in a restored restaurant car and waking up facing the Ligurian Sea, or cruising along the Côte d'Azur in the early hours of the morning, is an experience that air travel can never offer. With the Espresso Riviera, the journey between Rome and Marseille becomes a travel experience in its own right, in the tradition of the great European trains!
But above all, what the plane can't offer is the experience. Waking up facing the Ligurian Sea, crossing two countries seamlessly, dining in a restored restaurant car - this is what makes the journey unique.
The Espresso Riviera is part of a revival of night trains in Europe, and if its 2026 season confirms the success of 2025, it could well inspire other international routes of the same type.
July 10, 2025: The good news is that we were there for the inaugural event and got to try it out! Alexandre, one of our reporters, went to Rome with the Espresso Riviera for the event. Sustainable Mobility Partnership co-constructed by BNP Paribas and the Académie de France à Rome - Villa Médicis.
It's an experience that immerses us in a real film set," he says:
"Right from the start, you feel you're in for a unique experience. As the train pulls into the station, it honks its horn like a vintage train. Agents, dressed in the traditional costumes of hotel bellboys, come down to greet us. It's like being in The Grand Budapest Hotel."
As for the atmosphere on board, it is both vintage and modern. "The interior design is retro, but there are also the practical features of today's trains." In the restaurant car, the journey takes on the air of a dolce vita :
"In the train restaurant, we're really immersed in the Italian ambience. The menu is local: pasta is served with a piece of poultry and vegetables, and for dessert, a marble cake. For each trip, the company has hired a musician to play the melodica (a piano blower) of traditional Italian songs. The music accompanies us through dinner."
The melodica player in question - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
As for the experience of waking up in Italy, Alexandre has tested and approved: "After passing through the sumptuous coastal roads of the Côte d'Azur the day before, we wake up facing the Italian coast it's pretty crazy. At breakfast, when the scenery goes by, the waiter, very chic, offers us several formulas: coffee, tea or cappuccino served with a croissant."
In short, the Espresso Riviera is not just a train very practical which makes it possible to reach Rome without a connection and at a relatively affordable price, but it's also a fully-fledged travel experience. If you get the chance, we highly recommend it!
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
