Seasoned traveler Sarah Sathmari is an experienced travel guide in Hungary and Europe, and in this journey she takes us from Paris to Nice. You can easily travel overnight by train from Paris to Nice through beautiful countryside, urban cities and down to the Italian border. I highly recommend buying your Eurail Pass in advance for this area as it is a popular commute, and is quite busy during the heavy travel months.

Traveling France by the Rail Network is a wonderful way to see the sights, travel safely and of course do it all on a budget of any size. Rail Europe provides discounts right now too, so if you’re already set on getting your Eurail France Pass, then jump on the deal. The Railway in France operates a network that covers all across this beautiful country. If you’re visiting Paris, you can travel from the southwest of France, and then from Brittany to Paris via the train Grande Vitesse.

If you’re heading out from Paris, know that there are 7 major train station, plus the Charles de Gaulle airport station, each serving a different region, based on proximity. Know where you’re headed.

Gare du Nord - Paris’ busiest train station, with Eurostar to London; also Belgium, Netherlands, Northern Germany

Gare du Lyon - Central and south-east France, French Riviera, French speaking part of Switzerland, Italy and connecting service into Spain through Montpellier

Gare de l’Est -Eastern France, Austria, Germany, German-speaking part of Switzerland

Gare Montparnasse - Western and south-western France (southern Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes, Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées) and north-western Spain.

Gare d’Austerlitz - South Central France, Toulouse and Pyrenees; night trains to south of France and Spain

Gare du Bercy - near Gare du Lyon, provides service for overnight trains to Italy: Florence, Milan, Rome, Venice

Charles de Gaulle - Gare Aeroport CDG - most convenient if you are flying in and making an immediate connection - you may not have to transfer to central Paris at all. Travel directly from the airport via high speed TGV to Avignon, Brussels, Lille, Lyon and Nice.

Gare St. Lazare - serves Normandy, including Caen, Vernon, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Deauville, Lisieux

- Don’t count on purchasing your ticket at the train station kiosks. Most accept only European credit cards that have a chip which U.S. issued cards don’t have. Purchase your France rail pass before you leave home, or purchase point to point tickets at the train station office. Check with a travel agent or Rail Europe website for details on the many great options.

- Eurail France pass travelers, be aware that the high speed TGV trains and night trains ALWAYS require advance reservations, payment of a nominal fee, and space may be capacity controlled. Reserve your train early to ensure your place, especially at peak travel times.

- Most French trains of any distance have an informal dining car, with drinks and snacks, and some even offer kids meals in a cute plastic zip container. Convenience can be pricey though. Take a tip from the locals and pick up a fresh baguette, some local cheeses, fresh fruit and beverage of choice before you head to the station.

- Travel light because chances are you’ll be lifting all the bags onto and off of the train by yourself. Most trains have overhead shelves to store smaller items. Storage areas for larger bags are at the ends of the cars, where you may not be able to keep an eye on your belongings.

- It’s easy to see why high speed Eurostar service under the Chunnel beats air travel - no checked bag fees, no long security wait lines, no 2 hour advance check in. It’s a breeze traveling from Paris’ Gare du Nord station to London’s bright new St. Pancras station. St. Pancras is almost a destination within itself with shops, restaurants, bars, and Europe’s longest champagne bar.

If you’re thinking about jetting off to France this Summer I implore you to take advantage of Rail Europe’s 25% off France rail pass discount. These savings are only on until the 14th of July, so I apologize for getting the news out so late! The France Rail Pass discounts apply to Adult Eurail Passes, Youth Passes and of course the Senior Passes.

The French Riviera, also known as the Cote d’Azur, is perfect for a summer train tour. It gives you all perks of a sunny beach vacation, along with a wealth of culture, history and cuisine to complement it. The French Riviera is a timeless choice when touring the Med. Since the 18th century this region has hosted the upper-class of Europe. These days it’s known for being a rich and famous hot-spot. This region is my personal favourite of the Med and you won’t be disappointed with a Eurail pass and some time to visit these gorgeous cities and towns.

Nice: This is France’s fourth largest city, and is considered the capital of the French Riviera. Here you can find all the fun, culture and excitement of Paris, along with the beautiful Mediterranean coast. The Promenade des Anglais is the center the action in Nice, where you can enjoy the beach along with many restaurants, cafes and bars to help.

Monaco: This is the Mediterranean’s exclusive home for the ultra-wealthy. When visiting here you will get to see how they live, with massive yachts, Ferraris and Bentleys everywhere. It is also home of the Monaco Grand Prix and the legendary Monte Carlo Casino.

