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Cross-border route · Europe
Milão–Paris by train through the Alps
By train from Italy to France through the Alps: Milão, Turim, the Maurienne valley, Lyon and Paris in about seven hours, with no transfers.
Italy
France
4 cities 2 countries
In the photo: Sacra di San Michele
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The route
What is Milão–Paris by train through the Alps
Two high-speed trains link Milão to Paris without transfers: the Frecciarossa, from Trenitalia, and the TGV, from SNCF. The journey takes about 7 hours. Trains depart from Milão, stop in Turim (Porta Susa), climb the Susa valley, cross the Alps via the Fréjus tunnel, stop at the border station of Modane and descend the Maurienne valley to Chambéry. The Frecciarossa also stops in Lyon (Part-Dieu); the TGV bypasses the city. Both arrive at Gare de Lyon in Paris.
Between Turim and Chambéry the route is mountainous: peaks, forts, stone villages and meltwater rivers out the window. Italy and France are in the Schengen area and use the euro.
The line through the Alps is undergoing works and can have timetable changes, bus sections or cancelled trains at times: check before buying and again the day before travel. The most common approach is to do it in one go in a single day, or to stop in Turim and in Lyon.
The map
4 cities in 2 countries
Outlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
The journey
City by city
Distances and times are approximate: check before you set out.
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1 · Italy
Milão
The route starts in Milão. The Frecciarossa usually departs from Milano Centrale, and the TGV from Milano Porta Garibaldi: check the station on your ticket. In the city, the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Last Supper (book in advance) and the Brera district.
→ Turim cerca de 50 min Frecciarossa ou TGV, pela linha de alta velocidade Milão–Turim.
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2 · Italy
Turim
The train stops at Turim Porta Susa, about 50 minutes from Milão. Turim has arcaded squares, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana with the Cinema Museum and historic cafés. After Turim the train climbs the Susa valley, passes Oulx and enters the Fréjus tunnel.
→ Lyon cerca de 3h30 a 4h Frecciarossa pelo vale de Susa, túnel do Fréjus, Modane e Chambéry. O TGV faz o mesmo caminho até Chambéry, mas não para em Lyon.
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3 · France
Lyon
Only the Frecciarossa stops in Lyon, at Part-Dieu station; the TGV continues directly to Paris. Earlier, already in France, both trains stop in Modane, the border station, and in Chambéry at the foot of the Alps. In Lyon, the old town (Vieux Lyon), the basilica of Fourvière atop the hill, the bouchons and the meeting of the rivers Ródano and Saône.
→ Paris cerca de 2h Frecciarossa pela linha de alta velocidade Lyon–Paris até a Gare de Lyon.
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4 · France
Paris
The line ends at Gare de Lyon, in the 12th arrondissement, connected to the metro and the RER. For Paris allow at least three days: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Montmartre and the Sena.
How to travel
The way and the tickets
On a direct train, with a ticket purchased in advance and an assigned seat. Both trains require a reservation. There is no check-in: just find the train on the departure board and board.
Best time to go
When to go: month by month
From May to June and in September: long days, green mountains and mild temperatures in the cities. In winter the Alps are snowy, the scenery changes and the trip is still possible, but the line may have more interruptions due to snow or works. July and August are hot in Milão and in Paris.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Planning
Planning the trip
How many days
The train covers the whole route in about 7 hours. To visit the four cities, allow 7 to 10 days; with 5 days, stay in Milão, Lyon and Paris.
Who it is for
For those who want to link Italy and France without flying, for those who enjoy mountain scenery from the window, and for those who want to stop in Turim or Lyon, which are often left off typical routes.
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Milão–Paris by train through the Alps
Quanto tempo leva o trem de Milão a Paris?
Cerca de 7 horas, sem baldeação, no Frecciarossa ou no TGV. Até Turim são cerca de 50 minutos, e de Lyon a Paris, cerca de 2 horas.
Qual a diferença entre o Frecciarossa e o TGV?
Os dois fazem Milão–Paris em tempo parecido. O Frecciarossa, da Trenitalia, para em Lyon (Part-Dieu); o TGV, da SNCF, não. As passagens são vendidas em sites diferentes, e as estações de Milão podem ser diferentes: confira no bilhete.
A linha pelos Alpes está funcionando?
A linha passa por obras e, em alguns períodos, pode ter horários mudados, trens cancelados ou trechos feitos de ônibus. Confirme antes de comprar, no site da Trenitalia ou da SNCF, e confira de novo na véspera.
Precisa mostrar passaporte entre a Itália e a França?
Os dois países estão no espaço Schengen e não há controle fixo de fronteira. O trem para alguns minutos em Modane, e às vezes a polícia passa pelo trem: leve o passaporte com você.
Precisa reservar assento?
Sim. Nos dois trens a passagem já vem com lugar marcado, e quem viaja com passe Interrail ou Eurail precisa comprar a reserva à parte.
Dá para descer em Turim ou em Lyon e seguir depois?
Sim, com bilhetes separados para cada trecho. Lyon só fica no caminho de quem usa o Frecciarossa; com o TGV, a parada na França é em Chambéry.