Train des Pignes
Train des Pignes
4
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
8:45 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
8:45 AM - 6:30 PM
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles457 reviews
Excellent
212
Very good
158
Average
52
Poor
19
Terrible
16

Marjorie A
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
We took the narrow gauge train up as far as Entrevoux. What a majical fortified city. It will take about a half day to do this. If you go all the way to the top, the view is better but it will take all day and you will not get to see the best secret of all, Entrevoux. We actually went in June 2017, but the pull down dates don't go back that far. Several places to eat and a great bakery. If you have the time, you can hike up to the citadel.
Written May 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ripley27
Paris, France15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Anyone visiting Nice for more than a few days should definitely take a day trip on the Train de Pignes. The Train de Pignes leaves out of downtown Nice and serves both as a local transport (for the first 20 minutes) and a tourist train that travels from Nice to Dignes les Bagnes. The train ride through the mountain is spectacular - particularly between Entrevaux and Saint Andre Les Alpes. You can get off and on at any stops you choose, or you can arrange in advance to get off at one of the pre-designated tourist stops for a pre-paid lunch/tour (for example, the medieval village of Entrevaux or Saint Andre Les Alpes. Prices vary depending on which stop you get off/on at. I chose the lunch and bike package in Saint Andre Les Alpes, (which is only available in late spring/early summer), that included rt train ride, pick-up and drop off at the train station, lunch at local inn and bike rental for the day for 45Euros (instead of 26 just for train ride). Lunch was a "formule" - entree (salad with carrot and celeri rapé), plat (confit de canard and delicious fried potatoes/onions/mushrooms), dessert, and coffee - hearty home cooking - just what was needed for an afternoon of biking. After lunch, the innkeepers gave me my bike, helmet, and a map with various bike routes (some harder than others). I chose the more leisurely route along the Issole river in the mountains- I had a road almost entirely to myself along a river with the most crystal clear blue/white water I have ever seen, stopping several times on the way out and back to take in the sites.

Following is the chemin de fer de province weblink for timetables, tariffs, and packages:

http://www.trainprovence.com/pages/fr/236/plan-de-la-ligne.html

A few notes and recommendations: (1) although the train services local commuters for the first few miles, it is is a tourist train - it is slow so that you can enjoy the views - for example, the trip to Saint Andre is about 2.5 hours; (2) You could probably do Entrevaux and Annot in one day; (3) Although I did Saint Andre les Alpes in mid-April and had a great time, it is likely a better trip for May or June - Lake Castillon is still dried up in April and the weather can be a bit unpredictable (cold and rainy). It was about 20 celcius when I left Nice, but about 14 in Saint Andre Les Alpes and started to rain mid-afternoon (and since I was not prepared, needed to cut the afternoon short).

Enjoy!
Written August 3, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mr_Henry_B
Sydney, Australia98 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2011 • Couples
I came across this train when Googling the most scenic rail journeys in France, and it also gets a gong in Lonely Planet so when we ended up at Nice I was keen to give it a go. With the short winter days I didn't want to return in darkness and given the timetable this meant we couldn't go all the way to Digne. St Andre des Alpes was as far as we could make it with just a half hour turnaround to catch the down train. At this time of year I wasn't keen to stop and walk about villages in any case.

To buy tickets and catch the train you go to station/gare Chemins de Fer de Provence. As it is a narrow gauge privately run railway this is separate to and a little further than the SNCF station and the easiest way from the main part of town is to catch the tram to the Liberation stop (one past the SNCF station, cost 1 Euro). Then head 1 block west to Rue Alfred Binet (quickest via a carpark behind the tramstop past an Intermarche supermarket). We thought we would be organised and went up the day before to get tickets but you buy them on the day of departure and it appears you cannot book/reserve a seat in advance. The cost for two adults return to St Andre des Alpes was 61 Euro. We were later told you can get on and off at any stops in between all day with that ticket. You don't get tickets as such, just a receipt which the conductor hole-punches.

We went on a Saturday...options were to leave at 6.05am, 8.35am, 12.40pm, 5.05 pm or 6pm. We left at 8.35, which meant going to the station a little earlier, buying tickets and hopping on the bus out the front. It wasn't busy at the station - there was no queue for tickets. We were hoping to get breakfast on the way to the station but not much was open in the old town or Rue Jean Medecin. There are vending machines in the station for hot drinks, cold drinks and some snacks which is what we ended up with for breakfast!

There were two very nice new red trains sitting in the station at Nice but because of work on the line we caught a bus for the first hour as far as Plan du Var. I would advise sitting on the left hand side of the bus to have the river view. When we got to Plan du Var the train was sitting there. Such a little tiny caboose of an old blue rattler!! No nice new red trains in winter, or while the track is being done up I suppose. I guess numbers are low at this time of year. It was one carriage, split into two sections, wouldn't carry more than 50 people all up, and wasn't even half full. The train was very cute and boxy and must surely be considered vintage although it isn't the scenic steam engine they pull out in summer. It is just like being on an old bus as it lurches through the gears and rattles along, an effect which is enhanced when it travels next to the road as it does some of the way. The seats are not very wide, so if you are sitting next to strangers it can be a bit cosy. The train was a bit cold and there was a faint but unfortunately persistent smell of vomit where we were. The windows were a little filthy (probably can't be helped, I expect the effects of rain or snow and diesel exhaust would make that effect) and not great for taking photos out of. We sat on the right hand side and although there are good views on both sides as the train crosses the river occasionally, I think this is the best side. Front compartment probably preferable to back so you can see ahead a little.

