train journey to switzerland from london

The Man in Seat 61

How to travel by train from

London to switzerland.

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Take Eurostar from London to Paris in 2h20, have lunch at the remarkable Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon , then take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Paris to Geneva in 3h05, Lausanne in 3h39, Basel in 3h03 or Zurich in 4h03 from €29 each way.  It's more civilised, comfortable & environmentally-friendly than any flight, centre to centre with no baggage fees or airport taxes.  Infants go free & there's great scenery on the way.  This page explains the best routes, train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

Train travel within Switzerland

International travel to/from switzerland, other useful information, interactive map :  click a destination or route, useful country information, london to basel, zurich , lucerne, option 1, london to basel or zurich via paris.

Take Eurostar from London to Paris with cafe-bar & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include breakfast on departures before 11:00 and a meal with wine on later departures.  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi , then take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Paris to Basel in only 3h04 or Zurich in 4h03, also with cafe-bar & free WiFi.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

Timetable outward 2024

Timetable inward 2024, notes for timetable.

For Lucerne, change in Basel.  Hourly trains link Basel SBB & Lucerne in as little as 1h02, check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

How to read these timetables :  You read downwards, each column is a journey you can take.  You change trains at each grey bar.

Times may vary, check times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .

How much does it cost?

London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

Paris to Basel or Zurich by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.

Basel to Lucerne costs around €29.60 each way, regular price.

Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares are dynamic & vary like air fares, so book ahead.  On Eurostar & TGV-Lyria, children under 4 go free, children under 12 travel at a child rate.  On Swiss domestic trains, children under 6 go free, children under 16 at half price.

How to buy tickets

What are the trains like.

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi .

2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .  Basel SBB station guide .  Zurich HB station guide .

What's the scenery like?

On the route from Paris to Basel & Zurich, the train soon leaves the historic Gare de Lyon behind and accelerates through the Parisian suburbs onto the high-speed line at up to 300km/h (186mph).  The train slows down to call at Dijon, the major city of the Burgundy region, with views over the city on the approach.  The train continues through the rolling hills of rural France, past pretty villages with picturesque churches onto the new Rhone-Rhine high-speed line where the train reaches 320km/h (199mph).  Calling at Mulhouse, the train continues on classic lines to enter Switzerland at Basel.

It's easy to buy train tickets to Switzerland, here I'll explain the options.

Option 1, buy at Raileurope.com

Go to www.raileurope.com

Raileurope.com connects to the British, French & Swiss ticketing systems, so you can buy all your tickets from the UK to Switzerland in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  Who are Raileurope.com?

When does booking open?

Eurostar opens up to 11 months ahead, Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria up to 6 months ahead.

But it's often less than this and data may be incomplete more than 3-6 months ahead.  I recommend waiting until both trains are open for sale so you can confirm times & prices before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  For TGV-Lyria, dates after the mid-December timetable change (including Christmas & New Year) usually open in mid-October.

More about when train bookings open .  You can book hotels risk-free before booking your trains if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

Fares for Eurostar & TGV-Lyria are dynamic like air fares, so book early and search for the cheapest departures.  The cheapest tickets mean no refunds, no changes.

How to book

You can travel from London to most Swiss destinations in a single day, you can book that as one seamless transaction as shown in method 1.

Method 2 gives you more control and can cope with more complex journeys, including ones involving an overnight stop in Paris on the way out or the way back, or circular journeys.

Incidentally, there are no through tickets from London to Switzerland, you'll always get a Eurostar ticket to Paris, a TGV-Lyria ticket from Paris to Switzerland and separate onward Swiss tickets.  But connections across Paris are protected by the Railteam/HOTNAT and AJC .

1.  Set up an enquiry from London to your Swiss destination, number of passengers, date of travel, set a suitable morning or early afternoon departure time.

2.  If you're returning, also in a single day, enter your return date with suitable morning or early afternoon departure time.

On French & Swiss trains a return is two one ways.  But on Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways so a round trip that includes Eurostar should be booked as a return.

3.  Now the science bit.  Click More options and enter Paris Nord as a via station with stopover duration set to 1 hour (to guarantee a minimum acceptable 1 hour between trains in Paris) or 2 hours (a more robust connection, recommended) or 3 hours (for lunch in Paris at the famous Train Bleu restaurant ).  If you don't do this, the system can offer risky cross-Paris connections as tight as 42 minutes.  Advice on crossing Paris .

4.  Run the enquiry.  As a general rule, look in the search results for journeys with fewest changes, ideally 1.  Add to basket.

First, read the relevant destination section on this page and find a train service that suits you, out & back.  By all means go out one way and back another, or go outward direct, back with an overnight stop in Paris, whatever.  Note down each individual train you want to book, on what specific date.  Then go to www.raileurope.com

Step 1, book your chosen train from Paris to your Swiss destination, one-way, and add to basket.

Step 2, if you're returning, book your chosen train from your Swiss destination to Paris, one-way, and add to basket.  Confirm times.

Step 3, book the Eurostar from London to Paris & back as a round trip and add to basket.

Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways, so a round trip on Eurostar should always be booked as a return. 

Use the suggested Eurostar times on this page as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar than the one I suggest going out, or a later one coming back, if you'd prefer a more robust connection (as I do), if the fare is cheaper, or if you want to have lunch in Paris (also me!).

Just remember that with this method, it's up to you to make sure there's at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (to include the Eurostar check-in), ideally 2 hours.  So engage brain!  Advice on crossing Paris .

Travelling from the UK regions

Raileurope can book journeys starting from any British station, not just London.  It allows about an hour for Eurostar check-in.

However, consider booking from London to Switzerland first, then buying a separate ticket from your local station to London.  There are 2 reasons to do this:  First, you might want a more robust connection between trains in London, say 2 hours.  Second, Raileurope doesn't sell the special tickets to London International CIV which can sometimes save you money in the weekday morning peak, learn about these here .

