The route taken by these direct trains has been closed until at least summer 2024, due to damage caused by a landslide.
Replacement bus services have now made available for international journeys along the closed section of the route, from a train which departs Milano Porta Garibaldi station at 14:10.
The alternative route, involves travelling via Switzerland, with a journey time of more than 8 hours.
So the info below is not relevant until further notice!
Trenitalia has introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route.
So along with the existing and continuing TGV services, an unprecedented five daily trains are now available from the Milan to the French capital.
Though when looking up this journey on the ticket agents, you'll also likely see other daytime options with connections between trains in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne or Zurich.
If you'll be happy to change trains and the connections are easily timed (more than 30 mins ideally) and the price is competitive then these other options are definitely worth considering.
The journey from Milan to any of those Swiss cities will also be more scenic than this route.
The overnight train service from Milano to Paris has been withdrawn.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
7hrs - 7hr 12min
Daily
3 trains per day
Is the journey from Milan to Paris direct?
Yes, there is usually no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Is the journey scenic?
Yes once the train leaves the high speed-line, see the Journey Information below
How easy is it to get to the station in Milan?
Milano-Porta Garibadli is served by two metro lines, but neither serve the heart of the city by the cathedral - See the Station Guide above for more info.
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Paris?
The Gare De Lyon is served by two Metro lines - line 14 is now directly linked to Orly Airport. The station also has rail links to the Gare Du Nord and the La Défense business district.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay by the Gare De Lyon.n.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Milan to Paris trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access a guide to how rail tickets are managed in France, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Milan to Paris trains?
Up to 6 months in advance, but it varies according to when / if SNCF has a promotion in place; see the Ticket Information.
What are the child ticket terms for these Milan to Paris trains?
The adult rate is charged for all travellers aged 12 and over.
Children aged 4-11 pay half fare
Does the ticket for these Milan to Paris trains include assigned seats?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Milan to Paris trains?
Yes - See the rail pass guide for France for info on the multiple booking options.
Is catering available on the Milan to Paris trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about Italian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Italy.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Final Destination: Paris
All trains also call at: Chambery
These trains are typically scheduled to depart from Porta Garibaldi station at
Milano Centrale is the primary station in Milano used by other long distance trains, but the TGVs to Paris depart from the city's main rail commuter hub, Milano Porta Garibaldi.
This station has rail links from across the greater Milano area, as well as by Metro from the city centre and Milano Centrale station.
Though when connecting into these TGV trains from other cities in Italy, the cross-city transfer in Milano can be avoided due to the connections are available into the TGV trains at Torino Porta Susa station:
The TGVs to Paris don’t use the Milano to Torino high speed seed line, they still travel the old route via Novara.
After Torino/Turin comes a passage through the western Alps with great views, particularly from the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel).
Finally there comes the journey between Chambery and Paris, most of which is on the high speed line.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
It can usually be worth comparing the prices between booking agents for this journey.
Seat Reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
6hr 35min - 6hr 57min
Daily
2 x trains per day
(the second train of the day is faster)
Is the journey from Milan to Paris direct?
Yes, there is usually no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Is the journey scenic?
Yes once the train leaves the high speed-line, see the Journey Information below
How easy is it to get to the station in Milan?
Milano Centrale is served by two metro lines - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighborhood
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Paris?
The Gare De Lyon is served by two Metro lines - line 14 is now directly linked to Orly Airport. The station also has rail links to the Gare Du Nord and the La Défense business district.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay by the Gare De Lyon.n.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Milan to Paris trains?
Yes
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Milan to Paris trains?
Up to 4 months in advance, but it varies according to when / if SNCF has a promotion in place; see the Ticket Information.
What are the child ticket terms for these Milan to Paris trains?
The adult rate is charged for all travellers aged 15 and over.
Children aged 5-14 pay half fare
Does the ticket for these Milan to Paris trains include assigned seats?
Yes - See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Milan to Paris trains?
