Train from Lucerne to Paris

There is no direct trains from Luzern to Paris. You take one of the frequent (every half hour) trains to Basel and change to a TGV-Lyria high speed train to Paris. These go every 2 hours. Not particularly scenic, and once you get to Dijon, the train picks up speed to about 200 mph. Telephone poles look like a picket fence.
Tickets can be bought at www.sbb.ch/en.

Would you still suggest I take the two trains rather then drive?

Linda

Taking two trains is easy, especially in Switzerland. The Swiss train to the TGV does not require a reservation and they run frequently. You will need a reservation for the TGV to Paris.

Linda,

YES, it would be much better to take two trains rather than driving!!! To begin with, if you rent a car in Switzerland and drop it off in France, you'll likely pay a hefty drop fee. I also wouldn't recommend driving in Paris. Travel via high speed TGV (which travels at up to 300 km/h) from Basel SBB to Paris is a MUCH more efficient use of your travel time.

As I mentioned in another thread, you're not going to find "scenic" on every route in Europe, whether travelling by rail or car.

Don't drive, Linda. You think changing trains sounds like it may be stressful? You've never experienced stress until you've attempted to drive in Paris!

I was not going to drive. I wanted to compare taking a train versus a plane. Thoughts?
Linda

For me, definitely the train. No waiting at the airport, no long security check in lines. Transit in Switzerland is easy and the TGV is a high speed train. You'll arrive in Paris quickly and won't have to deal with the airport.

It will take longer by airplane.

First, it is a 1 hour train ride from Luzern to Zurich airport. 2 hours from your arrival at the airport to make through security and make your way to the gate and be there 45 minutes before departure. 1 hour flight. 1 hour to deplane and get your luggage. 1 hour to get to the train station and ride into Paris on the RER, (or a taxi). So that is 6 hours.

Train is 1 hour to Basel, 40 minutes to change trains (according to the schedule), 3 hour train to Gare de Lyon in central Paris. That makes 4 hours and 40 minutes.

Linda,

You mentioned in an earlier post that you were thinking of driving ("Would you still suggest I take the two trains rather then drive?"), which is why I compared that to trains in my earlier reply.

As Sam mentioned, using a flight on that route is also not the best idea. A flight will likely be more expensive, take longer and will most certainly be more of a hassle. When all is considered (travel to & from airports, check-in, security, waiting, possible flight delays, etc.), the train will be much faster and more pleasant. Travel from either ORY or CDG to Paris is going to take at least an hour or two, and if you use a budget flight to Beauvais it will take far longer to get into Paris. Travel by train is really the best choice.