If you’re planning a trip from Rome to Paris but having trouble sifting through your options when deciding whether to travel by train, plane, or car, read on. We’ve broken down all the possibilities, weighing the pros and cons of each form of travel between the two capitals, allowing you to make a decision that is budget-friendly and suited to your desired pace.
Rome is just under 700 miles from Paris, which may lead you to assume that flying is the best option, if not the only one. And this is certainly the most pragmatic option if you need to get to Paris as quickly as possible. However, if you have a little more time to enjoy and are interested in a scenic drive, taking the train or renting a car can offer a more scenic, and potentially more relaxing and enjoyable form of travel.
Flights: low-cost airlines are king
International airlines, including Alitalia and Air France, and regional low-cost carriers, such as Easyjet and Ryanair, offer daily flights from Rome to Paris, arriving at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. Flight times are approximately two hours. Flights to Beauvais Airport located on the outskirts of Paris (including some Ryanair flights) tend to be a cheaper option, but you will need to plan at least an additional hour and fifteen minutes to get to central Paris.
Taking the train: an old world romantic option
You can get to Paris from Rome in about 10 hours and 30 minutes if you take the train on the Italian side towards Milan Centrale and then head to Paris Gare de Lyon from there. On the French side, you’ll be on the high-speed TGV rails, which will speed up the journey from there. Direct night trains are also available, but make sure you don’t mind spending the night in one of those old-fashioned sleepers, possibly sharing a berth with other travelers unless you want to shell out the extra money for a private sleeper.
Arrive by car: lovely landscapes (and annoying toll points)
It can take 13 hours or even more to get to Paris from Rome by car, but it can be a pleasant way to see large swaths of Italy and France. However, expect to pay toll fees at various points during the trip.
Arriving in Paris by plane? Ground transportation options
If you are arriving in Paris by plane, you will have to figure out how to get to the city center from the airports.
R ea More:
Paris ground transportation options
Are you traveling from other Italian destinations?
If you are planning a more complex European trip and have not decided which centers to travel to and from where to travel, you may need information on how to get to other major cities in Italy from the French capital. These guides can be helpful for your planning:
- How to travel from Milan to Paris
- How to travel from Venice to Paris
- How to travel from Florence to Paris