Child fares & infants

Children under 12 travel at the child rate on Eurostar & TGV-Lyria.  Children under 16 qualify for child rate on Swiss trains.

Infants under 4 travel free on Eurostar & TGV-Lyria, no need to buy them a ticket, just bring them along.  But they don't get their own seat.

Tip:   To give an infant their own seat on TGV-Lyria, buy a Baby Pass for €15.  Simply add the infant to your booking with their correct age.

Choose an upper deck seat on TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are double-deck TGV Duplex .  www.raileurope.com lets you choose upper or lower deck, I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views.

After booking, you can view & change your Eurostar seats

After you have booked trains between London & Switzerland using www.raileurope.com , you can go to www.eurostar.com and use the Manage booking feature to view and change your Eurostar seats, see instructions & tips for choosing seats here .

Train seat numbering plans

TGV-Lyria seat map .   For other seat maps see the train seating plan page .

Option 2, buy at Thetrainline.com

You can also buy tickets from London to Switzerland at www.thetrainline.com .

Like Raileurope, it connects to the Eurostar, French & Swiss ticketing systems so you can easily book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $ with overseas credit cards no problem.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

Most of the Raileurope booking tips above also apply to booking on www.thetrainline.com .

However, Raileurope.com has a killer advantage, you can specify a via station with a stopover duration.  This is so useful for cross-Paris journeys where you want to allow sufficient time in Paris.

When using Thetrainline.com you can specify a via , but not the duration, so I recommend using method 2.

Option 3, buy at eurostar.com + sncf-connect.com + sbb.ch

You can of course book each train separately direct with the relevant operator, this is obviously more work and prices should be the same, but you pay no booking fee.  If you want to book this way, do a dry run on each site to confirm times, prices & availability before booking for real.

Step 1, book the TGV-Lyria from Paris to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com .

When booking 1st class on a TGV-Lyria you can choose your seat from a seat map.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

www.sncf-connect.com can easily book the TGV-Lyria from Paris to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich, it will also book through tickets to many Swiss destinations involving one change of train, such as Interlaken or Brig.  But it can struggle with destinations requiring more changes, for example Grindelwald, Zermatt or St Moritz.  If you have any difficulty booking to your final Swiss destination, book the direct TGV from Paris to Lausanne, Bern, Basel or Zurich.

Step 2, book a connecting Eurostar from London to Paris (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com .

Use the Eurostar times on this page as a guide, but feel free to choose an earlier Eurostar from London or a later Eurostar back from Paris if these have cheaper seats available or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.  You can print out your own ticket or can show it on your phone, and there's no booking fee.

Or you can stay with www.sncf-connect.com to book the Eurostar, also with no booking fee.  In fact, www.sncf-connect.com can book you from London to Switzerland as one seamless transaction, just make sure that the time between trains in Paris is at least 60 minutes, if it's less than this, or if you want longer than an hour, you'll have to split the booking.  You get separate tickets either side of Pars anyway.

Step 3, buy onward domestic Swiss tickets at www.sbb.ch.

At www.sbb.ch you'll sometimes find cheap advance-purchase Supersaver fares which are valid on that specific train only, no changes to travel plans, no refunds, but can save up to 70% off the regular fare.  But read what I say about Supersaver fares , especially if connecting off a train arriving from Paris.  A Saver Day Pass or regular flexible ticket is fine as these are good for any train that day.

Or use an Interrail pass

Pass or point to point?

Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

How to use a pass for a trip to Switzerland

Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes and select Europe ) or www.interrail.eu for €283 adult, €212 youth or €255 senior.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.  See pass prices on the Interrail page .

A 4-day pass is more than enough to get from anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Switzerland & back again.  In fact, it's enough to get from London & Southeast to anywhere in Switzerland & back, with 2 days of unlimited train travel in Switzerland while you're there.

A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here .

Step 2, you need a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations .  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass .

Step 3, you need a passholder reservation on the Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria, €29 each way, see cost of reservations & how to make them .

Step 4, Swiss trains can be used freely with a pass, no reservations needed except for tourist trains such as the Glacier or Bernina Express.

Or ask Byway to arrange it for you

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a London-Switzerland journey for you as a package, including overnight hotels, starting from any British station you like.

To see pre-configured packages from London to Chur, Grindelwald, Tirano, use the journey planner on their website .

Tip:   First book a one-way outward journey to your destination city on your outward date.  Then change the direction of the arrow and book an inward journey on your return date.  The journey back to the UK can be from a different location if you like, for example if you plan to travel around a bit before your return to the UK.

Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

Or ask Railbookers to arrange for you

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

Their two most popular Swiss holidays are Classic Bernina Express & Glacier Express which includes train travel from the UK to Switzerland so no flying necessary, and Switzerland's Lakes & Mountains which they can customise for you with train travel between the UK & Switzerland rather than flights, just call them & ask.

Or ask Tailor Made Rail to arrange it

Tailor Made Rail also offers packages from the UK to Switzerland by train which can be customised your own requirements, one-way or round trip, with any stopovers you want.  Or they can organise a trip entirely based on your own requirements, indeed they welcome complex itineraries!  As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/switzerland .

Escorted tours to Switzerland by train

If you'd prefer to go to Switzerland on an escorted tour with a convivial group of travellers rather than travelling solo, here are the two UK companies which arrange escorted tours by train from the UK to destinations all over Europe on various dates through the year.  Both companies are part of the same group.

How to buy tickets by phone

Back to top

London to Geneva

Option 1, london to geneva via paris.

Take Eurostar from London to Paris with cafe-bar & free WiFi.  Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi , then take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Paris to Geneva, also with cafe-bar and free WiFi.

