Fly or train from Rome to Paris?

The train takes longer. Years ago my husband and I did overnight train. That was before inexpensive flights. I would fly today.

Thank you. That's the kind of input/opinion I was looking for.

I usually prefer making inter city transfers by rail , but this one is a clear case for a flight .

Fly. It's a no-brainer.

Got it. Thanks for the certainty. :)

I've got very little of that right now.

I vaguely remember Rick taking the train from Italy overnight to France on one of the travel shows, (travel skills?). I think the idea was that you get a sleeper car on the train so you can use the night, when you'll be sleeping anyway, for traveling. I suppose that depends a lot on whether you can sleep on the train. Which is another unknown/uncertainty for me. :)

Fly. My rule of thumb is 6 hours - if the train takes 6 hours or less it is generally better than flying. More than that, if there are direct flights then flying wins.

The train is something like 11 hours, at the fastest. A quick search showed that many providers were also selling journeys with 2 connections taking 20 hours. The fastest I saw had 1 connection in Milan.

The flight is 2 hours. Add 3 - 3.5 hours for transit and from airports and getting to the airport 2 hours ahead of time. So you are looking at 5 - 6 hours of time commitment for flying vs. 12 (train time + transit) for the fastest train I saw.

Flying is also cheap. Picking a random day in April I saw direct flights for $63 on Air France. Less on RyanAir, but they use less convenient airports on this route. Rome FCO to Paris CDG is the way to go, I think.

Thank you Mira.

It could be that was old advice that's superseded now with the much cheaper flights.

To work it out a little:

The quickest daytime train is
Roma Termini depart 06:00 highest speed train to Torino Porta Nuova
with only one intermediate stop (stay on the train) at Milano Centrale after 3 hours
Get off just before the end at Torino Porta Susa arriving at 09:54

Transfer time 17 minutes

Leave Torino Porta Susa station (change trains) at 10:11 on a high speed TGV 9244
the train will stop at (stay on):
Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere dep 11:13

Bardonecchia dep 11:23

Modane dep 11:52

Chambery-Challes-E dep 12:56

Aix-les-Bains-le-Revard dep 13:13

Bourg-en-Bresse dep 14:15

Mâcon-Loché TGV dep 14:36
and will arrive at
Paris Gare de Lyon in the centre of Paris at 16:11.

Total travel time because you are city centre is 10 hours and 11 minutes (the length of the train ride), and there are no luggage issues if you can carry your own luggage (if you are on Rick Steves' tours you will be able to). Take all the food you want and all the drink too, as long as you can carry it and not become a nuisance (if you are doing RS tours, you won't become a nuisance).

Flying - Figure an hour to get to FCO because although the train is faster than that you need to make sure you don't miss one so leave a little fudge time, then 2 hours to go through check-in and security. 2:10 minutes flight time if departure is prompt and no delays on route or landing. Around an hour to get out of the airport or so, and then around an hour into Paris by taxi or RER.
So total travel time flying somewhere around 7 hours and 10 minutes.

Flying is then somewhere around 3 hours faster. Stress, security theatre, scenery, and seat comfort aren't included in the calculation.

As for price, if you get them far ahead they may be about a wash, with the headline price of flying on a discount airline possibly cheaper until you add seat selection, luggage, and the myriad of other charges in.

There is a Night Train option with one change at Milano Centrale at around 11pm,
Roma Termini dep 20:00 FR 9660 Frecciarossa Direction: Milano Centrale
Milano Centrale arr 22:55

transfer time 18 min.

Milano Centrale dep 23:13 EN 220 EuroNight Direction: Paris Gare de Lyon
Sleeper and couchette train , Global price , Couchettes , Bordrestaurant
+ 1 Day
Paris Gare de Lyon arr 09:55

or getting in over an hour earlier if you both change at both Milano Centrale onto that same night train and change again in Dijon at 6:45 onto a fast TGV, arriving Gare de Lyon at 8:37am.