The train line follows the river. Therefore it is at the bottom of the valley and most of the places were in shade on the way up. We weren't long out of Plan du Var when we saw snow and most of the riverbed and valley floor covered in a very heavy frost making the trees and brambles white and sparkling. The snow stopped after a while, there were patches here and there all the way along however. It was a clear day but we didn't break into the sunshine until about 10.30, around Pont de Gueydan. Most of the optional stops on the schedule were not actioned, we just stopped at the main ones. There were always a few people jumping out to quickly suck down a cigarette before the train took off again.

The train did not toot or announce stations at all going up, so we followed along the timetable to be sure not to miss our stop. At St Andre des Alpes it was freezing (maybe 5 degC) with a cold wind and grey clouds, and snow and ice lay in patches on the ground. We disembarked at 11.19, walked into town (5 mins), bought a tart at the patisserie, walked back to the station, and got on the next down train which was running a little late and arrived at 12.03 rather than 11.53. Looked like there would have been a few other good shops to explore if we had longer.

The second train we got was still a little blue rattler but was more comfortable than the first one with better seats and a small bin container on the wall, and a very friendly and helpful conductor. It also tooted before every station and in and out of tunnels so we knew when things were coming. There is quite a long tunnel near St Andre and several others on the way. We sat on the same side going down (ie on the left) as it has the view of Entrevaux, a gorgeous little steep village overlooked by an amazing perched fortification, and another place which I think was near Annot, where there are many large boulders and houses are built into them on the high hillside.

The river was wide but very low, just two or three clear aqua streams sinuously plaiting along the valley floor but the riverbed was strewn with carcases of trees (relics of the recent massive floods?). The stations are very picturesque and you go through several sorts of country and see different houses, farms, terracing and so forth. In summer or spring it would be a gorgeous green trip, I imagine. In winter most of the deciduous trees are bare but the pines are still there and some of the shrubbery is striking. The geology is also laid bare with the trainline giving great views of underlying stratification along the mountainsides. It doesn't go too high above the river but you do get to look down on a river most of the way, which is very picturesque. The mountains are steep with houses perched in amazing footholds. In addition to the villages the train goes through, you get glimpses of other villages perched on mountaintops through the peaks every now and again. We enjoyed our trip and returned by bus to Nice into the warm sunshine just before 3.

This is definitely worth doing. Take some loose change for the tram to get there and back, take some snacks and drinks (or plenty of change for the machines in the station), in December be warmly dressed for both in and out of the train, and if you are planning a stop, St Andre was good and Entrevaux also looked completely charming. Be prepared for a change of weather as it was clear and sunny in Nice but windy and threatening bad weather in some parts of the mountains! You should also take a timetable from the station before you leave, so when wandering about any villages, you know when to return to the train. And be warned - the mountain stations have outdoor toilets and in winter that is not an amusing proposition!
Written December 31, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Totte B
Lund, Sweden179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Family
Train des Pignes offers a beautiful and cozy ride from Nice through Les Alpes Maritimes to Digne-les-Bains. Dramatic sceneries in the mountains, picturesque little villages and a lunch-stop for a couple of hours in Digne-les-Bains before the train goes back to Nice. Tip: Don't have lunch at the train station! You have plenty of time to find a much better restaurant in the town a short walk from the station.
This excursion is a day very well spend!
Written January 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RoseInSummer
San Francisco, CA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2010
I went as far as I could so that I would return to Nice before dark, so Annot was the destination. The views were terrific...looking up. That isn't a bad thing. The ride was charming and, though it was cold, being able to actually see the scenery on the trip was great. Riding the Chemin de fer... isn't about arriving, but about the journey and seeing along the way. I recommend it highly.
Written January 16, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nora N
Galway, Ireland29 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Friends
Having done the Train des Merveilles this was slightly disappointing. It was double the price for a return journey (€35 each) and it was quite bumpy. It was a wet day so the Windows fogged up and we couldn't see out for the second half of the outward journey. The scenery was beautiful but as we'd already seen similar scenery on the train des merveilles we weren't as awe-struck as a first-timer.

It goes to very picturesque villages but plan your train times carefully if you want to eat lunch or dinner out.

We stopped in St Andre Les Alpes where we walked up to Les Deux Saints statue which have panoramic views of the lake and mountains - it was beautiful and took approx 1hr45min. Then we took the train back to Entreveaux where we climbed to the top of the Citadel. It was very impressive and interesting. Our schedule was long and busy and we had to bring a packed lunch...it might have been wiser to only make one stop rather than two!

