Trains From Paris To Switzerland: A Comprehensive Guide

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Table of Contents

Most Popular Train Routes From Paris To Switzerland
1. Train From Paris To Geneva
2. Train From Paris To Zurich
3. Train From Paris To Bern
4. Train From Paris To Lausanne
5. Train From Paris To Basel
How To Book Train Tickets From Paris To Switzerland
Prices Of The Trains From Paris To Switzerland
Travel Times Of The Trains From Paris To Switzerland
Comfort & Amenities On The Trains From Paris To Switzerland
Tips For Traveling From Paris To Switzerland By Train
More Tips For Switzerland & France Travel

Paris and Switzerland are two of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. While Paris is known for its stunning architecture, iconic milestones, and romantic atmosphere, Switzerland is notorious for its natural beauty, mountains, and delicious chocolate. Fortunately, the two countries are well-connected by rail, making it easy to travel between them.

I’ll examine the train options from Paris to Switzerland in this comprehensive guide, including the different routes, prices, and trip schedules. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the information you need to plan your perfect trip from Paris to Switzerland by train.

Most Popular Train Routes From Paris To Switzerland

Several trains connect Paris to Switzerland. The most popular train routes include:

1. Paris ⇒ Geneva
2. Paris ⇒ Zurich
3. Paris ⇒ Bern
4. Paris ⇒ Lausanne
5. Paris ⇒ Basel

Let me give you more details and a quick overview of each train from Paris to Switzerland.

1. Train From Paris To Geneva

This route takes you from the heart of Paris to the spectacular Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The trip takes roughly 3 hours and 16 minutes. The train will stop at several stations along the way, including Lyon, known for its beautiful armature and artistic heritage.

If you have time to visit Lyon, I highly recommend it. It’s a beautiful city.

The best train connection from Paris to Geneva is with TVG Lyria. It departs from the station Paris Gare de Lyon and takes you to the main train station in Geneva.

Sightseeing In Geneva

Once you’re in Geneva, you can see the following sights:

? Cruise On Lake Geneva

? Water Jet (Jet d’Eau)

? Old Town

? Saint-Pierre Temple

? United Nations

? CERN

2. Train From Paris To Zurich

A train route that takes you from the City of Light to the profitable capital of Switzerland. This trip takes around 4 hours and 11 minutes. The train will stop at several stations, including Basel, a fascinating city known for its beautiful old town.

The best train connection from Paris to Zurich is with TG Lyria. It departs from the station Paris Gare de Lyon and takes you directly to the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main station).

If you want to learn more about Zurich and things you can visit, check out my 8-day Switzerland itinerary (the last day).

I also highly recommend doing a Zurich guided tour and learning more about the Swiss economy and Zurich’s culture.

Or visit the Lindt Chocolate Museum, learn about the most delicious Swiss chocolate and taste some samples.

If you have more time, I highly recommend making a day trip from Zurich to Mount Titlis. It’s an incredible mountain excursion. You’ll experience the Swiss mountains and nature, walk through the ice cave and see one of the longest suspension bridges.

If you want to learn more about the mountain excursion to Mt. Titlis, check out my article about the best mountain excursions in Switzerland. Or book your tour from Zurich by clicking on the image below:

Book Mt. Titlis Excursion From Zurich

Sightseeing In Zurich

? Lake Zurich

? Zurich Old Town

? Lindenhof

? Swiss National Museum

? Grossmünster

? Limmat Cruise

? Uetliberg (best views of Zurich and its lake)

? Bahnhofstrasse – main shopping street

? FIFA Museum

3. Train From Paris To Bern

There is no direct train from Paris to Bern. But you just need to change once, usually in Lausanne or Geneva. These trains take you to the Swiss capital and UNESCO World Heritage point. The entire train journey takes around 5 hours and 40 minutes. 

The best train connection from Paris to Bern is with TGV Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lausanne or Geneva. From there, you’ll take a Swiss SBB train to Bern.

Bern is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland. I prefer to visit it over Zurich. While Zurich has a vibrant, lively atmosphere with many posh shops and busy streets, Bern gives you a feeling of being in a medieval town and strolling its tiny streets in a royal dress.

You can hop on a nostalgic tram that’ll take you on a city tour and explain more about its history and gems.

Sightseeing In Bern

? Old Town

? Zytglogge Clock Tower

? Bern Cathedral

? Rose Garden Park

? Swiss Parliament Building

? Einstein House

? Einstein Museum

👉 READ ALSO: Switzerland In November: Best Places To Visit & Things To Do

4. Train From Paris To Lausanne

This route takes you to the heart of the French-speaking region of Switzerland and the Swiss Olympic City. The train ride takes around 3 hours and 56 minutes, and stops at a few stations, including Dijon and Geneva.

The best train connection is with TGV Lyria. It departs from Paris Gare de Lyon and takes you directly to the main station in Lausanne.

If you prefer seeing a smaller city, Lausanne will be a great choice. So you can skip Geneva and head directly to Lausanne. Both cities are located on the beautiful Lake Geneva.

You can see the Olympic Museum, walk on its stunning promenade, see the impressive cathedral, and enjoy the views of the lake.

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, you can take a boat from Lausanne to Geneva. This way, you’ll check off the best attraction in these cities and see both.