Roma Termini dep 20:00 FR 9660 Frecciarossa Direction: Milano Centrale
Global price , Bar , space for wheelchairs
Milano Centrale arr 22:55

Transfer time 18 min.

Milano Centrale dep 23:13 EN 220 EuroNight Direction: Paris Gare de Lyon
Sleeper and couchette train , Global price , Couchettes , Bordrestaurant
+ 1 Day
Dijon Ville arr 06:43

Transfer time 17 min.

Dijon Ville dep 07:00 TGV 6700 TGV Duplex Direction: Paris Gare de Lyon
Subject to compulsory reservation , Global price , Bar , space for wheelchairs
Paris Gare de Lyon arr 08:37

Nigel, that was wonderful! Thank you. And confirmed what I suspected, that the overnight train was a real possibility so "travel while you sleep" is a thing to consider. With also the unknown possibility of not being able to sleep while train-ing. Must consider.

Nigel, I should have asked, is that train schedule info from a easily downloaded/used app? Or perhaps an online site? I saw the section on Rick's site about "Trains" but haven't read it yet.

I don't know which website Nigel prefers, but a lot of us use the Deutsche Bahn site because it is so user-friendly.

When you see a routing you're interested in, click on "Show Details". If you also want to see all the stops a train makes (highly recommended for night trains, because a lot of us wake up at every stop), click on "Show intermediate stops".

If it turns out that you don't, in fact, get much/any sleep on the night train, you may lose the following day to severe fuzzy-headedness. I swore off night trains after that happened to me when I traveled overnight from Rome to Sicily. With luck the rails are in better conditioning traveling north.

The night train is operated by www.thello.com. They currently have their deepest discounted fares starting from €62 Rome-Paris for travel in March, including the Rome-Milan leg, then a berth in a 6-passenger couchette. Those low rates will sell out first. The fewer the beds in a compartment and the closer to departure that you purchase, the higher the fares will be. They're all laid out on a chart when you search that web site. This night train is not known to be especially luxurious. A private single compartment costs €215 plus the cost of the Rome-Milan leg.

Hi Robert. Lots of great info above, including Nigel's superb analysis.

We lived in Rome for several years and took the train to Paris (and back) 3 times, always during the day. Doing the whole Rome-to-Paris as one trip is too much, IMO, during the day and without a couchette. If you want to go during the daylight hours, I recommend going to Torino and spending a night or two (lovely city!) and then continuing on to Paris. You add a destination you might otherwise miss, get to sleep in a real bed every night, and can see the countryside.

Thanks for the train site acraven

That worries me a little Laura. Any issue about stowing bags in multiple people compartments?

Just had a thought. In comparing the two options I should add the cost of a hotel night onto the "flight" option. Yes, a flight would get me to Paris quicker (and possibly non-fuzzyheaded) but unless I "run" from the morning departure group of the tour (and I don't want to do that) I'll be taking the flight later in the day. So I have to rent a hotel for that night (that I would be sleeping/traveling) on the train. Seems like I'd get into Paris too late to do much, even if I wasn't tired.

So that means (As per Laura) "...€215 plus the cost of the Rome-Milan leg." for a single compartment vs. €40-60 for a flight + single night hotel. Flight still wins, but not as much.

I look at it like this: I'll get a better night's sleep in the cheapest hotel room on the planet than in the most expensive sleeping compartment on a train. If you haven't tried a night train previously, I think it's a gamble. You may gain some sightseeing time, or you may be utterly miserable until you can collapse into bed (and possibly have disrupted sleep for more than one night).

Yeah. I sleep pretty easy but that's a large unknown.

I'll just add that possible train or plane disruption is one reason I like to be in place for a tour at least the day ahead. Whether you fly or take the train, either transportation system can have strikes in Italy or France, so give yourself a little bit of flex time.

Personally, I'd fly. When I finished the Best of Paris tour I took an EasyJet flight to Venice to pick up the Village Italy tour (which started in nearby Padua). Even with airport time I did not feel as beat from travel as I probably would from a long train journey.

