I did this ride many years ago and it was perfectly fine riding overnight!

What we don’t know are your budget and/or time restrictions. If you have any/either, it’s a perfectly fine option.

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are a backpacking student looking to hang out with other backpacking students, refugees and other people traveling on a shoe string and prepared for horrendous train delays and beggars climbing on board at stops along the way (we went from Paris to Milan and the 24 hours ran to 44 hours), then go ahead. You'll certainly have an adventure.

Train may have been like that a while ago. But with the investments in train lines in France and Italy, the high speed train now from Paris-Milan is only 8 hours. And while I haven't ridden that line, the one from Provence to Paris a few years ago was a very comfortable fast ride without anything like you are describing. Similarly for high speed train rides in Italy. It's still a looong 9 hour ride from Paris-Florence and I would fly. But it will not be anything like you are describing.

Unless you are a backpacking student looking to hang out with other backpacking students, refugees and other people traveling on a shoe string and prepared for horrendous train delays and beggars climbing on board at stops along the way (we went from Paris to Milan and the 24 hours ran to 44 hours), then go ahead. You'll certainly have an adventure.

flights within Europe are so cheap. You should at least check google flights to compare. we're talking less than $100 per flight on a lot of routes. Check Paris-Pisa if Florence is more.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the hours. If overnight, no you can’t see anything. If during the day I would consider if I was traveling for a few weeks, if just a week or so I wouldn’t waste a day.

This sounds right. Also, looked at a random day about a month out- June 6. Flying at a reasonable time with checked bag was 100 euros, plus 10 to get to CDG plus 10 to get into Florence equals 120/person to fly. 9 hour train ride is 140 euros.

I would only take the train if I was making stops in between and it was a multiple day trip.

Depends on the hours. If overnight, no you can’t see anything. If during the day I would consider if I was traveling for a few weeks, if just a week or so I wouldn’t waste a day.

If the idea of spending 10 hours on a train appeals to you, sure. I would fly.

Good idea or bad?