Sightseeing In Lausanne

? Old Town

? Lausanne Cathedral (and its views)

? Place de la Palud

? Olympic Museum

? Ouchy Lake Promenade

? See Chateau d’Ouchy

? Cruise Lake Geneva & its beautiful vineyards

5. Train From Paris To Basel

This train takes you to the artistic capital of Switzerland. The ride takes around 3 hours and 3 minutes, and it will stop at many stations, including Strasbourg, a beautiful medieval town known for its Gothic architecture and cute Christmas markets.

The best train connection is by TGV Lyria. It takes you from Paris Gare de Lyon to Basel SBB main station in the shortest time.

Basel is a very young city, great for visiting if you’re a foodie. Many young people are starting their own business and restaurants, so you’ll absolutely love the vibe. I ate at the restaurant called Yardbird Southern Fried Chicken, which I highly recommend. They do the best fried and sauced chicken.

Don’t miss out on its unique Red Town Hall. Also, try traditional soup called Basel Mehlsuppe, which is a local Swiss flour soup.

Sightseeing In Basel

? Old Town

? Red Town Hall

? Spalentor

? Historical Museum

? Basel Minster

? Jean Tinguely Museum

? Paper Mill Museum

How To Book Train Tickets From Paris To Switzerland

I usually use Trainline.com to buy my train tickets in Europe. They offer the best prices. You can see all the train connections for the day and compare which is the fastest and offers the best deal.

Then you can directly book the ticket, save it on your phone, and travel. Don’t forget your ID or passport for your trip. They check it once you’re on the train when they control your ticket.

Note that if you want the lowest-price ticket on Trainline, it’ll always be non-refundable and non-exchangeable. So book the lowest-price ticket only when you’re sure you’ll be traveling.

Trainline also has a semi-flexible ticket, which you can exchange free of charge 7 days before the trip.

Or you can buy a flexible ticket, which you can exchange or refund until departure at any time. This ticket is more expensive than the lowest-price ticket.

You can also book your tickets on Rail Europe or check further connections if you want an alternative source for train tickets from Paris to Switzerland.

Prices Of The Trains From Paris To Switzerland

The prices of train tickets from Paris to Switzerland vary depending on the route, trip class, and time of booking. Generally, the more time in advance you book, the cheaper the ticket will be.

Generally, the more time in advance you book, the cheaper the ticket will be.

The cheapest way to travel is using a reduction ticket called the Saver ticket (or lowest-price ticket on Trainline). These tickets are released around 3 months before the trip date and come in a limited number. They offer great price reductions. But bear in mind that these tickets are always non-refundable and non-exchangeable. You can book them on Trainline or via Rail Europe.

Another option is to use a rail pass, similar to the Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass. These passes allow you to travel on the European train network, including the trains from Paris to Switzerland. They can be a great way to save money, particularly if you plan to travel a lot within Europe.

PRO TIP: If you plan to explore more of Switzerland, the best way to get around is with the Swiss Travel Pass. It enables you to travel to the Swiss mountains on all Swiss trains, buses, boats, and cable cars. Other cable cars and funiculars come with a 50% discount. In addition, museum entries are free of charge with the pass. If you want to learn more about this pass, check out my article, ‘Is Swiss Travel Pass worth it?’

Travel Times Of The Trains From Paris To Switzerland

The trip times from Paris to Switzerland vary depending on the route and the train you choose. Generally, the faster and more expensive trains will take lower time, while the slower and cheaper trains will take longer.

For example, the TGV Lyria is the fastest train from Paris to Switzerland, taking around 3 hours and 15 minutes to reach Geneva. The same trip with a regular train and a few changes will take roughly 4 hours and 20 minutes.

The train from Paris to Zurich takes around 4 hours and 10 minutes, and the train from Paris to Bern takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. The train from Paris to Lausanne takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, and the train from Paris to Basel takes around 3 hours and 3 minutes.

Here is a quick overview of the train times from Paris to Switzerland:

• Paris ⇒ Geneva – 3 hours & 16 minutes (direct)
• Paris ⇒ Zurich – 4 hours & 11 minutes (direct)
• Paris ⇒ Bern – 5 hours & 40 minutes (2 trains)
• Paris ⇒ Lausanne – 3 hours & 56 minutes (direct)
• Paris ⇒ Basel – 3 hours & 3 minutes (direct)

Comfort & Amenities On The Trains From Paris To Switzerland

The trains from Paris to Switzerland offer a range of amenities and provide comfort, depending on the train and the class of the trip. The TGV Lyria and other high-speed trains offer comfortable seating and an abundance of legroom, as well as air exertion, power outlets, and free Wi-Fi.

First-class passengers can enjoy more comfort with wider seats, additional legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks. Some trains also offer a bar auto, where passengers can buy drinks and light refreshments.

Remember that most trains from Paris to Switzerland require a seat reservation. So when booking tickets, check if it’s required and book your seat in advance. Especially during peak season (late June until early September), trains might be very crowded, so a seat reservation is handy.

Tips For Traveling From Paris To Switzerland By Train

Lastly, I’d like to give you some tips to make your trip from Paris to Switzerland as smooth and pleasurable as possible

• Book tickets in advance to secure the best prices and seating options
• Be aware of the baggage limits on your train
• Take advantage of the complimentary food and drink and the added comfort and space, if you’re traveling in first class
• Buy some snacks & water before your trip
• Bring a book or download an audiobook to keep you entertained during the trip
• Learn a language for travel (German or French) to communicate with locals