For the first part of the journey, the Paris-Geneva TGVs use the TGV-Sud Est line at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  They then slow right down over classic lines through beautiful French mountain scenery for the rest of the run to Geneva, past pretty French villages, mountain forests, dramatic viaducts and scenic lakes, see photos of the journey below .  Sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the scenic stress-free alternative to flying to Geneva.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the fabulous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

Paris to Geneva by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above .

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi .

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .  Geneva station guide .

In 2010 they shaved another 15-20 minutes off the Paris-Geneva journey time by rebuilding the amazing 65km single-track Haut-Bugey line from Bourg en Bresse to Bellegarde.  This section of line dates from 1877-1882, but local traffic had declined and the line was partially closed in 1990.  However, a joint French-Swiss project gave it a new lease of life, rebuilt to mainline standards and reborn as a key link in the TGV network.  It shortens the distance between Paris & Geneva by 47km, trains previously had to detour south via Culoz.  The wonderful Haut-Bugey line takes Paris-Geneva TGVs at low speed through some great mountainous terrain, some of it inaccessible by road, through some 11 tunnels and over 80 bridges & viaducts including the spectacular Cize-Bolozon viaduct over the Ain gorge, a structure partly blown up by the French resistance in 1944 (it took 5 years to repair the damage after the war).  Relax and enjoy the journey!

The TGV leaves the high-speed line and slows right down to join the Haut-Bugey Line.  Just after a short tunnel the train crosses the spectacular Cize-Bolozon viaduct over the Ain gorge (above), the major structure on the Haut-Bugey line.  The best view from the viaduct is on the left hand side of the train, pictured above.

More scenery as the TGV from Paris to Geneva heads through the hills along the river valley between Bourg en Bresse & Bellegarde.  The best views are on the right hand side, so keep a good lookout, although you can't pick sides when booking.

Nearing Switzerland, the train passes a lake, probably the Lac de Nantua.

Option 2, London to Geneva via Lille & Lyon

This takes a bit longer than going via Paris, and usually costs a bit more.  But it avoids crossing Paris, with two easy same-station changes, at Lille and Lyon.  If you have heavy luggage, kids or mobility problems, it's a good option.

Times may vary, check for your dates using www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com .  Don't buy Eurostar tickets until you have confirmed onward train times.  Eurostar doesn't run on 25 December.

London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return standard class or £97 one-way, £168 return in standard premier (1st class).

Lille to Lyon by TGV starts at €20 each way.

Lyon to Geneva by TER costs €33.40 each way, fixed price, no reservation necessary or possible.

Eurostar & TGV fares are dynamic & vary like air fares, so book ahead.  On Eurostar & TGV, children under 4 go free, children under 12 travel at a child rate.  On Swiss domestic trains, children under 6 go free, children under 16 at half price.

1. London to Lille by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Lille in 1h22, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Lille Europe station guide & tips on changing trains .

2. Lille to Lyon by TGV

TGV or Train á Grande Vitesse is French Railways high-speed train, with 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar.  They come in various types, some single-deck, some double-deck TGV Duplex, you could get either on cross-France routes from Lille.  Most have power sockets at seats, most now have free WiFi.  The photos below show a single-deck TGV with the Christian Lacroix designer interior.  The direct TGVs from Lille by-pass Paris on a high-speed avoiding line via Charles de Gaulle Airport station.  More about TGV .  Lyon Part Dieu station guide .

3. Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train

These run every couple of hours, no reservation necessary or possible, you sit where you like.  There's some nice scenery between Lyon & Geneva, too.  More about Lyon to Geneva TER trains .  Lyon Part Dieu station guide .  Geneva station guide .

London to Bern

Taking the train is the stress-free and environmentally-sound way from London to Bern.  Eurostar links London & Paris in 2h20 from £52 one-way or £78 return.  High speed TGV-Lyria trains link Paris with Basel in 3h04 from €29 each way - change in Basel for a Swiss intercity train to Bern taking 58 minutes.  TGV-Lyrias have standard class (2nd class), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with flexible fares and at-seat meal & wine included).  There's a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can find a seat numbering plan & other useful information at www.tgv-lyria.com .  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  What's it like on board a TGV-Lyria? .  For the ferry alternative, see here .

Why not catch an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant on the main concourse?  It's an experience in itself.

Paris to Basel by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.

Basel to Bern costs CHF 40 (£30) each way 2nd class.

London to Lausanne , Montreux, Gstaad

Taking the train is an enjoyable and environmentally-friendly way to get from London to Lausanne & western Switzerland.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in just 2h20 from £52, then a high-speed TGV-Lyria train from Paris to Lausanne in only 3h40 from €29 each way.  City centre to city centre, no baggage fees, no extra to pay to get to and from airports, and infants under 4 go free.

The TGV-Lyria travels at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) along the TGV Sud-Est high-speed line, then branches off at lower speed through pretty hills around Dijon and across rural France into Switzerland.  Frequent Swiss trains, running like clockwork, link Lausanne with Vevey, Montreux, Aigle, Martigny, & Sion.  Change at Montreux for the scenic Golden Pass route to Gstaad.  Take a bottle of wine, put your feet up and enjoy the ride.  On TGV-Lyria, business première fares include a complimentary meal and wine served at your seat.  What's it like on a TGV-Lyria train? .  For the ferry alternative, see here .

How to read these timetables   You read downwards, each column is a journey option you can take.  You change trains at each grey bar.

Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have lunch in Paris at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon?

The 14:18, 16:18 Paris-Lausanne TGVs & 09:45, 13:45 Lausanne-Paris TGVs run via Geneva, see the scenery photos in the Paris-Geneva section .

Connections to Vevey, Montreux, Sion, Martigny

Paris to Lausanne by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.

Lausanne to Montreux CHF 6.30 (£5) each way 2nd class;  Lausanne to Gstaad CHF 33 (£25) each way 2nd class, CHF 58 (£44) 1st class.

