We want to see the wonder of the alps ( we just don't have mountains like it in Australia!). We are touring through Italy then heading across to France from the direction from Venice, probably to Lyon then heading north. Does anyone have any ideas if there are local trains or busses that would go anywhere that we could see the alps? We are traveling by public transport for this trip. We are in our mid 50's.
Maybe we could do a day trip from somewhere by catching a train or bus? Or we could go on route but I suspect that isn't possible.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks
Posted by
Green Bay
20940 posts
If you are going from Northern Italy to Lyon, you will be going through the Alps. Right now, until early June, the main line track from Torino to Lyon is interrupted by a landside earlier this year, so you would have to go Milan to Geneva to Lyon. That route goes through the Alps, the highest section is by the long Simplon Tunnel. If it is a clear day, you could take a side trip at Visp by taking the train up to Zermatt and see the Matterhorn. That would be about a 3 hour side trip, unless you wanted to extend your time and take the Gornergratbahn up the mountain, and then the view of the Matterhorn and the surrounding high peaks of the Alps would be spectacular.
Posted by
Wengen
2376 posts
If you are coming from Venice and going to Lyon you could for example go to Aosta or Courmayeur by train, and then there take a coach to Chamonix, then proceed to Lyon from there by coach and/or train. Chamonix gets you up and close with the Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. So that would certainly fit your intentions.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
They are both great suggestions. We are actually travelling in late September/ early October so it is possible that the train line may be repaired.
In regards to the coaches, is there anything that is a pro or con compared to the train?
Also is there any places that would be a highly recommended side trip or place that we should not miss?
Thanks