I'm looking for suggestions for an itinerary between Florence and Paris in early May, we are in no hurry. Switzerland was high on my list until I realized that it is between the Summer and Winter seasons and many things will be closed in the Bernese Oberland (for example). I'm hoping to avoid long travel days and would prefer high speed trains under five hours. Some possible stops seem to be Turin, Lyon, Geneva, or on a Northern route Milan and Strasbourg through Switzerland.
Thanks!
Do yourself a favor and schedule a flight on Vueling Airline, an inexpensive European air carrier.
It's a long, long way from Florence to Paris on the ground.
When it's time for you to see Switzerland, take your time and see that beautiful country the right way--slowly.
David....I'm talking about Florence, Italy NOT Florence, Alabama. ;)
Do yourself a favour and schedule a flight on Air France instead of Vueling. Reserving well in advance is not too expensive, and you have a better chance of you and your luggage actually taking off from Florence.
It's not the money or the time....is there nothing interesting to see on that route? I mentioned that I'm willing to break up the journey over four days.
We love taking the train from Italy to Paris. We do it without stopping overnight and go via Milan. Often we go Rome-Milan-Paris and this route goes through Torino (Turin). Why not stop there for a couple of nights? It is a lovely city and often-overlooked. Firenze to Torino via Milano is less than 3 hours.
Lots to see and do in Torino and quite a different feel from other Italian cities.
Next stop Lyon, about 4 hours by train from Torino.
The final leg to Paris is only 2 hours from Lyon, so an easy arrival day.
Hi,
You could do part of this route at night by stopping in Munich, (I would ) since you are breaking up the route. Since you have some time, do the Italian part by day, From Munich (early) to Frankfurt, then chance to Paris Est. I prefer this route over via Stuttgart.
Some folks - just because you can't imagine the journey BEING the destination you think you need to "correct" the OP and direct them to a different mode of travel.
Since the entire journey from Florence to Paris is just over 10 hrs keeping each leg under 5 is pretty easy.
You could go Florence - Brenner - Lindau - Strasbourg - Paris - pick one for a 2 night stay
A swing though France would let you visit a bit of Provence and/or Lyon and/or Burgundy (but not all 3) enroute to Paris. ll great destinations.
Getting into France might eat up too much of your time, however.
Would you consider a night train or flight to Lyon? (of the two I would recommend flying.) It would let you spend some time in these destinations instead of just passing though.
Lyon is fabulous, by the way.
Florence--Nice---Marseille--Lyon
Yes, those 10plus hour train rides: I did that in 2015 going from Paris to Vienna. Actually the entire ride took more than 11 hours because of wait time and delayed trains. They're all right if you reserve first.
Another option...
Firenze - Milano - Luzern (possibly Arth Goldau - Luzern) - narrow gauge Golden Pass route on the ZentralBahn rack (cogwheel) railway via Brunig Pass and Meiringen (of Sherlock Holmes Reichenbach Falls fame) to Brienz and Interlaken Ost.
I did the Luzern - Interlaken bit (and up the hill) as a day trip with my wife the first time she went to Switzerland many years ago, long before I knew from this website I shouldn't go in May. It was either the second or third week of May, and winter had hung on a bit that year. I just thought the extra farmyard smell was how Swiss farms smelled, having grown up near and next to farms in England. (It is sprayed manure, allowed to ferment all winter, to bring up the grass quickly after the thaw). My wife had the thrill of seeing snow in the trees of the higher bits of the ride, and we picked up snow on the platform when we hopped off - and straight back on - at one of the stations along the way.
The Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau were at their best that day looking over from the cliff edge at Mürren and seeing them for (her) the first time was breathtaking.
No matter how much is shut down between seasons something is always open. If that's when you can go, then that's when you can go. You might get rubbish weather though..... or nice.
Then either backtrack to Luzern, or much simpler if you broke your journey in the Berner Oberland, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or Interlaken, continue via Interlaken West and Bern to Basel, where I suggest you make your second break of journey. All seasons of the year Basel has plenty to interest and plenty to see. There is an Ibis right next to the station and a Great Western across the street from the main entrance, and hotels in Basel give you free city transportation for the duration of your stay.
Then a very simple, short, and fast run from Basel to Paris on a TGV.
That's what I'd do, anyway.
I'd use the journey as a chance to spend time in 'off the radar' cities of Turin and Lyon - 2 nights in each.
Florence
Torino
Bourg en Bresse )
Perouges )
Lyon )
Beaujolais )
Paris
I appreciate all the suggestions and have done my usual obsessive Googling on every one.
We are leaning toward Lyon by way of Turin after seeing the amount of Michelin rated restaurants in Lyon ( I would like to try at least one). I may devote more days of the trip to Burgundy and perhaps rent a car for some wine touring and work our way to Strasbourg before a train to Paris.
Like most who post here, I have too many destinations on my itinerary, I need to whittle it down.
Switzerland needs to be a separate trip for the same reason it has managed to stay neutral through WW 1&2 I suppose... it's hard to get to by land.
If good food and wine is a priority for you, then Turin is indeed an excellent prospective stop. You may not find a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, but you'll be visiting a city whose residents care about making delicious items from quality local ingredients. And the baroque cafès alone are to die for.
Just got back from reverse of your trip. Also spent weeks looking at options like you are.
There were 4 of us including 20 and 24 y.o. children. We took high speed trip from Paris ( Gare de Lyon) to Aix en Provence( 3 hours). Rented car and spent 3 days in the Luberon Hill Towns ( Lauris as base.) I would have liked an extra day to see Roman Ruins closer to Avignon.
Then took TGV train to Nice Ville station. Nice for 1 night. Surprisingly wonderful and fun nightlife. (As far as I can tell, the locals are really supporting Nice after the attacks as it was full.)
Then local train to Genova( Trentalia I think- 2 hours?), changed trains in Genova for La Spezia then backtracked slightly to Corniglia in the Cinque Terre for 3 nights. Had the entire home that we rented through Airbnb with a 360 view of Med. and Mountains. Most beautiful place any of us had ever visited. Then local train to Florence. We decided to focus on Switerland/Germany next trip some day- so decided against the Paris through Switzerland route. Wanted to experience Provence and show kids the Cinque Terre on this trip. Very happy with our decision! Good luck.