Above, the train runs along the shores of Lake Léman between Lausanne & Montreux.  Taken from the train.

London to Interlaken & region

It's easy to travel by train from the UK to Interlaken and the Jungfrau region.  Take Eurostar to Paris in only 2h20 from £52 one-way or £78 return, then a 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV-Lyria from Paris to Basel in just 3h05 from €29 each way.  Regular Swiss InterCity trains run from Basel through the mountains and along the lake shore to Interlaken Ost in 1h58.  No airports, no flights, the train ride is a chance to chill out.

TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes, standard class (2nd class), standard première (1st class) & business première (1st class with a meal & wine served at your seat included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Take a bottle of wine, put your feet up and enjoy the ride!  TGV-Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss railways.  For the ferry alternatives, see here .

Interlaken is at the centre of the Jungfrau region, with narrow-gauge local trains into the mountains to ski resorts such as Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger, and Lauterbrunnen at the foot of the Jungfrau.  The famous Jungfraubahn rack railway climbs the Jungfrau to the Top of Europe from both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

Lauterbrunnen & Wengen: :  Half-hourly local trains link Interlaken Ost with Lauterbrunnen, journey time 20 minutes.  Change at Lauterbrunnen for Wengen, total journey time from Interlaken to Wengen is 46 minutes.  You can check times and fares using the journey planner at www.sbb.ch .   By train up the Jungfrau .

Basel to Interlaken is CHF 60 (£45) each way in 2nd class.  Basel to Grindelwald CHF 71 (£54) each way in 2nd class. 

London to Brig & Zermatt

Zermatt nestles at the foot of the imposing Matterhorn, at the head of the Mattertal valley.  It's a car-free resort which can only be reached by train.  Electric 'johnny cabs' act as taxis.

To reach Zermatt, hop on a Eurostar to Paris then take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Paris to Lausanne.  Hourly Swiss trains link Lausanne with Visp, where you board the little narrow-gauge branch line up the valley to Zermatt.  For the ferry alternatives via Harwich, Hull or Newcastle, see here .

For the best views of the scenery on the local line southbound from Brig or Visp to Zermatt, find a seat on the left-hand side of the train.  This narrow gauge train ascends the Mattertal Valley via a series of 'steps'.  The train uses conventional adhesion on the level sections and rack-and-pinion to climb the steep sections.

Lausanne to Zermatt costs CHF 80 (£60) one-way, CHF 160 (£120) return.

Let Railbookers arrange it for you

Hotels in zermatt.

The Monte Rosa Hotel is the most famous & historic place to stay if your budget allows.  This was the first hotel in Zermatt and it was from here that Edward Whymper set out on the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865.  It's right in the centre of the town only 400m from the station, with a superb 9/10 review score.

Otherwise (assuming your budget won't stretch to the other top-notch place directly opposite the Monte Rosa, the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof , opened in 1879), a much more affordable and down-to-earth choice close to the station in Zermatt's main street is the clean & comfortable Hotel Garni Testa Grigia .  Or just search booking.com , anything with a review score over 8.0 will be great.

Zermatt's famous Monte Rosa Hotel with plaque dedicated to Edward Whymper, see larger photo .

London to Chur & the Engadin

The area around St Moritz, Davos and Klosters has attracted visitors from the UK both for winter sports and summer holidays for over a century - and the journey by narrow-gauge train from Chur to St Moritz is one of the most scenic train rides in Switzerland, or indeed the world.  To get there by train from the UK, simply use any of the London-Zurich options shown in the London to Zurich section above , then use www.sbb.ch to find connections to St Moritz.  Two good options are shown below.  For the ferry alternative, see here .

London ► Chur, Davos, Klosters, St Moritz, every day

Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare de Lyon , 2 stops on RER line D or 25 minutes by taxi.

St Moritz, Klosters, Davos, Chur ► London, every day

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a holiday or short break to Switzerland as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay. 

Hotels in St Moritz

The Hotel Waldhaus am See is an easy 4 minutes walk from St Moritz railway station, see walking map .  It has friendly staff, a cosy, family-run atmosphere and the restaurant/breakfast room has a lovely view over the lake.  It's also about as affordable as hotels in St Moritz get.  Perfect!  Below, the view across the lake from the hotel, St Moritz station is visible on the right.

The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl is a truly amazing hotel opened in 1907, perched on a 2,454m high mountain with spectacular views over the Engadin Valley, a short ride by train+funicular from St Moritz/Samedan/Pontresina.  I have never seen a more spectacular view out of any hotel window over breakfast

To reach the Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl , take a local train from St Moritz to Punt Muragl Staz , see Muottas Muragl train route map , or you can get off the Glacier Express at Samedan (the stop before St Moritz) and take a local train to Punt Muragl .  It's then a 250m walk from either of these unstaffed halts to the lower station of the funicular railway which climbs up the mountain to the Hotel Muottas Muragl.  To check train times, simply use the journey planner at www.sbb.ch and run an enquiry from anywhere in Switzerland to Muottas Muragl , that's the name of the upper station of the funicular right next to the hotel.

London to Liechtenstein

Vaduz (the capital of Liechtenstein) has no rail station, but buses link it with Buchs & Sargans stations in Switzerland every 30 minutes, and with Feldkirch station in Austria every hour.  The website for all these bus services at www.lba.li .

For travel between Swiss cities & Vaduz, catch a train to Sargans, then the bus to Vaduz, Post .

You can check times & buy tickets between any Swiss city and Vaduz, Post at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee), or at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch .

For travel between Austrian cities & Vaduz, catch a train to Feldkirch, then the bus to Vaduz, Post .

