🌎 Countries crossed

France, Italy

🕔 Travel time

10 days

💼 Journey type

Culture, Beach, Party

Our 10-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,
France
Milan,
Italy

High speed train

High speed train

(≈ 7h00)

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Milan,
Italy
Taormine,
Italy

Night train

Night train

(≈ 17h41)

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Taormine,
Italy
Catane,
Italy

Regional train

Regional train

(≈ 00h41)

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Catane,
Italy
Enna,
Italy

Day bus

Day bus

(≈ 1h10)

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Enna,
Italy
Agrigente,
Italy

Day bus

Day bus

(≈ 1h20)

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Agrigente,
Italy
Palerme,
Italy

Regional train

Regional train

(≈ 1h50)

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Palerme,
Italy
Milan,
Italy

Night train

Night train

(≈ 21h12)

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Milan,
Italy
Paris,
France

High speed train

High speed train

(≈ 9h04)

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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!

The trip lasts 10 days and includes 8 steps, with a minimum budget of 200 euros.
High speed train

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.

The step from Paris to Milan lasts 7h00. You'll travel in a TGV Inoui operated by SNCF Voyageurs.
On board, you'll have access to: Wi-Fi, Buffet car.
Night train

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.

The step from Milan to Taormine lasts 17h41. You'll travel in a night train.
You can find tickets from 59 euros.
Regional train

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.

The step from Taormine to Catane lasts 00h41. You'll travel in a regional train.
You can find tickets from 5.5 euros.
Day bus

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!

The step from Catane to Enna lasts 1h10. You'll travel in a day bus.
You can find tickets from 5 euros.
Day bus

Enna - Agrigente

The step from Enna to Agrigente lasts 1h20. You'll travel in a day bus.
Regional train

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!

The step from Agrigente to Palerme lasts 1h50. You'll travel in a regional train.
You can find tickets from 11.4 euros.
Night train

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.

The step from Palerme to Milan lasts 21h12. You'll travel in a night train.
You can find tickets from 70 euros.
High speed train

Milan - Paris

The step from Milan to Paris lasts 9h04. You'll travel in a TGV Inoui operated by SNCF Voyageurs.
You can find tickets from 49 euros.

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