We are planning a 3-city trip next fall. Our plan is to go from Rome to Florence and then to Paris. We were going to do both hops by rail. The Rome to Florence won't be a problem, but I'm having a tough time figuring out the Florence to Paris leg. We were hoping to go from Florence to Paris on a daytime train so that we could look at the countryside along the way. Is this impossible? I see no day train leaving earlier than 2 PM (14:00) and that gets in after 11PM -- a tough time to be arriving. Is there no daytime train that leaves and gets in earlier? Is an overnight train or plane the only alternative?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17577 posts
Carol, where are you looking for the schedules? There are lots of options that will work and give you the whole trip in the daytime, if that is what you want. Probably the simplest is to depart Florence at 9:00 on the Eurostar to Milan; change there to a EuroCity train to Basel; change there to a TGV to Paris. total travel time is 10 hours 34 minutes. Try using the Swiss or German website to find your schedules (www.rail.ch or www.bahn.de). They will show schedules for all of Europe. Right now they are only complete up to Dec. 12 when the new schedules come in to effect, but you can use the current schedules for guidance. They will not change much.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you don't mind getting up early, for the same total travel time (10hr34min) you can go Florence-Milan-Zurich-Paris, departing at 07:00 and arriving at 17:34.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17577 posts
Good point, Tim. that route micht be a bit more scenic, as it avoids the Lötschberg Basistunnel.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32392 posts
Carol, The route provided by Tim is about the shortest and easiest one on that route. Depending on the circumstances of your trip, an alternative would be to spend one night in Milan, as there's a direct train departing Milano Centrale at 06:40, arriving Paris Lyon at 13:56 (just about the right time for Hotel check-in). Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any Florence - Milan trains that early.
Posted by
OP
Cupertino, California, USA
17 posts
Thanks, all of you who have responded. I think I have a plan now --- I just wasn't looking in the right place for the information. This is a great resource!
Carol