Last Updated on: 10th May 2026, 07:31 pm

How to Take the Train from London to Italy (Routes, Times & What to Expect)

With many people preferring to experience slow travel instead of getting on a plane, travelling by train is getting more and more popular. This is partly down to the convenience of the fast high-speed trains that are around, and people want to see more as they travel. Travelling from London to Italy by train is one of Europe’s most rewarding journeys. The trip combines high-speed rail, Alpine scenery, and the chance to turn a simple trip into a mini adventure. While there’s no direct train, the connections are straightforward once you understand how the route works. Here’s a complete guide to help you to travel from London to Italy by train. We have real train times, routes, and practical tips to help you plan your journey.

The Fastest Route By Train From London To Italy

There’s no single train from London to Italy. Instead, you’ll travel in three main stages, but the trains are easy to use and this is the fastest route that you can do from London to Italy.

Firstly, you will need to take the Eurostar from London to Paris; you can get tickets as cheap as £39 at times. When you arrive in Paris, you will need to get a train to Northern Italy (Milan or Turin). Finally, you will need to make a connection in Italy to get to your final destination.

An example of a trip leaving today (05/05/26) is

10.30 London to Paris, arriving at Paris Nord at 13.53. Then you need to use the metro to get to Paris Gare De Lyon. The TGV 9255 train leaves at 14.48 and arrives in Milan at 21.53. This train will take you just over 10 hours to get to Milan, and to be honest, by the time you travel to the airport, arrive 3 hours before your flight and then fly to Milan, it takes about the same time.

If you do not like the short transfer in London, you could take an earlier Eurostar from London and give yourself some time to have lunch before you hop on the train to Milan. This will make it a slower journey, but you might have time for some sightseeing too. To travel further into Italy, you would need to get an earlier train and then hop on a Frecciarossa (high-speed), but you would need to leave London earlier in the day to do that trip.

The Overnight Options To Get By Train From London To Italy

There is an option for an overnight trip from London to Milan. This trip could even offer you a full day in Paris for sightseeing before you head to Italy. A few trains are leaving London St Pancras every day, and they typically leave at 06:01, 07:01, 08:01, 09:31, 10:31, 11:31, 12:31, 13:31, 14:31, 15:31, 16:31, 17:31, 18:01, 19:01 and 20:01. So you can get an early train to Paris and be there for breakfast!

This trip is certainly not for the weak! And you will not be able to sleep, as it has a few different stops and changes along the way. The train leaves Paris Gare De Lyon at 18:22 and arrives in Zurich at 22:26, where you change to another train. The 23:05 train from Zurich gets you to Bellinzona for 00:47. There is a short transfer, and you get a train from Bellinzona at 00:53 to Chaisso, arriving at 01.56. There is a long transfer here, and your final train leaves Chiasso at 04:31 to arrive in Milan at 05:17. As I said, it’s for hardcore travellers!

From September, there will be an overnight train leaving Brussels at night and arriving in Milan the following morning. This train will travel 3 times a week and will make it so much easier to travel from London to Italy. So instead of taking the Eurostar to Paris, you simply take it to Brussels instead.

The Scenic Route By Train From London To Italy

Of course, you might want to go even slower and take a route that offers a more scenic journey, even if it takes a few days to get there. This is a journey we have done from experience, as we prefer the slow travel aspect of train journeys.

Leave London at 07:04 and arrive in Brussels at 10:05, then you need to quickly make your way to the train to Cologne. This train leaves at 10:25; it is a tight transfer, but you can do it. The train takes 2 hours and will bring you right into the centre of Cologne, where you can spend the day in Cologne exploring the Dom and getting some shopping in. Exploring the old town and chilling out. Then you will get the Nightjet at 23:56, and it will travel overnight to Zurich, where you will arrive at 08:05. You can book a sleeper bed or just travel on a seat to save some money.

At Zurich, you will hop onto a train to Chur because this is where the Bernina Express goes from. The Bernina Express runs twice a day, and you will arrive in time for the afternoon train. This takes a journey through the Alps, and it is the most scenic train journey to take. You will arrive in Tirano, where you will take a regional train or bus to Milan.

If you don’t want to take the Chur to Tirano route, you can take a faster train from Zurich to Milan, which will get you there in half the time of the Bernina Express.

Tips To Make Your Journey Easier

Allow Time in Paris

Paris is a busy city, and you’ll need some time to transfer stations, because trains going in different directions will go from different stations. The transfer from Gare Du Nord to Gare De Lyon can be as long as 30 – 40 minutes.

Book Early

Tickets usually go on sale about 4 months in advance. You will need to book in advance to secure seats on popular routes.

Check-in Rules

Eurostar requires arrival 30–90 minutes before departure; it can get very busy in the summer months or busy periods like Christmas time.

Pack Smart

You’ll handle your own luggage between trains, so you need to travel as light as possible. It is no fun lugging a huge suitcase onto a train and then finding there is no storage.