IF you go with a flight on a low-cost carrier, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. Sometimes it's easier to go ahead and pay for a checked bag, seat selection and "speedy boarding" up front. It adds to the bottom line but still can come out cheaper. Or not. So check the legacy airlines as well from Rome to Paris. When I ended the GAS tour in Vienna and was going to London it was slightly less to fly British Airways over the low cost carriers, plus there were many more flights per day.

I'll also add that taking a flight later in the day is good. You don't want to try to get to the airport at the crack of dawn on your departure day. I'll also say that many of your fellow tour members WILL wind up leaving early, especially those returning directly to the US that day. BTW, your Rome hotel will book a taxi to the airport for you if you ask the afternoon before. You might be able to share a cab with other tour members as well.

Thanks Pam,

I've been thinking of staying an extra couple of nights in Rome then up to Paris for an extra night before that tour. Probably the easiest on me.

So, I will be going to the Rome Airport (looking like) with just myself 3 nights after the tour. Is a cab still the best way to get to the Airport? And are there some Airports I should avoid when booking flights?

You have received what must be one of NIgel's longest, and as always very informed, posts. Here are two slight additions for research and comparison:

www.skyscanner.com will show one-way budget flights that many other sites do not

www.seat61.com Plenty about rail travel.

If you are staying near Termini train station you could take the Leonardo Express train to Fiumicino (FCO) airport. The train costs about 14 euros. Alternatively, you could take a taxi from your hotel to FCO airport for a flat fare of 48 euros.

Most flights from Rome to Paris go from Fiumicino (FCO) to Paris Charles deGaulle (CDG). Easyjet and Air France run frequent flights.

Looks like I won't be taking a cab or at least not to the airport. The tour hotel is (if I understand) recommending public links to Termini station

https://www.hoteloceania.it/faq.php

"Termini station has direct links to both of the city's main airports. On arrival at Termini, guests can either take the A-Line to Repubblica and then walk to us from there or alternatively, Termini station also has a large taxi rank if you prefer to get a taxi from Termini to our door."

The Oceania is only about a 10 minute walk to Termini train station. We have stayed at the Aberdeen, which is on the same street as the Oceania, and found it to be an easy walk to the train station. You can buy tickets for the Leonardo Express from self-service machines at Termini.

Thanks Bob. That (and the hotel's recommendation) seems to have solved my trip planning issue for hotel -> airport on my own.

How's the streets for dragging a bag behind?

Been looking at the hotel site. They have links for common Rome public transportation. Is there anything to watch out for with these?

Rome Airports - timetables and transport information for Ciampino (CIA) and Fiumicino (FCO) - the two airports of the city
Atac - the public transfer system in Rome offering bus & metro times and routes
MetRoma- Metro, lines and general info
Trenitalia- Italian rail, including train times from Fiumicino Airport in addition to throughout the rest of Italy

https://www.hoteloceania.it/links.php

Hi Robert:

Just sent you a PM regarding the upcoming November travel group meeting in Tualatin on the 17th. You might want to attend if you are able. Lots of seasoned travelers and great advice.

The streets are fine in that area BUT you need to be pickpocket proof in the area around the station. Have your passport/CC/DC/ extra Euro in your money belt. Have the Euro you'll need for the train accessible in your day bag (but not in a pants pocket). Once you get to the airport, go into a bathroom, get out your passport and the next set of money you'll need, then re-stow. You'll need to put your money belt in an inaccessible area of your day bag to go thru security.

Thanks Pam, that's the insight I was hoping for.

Thanks Mother Duck, Patricia had already sent me one. I assume that's the Panera across the freeway from the Capella's place?

How's the streets for dragging a bag behind?

Assuming it has wheels, no problem. {but I stayed on the sidewalk except when crossing the street :-) ]

Yes, across I-5 from Cabella’s, in the shopping center with Old Navy. See you on the 17th!

Depending on your time constraint going from Rome to Paris can be easily done by train..absolutely...it's . up to your travel style and comfort level.