Anyone have experience with either of these routes? I’m planning a 3 night trip to the Alps with my kid (from Paris and then headed to Amsterdam) and I’d love recommendations for the fastest method and/or least amount of transfers. I could really use suggestions for Grindelwald to Amsterdam, in particular, since that journey is so long. Has anyone tried an overnight train or plane ride? Just trying to figure out my options. Thank you everyone!
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
Paris leg will require a change in Basel and then a change in Interlaken and then to Grindelwald.
You would probably want to go to Zurich or Basel to fly to Amsterdam.
The only night train headed that way looks Basel to Cologne
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You can take a night train from Basel to Cologne but you're only on that particular train from 23:13 to 6:05, so it doesn't give you very long to sleep.
Posted by
Grand Rapids, MI
768 posts
I've done the Paris to Lauterbrunnen route often, and in my case via Geneva. (Basel and Zurich are other options.)
You need to make reservations for the bullet train from Paris Gare de Lyon station to Geneve. Go to seat61.com for info and trainline.eu to reserve, the sooner the cheaper. That usually leaves around 9am and you get to Geneva around noon.
At the Geneva station you can buy tix (unless you got them earlier from sbb.ch/en) and grab something to eat from the Migros store in the middle of the station. From Geneva it is about 3.5 hrs to Lauterbrunnen, with a change in Bern and another in Interlaken Ost (not West). On track 2A/B (usually) in Interlaken Ost there is the train to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen. The train separates later so get in a train car with your destination (Grindelwald or Laut.) on the side of the car.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33820 posts
Your post doesn't indicate your travel dates. You may need to be aware of the rolling French strikes at the moment - no end in sight.
It may affect your Paris to Switzerland experience.