Compare: Paris→Milan (640 km) vs Paris→Florence (886 km). Paris → Milan wins by 246 km (28%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
640 km
398 miles · Flight: ~1h 18min · Drive: ~10h 24min
✓ Shorter route
886 km
551 miles · Flight: ~1h 36min · Drive: ~14h 24min
Difference: 246 km (28%) · Flight time difference: ~18 min
Verdict
Paris → Milan is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 246 km (28%) shorter, saves about 18 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 63 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Paris → Florence only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Paris → Milan is the shorter route at 640 km, which is 246 km (28%) shorter than Paris → Florence. You would save approximately 18 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Paris → Milan | Paris → Florence |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 640 | 886 |
| Distance (miles) | 398 | 551 |
| Flight time | ~1h 18min | ~1h 36min |
| Driving time | ~10h 24min | ~14h 24min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~832 km | ~1,152 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 124° (ESE) | 126° (SE) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~163 kg | ~226 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~142 kg | ~197 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$83 USD | ~$115 USD |
Flying from Paris to Milan produces roughly 163 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Paris → Florence flight emits about 226 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 63 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 3 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 142 kg and 197 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Paris to Milan route covers 640 km (398 miles), staying within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is located in Île-de-France, France, while Milan (population: 1,352,000) is in Lombardy, Italy.
The Paris to Florence route covers 886 km (551 miles), remaining within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is in Île-de-France, France, and Florence (population: 382,258) is in Tuscany, Italy.
Flying from Paris to Milan takes approximately 1h 18min, while Paris to Florence takes 1h 36min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 10h 24min for the first route and 14h 24min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Paris, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Milan and Florence as a destination.
The 246 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 832 km and 1,152 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 320 km of driving.
Milan (Italy) has a population of 1,352,000 and is located in the Lombardy region of Europe. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Florence (Italy) has a population of 382,258 and is situated in Tuscany, Europe. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Milan (Italy) — a city of 1,352,000 in the Lombardy region of Europe. It is also the shorter option at 640 km, which translates to a 18 min flight-time saving and roughly 63 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 832 km of road and a fuel cost band around $83 USD. The initial bearing is 124° (ESE), so a great-circle flight leaves Paris heading roughly ESE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Florence (Italy) — a city of 382,258 in the Tuscany region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 886 km, it remains the obvious pick when Florence is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Paris are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,152 km of road and a fuel cost in the $115 USD range. Departing Paris, the great-circle bearing toward Florence is 126° (SE).
Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Milan (45.46°, 9.19°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Florence (43.77°, 11.26°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Milan is closer at 640 km, which is 246 km (28%) shorter.
640 km (398 miles). Flight: ~1h 18min.
886 km (551 miles). Flight: ~1h 36min.
Flying to Milan is faster at ~1h 18min, saving about 18 min compared to Florence.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.