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Travel Guide
New Direct Train Will Relaunch From Paris To One Of Italy’s Most Stunning Cultural Cities
16
Dec
Dec
Train travel is back with a vengeance in the Old Continent, with multiple new routes opening left, right and center, and if you’re heading to Paris in the near future, you’re in for a treat as a host of exciting launches are taking place.
Just recently, France’s national railway company SCNF confirmed trains will be operating between the City of Lights and two fairytale towns in the French Alps, as well as to this beautiful medieval fortress in Brittany, and they’re only getting started:
From next year, trains between Paris and Turin, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, will officially return, and as the French say, tant mieux, considering Turin is called the Italian Paris:
High-Speed TGV Trains To Northern Italy Are Back!
Having debuted during the global pandemic, the Paris – Turin service has been halted for over 16 months after a landslide at the famous Frejus tunnel, which it travels through, causing the line to be closed so reconstruction could take place.
Prior to the incident, travelers had been able to travel from the French capital to its Italian look-alike in 7 hours, without detours into Switzerland, and connecting first in Milan, the largest transportation hub in Northern Italy.
During the construction period, passengers headed to Turin were required to board the French TGV––SCNF’s high-speed train––up to a certain point and then change trains or use replacement buses to reach their destination.
Finally, the direct trains will be relaunching between March 15 and 30, meaning commuters (and tourists alike) will no longer have to resort to ingenious ways to bypass the rail blockage.
Tickets Start At Around $30
Should the route be re-inaugurated exactly as it was, trains will depart from Paris (Gare de Lyon) twice daily at 7:26 a.m. and 3:18 p.m., arriving in Turin at 2:07 p.m. and 10:07 p.m. respectively (it’s worth noting the final destination is Milan Central Station).
On the way back, trains depart from Milan at 6:25 a.m. and 3:53 p.m., picking up passengers in Turin at 7:25 a.m. and 4:53 p.m. and arriving to Paris (Gare de Lyon) at 1:22 p.m. and 10:25 p.m. respectively––for both ways, economy tickets start at around $30.
The train’s pending return is great news for travelers looking to add Paris and Turin to their Eurotrip itinerary, as flying between both cities can be considerably more expensive:
Departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, flights to Turin cost from $105 with AirFrance.
Why Visit Turin Of All Places?
We believe Paris needs no introduction: home to world-renowned landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, which towers above the winding cobbled lanes of Montmartre, and Moulin Rouge, it’s as iconic a European city as it gets.
Turin, on the other hand, is not as popular, even though it’s just as beautiful:
For starters, it’s known locally as The Italian Paris, owing to its wide boulevards lined with elegant buildings that also date back to the airy urban planning of the late 19th century, lush city parks, and grand piazzas flanked by charming cafes.
Some of the must-see ones include Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, where you’ll find a number of storied eateries oozing Old World charm, including Caffè Torino, famous for its hot chocolate and pastries, and Caffè Mulassano, where the best tramezzino in town is served.
Turin has been the Italian capital of chocolate since at least the 1700s, having issued some of Europe’s finest chocolate makers:
At the turn of the 19th century, it was supplying Germany, France, Austria (and even Switzerland) with 350 kilos of chocolate a day.
This Turin Chocolate & Wine Tasting Experience, from $65.64 per person, combines sightseeing with sampling and visits several of Turin’s most celebrated cioccolaterie––all to the tune of live commentary from a knowledgeable Torinese guide.
If you love culture, no visit to Turin is complete without stepping inside Mole Antonelliana.
If you’re wondering what it is, look for the pointy spire shooting up to the sky amid the otherwise-even cityscape; you just won’t miss it.
It is a 19th-century observation tower now accommodating Italy’s National Cinema Museum: it’s no Warner Bros Studios, but it’s a fascinating walk through the history of cinema and all its different periods, particularly as it pertains to Italian media.
For the antiquities, head over to Museo Egizio: as the name indicates, it’s a museum focused on Egyptian relics, and it’s considered one of the most important exhibits on Ancient Egypt in the world: it’s a tad pricey, at $19 per person, but it’s worth every cent.
Oh, and don’t miss out on a visit to the Royal Palace, a former royal residence of the Dukes of Savoy, now open to the public: it has opulent chambers, richly frescoed ceilings, and impossibly symmetrical gardens that put the French Versailles to shame.
For more notable points of interest, make sure you stop by the Turin Cathedral (Duomo di Torino), said to house the Holy Shroud, Jesus Christ’s burial cloth, Valentino Park, a peaceful green oasis featuring a reconstructed medieval village, and Quadrilatero Romano:
Turin’s equivalent to the Parisian Quartier Latin, the whole district is criss-crossed with pedestrianized streets lined with cafes, laid-back wine bars, and boutique shops, not to mention it boasts a high concentration of Baroque facades.
Going to Europe in 2025? Find out where else you can travel by train here.
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