We are visiting our daughter in early March. She is studying abroad in Florence. We would like to take a train to Paris from Florence with two stops on the way for a night or two each. Thinking a stop in Northern Italy and then a stop in Switzerland then to Paris. Looking for any ideas regarding possible stops. Thanks!
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
If you want to make a stop in Switzerland, in Italy you have only 2 options: Como (there are a few direct EC trains to Luzern) and Milan. Bologna is on the high speed line going north, but it's too close to Florence.
Either way, you'll have to Change trains in Milan.
The Florence-Turin-Lyon route would involve only one easy train transfer at Turin's Porta Susa station, but it would also completely bypass Switzerland.
Posted by
Paris
10035 posts
What Dario said!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8304 posts
Sounds like it's just very difficult to get there from there.
Sometimes it's just best to fly, especially with the advent of budget European airlines. When a train gets over 4 hours in duration, I'm looking for alternative travel. And the distances in Europe can get longer than many people realize. I use Google.com/maps to figure out distances, time and approximate cost for different modes of transportation.
Posted by
Meridian, Mississippi, USA
124 posts
Danielle,
You have so many options it's hard to answer. Here's my suggested route based upon two of my favorites along the way: Take the train to Luzern, Switzerland it takes about 5 to 6 hours. Then take the train to Colmar, France it's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Finally, take the train to Paris from Colmar it is about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.
Luzern, picturesque medieval Swiss town on a lake nestled at the base of the alps. You can take a trip up Mt. Pilatus, a boat on the lake, and walk across old wooden bridges.
Colmar is a lovely fairy tale village in the Alsace. Here you can meander among old crooked timber-framed buildings, shop for fine food in the covered market, and visit a fantastic art museum the Unterlinden Museum.
There's so much to see you are going to have to narrow it down.
Happy Planning!
Posted by
Southwest Florida
902 posts
Consider Interlaken as a stop in Switzerland. The options there are more nature-based, and Lauterbrunnen just a short ride away for that true Swiss Alps experience.
Posted by
Denver, CO USA
470 posts
Consider: Firenze - Torino - Chambéry - Paris
Posted by
616 posts
If you have time I would go
Florence - Pisa - Ventimiglia -Nice ( stop in Nice for one or two nights and see the old city and go and have a walk along the sea route. If you stay two days, you could also visit Monte Carlo and see its palace where Grace Kelly lived for so many years.
Nice- Arles - Arles old city is one of the most beautiful town in Frances. It’s arena are fabulous and its wonderful old city.
Then Arles -Avignon -Paris
Arles - Lyon -Paris
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3256 posts
I like Dario’s suggestion about Torino and Lyon. Torino is not mentioned in Ricks guides but has a lot of wonderful sites - the Mole, Centro Storico, Egyptian Museum, Automobile Museum, to name a few. Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. The old part of the city has secret passageways, Gallo-Roman ruins and a great archaeological museum just for starters. Nice center in which to stroll along the Sâone River.
Posted by
616 posts
Should you have problems with French trains, check both Ryanair planes from Pisa, Torino, Bologna, Genoa, Milan to Paris
Or flixbus from
Florence
Genoa
Lyon
Torino
Milan