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Italy here we come! The 14:41 TGV from Paris to Turin and Milan waits departure from the Gare de Lyon... Buy tickets online from €29...www.raileurope.co.uk (UK residents) www.raileurope.com (US residents) www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Canada, Australia, NZ, Asia, Africa, South America) www.voyages-sncf.com (anyone) All these sites charge similar prices for these trains. Onward tickets within Italy should be booked at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. |
Paris to Turin & Milan by TGV train from €29...
Every day, three TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) high-speed trains link Paris with Turin and Milan, a leisurely journey from city centre to city centre through the French Alps. They are now run entirely by French railways (SNCF) in competition with Trenitalia who runs the Thello overnight sleeper trains. With fares from just €29 one-way, these TGVs are an excellent, civilised, relaxing and scenic way to reach Italy without the pain of the plane...
Train
times...
Paris ► Turin & Milan |
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TGV high-speed train, daily: |
TGV |
TGV |
TGV |
sleeper |
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Paris Gare de Lyon depart: |
07:49 |
10:41 |
14:41 |
19:45* |
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Turin Porta Susa arrive: |
13:25 |
16:17 |
20:13 |
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Milan Porta Garibaldi arrive: |
14:51 |
17:51 |
21:45 |
05:38* |
Milan & Turin ► Paris |
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TGV high-speed train: |
TGV |
TGV |
TGV |
sleeper |
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Milan Porta Garibaldi depart: |
06:07 |
08:50 |
16:10 |
23:35* |
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Turin Porta Susa depart: |
07:46 |
10:15 |
17:35 |
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Paris Gare de Lyon arrive: |
13:23 |
16:11 |
23:21 |
09:30* |
* = By Thello sleeper train. 1,2,3 bed sleepers & 4-berth, 6-berth couchettes, restaurant car, see the Thello sleeper train page. Arrives/departs Milan Centrale.
Connections from London: See the London to Italy page for details.
Onward connections to Venice, Florence, Rome: Allow at least an hour in Milan, then book an onward train at www.trenitalia.com from just €9, and for Florence, Rome or Naples also try private operator www.italotreno.it. If you need to transfer from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Milan Centrale, this is a 10-minute €6 taxi ride or 25 minute walk.
How
much does it cost?
Fares |
2nd class |
1st class |
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Cheap advance fares: |
From €29 |
From €35 |
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Full-price: |
€113 |
€135 |
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Full-price child: |
€41 |
€57 |
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Railpass holder fare: |
€55 |
€88 |
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Domestic animals (see here): |
€35 |
€35 |
These fares are one-way. Returns are twice the one-way fare.
Cheap fares = Prems or Leisure fares = Book in advance, price varies like air fares, limited or no refunds or changes.
Full-price = Refundable and flexible. There are no senior or youth reductions.
Child fare = Child 4-11 years (use an adult special fare if cheaper). Children under 4 free.
Railpass holder fare: What you pay with a railpass (Eurail, Interrail, etc). Normal tickets are often cheaper!!
Fares may vary: On certain dates, 10-20% higher fares are charged.
What's
it like on board the TGV?
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The TGVs are air-conditioned and carpeted with comfortable 1st & 2nd class seating. 2nd class offers tables for 4 and 2-abreast unidirectional seating. 1st class offers wider seats with more leg-room, and some tables for two as well as tables for 4 and unidirectional seating with 2-abreast and 1-abreast 'solo' seats. 1st class TGV passengers can use the Grand Voyageurs 1st class lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon. Seat numbering plan for the Paris-Milan TGVs here.
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There's a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & light meals, or feel free to bring your own food & wine along for the journey. In first class you can order a 3-course meal with wine, served at your seat.
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There are power sockets for laptops and mobiles at every seat and there are baby-changing facilities and designated spaces for passengers in wheelchairs. You can now buy Paris metro tickets from the bar car, too.
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The TGV's interior is styled by designer Christian Lacroix - SNCF's experienced in-house designer still hasn't forgiven Christian Lacroix for breaking the unwritten rule and using warm colours in 2nd class, cooler colours in 1st class!
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2nd class seating on the Paris-Milan TGV. |
The 14:41 TGV to Milan at Paris Gare de Lyon... |
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Cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes. |
1st class seats on the Paris-Milan TGV... |
What's the journey like?
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The trains to Milan leave from the magnificent Gare de Lyon in central Paris. Travel tip: Why not have lunch (or at least a drink in the bar) at the fabulous Train Bleu Restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon (pictured above right) before catching your TGV to Italy? |
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The TGV accelerates out of Paris onto the high-speed line and passes pretty French countryside at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). After calling at Lyon St Exupéry it slows right down and meanders through the Alpine foothills... |
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The TGV crosses the French Alps with a stop at Chambéry... |
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...The train finally reaches Modane, the last station in France. There's a chance to stretch your legs here. Shortly after Modane, the train passes through the Fréjus Rail Tunnel, also known less accurately as the Mont Cénis tunnel, some 13.6 km (8.5 mile) long. During the 7 minutes taken to pass through the tunnel, the train enters Italy. Opened in 1871, this the oldest of the large tunnels through the Alps, and was the longest tunnel in the world from 1871 until 1882 when the Gotthard tunnel opened on the Zurich-Milan route. |
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Dinner is served... In first class, a steward takes your order for dinner around 7pm and it's served at your seat an hour or so later. This is the cold cheese plate (left) and a lasagne (right), the set menus costing €14 to €16 including main dish, yoghurt, roll and half bottle of wine or soft drink. In 2nd class, you can go to the cafe-bar to order your food. |
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More mountains... |
At Bardonecchia in Italy, leaving the Alps behind... |
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Arrival on time at Milan's modern Porta Garibaldi station. Porta Garibaldi is a 10-minute €6 taxi ride or 25 minute walk from Milan's main Centrale station. |
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Video guide: Paris to Turin & Milan by TGV...