Nice to Monaco train journey: a wheelchair experience

In May 2026, we traveled from Nice to Monaco. The train journey from Nice takes about 30 minutes along the stunning French Riviera. The route is operated by TER trains, which run frequently, are inexpensive, and relatively clean…

The previous year, I had visited Paris, and when it came to trains, my experience was anything but pleasant. So I didn’t expect much from the Nice–Monaco railway line, which belongs to the same system. Still, I wanted to give it a try, and as always, I did my homework. I read all the horror stories about wheelchair travel and even chatted with a lying AI.

What I learned was that the protocol is as follows.

In Nice, there is an assistance center designed to make things easier and provide accurate information. It is located inside the train station, clearly marked and easy to find. Unfortunately, that was about the only easy part of organizing this trip.

The procedure is straightforward: you must notify the railway company 48 hours in advance, counting only working days. This means that if you want to travel on Tuesday, you need to submit your request on Friday. I went there on Thursday just to make sure everything would be arranged in time.

We were greeted by an empty office, which didn’t surprise me because I had often encountered the same situation in Paris. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, the employee responsible for accessibility services finally appeared. When we explained that we wanted to schedule a trip to Monaco, he listened briefly, handed us a piece of paper, and said that all bookings had to be made by phone. It didn’t matter that we were already there in person, nor that he was one of the few employees who spoke English and could actually help us.

We asked if he could at least show us the platform since I use a manual wheelchair and a bit of improvisation is sometimes possible. His response was that he had more important things to do and no time for that.

Then another employee approached us. She spoke excellent English and completely crushed our confidence when she explained that there was a possibility we could end up stranded on the train because Monaco is not the final stop on the route.

Feeling thoroughly discouraged, we decided to take the risk anyway. The tickets were inexpensive, and the worst-case scenario was simply turning back if the gap between the train and the platform proved too large.

We asked for additional advice at the ticket counter and bought our tickets.

Eventually, the day of our trip to Monaco arrived. The station in Nice has several stages that, from my perspective, resemble a minefield.

Behind the escalators, there is an elevator that takes you up to a mezzanine level. From there, a second elevator takes you down to your desired platform.

Whenever I see only one accessible route involving elevators, I immediately start wondering what I would do if one of them were out of service. Those are the unique joys of wheelchair travel.

This time, however, I had more pressing concerns. My attention was focused on the train platform and whether I would be able to board.

That day, I noticed two people using power wheelchairs passing by. Behind them walked a railway employee carrying a small portable ramp. I thought to myself, “If there’s a problem, I’ll just board with them.”

Not a chance.

The employee simply waved me off and said that I wasn’t registered. He was already there. I was already there. But apparently, that didn’t matter.

What can you even say?

A perfect example of following protocol in order to avoid actually helping someone.

Then the train arrived. There was no time left to think about the unfairness of life, it was time to board. The gap between the train and the platform was around 15 centimeters (about 6 inches), the largest gap I encountered during this journey.

With a little assistance, my wheelchair could manage it.

And voilà!

There I was, on an accessible journey to Monaco.

The beautiful views of the French Riviera were somewhat spoiled by the frosted windows of a rather worn-out French train.

The overall experience wasn’t helped by the smells coming from the nearby restroom. Unfortunately, I couldn’t escape them because most trains have internal steps.

Whether you like it or not, you’ll remain near the entrance, and everyone else will be stepping around you.

Still, I wasn’t complaining. I had made it onto the train. Now I only had one remaining concern: how would I get off?

According to the official procedure, if you successfully schedule your trip, staff members are supposed to meet you with a ramp when you arrive.

During this adventure, I realized that there are no consistent rules when it comes to wheelchair travel along this section of the French Riviera. Every station between Nice and Monaco has different gaps between the train and the platform. The trains themselves are not all the same either. You might arrive on one train and think everything is perfect, only to discover that your return journey involves a different platform and a completely different train.

In any case, we arrived in Monaco. The gap there was even smaller, although once again, that depends on both the platform and the train.

Triumphantly, I rolled out and set foot in a new country.

Monaco’s train station is a story in itself. Carved into the rock, it has several exits. If you’re using a wheelchair, choose your exit carefully because not all of them are equally accessible.

In addition, some exits lead directly to steep uphill or downhill streets. I was advised to use one particular exit that is completely level and wheelchair-friendly.

The exit leads directly to a square where you can immediately catch Bus No. 1 or No. 2. These buses take you up to Monaco-Ville (“The Rock”), home to some of Monaco’s most important attractions. I wrote more about that in a separate post.

Conclusion

People using power wheelchairs or mobility scooters will most likely still need to arrange assistance in advance when traveling to Monaco. Alternatively, if you don’t want to depend on grumpy French railway staff—exceptions certainly exist—you might consider bringing a small portable ramp. It should be more than sufficient. For those using manual wheelchairs, the journey from Nice to Monaco is entirely manageable.

For everyone else, I highly recommend visiting this part of the world. Tickets are inexpensive, trains run every fifteen minutes, tickets can be purchased on the spot, and the journey is quick and easy.