You can check times & buy tickets between any Austrian city and Vaduz, Post at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

The main Zurich-Innsbruck railway cuts through Liechtenstein, but the expresses don't stop at any of the four local stations within the principality.  Schaan-Vaduz is the most important of these stations, served only by somewhat irregular Buchs-Feldkirch local trains.  You can check train times at www.sbb.ch but will need to look carefully for trains rather than buses - look for departures marked R or RE, not BUS.  Schaan-Vaduz Bahnhof is just 11 minutes by frequent bus from Vaduz itself.

London to Vaduz

Step 1, travel from London to Zurich by Eurostar & TGV-Lyria as shown above .

Step 2, take a regular Swiss domestic train from Zurich to Sargans, these run twice an hour, journey time 55-67 minutes, check times & prices at www.sbb.ch .  No reservation necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

Step 3, catch a bus from outside Sargans station to Vaduz Post Office, every 30 minutes, journey time 32 minutes, check times at www.lba.li .  No reservation necessary, buy a ticket from the driver, fare around CHF 7, children under 16 half price.

London to Switzerland via Brussels

Going via Brussels takes significantly longer than going via Paris as shown above , but it avoids having to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  The changes of train at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf are straightforward same-station changes taking only take a couple of minutes getting off one train and onto another.  This might be important to you if you have lots of luggage, kids, or a mobility issue.

London ► Basel

Option 1:  London depart 09:01 every day, arriving Basel SBB 18:47:   Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 09:01, arriving Brussels Midi at 12:05.  Make a quick change onto the 12:25 high-speed ICE from Brussels to Cologne, and change at Cologne Hbf onto another high-speed ICE to Basel SBB 18:47.

Option 2:  London depart 11:04 every day, arriving Basel SBB 20:47:   Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 11:04 arriving Brussels Midi at 14:05, make a quick & easy change (usually a simple cross-platform change on this departure) onto the 14:25 high-speed ICE from Brussels to Cologne and change at Cologne Hbf onto another high-speed ICE to Basel SBB arriving 20:47.

Change at Basel SBB for Zurich HB , Luzern and all other destinations in Switzerland.

Basel ► London

Option 1, departing Basel SBB at 07:13 every day, arriving London at 16:57:   Leave Basel SBB at 07:13 by high-speed ICE train to Cologne Hbf , change at Cologne onto another high-speed ICE train to Brussels Midi , change at Brussels onto the 15:56 Eurostar to London St Pancras , arriving 16:57.

Option 2, departing Basel SBB at 09:13 on Sundays, arriving London at 18:57:   Leave Basel SBB at 09:13 by high-speed ICE train to Cologne Hbf , change at Cologne onto another high-speed ICE train to Brussels Midi , change at Brussels onto the 17:56 Eurostar to London St Pancras , arriving 19:10.

Option 3, departing Basel SBB at 11:13 Mondays-Fridays, arriving London at 19:57:   Leave Basel SBB at 11:13 by high-speed ICE train to Cologne Hbf , change at Cologne Hbf onto another high-speed ICE train to Brussels Midi , change at Brussels onto the 18:52 Eurostar to London St Pancras , arriving 19:57.

Option 4, departing Basel SBB at 13:13 daily except Saturdays, arriving London at 21:57:   Leave Basel SBB at 13:13 by high-speed ICE train daily except Saturdays to Cologne, change at Cologne Hbf onto another high-speed ICE train to Brussels Midi , change at Brussels onto the 20:52 Eurostar to London St Pancras , arriving 21:57.

London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).

On Eurostar, children under 4 go free, children under 12 travel at a child rate.  On Brussels-Switzerland trains, children under 6 go free, children under 15 half price (but if booked at bahn.de, free when accompanying an adult on a Sparpreis fare).  On Swiss domestic trains, children under 6 go free, children under 16 at half price.  The more generous child age limits can be an advantage on this route!

Buy tickets from London to Switzerland at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

Tip:   To get the route via Brussels, click via (Trainline) or More options (Raileurope) and enter Brussels Midi as a via station.

You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  More about when booking opens .

Booking tips

Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

To get the route via Brussels, click via (Trainline) or More options (Raileurope) and enter Brussels Midi as a via station.

Is it a through ticket?

No, there are no through tickets from London any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020 .  www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket to Brussels plus an onward ticket from Brussels to anywhere in Switzerland.

One-way or round trip?

On Eurostar , return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  On German & Swiss trains, returns are simply two one-ways.  So for a round trip you should book London to Switzerland & back as a return journey, or for more control over the booking, book London-Brussels as a return journey to benefit a Eurostar return fare, add to basket, then book Brussels to Switzerland one way, add to basket, then Switzerland to Brussels one-way, add to basket & check out.

Seat reservations

About the 20-minute connections between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi

The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes a little less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms .

Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.

The system is programmed to know which connections are acceptable and which are too tight - if you intend booking your Eurostar and ICE tickets separately (which I often do to check prices for Eurostar and onwards trains separately, and to retain more control over the booking) it's wise to run a London-Cologne enquiry first just to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE, on that specific date.

How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities:  See the advice on special add-on tickets here .

Another way to buy tickets

This is a little more work, but no booking fee.  Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices.

Before booking for real, check that your outward Eurostar & ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de , as explained in the paragraph about the 20-minute connections in Brussels in the previous section.

Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar .

Step 2, book from Brussels to Basel, Zurich or anywhere in Switzerland at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  A round trip is just two one-ways, so book one way at a time as it's easier.  Look for journeys with the fewest changes.

I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE trains from a seating plan.

Take the Rhine Valley scenic route

Booking engines normally route you via the modern Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line as this is obviously fastest.  However, if you don't mind the extra hour, you can take the original, classic Rhine Valley line, snaking along the River Rhine past castles, vineyards and the famous Lorelei Rock.  Learn more about the classic Rhine Valley route here .

