Hello, I am arriving this Saturday in Paris, after four days I want to travel by train to Italy. I am seeking advice from experienced travelers of which route to take for an enjoyable side trip on my way to Rome. I have thought about even heading to Nice, as it looks inviting. I have 4 days before I need to be in Rome. Would you recommend a route that will complete my Paris/ Rome excursion. Thank you! This is my first trip, so do you think it would be better to stay longer in Paris, and Rome and forget trying to see something else?
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Unfortunately, Nice is a bit out of the way when it comes to travelling from Paris to Rome. Getting from Paris to Nice by train isn't the problem....it's getting from Nice to Rome. Train links between southern France and Italy are not terribly good. The shortest journey I could find was over nine hours, with a couple of train changes along the way. * Instead, check the German rail website at http://www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml . It's an excellent site to check train routes. Ask for information on trains between Paris and Rome, then consider stopping along the way somewhere. Some of the trains pass through Switzerland. So maybe stopping for a couple of days in the Interlaken area might be nice...it's just a short local train ride from the town of Spiez, where many of the Paris-Rome trains make a stop.
Posted by
OP
Santa Rosa, CA., USA
4 posts
Thank you, I don't want to spend that much time on the train. You are right. I would rather it be on the way towards Rome. I will check out the site you recommended.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32213 posts
Judy, I agree with Frank. Given the circumstances, it would be a good idea to stop for a day or two somewhere between Paris and Rome. Switzerland is one choice, although you might also consider somewhere in northern Italy (Varenna on Lago di Como comes to mind,). ¶ Using an arbitrary date in September, I found a direct train departing Paris Lyon at 07:41, arriving Milano Centrale at 14:50. It's only about an hour from Milan to Varenna. ¶ Nice might be another option, as it's fairly easy to get from there to Genoa and then to Rome (but it will be somewhat longer than travel from Varenna or Milan). Good luck!