Hello, We have 4 days in Paris and 9 days in Switzerland Can someone recommend the best train route to take from Paris to Switzerland. In Switzerland we want to see the Rick Steve's recs for 6 days. Does this train sound best to take to see everything Paris to Lausanne - Golden Pass to Berner Oberland (5/24) Berner Oberland - Jungfraujoch, Gimmelwald, Murren (5/25-5/27)
Luzern - Mt Pilatus, Mt Titlis (5/27-5/28) Zurich - Rheinfall (5/30-31) Also, where would you recommend staying in Paris, near what train station? We want things to be as accessible as possible. We have heard some hotels even pick you up from the airport/ take you to the train station for free? Also, how many days of a pass should we get? We would like to save as much money as possible. Should we buy a 5 day flexi-saver pass (will travell together) and use up pass days or buy them individually.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If your only train travel in France will be gettng from Paris to Lausanne, then it will not be cost effective for you to buy a pass that includes France. The standard 2nd class fare for a direct TGV from Paris to Lausanne is €83.00. The cheapest advance purchase discount fares for 24 May are already gone, but you still can get a Piccolo fare of €71.00 for the direct TGV departing at 07:58. Book your tickets at www.tgv-europe.com. To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. Print your own tickets or pick them up at any SNCF station in France. For your travel in Switzerland one of the Swiss passes would work well. To see all your options and what each type of pass covers, go here. Trains from Paris to Lausanne depart from Gare de Lyon, but there is no need to stay in a hotel close by that station. You can easily and quickly get there by metro from anywhere in central Paris. Some of the hotels right next to CDG offer free shuttle bus service to and from the airport. I don't think any hotels in central Paris offer free shuttle bus service to any airport or train station.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
Taffy, if you search the helpline archives there are a number of past postings about the various ways to travel by train from Paris to the Berner Oberland.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Taffy, you train journeys look good. A Swss pass or card of some type will do you well in Switzerland as the round trip fare to the Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen is 186CHF and the fare to the Schilthorn from Murren is about 74CHF. When you get to Lausanne, you might look into the 1/2 fare card. It costs 110CHF and the card is good for 30 days. You will pay 1/2 the fare on the Golden Pass, your trips up to the Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn and all other trains. Note that even the most expensive Swiss pass will only cover 50% of the fares from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch and from Murren to the Schilthorn.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
2 posts
Thank you everyone your help. One more question - we are planning to have some luggage with us (3 pieces). How much of a difference would it make to be in 1st class versus second class?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
From a luggage standpoint, no difference. There is quite a lot of overhead luggage storage in both classes. Also, you will quickly discover that 2nd class is quite nice on the TGV to Lausanne.