Our family of 5 (kids 8, 6, 4) is spending a few days in Paris, then taking a train to Wengen for 5 days. Originally, we planned to spend a night in Basel to avoid one long travel day. However, the day we planned to train to Basel, the direct train isn't running, so we are now deciding between staying an extra night in Paris and doing one long travel day or finding another city to visit on the way. Any suggestions on a two day journey with a cool waystop would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3269 posts
Paris to Strasbourg, France or Montreaux, Switzerland.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
1068 posts
I'd do it all in one day. Under 7 hours on the train isn't as big of a deal as you'd think since you can roam around, there are dining cars, tables to play games, etc. We travel Austria to Munich to Murren every year in one day and that takes almost 3 hours of driving + 8 hours of train. If you really want to stop, then perhaps something like Colmar.
Posted by
Wengen
3264 posts
What day is your travel day? I don't think there are days without direct Paris - Basel trains. Maybe you are just trying to book to far in to the future.
And yes, I would just travel all the way in one go. It is not as long as you may think. 6 hours on a train is not the same as 6 hours in a car or in a plane. You can move around, and in Switzerland you also start to get interesting scenery...
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the help/advice! The SBB site mentions something about maintenance at the Basel station so there isn’t service from Paris on that one day (just our luck). Looks like an extra day in Paris it is. Thanks again!
Posted by
Wengen
3264 posts
What day is that? Note that if your trip is in the distant future (eg september or later) that you may just be looking at incomplete schedules...
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35411 posts
which day is it, Ben? We may be able to make more suggestions....
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Ok, thanks. It’s June 29
Posted by
Moncton NB
1297 posts
Personally I would find the 6-7 hour train ride less tiring than splitting the journey (getting to a hotel, unpacking, packing, getting back to the station, and moving on).
But if you were going to split the journey, it would be Strasbourg for me.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35411 posts
I agree that aren't trains shown for either the Saturday or Sunday via Basel.
There are via Geneva, and probably Lausanne but I didn't look.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
2123 posts
Stay an extra day in Paris (29th) and take a day trip somewhere from Paris. Then train the next day (30th) the whole route. There is a route on DBahn that says total trip 6hr 20min, leaving at 7:21 am. from Gare de Lyon. Why pack and unpack for just a short stay in another city part way? The trip will go fast as the scenery will be quite interesting even for kids.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10024 posts
This is the first of three weekends of the commissioning of new cable and safety systems in the Hauenstein Base tunnel (East of Basel) hence the major disruption of services via Basel.
Posted by
Wengen
3264 posts
The works in the Hauenstein Base Tunnel would not affect Paris - Basel trains. I guess the issue is works in France.
I guess the best option is then to indeed travel on the 30iest, and go all the way.
Tip: If you get a double deck train on the Basel - Interlaken leg head for the family car. That has a little playground so your kids can get move around a bit.