🌎 Countries crossed
🕔 Travel time
💼 Journey type
Our 8-day rail tour of Sicily
Want to explore Sicily without a car? We present the ultimate itinerary for discovering the largest Mediterranean island by train. 😍
Paris, FranceMilan, Italy
TGV Inoui
≈ 7h00
Milan, ItalyTaormine, Italy
Night train
≈ 17h41
Taormine, ItalyCatane, Italy
Regional train
≈ 00h41
Catane, ItalyEnna, Italy
Bus (other)
≈ 1h10
Enna, ItalyAgrigente, Italy
Bus (other)
≈ 1h20
Agrigente, ItalyPalerme, Italy
Regional train
≈ 1h50
Palerme, ItalyMilan, Italy
Night train
≈ 21h12
Milan, ItalyParis, France
TGV Inoui
≈ 9h04
Map
Videos
Detailed itinerary
On the program: Taormina and its magnificent views of the Sicilian coast, the must-see Catania (a Unesco World Heritage Site) and the Circumetnea experience (an extraordinary train around Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, which we tell you about here), the charming hilltop town of Enna, Agrigento and its famous valley of Greek temples and the sublime Sicilian capital Palermo.
Enjoy your visit!
Paris - Milan
After several months of closure following the landslide in the Maurienne Valley in late August 2023, train service between Paris and Milan resumed on March 31, 2025!
With three daily round trips, TGV INOUI trains operated by SNCF Voyageurs now offer a direct connection between Paris Gare de Lyon and Milano Porta Garibaldi in just over 7 hours.
🕒 Timetable (subject to change):
- Departure: 06:46 → Arrival: 13:50
- Departure: 09:46 → Arrival: 16:50
- Departure: 14:48 → Arrival: 21:50
Schedules may vary depending on the day and season — we recommend checking SNCF Connect for up-to-date information.
⏱️ Journey duration:
Approximately 7h04 to 7h30 for a direct trip.
🚉 Stations served:
- Departure: Paris Gare de Lyon
- Intermediate stops: Chambéry - Challes-les-Eaux, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Arvan, Modane, Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere, and Torino Porta Susa
- Arrival: Milano Porta Garibaldi
💶 Fares:
Ticket prices vary depending on demand and how early you book, but they typically start around €59 in second class.
👉 For more details, check out our complete guide to this route.
Milan - Taormine
Thanks to Trenitalia's InterCitty Notte, you can leave Milan at 9.10pm and arrive in Tormina at 1.51pm after a good night's sleep and a morning of admiring the Italian countryside from your window.
Taormine - Catane
Note that the Taormina-Giardini station (where you can take the overnight train directly from Milan) is just below the town center, so if you're busy, we recommend taking the bus.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, this town offers magnificent views of the Sicilian coast. It's also famous for its charming, lively alleyways!
Frequency: you'll find one or two Trenitalia trains per hour between Taormina (Taormina-Giardini) and Catania (Catania).
In Catania, you can take the Circumetnea (featured in this article), an amazing train line that circles the Etna volcano! An experience well worth the detour if you want to discover breathtaking views of Europe's highest active volcano and ancient lava flows. And for the more adventurous, it's also possible to climb Etna by bus from Catania town center to the foot of the volcano.
Catane - Enna
Take the bus to Enna from Catania. Often dubbed the “navel of Sicily” due to its location in the center of the island, this town sits on a mountain plateau offering impressive panoramic views of the surrounding valleys!
Enna - Agrigente
Agrigente - Palerme
From Agrigento, you can reach Palermo for less than €12 in just two hours by train. The Sicilian capital is a must if you want to discover the island's rich history and culture, with its markets, numerous monuments and rich, varied cuisine!
Palerme - Milan
From Palermo, you can take Trenitalia's InterCity Notte night train at 4:32 pm to arrive in Palermo at 10 am the next day after a good night's sleep.
Milan - Paris
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