I am going leaving today to Paris. I plan to visit at least five towns in France. Also go one day into Spain and one day into Switzerland. What are the best options for train travel or even bus travel?
Posted by
Paris
10810 posts
Hello - in order for us to provide good advice, we would need to know which cities/towns you are visiting, from which cities / towns. All from Paris ? Starting from Paris then making a loop? Some combination of the two ?.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Paris to Biarritz to st Malo to Champagne region to Dijon to Avignon
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2091 posts
pgoity,
It looks like you have a clockwise loop.
Biarritz will be your nearest stop to Spain. Definitely go from there. San Sebastien is the closest place in Spain (about 2 hours by train) from Biarritz, and really the only practical place for a day trip. If you want Madrid or Barcelona plan on taking most of a day to get there, and another long day to go to St Malo. So it looks like San Sebastien is best for the one day foray into Spain.
Biarritz to St Malo will be about 8 to 11 hours by train, but I haven't checked details. You would probably go through Bordeaux, and maybe St Malo via Paris (train change and station change). Check SNCF for routes, etc. Just know that a full day will likely be needed for this leg. St Malo to Reims (Champagne region) will probably take about 6 hours (not direct). Reims to Dijon about 3-4 hours (train and/or station changes here as wel). Dijon isn't far from Avignon. Where in Switzerland you would go from there? I don't know what is best for the Switzerland leg.
It does seem like you are spending a lot of time going from place to place. Do you have specific reasons for choosing, say, Biarritz or St Malo? And how long do you have for this trip?
Let the forum know a bit more of your plans/time, etc. so we can better advise you.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
It’s actually counter clockwise if you look at it because Paris to be a Ritz I’m going to places in France that I have not seen before. That is my pretty much purpose and also seeing friends and family. I landed in France Charles de Gaulle this morning at 9 AM I am at my hotel on the left back and I like it a lot I did not realize it. It is a holiday weekend in France this weekend so I might just stay here. Thanks for all your recommendations.