Hello! I need help. We are traveling from Paris to Bern soon. We still need to buy train tickets. There is a route to Bern through Basal but only a 5 minute connection window to switch trains. One idea I had was just buying a ticket from Paris to Basal and then buying the SBB 15 day rail pass once in Basal and then just getting on the next train to Bern. Will be traveling with another adult and 4 small children. Also, what’s the best website to buy the train ticket from Paris to Switzerland? Or can I just buy at the train station. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Lindsey, No problem. There are two trains per hour from Basel (note spelling) to Bern. Swiss trains do not need reservations, so your ticket Paris to Bern is valid on any Swiss train (but it is only valid on the specific Paris-Basel train listed on the ticket).
Stop off for a few hours in Basel if you have time!
Or there is a direct train from Paris at 18:23, where you don't have to change in Basel, arrives Bern 22:50
Buy your tickets at the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) website: https://www.sbb.ch/en/
You can also buy at the station, but it is a lot cheaper to buy in advance. You get a print-at-home ticket.
There is roughly one train ever 2 hours from Paris to Basel. The timetable is here: https://www.tgv-lyria.com/sites/default/files/pdf/BROCHURES_CO/lyria-horaires-france_suisse-02.07_09.12.17.pdf
The timetable is in French, and uses the French name for Basel, Bâle.
Edit: An alternative site for buying tickets is: https://www.trainline.eu/
See which site gives you the best price, but note SBB quotes prices in CHF (Swiss Franks), trainline in € (Euro), so do the conversion.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Chris F - Thank you so much for replying! That was so helpful and exactly what I needed! Thanks again! I really appreciate the time you took to help me.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Also, when I was looking for trains from Paris to Interlaken/Mürren, the train going through Lausanne was much cheaper than through Basel. Probably just a supply/demand thing. We bought Paris-Lausanne-Paris on SNCF then bought Swiss Half Price Cards and Lausanne-Mürren (via Bern) tickets at the Lausanne station after picking up CHF at the bancomat there. Half Price Cards worked on the lift up to the Schilthorn, train down to Lauterbrennen on a cloudy day when Mürren was fogged in, buses in Lauterbrennen, and our return trip to Lausanne.
Posted by
Green Bay
20253 posts
If the 4 small children are yours or the other adult's children, if you get some kind of Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, then you can get a free Family Card and they will travel with you for free in Switzerland.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/transport-reisen/billette/tickets-oeffentlicher-verkeher/swiss-family-card.html
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you again. Very helpful! Yes, the small children are all ours, so the Swiss pass will be ideal. Wish us luck for a successful 2 weeks in Switzerland! :)