The Train Connecting Milan and Paris Is Finally Back

The novelty of starting your day with a croissant in Paris and eating Italian pasta for lunch is back on the menu this March. The hugely popular train route connecting Paris and Milan is reopening after a 19-month closure. 

The train journey, which takes between six and seven hours, runs between the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris and Stazione di Milano Centrale in Milan. At its peak, the railway line saw between 30 and 35 trains a day. The route closed suddenly in August 2023 following a landslide in the Maurienne Valley that buried the railway tunnel. 

For the first time in 19 months, daily train traffic will resume on the route via several train operators, including Trenitalia, TGV Lyria, ICE, and Eurocity. The first trains will depart on the popular route on March 31, with daily service to follow. 

And the best part? Tickets start at just 29 Euros (around $30) and are available to purchase now for travel through July 4.

The journey begins (or ends) at the Paris’ Gare de Lyon train station, which is a destination itself. The station is considered one of the city’s Beaux-arts architectural masterpieces and dates back to 1849. It welcomes around 150 million passengers a year. 

From Paris, the train cuts through the French countryside before passing through the Swiss Alps and dipping south, into Italy. The train’s final stop is Stazione di Milano Centrale, which has a completely different feel than its French counterpart. The structure is a mix of Renaissance Revival, Art Deco, and Italian Art Nouveau architectural styles and serves around 120 million passengers a year. It is historically significant for its use as a deportation center for Jewish people and others during World War II. 

Americans in Europe can hop aboard this spectacular train by purchasing a Eurail pass or by booking a ticket through one of the many operators that travel on this route. Just keep in mind that while train tickets between Paris and Milan can often be bought at the last minute, popular routes and fare classes do book up, and prices tend to increase as the departure date approaches. 

For the best selection and pricing, Rail Europe recommends booking at least seven days in advance, and 30 days, if possible.