We (2 couples) will be traveling from Italy to Paris on Aug 4. Staying in Lake Como area the night before. Is the best way to do this to taxi back to Milan, then take a train to Paris? Is there another city that's better or a different option? Do all trains go through Switzerland?
Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
I wouldn't take a taxi, I'd take a train, but then you have not told us where on Lake Como you will be. Its a mighty big lake.
Posted by
OP
Philadelphia
9 posts
Hi Sam. Thanks for the very quick reply. We'll be in Bellagio.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
I think your best bet is to take the fast lake boat from Bellagio at 8:14 to Como arriving at 8:57. Then take a taxi to Como San Giovanni station and get the EC train to Zurich at 10:03 arriving at 12:51 and connecting to the TGV to Paris Gare de Lyon departing at 13:34 arriving Paris at 18:06.
You can buy tickets at www.sbb.ch/en, Use an American Express card because it seems to be the only card working these days for on-line tickets. The sooner you buy, the lower the price for train specific nonrefundable tickets with seat reservations.
Keep an eye on the boat schedule at http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp
I am looking at the current schedule that is good until May 27, and they have not issued the summer schedule yet. Could change.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
There are really 4 route options ...
1) via Torino
2) via Domodossola & Geneva
3) via Domodossola & Basel
4) via Bellinzona & Basel
I think 1) is your quickest
and while 2) is quite pretty ....
EC 34
Dep 12:23 MILANO CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 16:21 GENEVE (Switzerland)
TGV 9778
Dep 17:41 GENEVE (Switzerland)
Arr 20:49 PARIS GARE DE LYON (France)
I think 4) is your most scenic thru the Gotthard ...
EC 158
Dep 10:15 MILANO CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 14:55 BASEL SBB (Switzerland)
TGV 9226
Dep 16:34 BASEL SBB (Switzerland)
Arr 19:50 PARIS GARE DE LYON (France)
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
Looks like the best price for the route I gave you is at www.trainline.eu
Posted by
OP
Philadelphia
9 posts
Wow! Thanks for all the great suggestions and the information. You all made it easy for us to make a god decision. :)
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Description of the Gotthard route ...
http://m.swisstravelsystem.com/en/gbt/gbt_slider/gotthard-mountain-route.html
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
I think that is a little antiquated as on June 1, they initiated passenger service on the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest and deepest passenger tunnel in the world. So I admit that the scenery in a 35 mile long tunnel that bores completely under the Alps is not very spectacular. It does shave a good bit of time off the Milan-Zurich run.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
They are still running some services over the old route.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
But, if the OP wants to get Paris in a timely manner....
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Trainline is a great service, but they do not sell tickets for SBB services (domestic Swiss services).