To book tickets via the Rhine Valley route, simply add Koblenz Hbf as a stopover.  If using www.raileurope.com , click More options and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving duration zero.  If using int.bahn.de , click Stopovers and enter Koblenz Hbf leaving length of stay as 00:00.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels .

2. Brussels to Cologne & Cologne to Switzerland by ICE3

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More about ICE3 trains .  Brussels Midi station guide .  Cologne Hbf station guide .

London to Switzerland by ferry from Harwich

You might prefer the idea of cruising overnight in a comfy en suite cabin on the Stena Line superferry ( watch the video !), then taking a superb German ICE train to Switzerland next day, and this route is useful If you live in East Anglia, want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, if the French are on strike again, or if all the cheap Eurostar fares have sold out.  It's one of the routes shown in dark blue on the route map above .

Incidentally, I don't recommend Dover-Calais.  Although it's more direct, it's has no through ticketing and long walks or taxis are required between station & port in both Dover & Calais.  The Harwich-Hoek route has seamless train/ferry connections & one ticket covers the British train and the ferry.

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Switzerland

Switzerland ► harwich, cambridge & london.

Day 1, travel from Switzerland to Utrecht by train.

You can leave Basel SBB at 10:13 by high-speed ICE train to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arriving at 13:08.  Change in Frankfurt onto the 13:26 high-speed ICE train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Utrecht Centraal, arriving 17:23. 

Times may vary, but it's always possible to do this journey with just 1 change.  Check times & prices from almost anywhere in Switzerland to Utrecht at int.bahn.de ( Tip:   Click Stopovers and enter Frankfurt(Main)Hbf).

Alternatively, you could leave Switzerland the previous evening on the new Nightjet sleeper train from Zurich HB & Basel SBB to Amsterdam Centraal overnight in an economical couchette or private sleeper, and spend the day exploring Amsterdam, see here for details .

Day 1, travel from Utrecht to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail .

You take a frequent Dutch intercity train from Utrecht Centraal to Rotterdam Alexander and change there onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven. 

At Hoek, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.  Taking the 10:13 from Basel gives you plenty of time to connect with the overnight ferry, so you could stop off in Utrecht or Rotterdam for dinner.  Just make sure you reach Hoek before 21:00, ferry check-in closes 45 minutes before sailing time.

At Hoek van Holland, check in at the Stena Line desk then walk onto the luxurious superferry Stena Britannica and sail overnight to Harwich in a snug private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.

The ferry sails from Hoek at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning, UK time.

In the morning on Day 2, Take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:56, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays).  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details .

; ; How to buy tickets

Step 1, buy a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .

Buy the metro ticket from Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam Alexander as shown on that page.

Step 1, London to Holland by train & ferry

A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The superferry Stena Britannica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world.  The journey from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .  See the video .

The Stena Britannica at boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.

Above left, a standard outside cabin.  Larger photo .   360º photo .  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.

Step 2, from Holland across Germany to Switzerland by ICE high-speed train

At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Rotterdam Alexander.  Change at Rotterdam Alexander for a train to Utrecht Centraal.  Then take a superb German ICE train from Utrecht to Cologne and on to Switzerland.   More about ICE trains .

London to Switzerland via Portsmouth

This route is ideal if you live on the south coast.  It's also a good alternative to Eurostar from London if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel or if Eurostar is expensive (for example, at short notice) - although the train/ferry/train transfers are much easier via Harwich & Hoek van Holland as stations & ferry terminals are integrated, on the Portsmouth-Caen route a taxi transfer is needed between train & ferry in Portsmouth, and a bus or taxi transfer in Caen.

Step 1, travel from London or Portsmouth to Paris overnight by train & ferry .

You leave London around 18:00 by train to Portsmouth, take a taxi to the Continental Ferry Port and sail overnight from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries, sleeping in a cosy private cabin with shower & toilet 22:45-06:45.  Next morning, transfer to Caen station by bus or taxi and take a train into Paris St Lazare , arriving around 11:05.

Step 2, travel from Paris to Switzerland on any afternoon train.

Look up Paris-Switzerland trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly).  Just make sure you allow at least 2hours between trains in Paris.

Scotland & North to Switzerland

If you live in the North of England or Scotland, option 1 is to take a train up to London and travel from London to Switzerland as described above.  This may well be the quickest & easiest option.  Here's some advice on buying connecting train tickets to London .  If you live in Scotland, the Caledonian Sleepers will get you up to London in time for a morning Eurostar & afternoon TGV to Switzerland.

But consider option 2, by-passing London by taking a luxurious overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam run by DFDS Seaways or a similar overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam run by P&O Ferries , then taking a fast comfortable train to Switzerland.

Scotland & the North ► Amsterdam ► Switzerland

Day 1, take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.

In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus/train connection to Rotterdam Centraal & Amsterdam Centraal.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets, see the Hull-Rotterdam page .

In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page .

Day 2, travel by fast comfortable train from Rotterdam Centraal or Amsterdam Centraal to anywhere you like in Switzerland.  You can easily check train times & prices at the German Railways website int.bahn.de - just make sure you allow plenty of time, both to cover any likely delay to the ferry and for the bus transfers from ferry terminal to station.  I suggest booking trains leaving around midday.

Switzerland ► Amsterdam ► Scotland & the North

Day 1, take a Swiss train from anywhere in Switzerland to Rotterdam Centraal (for P&O to Hull) or to Amsterdam Centraal (for DFDS to Newcastle), you can check times & prices at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .  Just remember to allow plenty of time, meaning hours not minutes, for any likely delay to the train, for the bus transfer to the ferry terminal, and for the ferry check-in.

Alternatively, you could leave Switzerland the previous evening on the new Nightjet sleeper train from Zurich HB & Basel SBB to Amsterdam Centraal in an economical couchette or private sleeper, and spend the day exploring Amsterdam, see here for details .

