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Train to Paris from somewhere in southern Gerany

Trying to help friends with a train question. They are making a very quick trip trip to Bavaria, then need to get to Paris. Original plan was to drive to Munich to turn in the car, stay overnight, and catch the early morning fast train to Paris. They will be leaving Mittenwald after doing a castle day, arriving in Munich too late in the evening to really do much of anything. This now looks like just another one night hotel change and the hassle that involves. They are now thinking of staying another night in Mittenwald to allow them a little more relaxed time and just driving on from there to Paris.

They don't mind driving and aren't too concerned about a drop off charge. Part of the reason for taking the train in the first place was for their grandchild to have the train experience. My question: Is there an alternative place in Germany on the route to Paris that would be a good place to turn in a car and catch a train? Someplace that has multiple trains so there's not so much pressure to get there by a certain time or miss the train. Or would it make sense to drive to Munich after a second night in Mittenwald and take something other than the very early morning fast train? They just need to get to Paris by late afternoon. Thanks for your help!

Posted by
8889 posts

Kehl near Strasbourg fits your requirements, provided your car hire company has a drop off point there.

Kehl is on the German side of the Rhine, but is a suburb of Strasbourg on the other side. You can even get a city tram from Kehl into Strasbourg city centre.
AND Strasbourg has frequent TGV's to Paris Gare de l'Est. Roughly one train per hour, trip takes 1h48 (a lot faster than you can drive).
AND Strasbourg is worth a visit, so staying the night there adds to the trip.

But "multiple trains so there's not so much pressure to get there by a certain time or miss the train." - French TGV tickets are specific to a train. They include a reserved seat on the specified train. They are a lot, lot cheaper if the tickets are bought in advance (weeks or months). Buying on the day when you get to the station will be expensive. This is another reason to stay the night in Strasbourg, then you can decide on an early morning train and buy in advance.

Plan B - drive to Munich airport, drop off the car there and fly to Paris.

Posted by
21194 posts

Stuttgart has 5 direct trains a day.

aren't too concerned about a drop off charge

Grandparents after my own heart.
How old is the grandchild? Just 3 people?

Posted by
995 posts

Grandparents with their 9yo granddaughter. Headed to Paris to fulfill her wish to visit Disneyland Paris! Thanks for both the Strasbourg and Stuttgart ideas!

Posted by
321 posts

Hi Ruth- I'll tell you that it is a Hxxx-of-a-lot easier to catch a train from Munich to Paris than it is to drive from Munich to Paris! Trust me on this- not only do you pay a large drop fee but the hassle of driving on the Autobahn and finding your hotel in Paris is not worth to time and energy compared to the train. And there are many trains from Munich every day. The early direct train is a double decker. It is currently the only direct train between Munich and Paris. However, I am not an early person so I have a reservation for this September that leaves Munich noonish and gets to Paris at 6 PM with a change in Stuttgart.. There are other trains that leave Munich mid-morning and arrive in Paris around 4 PM or earlier with only one change. So please save your friends the wear and tear and have them take the train.

By the way, to show I am not "train biased", I am a confirmed long time user of rental cars to explore out of the way small places or take short trips in Europe. But on a longish trip (Like Munich to Berlin or Paris or Amsterdam or Rome, etc.) I almost always use trains.

I hope your friends have a safe and enjoyable trip!!!!

Posted by
995 posts

Thanks, Kenneth. All good points. Will pass this on. I think what they mostly need to fix is the one night in Mittenwald + one night in Munich. A later train from Municih could keep them in Mittenwald for two nights with an easy drive to Munich the next morning to catch a train.

Posted by
321 posts

Hi again Ruth- depending on whether or not they can drop the car off, there is a regional train that leaves Mittenwald at 10:36 AM which connects to the ICE train at Munich Pasing and arrives in Paris at 18:06. This same regional train passes through Garmisch at 11:07 on the way to Munich Pasing. If they can drop the car off in Mittenwald or Garmisch ( I suspect this depends on the car rental agency) and they wouldn't have to drive through the traffic in Munich. And they will still arrive at the same time on the same train in Paris. I don't know if the regional train is always prompt, maybe someone else can give you some input on this factor.

Posted by
321 posts

Hi again Ruth- depending on whether or not they can drop the car off, there is a regional train that leaves Mittenwald at 10:36 AM which connects to the ICE train at Munich Pasing and arrives in Paris at 18:06. This same regional train passes through Garmisch at 11:07 on the way to Munich Pasing. If they can drop the car off in Mittenwald or Garmisch ( I suspect this depends on the car rental agency) they wouldn't have to drive through the traffic in Munich. And they will still arrive at the same time on the same train in Paris. I don't know if the regional train is always prompt, maybe someone else can give you some input on this factor.

Posted by
995 posts

Thanks, Kenneth! That Garmisch train could be ideal. There should be a car drop off there. I know so little about booking German trains. (Had a car when I lived there; that's my excuse.) Can you send me a link for booking info?