The drivers and conductors were nice and helpful.

If you want better value in the area, we also took the 730 bus from Nice to Saint Martin Vesubie. It only cost us €1.50 per person!! And it gave us the same incredible scenery but perhaps even more breathtaking than the train because you feel like you're right in the gorges and get to see the centre of the villages. You could do one of the 4 hikes in the surrounding mountains that leave from the village or eat in one of the many lovely restaurants before getting the afternoon bus back to Nice.
Written October 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather Y
Detroit, MI81 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Guidebook had a blurb about this so I looked it up on here and decided to go based on the reviews. It really is a lovely day trip. Contrary to the flyers around town, first train leaves at 9:25. Based on the cashiers suggestion, we went to Annot and Entrevaux. Depart Nice 9:25 arrive Annot around 11:00. One hour to stroll the town is plenty. Very interesting medeival town with intricate water system. Well preserved. No shops or restaurants within the old town walls. Would be an interesting place to go hiking if you had more time. 12:19 back on train towards Nice and arrive Entrevaux in 20 minutes. 3 hours in Entrevaux. Plenty of restaurants near station and inside town walls. Hiked to the top of the citadel (take water!) and perused the motorcycle museum. Wander around. Catch 4:19 train back to Nice. Arrive 5:45. Whole train ride was 20 euros pp.
Written September 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ELear
Ancona, Italy3,163 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2011 • Solo
Absolutely wonderful! Escape from the hustle and heat and gaudiness of Nice for a day. Get on the Train des Pignes, clatter slowly up into the gorgeous Provencal mountains (to Digne les Bains, say, or there are lots of other possible stops on the way), have an excellent lunch (e.g. at the station buffet at Digne), walk around, have a pastis or something, enjoy the cool air, and come down again in the afternoon.

The train's not only a tourist train. It serves the villages along the line all year. (Diesel only, not steam, in winter though.) I imagine it may sometimes be very full in summer. Check in advance.
Written August 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MreMargaretRiver
Perth, Australia146 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2011 • Couples
The Train de Pignes is a star and should not be missed if you are visiting this part of France.

I am writing this review as, prior to our visit, I could not find out very much about whether it would be possible to make a one way trip from Aix to Nice via Digne and the railway. It is VERY possible. However neither the tourist office in Aix or the train station there could help very much. So it is important to know before you go how to make this trip. Fortunately I had a printout from the German rail website (DB bahn) which is very useful for this kind of route checking. Basically you can leave Aix by the morning train (aorund 9.10am) from the city (not the TGV) rail station and go to Manosque by train. From Manosque you wait right by the station entrance (except for a trip for coffee across the road). A very comfortable bus comes into the station yard at 10.30am and takes you to the Digne station before it goes into the main town. Get off at the station as . you can buy your ticket for the one way trip to Nice on the Train de Pignes. The afternoon train gives you time for lunch at the station or to walk into Digne town if you wish. You get into Nice around 5.30pm - currently the train stops short of the terminus because of track works and you do the last bit through the Nice suburbs by bus- but all organised for you.

You can buy both your train ticket to Manosque and your bus ticket on to Digne at the Aix station- once they understand what you want. But they did not seem to be aware of this route from Aix to Digne, which takes about a couple of hours all up.
Written October 4, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kengatt
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates23 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Family
I had read good reviews on the tripadvisor about this train journey and so decided to go for it .The railway station is easy to find , catch the tram and get down at the liberation stop and you can walk over to the station .At the station they told us the trains in the morning run only upto the Plan du var station ,so we ended up catching the bus to Annot .Grab a timetable at the station it will come in handy .The train company runs the bus services also and one ticket applies for both .The steam trains only run in the summer season so don't expect to see that any other time. After spending some time at Annot we decided to go to Entrevaux .There were very few services available so we ended up on the Annot train station bidding our time waiting for the next train. At Entrevaux we had Lunch and wandered around the old town ,at the entrance to the citadel we found out that you have to buy a token from the tourist office located at the entrance to the town ,so that was the end of that .There is a beautiful old church worth a visit .Then it was back to waiting for the next bus/train back to Nice .There were very few services that most of our time was spent waiting at the station for them .If you are not in the mood to laze around ,you should think twice about this trip .The views are beautiful and the villages are worth a visit but keep plenty of time to spare and make sure that you don't have any deadlines to keep.After waiting for about an hour we managed to catch a bus back to Nice .We were fortunate enough to find a seat on that bus because there was quite a lot of people waiting .There is no que or any other means of ensuring first come first served so it is advisable to be a bit smart about this ,as you will find people who have come much later than you before you .There are limited number of seats and if you miss that bus then the next train is after 2 hours .The bus took us all the way down to Plan du vars and then we had to transfer to the train for the last leg of the journey to Nice.
Written April 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Train des Pignes - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Train des Pignes is open:
  • Mon - Fri 6:00 AM - 7:30 PM
  • Sat - Sun 8:45 AM - 6:30 PM

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