Day 1 early evening, transfer by DFDS bus from Amsterdam Centraal to IJmuiden (for the DFDS ferry to Newcastle) or by P&O bus from Rotterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Europoort for the P&O ferry to Hull.

Day 1 evening, sail overnight by luxurious cruise ferry from Rotterdam Europoort to Hull with P&O Ferries or from IJmuiden to Newcastle with DFDS, whichever UK port is most convenient for where you live, arriving next morning (day 2).  Transfer to the station and take a train home. 

For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to the UK via these ferry routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page .

Fares & how to buy tickets

To check train fares and buy train tickets to Hull or Newcastle , use www.nationalrail.co.uk or any train operator website such as tfw.wales .

To check ferry fares & book the ferry online, go to www.dfds.com (Newcastle-Amsterdam), www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam).

To check train times & prices and to buy tickets from Rotterdam or Amsterdam to any station in Switzerland, use the German Railways website int.bahn.de .  You print your own ticket.

1. Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O) by overnight cruise ferry

Both ferries have private en suite cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, a floating hotel.  If travelling with DFDS from Newcastle, a transfer bus takes you from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal station next morning.  If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal , from where frequent Dutch trains run to Utrecht.

2.  From Holland across Germany to Switzerland by ICE high-speed train

Take an ICE train from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Cologne or Frankfurt, then another ICE to Basel, Zurich with connections all over Switzerland.  There are power sockets at all seats, free WiFi and a bistro-restaurant serving drinks, snacks and meals.  More about ICE trains .

G uidebooks

Buy from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com.

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

European Rail Timetable & maps

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Hotels in Switzerland

In Zurich , for something special, look no further than the superb Hotel Schweizerhof , located right next to Zurich station.  One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road.

In St Moritz , The Hotel Waldhaus am See is an easy 4 minutes walk from St Moritz railway station, see walking map .  It has friendly staff, a cosy, family-run atmosphere and the restaurant/breakfast room has a lovely view over the lake.  It's also about as affordable as hotels in St Moritz get.  Alternatively, the Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl is a truly amazing place to stay perched on the top of a mountain, with clean simple and (for Switzerland) inexpensive rooms.  It's reached via the Muottas Muragl funicular railway from Punt Muragl station, between Pontresina & St Moritz.

In Zermatt , The Monte Rosa Hotel is the most famous place to stay if your budget allows.  It was from here that Edward Whymper set out on the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865.  It's in the centre of the town 400m from the station with a superb 9/10 review score.  Otherwise (if your budget won't stretch to the deluxe Grand Hotel Zermatterhof , opened in 1879), a much more affordable choice close to the station in Zermatt's main street is the clean & comfortable Hotel Garni Testa Grigia .

Hotels in Paris near the station

Recommended hotels near the Gare du Nord:   Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 2-star, doubles €135), 25 Hours Terminus Nord (formerly the Mercure Terminus Nord, now refurbished in a decidedly funky style, 3-star, directly across the road from the station);  Art Hotel (3-star);  Avalon Hotel (2-star);  Hotel Cambrai (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 1-star).

Recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon:   Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (part of the station itself next to the clock tower, 4-star, see the photo below);  the Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  the Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star);

The Mercure Hotel entrance, next to the Gare de Lyon's famous clock tower.  Handy for early train departures!

AirBnB:  www.airbnb.com

www.airbnb.com began in 2008 when two designers who had space to share hosted three travellers looking for a place to stay.  AirBnB is a platform which connects hosts with guests, so you can now book a room in people's homes, or an apartment, flat or house which people want to rent out.  It can be nicer than a hostel, cheaper than many hotels.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Holidays to Switzerland by train

If you want a holiday to Switzerland by train not plane, but want someone else to organise all the train tickets & hotels for you, several specialist companies do just that, for a holiday with no airport hassles and no long days in cramped coach seats on motorways.  Railbookers offer custom-made individual holidays with departure on any date you like, whereas Rail Discoveries & Great Rail Journeys offer escorted tours with specific departure dates.

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  For example, they can do a 2-night short break to Geneva or a 4-night trip including the famous Glacier Express and the equally amazing Bernina Express.

Tailor Made Rail, tailormaderail.com

Rail discoveries, raildiscoveries.com.

Rail Discoveries offers several train-based tours to Switzerland, with 3* hotels and travel from London by Eurostar and high-speed TGV.  For example, they offer an 8-day tour combining Mont Blanc with the amazing Glacier Express (see the Glacier Express page ).  Check details & prices online at www.raildiscoveries.com , then book online or call 01904 730 727 .

Great Rail Journeys, greatrail.com

GRJ offers five-star inclusive tours to Switzerland, with 1st class train travel and 5* hotels.  Their most popular tour combines 1st class overland travel from London to Switzerland by Eurostar & high-speed TGV with a ride on the famous narrow-gauge Glacier Express , which runs right across Switzerland from St Moritz to Zermatt through spectacular scenery.  Tours depart regularly throughout much of the year.  Check the tour details & prices online, then call 01904 527120 to book or use their online booking form .

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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London to Zurich by train

Travel from London (United Kingdom) to Zurich (Switzerland) by train (777km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

To travel by train from London in the United Kingdom to Zurich in Switzerland, the main route leads via Paris (France). Make use of the given booking links, to find saver prices.

Your travel route could be like that.

1 London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Zurich (Switzerland)

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Paris (France)

The Eurostar train from London to Paris is the fastest train connection with a travel time of 2.5 hours. You can buy cheap train tickets from 50 euros. There are up to 18 train connections daily. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices for the Eurostar high-speed-train by clicking on the booking links. If you want to travel cheaper, you can travel by bus. The journey time takes considerably longer with about nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start at 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several bus connections daily - also as a overnight trip. You can get the bus tickets via the booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from London to Paris?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Eurostar (EST)

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Dover - Calais

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - London

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn

1b Travelling from Paris (France) to Zurich (Switzerland)

Travel from Paris to Zurich by direct TGV Lyria high-speed-train. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The journey time is four hours. There are at least six train connections per day. The trains depart every two hours. The departure station is Paris Gare de Lyon. The arrival station is Zurich HB. Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Zurich?

