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Paris to Firenze / Florence by train
How to take a train journey from Paris to Firenze/Florence
The options for taking the train from Paris to Florence have been reduced recently because the overnight train from Paris to Italy has been cancelled permanently and the late morning TGV from Paris has been temporarily withdrawn.
Leaving three options:
- Taking the first TGV of the day and making connections in Torino/Turin - this is by far the simplest option, so this is what has been outlined below.
- Taking the same TGV, but making a much more awkward connection in Milano.
- If you look up the journey on Trainline you won't see the option of travelling via Turin, but will instead journeys with two connections, in Switzerland and in Milan.
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Routes
From Paris Gare de Lyon/Paris Lyon to Firenze S. M. Novella
Journey Summary
9hr 40min
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these trains depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
1 x connection per day
Take the TGV which is usually scheduled to depart Paris at 06:44 and then on arrival in Torino, there is a scheduled 46 min connection in Torino Porta Susa station.
So time enough to have a coffee etc in the station cafe; and some contingency for a delay to the train from Paris
Making the connection between trains in Torino has two major advantages over making the connection between trains in Milano:
(1) The TGVs from Paris arrive at Milano Porta Garibaldi station, but most of the Frecce and Italo trains between Milano and Firenze depart from Milano Centrale station.
Though the Milano Metro links Porta Garibaldi and Centrale.
(2) The TGVs don’t use the high speed line between Torino and Milano, but the Frecce and Italo trains do, so they save around an hour when making the journeys between the two cities.
So making the connection at Torino Porta Susa station is easier and faster and generally no more expensive than travelling via Milano.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
Departing from Paris at 06:44:
This is the usual time, but when the departure is retimed you'll be looking for the journey option which departs Paris before 07:00
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The TGV heading to Torino and on to Milano will often be joined to another TGV heading to a different destination on departure from Paris.
So don't be surprised, when looking at the departure displays at Paris Gare De Lyon, if you see a train departing at the same time and from the same voie (track/platform as the train heading to Milano.
This other train will also have a different train number.
You won't have to worry about boarding the wrong part of the train - your seat will have been assigned in the train heading to Torino.
The TGVs making the journeys to Italy also spell out where they will be heading to on the exterior of the coaches.
This is, in our humble opinion, one of the most exciting journeys you can take on European express trains.
We love the mix of high speed travel and stunning Alpine scenery
Aside from the wow factor of the speed, most high speed train journeys aren't scenically interesting, when high speed lines pass through hills and mountains, they tend to dive into tunnels.
This journey picks up in terms of scenery once the train leaves the high speed line behind - and that's what makes this journey so exceptional, the alpine views from a TGV train don't get better than this!
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Salerno
The trains will also call at: Bologna
The train will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.
This is a journey of four distinct phases:
- After departure from Porta Susa station, the train will travel at up to 280 km/h on the high speed line for around 40 minutes until it reaches the outskirts of Milano
- The train will then spend around 25 minutes travelling on the railways across Milan, it will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.
- After departure from Milano Rogoredo comes the fastest part of the journey when the train will travel at more than 280 km/h to Bologna,
- Virtually all of the high speed line between Bologna and Firenze/Florence is in a tunnel.
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