My mom and I will be traveling to Europe in late September 2024. We will be going through the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany. We currently have all of the days on our itinerary booked except for one, the day between leaving from Bruges and getting to Charmey, Switzerland. We’d like ideas on what town to stop in for about 24 hours to break up the train ride between Belgium and Switzerland. My mom and I have already been to Paris, and some of the northwest and south of France, but not really the northeast.
We were thinking that Strasbourg or Lyon might be good ideas for this one day stop. The travel times between each of them and our next destination are about equivalent (4-5hr on both days). If anyone has advice to decide between these two towns, or suggestions for other places we should consider I’d be very grateful.
P.S. I know this is posted in the France forum, but we’d also consider locations in southwest Germany!
P.P.S. we will have the continuous Eurail pass, so cost of train tickets doesn’t matter
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
There is a direct TGV from Brussel Midi to Lyon Part Dieu. That is about half way, so Lyon makes a good 24 hour layover. The TGV does require you to purchase seat reservations, but nothing after that, although is it appears you need to take a Postbus from Gruyeres to Charmey, which is not covered by Eurail Pass.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1481 posts
In France I'd recommend Nancy. Fewer tourists and actually as pretty as Strasbourg, especially at night. Yes, you don't have the Little Paris, but the Palace Stanislaus is fantastic, and Nancy has better museums.
In Germany I'll suggest Neustadt on the Wine Strasse, Speyer, or Baden-Baden.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
418 posts
For all things train, it's best to look at The Man in Seat 61. Here is the relevant page:
https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Brussels.htm#Brussels-Switzerland