Rail passes cannot be used on these trains on this route.
Is catering available on the Milan to Paris trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about Italian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Italy.
What else is good to know about French rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in France.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
The 15:53 departure from Milano Centrale offers onward travel to France from these arriving Frecce trains:
These Frecce trains share both the most scenic part of the route, the section of the journey through the Alps between Torino and Chambery; and the high-speed line between Lyon and Paris, but in contrast to the TGV trains:
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
Frecciarossa 1000 trains on the domestic routes within Italy convey 4 classes of accommodation, but the Standard Premier service is not available on this international route.
Also 'Allegro' has been introduced as the branding for the Standard and Business Class, SMTJ isn't certain as to the reason for this, other than to make a distinction with the tickets on the domestic routes.
8hr 18min
Daily
1 x optimum connection per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Until the direct service is restored, when looking up this journey multiple journey options on different routes will be available.
The EC express trains from Milano head to multiple Swiss cities including Basel, Geneve and Zurich - and all three of these cities have Lyria high speed trains on to Paris.
Though the connections between the EC and Lyria trains in Switzerland is random.
Hence the fastest end-to-end journey time, when travelling through Switzerland, is is by taking the EC train that typically departs Milano Centrale at 07:20 and connecting in Basel into a train which is typically scheduled to arrive in Paris before 15:40.
The time between arrival and departure at Basel SBB station is a little over an hour, so there is some contingency time in the event of a delay to the train from Milano.
The alternative morning departure
If you can't be in Milano Centrale for 07:20, there are usually two other morning options for a Milano to Paris via Switzerland journey:
If you're a fan of engineering achievements then this is an awe-inspiring journey.
After Domodossola the train travels through The Simplon Tunnel and after Visp it will travel through The Lötschberg Base Tunnel - both of which were previous holders of world's longest railway tunnel honors.
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) the first highlight from a scenic point of view are the fabulous views over Lake Maggiore.
They can be seen north of Arona...
but what's particularly worth looking out for is when the train departs from Stresa.
...and shows the beautiful islands in the lake - and it also showcases why ShowMeTheJourney has tried and failed to photograph these islands, they can only be glimpsed through the trees. (These videos above and the video below were taken from trains travelling in the opposite direction).The part of the journey between Domodossola and The Simplon Tunnel is also fabulous, as the train will thread through a valley as it approaches the tunnel.
The other scenic highlight is the part of the journey between exiting the Lotschberg Base Tunnel and arriving in Thun station.
The beautiful Thunersee comes into view on the right as the train arrives in Spiez.
Between Speiz and Thun the train travels by the shore of Lake Thun.
The lake is on the right when heading north.The train will reverse direction on departure from Bern.
The 14:23 train only departs between certain dates only.
The usual first train of the day does not depart on Sundays.
Final Destination: Zurich, Bâle/Basel
All trains also call at: Mulhouse-Ville
Most trains also call at: Dijon-Ville
This is a journey of four distinct parts.
1: Initially the train will travel on the high speed line south from Paris.
2. The train switches to conventional tracks north of Dijon - the most scenic part of the journey
3. Between Dijon and Mulhouse there is another high speed line.
4. The final part of the journey from Mulhouse to Basel is on conventional tracks.
The Lyria train service between Lille and Zurich has been discontinued.
When travelling from cities north of Paris* you have to transfer across the French capital in order to catch the Lyria trains.
*= There is one ICE train per day that takes an Amsterdam - Utrecht - Koln/Cologne - Basel route.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Making the connection in Basel:
In the very unlikely event of a delay to the EC train from Milano causing the booked connection on to Paris to be missed, there is relatively new E.U. legislation which protects travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, but it only applies to 'through tickets'.
The operators of both trains have also signed up to Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) policy for when a traveller holds separate transport 'contracts' for an end-to-end journey involving more than one train.
