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Paris to Switzerland tour

Hi guys. It will be my first time travelling to France and Switzerland. I only have 9 days 8 nights for the tour, could anyone help me for a sample itinerary? And what is the best way to travel from Paris to Switzerland? In Switzerland, I just want to tour around the green valley under the snow capped mountains,where is the best place to see it? Thank you in advance.

Posted by
8889 posts

The best way to get from Paris to Switzerland is by train. There are TGV's (Highs Speed Trains) from Paris Gare de Lyon to main cities in Switzerland, with connecting trains to anywhere in Switzerland.

"just want to tour around the green valley under the snow capped mountains" - I would recommend the Jungfrau area, one of Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen or Grindelwald.
Click here for photo of Lauterbrunnen, is this what you want?
Info and hotels here: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/

Once you have decided where you are going, you can look up train times and prices on the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) site here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/

With only 8 nights, I recomend "open jaw" flights, flying into Paris and out of Zürich, this would save a day travelling back to Paris.

Posted by
11287 posts

Perfect advice from Chris.

8 nights is really 7 full days of sightseeing as your arrival and departure days account for little. 4 nights in Paris is just a start and 4 nights in the Lauterbrunnen area is a nice intro. Don’t try to add any more stops/places to sleep!

Posted by
3 posts

thanks for the info Chris. Yes that picture you sent is what I want, I really don’t want to go at the at the top since I just travelled last time with lots of snow. Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald? Which one is better? I mean the view and the activities I can do there. And which is nearer going there? Zurich or Lucerne?

I’m also thinking to just take a plane from Paris to Switzerland so its faster. Is it a good idea?

Posted by
32683 posts

In Grindelwald you are near the Eiger. You are one valley over from the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Travel from elsewhere in Switzerland takes about the same amount of time as to Lauterbrunnen. You join the same train at Interlaken Ost, one half of the train goes to Lauterbrunnen and the other goes to Grindelwald. Just be sure to bard the correct half - the destination is clearly written on the outside of the train at the door. From Grindelwald the options to do varied locations is a bit limited.

In Lauterbrunnen you can do activities on the valley floor, such as the waterfalls, including one within the rocks, and the walks give marvelous views. You can also take a train up one side to Wengen and onwards up, and if you like you can change trains and reach the Jungfraujoch by train through the mountain. When the train makes its stop at the ice windows you are high up the Eiger and will be above Grindelwald (but you can't see it at that angle). You can also go up the other side by cable car or cable car and train to Mürren which has - for my money - some of the most incredible views, you can feel that you could practically reach out and touch the mountains on the other side. You can also go further up to Allmendhubel or even the Schilthorn with its varied attractions.

Rick Steves books do a good job of describing your options, and the transportation. Some people prefer Grindelwald, some people prefer the Lauterbrunnen Valley and above. I am firmly in the latter camp.

Posted by
3 posts

So if I will be going to Lauterbrunnen from Zurich airport, will there be a train directy going there?

Posted by
8889 posts

Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald? Which one is better?

Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are in two different valleys. Grindelwald is bigger. Your choice.

And which is nearer going there? Zurich or Lucerne?
I’m also thinking to just take a plane from Paris to Switzerland so its faster. Is it a good idea?

I don't understand the first question. Once you have decided where you want to go (Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen or somewhere else), go to the SBB website (Swiss Federal Railways: https://www.sbb.ch/en/ ), enter Paris to whichever destination, and date and time, click on "search" and it will show the trains you need to take. For the 4 Jungfrau area towns, this will not involve going via Zürich or Luzern.

End to end time, flying will be slower than the train. With flying you need to get to the airport, check-in, wait, and get from Zürich airport by train to your final destination. By train you just sit in a comfortable train all the way.

What you don't say is when you are planning this trip for. Switzerland in Winter is very different than Switzerland in Summer (unlike the UAE)

Posted by
8889 posts

So if I will be going to Lauterbrunnen from Zurich airport, will there be a train directy going there?

Yes, it is possible to get from Zürich airport to anywhere in Switzerland by train. But not by direct train, you will need to change trains. Trains are a network of interconnecting services, that is how the system works.

But, I still recommend train all the way from Paris to Lauterbrunnen or wherever. This will be more comfortable and probably quicker.