5 Best Trains From Paris To Switzerland: Ultimate Guide [2024]

Paris and Switzerland are two of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. Fortunately, the two countries are well-connected by rail, making it easy to travel between them. I’ve traveled between Paris and Switzerland many times and visited many places in Switzerland. Either alone or while guiding American travelers through Europe.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll give you all the information about the best trains from the French capital to Switzerland.

In the end, I’ll give you more travel tips for your perfect journey. So, let’s jump in.

Most Popular Train Routes From Paris To Switzerland

These are the most popular and best train routes between Paris and Switzerland:

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

Map Of The Train Routes From Paris To Switzerland

Here is a map of the best trains from the French capital to the Swiss cities. Check it out so you can visualize each route:

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.

BEST TRAIN CONNECTION PARIS – GENEVA: TVG Lyria DEPARTURE: Paris Gare de Lyon station ARRIVAL: Geneva station TRAVEL TIME: 3 hours & 16 minutes COST: $60 – $90 one-way ticket

➡ Book your tran tickets from Paris to Geneva by clicking here.

Sightseeing In Geneva

🔅 Cruise On Lake Geneva
🔅 Water Jet (Jet d’Eau)
🔅 Old Town
🔅 Saint-Pierre Temple
🔅 United Nations
🔅 CERN

TOP EXPERIENCES IN GENEVA:
➡ Guided Tour To Chamonix & Mont-Blanc
➡ Geneva Open-Top Sightseeing Bus Tour

👉 READ ALSO: 5 Best Panoramic Trains In Switzerland

2. Train From Paris To Zurich

A TGV Lyria train also takes you on this route from the City of Light to the economic center 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.

BEST TRAIN CONNECTION PARIS – ZURICH: TVG Lyria DEPARTURE: Paris Gare de Lyon station ARRIVAL: Zurich Hauptbahnhof TRAVEL TIME: 4 hours & 11 minutes COST: $90 – $120 one-way ticket

➡ Book your train tickets from Paris to Zurich here.

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

TOP EXPERIENCES IN ZURICH:
➡ Zurich City Tour With Cruise & Lindt Chocolate Museum
➡ Guided Tour To Lucerne & Mt. Pilatus
➡ Guided Tour To Lucerne & Mt. Titlis

👉 READ ALSO: Best Of Switzerland Itinerary: 8 Days By Train

3. Train From Paris To Bern

There is no direct train from Paris to Bern. Luckily, you only need to change once, usually in Basel. TGV Lyria covers the first section of this journey to Basel, and then you’ll take the regular SBB train to Bern.

These trains take you to the Swiss capital and UNESCO World Heritage point. The entire train journey takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes. 

BEST TRAIN CONNECTION PARIS – BERN: TVG Lyria from Paris to Basel, then change to SBB train to Bern DEPARTURE: Paris Gare de Lyon station ARRIVAL: Bern Hauptbahnhof TRAVEL TIME: 4 hours & 30 minutes COST: $130 – $140 one-way ticket

➡ Get your tickets for the train from Paris to Bern here.

Sightseeing In Bern

🔅 Old Town
🔅 Zytglogge Clock Tower
🔅 Bern Cathedral
🔅 Rose Garden Park
🔅 Swiss Parliament Building
🔅 Einstein House
🔅 Einstein Museum

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.

Bern is also close to the most beautiful Swiss region – Jungfrau Region. If you want to experience authentic Switzerland, take a train to Interlaken.

TOP EXPERIENCES IN BERN:
➡ Bern Sightseeing Walking Tour Game
➡ Jungfraujoch – Top Of Europe

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 (famous for delicious French mustard) and Geneva.

BEST TRAIN CONNECTION PARIS – LAUSANNE: TVG Lyria DEPARTURE: Paris Gare de Lyon station ARRIVAL: Lausanne station TRAVEL TIME: 3 hours & 56 minutes COST: $55 – $75 one-way ticket

➡ Book your tickets for TGV Lyria from Paris to Lausanne by clicking this link.

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

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.