Cannes: Best-known for the annual Cannes Film Festival, which fills the whole town with international celebrities and press. Even if you can’t make the festival, there is plenty to enjoy in this beautiful seaside town.

Saint Tropez: This is the jewel of the French Riviera. Since being made famous by Brigitte Bardot in the 50s, it has remained as the top spot for the rich and famous to get away from it all. Here you can eat in classy cafes and restaurants, relax at the beaches during the day, and then party at the beach clubs all night.

Antibes: This lovely spot in right in the middle of all these train stops on the French Riviera. It is low-key compared to its neighbours, while still offering beautiful beaches and fantastic seaside restaurants and bars.

Marseille: This ancient port city is one of the oldest in Europe, and is the second largest after Paris. The main draw here is for historical and cultural sightseeing, with superb architecture, art and museums. Here you can also avoid the bigger crowds found in Nice and its smaller neighbours.

Corsica: This French island just off the coast in the Mediterranean is truly a tropical island getaway. This island features great diving, snorkeling and boating. It of course also has great restaurants, cafes and bars you the French Riviera is accustomed too.

I am huge fan of beach vacations and French cuisine, so this area is heaven for me. If you are lucky to have the opportunity to travel the coast of France by Eurail Pass, I can guarantee you will never want to leave! If you want a quick top ten Eurail travel tips, click here.

One of the hottest and most traveled routes in western Europe is the Paris to Amsterdam train. You can buy tickets while in Europe at vending machines or train station counters, or get online through Rail Europe. Passengers can often buy tickets on board trains as well, but I like to plan ahead and go online. You can also compare prices with different rail lines to find the best rates. Package deals and rail passes offer deep discounts from the moderately priced regular fares.

Click Here To Book Paris to Amsterdam via Rail Europe

A must-see stop on my Eurail train tour is the Côte d’Azur, known in English as the French Riviera, is as well known for its luxurious lifestyle as its beautiful summers.  Here you can enjoy all the pleasures of French culture and cuisine along with the fun and sun of the Mediterranean.  This area has hosted man since prehistoric times, but since the 18^th century has hosted the upper-class of Europe. In more recent times, it has been synonymous as the playground of the world’s rich and famous. If you’re like me and not in this group of elite, you are still sure to enjoy this world-renowned location.  So if you can’t afford a huge yacht or a Maserati, you’re Eurail pass will deliver you to all the must-see location on this strip.

There are several top spots you must visit when in this area:

Nice: The official capital of the French Riviera and is the region’s biggest city.  Here you can find any number of activities, from the nightlife to the concerts, museums, galleries and of course all the amazing food. Pebble beach in Nice is also popular attraction that is worth a visit.
Cannes: The famous host city of the Cannes Film Festival.  You can imagine all the excitement during the Film Festival, when the city fills to the brim with celebrities.  If you didn’t receive an invitation to the film festival, this city is a real treat to visit any time of year.

Monaco: The exclusive town of Monte Carlo must be seen to believe. It is home of the Monaco Grand Prix and the legendary Monte Carlo Casino. Here you can spend all day watching the mega-yachts in the bay and the countless super-cars zipping by on the hilly roads.

Saint Tropez: This is the most classic spot to visit on this trip.  Saint Tropez has barely changed in the last 100 years, and remains a timepiece of the culture and lifestyle of the area.   These days it is known as the number one spot for the rich and famous to get away from it all in the lap of luxury.  Here you can relax at the beaches during the day, then party at the beach clubs all night (if you can afford it..).

Now here is my top list of beaches to help you avoid the busy crowds (and high prices) of the more common tourist beaches:

Paloma Plage: This beach in Cap Ferrat is better known by the rich and famous for the Paloma Beach Club.  This leaves its public beach relatively un-crowded, giving you room to enjoy the gorgeous views.

Plage de Passable: This pebble beach is peaceful place to swim or just relax.  It also has a 4km cliff side hike around the Cap Ferrat that is great for the casual hiker.

Port de Crouton Plage: This perfect beach is secluded and is near the lovely resort town of Juan-les-Pins and will satisfy all your sun and surf needs.

Mala Plage: While visiting Monaco, this is a great beach to get away from all the attention of the beaches populated by the ultra-rich.  It has a ten minute walk down a steep hill, but it beats the crowd and makes it worth the trip.  It still includes full beach activities, from jet-skiing to snorkeling.

Next stop on my train tour are the Mediterranean playgrounds of Italy.

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