So this agreement applies both when 'a bundle' of tickets / contracts is issued as the result of a single transaction - and if travellers have bought several different tickets for their journey, even from different sales channels/ticket providers.
As long as the passenger had planned enough connecting time to change trains (called “reasonable connecting time”), the AJC will apply.
So in usual* circumstances, if a delay to the EC train causes the booked connetion to be missed, replacement tickets/reservations will be issued at the Gare Montparnasse.
*= But that new E.U legislation specifically states that in exceptional circumstances, the train operators do not need to issue replacement tickets - and the terms and conditions on the SNCF Connect website reiterate this.
These exceptional circumstances specifically stated in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament include:
8hr 37min (Sat/Sun)
Not Every Day
1 x optimum connection per day at weekends
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on SNCF Connect ticket sales. SNCF Connect doesn't charge booking fees and is the online booking service of the national rail operator in France. It also sells tickets for direct high speed trains between France and Belgium, Germany, Barcelona, London, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.
Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.
And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service.
You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.
Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.
SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store
SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe.
If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so.
Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Until the timetable change on December 9th there is an EC train which departs Milano Centrale daily for Geneve at 13:05, but from December 10th it will only be operating on Saturday and Sunday.
The time between arrival and departure from Geneve is scheduled to be a little over an hour, with an arrival into Paris of around 21:45.
The afternoon alternative
From December 10th the only viable option for Milan to Paris journey by train, after midday on Monday to Friday, is to depart from Centrale station at 13;20 on an EC train heading to Zurich.
However, not only is this a longer route in terms of distance, so the end-to-end journey time is around 9hr 30min, with an arrival into Paris at around 22:45.
This is an enchanting journey, which tends to get overlooked, but not by ShowMeTheJourney; as it's been included in our list of Europe's Most Epic Express Train Journeys
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) there are some fabulous views over Lake Maggiore after Arona.
Though this video, filmed in the opposite direction, only gives a sense of the view of the beautiful islands that can be seen by the lake shore, shortly after the train has departed from Stresa.
ShowMeTheJourney has been a tad unlucky with the weather when making this train ride.
The train then travels through a spectacular valley between Domodossola and The Simplon Tunnel - which for much of the 20th century was the world's longest railway tunnel.
Between Visp and Sion, the train threads through spectacular valleys lined with vineyards.
The views on this part of the journey are wonderful from both sides of the train - but the video shows what can be seen on the right.
And then the journey ends with a flourish, as either side of Montreux, there are some great views over Lake Geneva from the left of the train
This clip was also filmed from a travelling in the opposite direction - and technically it isn't our best attempt at capturing a train journey, but it gives a sense of what you can expect to see in fine weather!
This is a journey of two distinct contrasts
The first third of the journey is scenic.
If your reserved seat is on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel), there are views of the river valley to be enjoyed between Geneve and Bellegarde.
But the most scenic part of the route comes between Bellegarde and the high speed line.
For the final two thirds of the journey, the train will be on the high speed line.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Making the connection in Basel:
In the very unlikely event of a delay to the EC train from Milano causing the booked connection on to Paris to be missed, there is relatively new E.U. legislation which protects travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, but it only applies to 'through tickets'.
The operators of both trains have also signed up to Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) policy for when a traveller holds separate transport 'contracts' for an end-to-end journey involving more than one train.
So this agreement applies both when 'a bundle' of tickets / contracts is issued as the result of a single transaction - and if travellers have bought several different tickets for their journey, even from different sales channels/ticket providers.
As long as the passenger had planned enough connecting time to change trains (called “reasonable connecting time”), the AJC will apply.
So in usual* circumstances, if a delay to the EC train causes the booked connection to be missed, replacement tickets/reservations will be issued at Basel SBB.
*= But that new E.U legislation specifically states that in exceptional circumstances, the train operators do not need to issue replacement tickets - and the terms and conditions on the SNCF Connect website reiterate this.
These exceptional circumstances specifically stated in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament include:
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
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This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.
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