TOP EXPERIENCES IN LAUSANNE:
➡ Lausanne Olympic Museum Entry Ticket
➡ Boat Excursion To Evian
➡ Glacier 3000° Mountain Excursion

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5. Train From Paris To Basel

Do you want to explore the artistic capital of Switzerland? Take the TGV Lyria from Paris to Basel. 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.

BEST TRAIN CONNECTION PARIS – BASEL: TVG Lyria DEPARTURE: Paris Gare de Lyon station ARRIVAL: Basel Hauptbahnhof TRAVEL TIME: 3 hours & 3 minutes COST: $85 – $115 one-way ticket

➡ Get your train tickets from Paris to Basel by clicking this link.

Sightseeing In Basel

🔅 Old Town
🔅 Red Town Hall
🔅 Spalentor
🔅 Historical Museum
🔅 Basel Minster
🔅 Jean Tinguely Museum
🔅 Paper Mill Museum

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.

TOP EXPERIENCE IN BASEL:
➡ Basel Old Town Scavenger Hunt Game

Ultimate Guide For Trains From Paris To Switzerland

I’ve got some additional information about the train connections to Switzerland from Paris. Check out the cost, how to book your tickets, travel time, and amenities on each train.

How To Book Train Tickets From Paris To Switzerland

I use Trainline to buy my train tickets in Europe. It offers 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.

Cost Of The Trains To Switzerland From Paris

The prices of train tickets from Paris to Switzerland vary depending on the route, trip class, and time of booking.

The cost of trains to Switzerland from Paris is between $50 to $120 per one-way ticket.

➡ 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.

👉 READ ALSO: Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimited Travel In Switzerland

Travel Time From From Paris To Switzerland By Train

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 less time, while the slower and cheaper trains will take longer.

Most routes cover the so-called TGV Lyria train. It’s the fastest connection from Paris to Switzerland. The minimum time is 3 hours, which is from Paris to Basel. The longest travel time is from Paris to Bern (4 hours & 30 minutes), where you must change once in Basel.

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 – 4 hours & 30 minutes (2 trains)
🚇 PARIS ⇒ LAUSANNE – 3 hours & 56 minutes (direct)
🚇 PARIS ⇒ BASEL – 3 hours & 3 minutes (direct)

Comfort & Amenities On The TGV Trains To Switzerland

The trains to Switzerland from Paris offer a range of amenities and provide comfort, depending on the train and the class of the trip. The high-speed train TGV Lyria offers comfortable seating and a lot 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, where passengers can buy drinks and light refreshments.

PRO TIP: I recommend reserving a seat, especially in the summertime when the trains are usually full.

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

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the most popular questions, so check them out below.

Is There A High-Speed Train From Paris To Switzerland?

Yes, there is a high-speed train called TGV Lyria. The fastest train connection to Switzerland is from Paris to Basel by TGV Lyria, which only takes 3 hours.

How Much Is A Train Ticket From Paris To Switzerland?

The prices for a train ticket range between $50 and $120 per ticket (one-way). Cost depends on the length of the train journey and the type of the train.

What Is The Cheapest Way To Travel From Paris To Switzerland?

The cheapest way to travel from Paris to Switzerland is by Flixbus bus. Flixbus offers the best deals around Europe for budget travelers, so check out their website and book your budget route to Switzerland.

What Is The Best Way To Travel From Paris To Switzerland?

The best way to travel from Paris to Switzerland is to take the high-speed train TGV Lyria. It’ll take you to Basel within 3 hours. This train has luxury amenities, a lot of legroom, and a bar with snacks and drinks. The journey is fast and comfortable.

How Many Days Is Enough For Switzerland?

The minimum number of days I recommend spending in Switzerland is 8 days, while the best is spending 10 days in the country. This way, you’ll have enough time to explore its highlights, enjoy mountain excursions, and hike in stunning nature.

WRAP-UP: Best Trains From Paris To Switzerland

Here is a full guide for the trains you can take to Switzerland from the French capital, Paris. Use it when booking your trip and get further tips on what to expect from your journey. If you want to experience authentic Switzerland, travel from Paris to Bern and then to the Jungfrau region.

If you have any questions or need further travel tips, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com. I’ll gladly help you or design a customized travel itinerary for you.

Happy travels!