Interrail/Eurail celebrates its 50th anniversary. Get 10% discount now! --> Make your journey easier: buy only one Interrail or Eurail pass instead of several train tickets. Save your time and money!

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. TGV Lyria France - Switzerland (Lyria)

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Zurich - Paris

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Do you have questions about the connection between London and Zurich? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.

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How to take a thrilling high speed rail journey from London to Zurich

Share this journey with a friend..., london to zürich / zurich by train.

There are two journey options for a taking a train from London to Zurich:

1: The usual most obvious route to take if you will be booking tickets is to travel via Paris on a combination of Eurostar and Lyria trains.

• The other option involves making connections in Brussels and Frankfurt (Main). This route avoid the needs to make a transfer between railway stations across Paris, but SMTJ doesn't ordinarily recommend it, because it involves making a connection at Midi/Zuid station in Brussels of only 20 mins. Though if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass it is worth taking the chance. It will save money because rail pass users don't have to make reservations on the combination of required ICE trains between Brussels and Zurich In contrast the rail pass reservation fees on the Lyria services from Paris are some of the most expensive charged to pass users.

Routes you can take to go from London to Zürich / Zurich

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections, route information, via stations: paris gare du nord/paris nord and paris gare de lyon/paris lyon, station guides.

Travel Time (approx)

7hr 25min - 8hr 55mim (approx)

Travel Info

up to 4 x connections per day

Purchase Tickets

ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.

Trainline Guide

Other Ticket Providers

SNCF Connect Guide

SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them. Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.

Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.

And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service. You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey.

Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase.

SNCF Connect on Google Play

SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store

SNCF also operates RailEurope , which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe. If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so. Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase

Travel Information

At St Pancras:

Eurostar is currently suggesting that Standard Class And Standard Premier ticket holders should be at the Eurostar departure area in St Pancras International 90 mins before departure; and that Business Premier ticket holders should be there 45-60mins prior to departure.

The departure gates will close 30 mins prior to departure for Standard Class And Standard Premier ticket holders; and 15 mins prior to departure for Business Premier ticket holders.

Our guide to taking a Eurostar from London is here .

Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind; hence what can seem like a discrepancy between the journey time and the interval between the departure and arrival times.

Departing from the Gare De Lyon

The Eurostar will arrive in Paris at the Gare Du Nord , but the train on to Basel will depart from the Gare De Lyon .

This guide explains how to make the transfer between the two stations by RER train. What's good to know is that the journey from stepping off the Eurostar to being on the concourse at Gare De Lyon will typically take 25-30min - depending on how long you will have to wait for an RER train.

Though the end-to-end journey options with a total end-to-end travel time of 7hr 25min will allow around an hour to make the connection. In contrast the end-to-end journeys of around 8hr 25mins allow around 2hr 30mins to make the transfer - time enough for a drink or something to eat in a brasserie near the Gare De Lyon.

This journey is made up of 1 change.

You will be travelling on one of these trains....

Journey Features

It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with SIX distinct phases and highlights:

1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).

2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.

3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.

4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.

5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel. Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel. The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.

6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France.

Good to Know

Final Destination: Zurich,

All trains also call at: Mulhouse-Ville and Basel SBB

Depart London at around 10:30 and the connection on to Zurich is due to arrive there around 15mins prior to the departure of the overnight train to Graz and Zagreb, so this connection is not guaranteed. Though the night train which conveys coaches to Budapest, Praha/Prague and Wien/Vienna is usually due to depart Zurich at 21:40, so this should enable a straightforward onward connection.

Journey Description

This is a journey of four distinct parts.

1: Initially the train will travel on the high speed line south from Paris.

2. The train switches to conventional tracks north of Dijon - the most scenic part of the journey

3. Between Dijon and Mulhouse there is another high speed line.

4. The final part of the journey from Mulhouse to Zurich is on conventional tracks.

When looking up the journey on Trainline, use Zurich as the destination and not the arrival station, Zurich HB.

Eurostar does not sell tickets for this journey.

Book Early And Save : Yes

Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.

Seat reservations are automatically included when booking tickets for both trains.

Your ticket will not include the RER train across Paris from the Gare Du Nord to the Gare De Lyon.

Eurostar train's general ticket terms:

Customers can exchange tickets for travel in Standard and Standard Premier class multiple times without paying an exchange fee, as long as tickets are exchanged 7 days or more before the departure time of their individual journey Though if the new ticket option is more expensive the difference in price will need to be paid, but if it is cheaper the price difference won't be refunded. But make the exchange within 7 days of the individual journey and an admin fee of £30 will need to be paid, along with the price difference Tickets to travel in Standard and Standard Premier class are not refundable. In contrast tickets to travel in Business Premier Class can be refunded and they can be exchanged to alternative departures without paying the admin fee, or the price difference. Eurostar's full ticket terms and conditions are here .

Making the connection in Paris:

There is relatively new E.U. legislation which protects travellers against financial loss in the event of missed connections due to train delays, but it only applies to 'through tickets' . The Eurostar terms and conditions specifically state that when booking journeys which combine Eurostar + Thalys trains 'through tickets' will be issued. 'However, 'for all other journeys that combine a Eurostar Service and a service provided by another carrier (such as the Lyria train on from Paris) including when purchased in a single commercial transaction, those tickets will be separate contracts and issues regarding delays, missed connections, cancellations, compensation, and the management of aftersales will be handled accordingly'.

But SNCF /SBB, which operates the train on to Zurich have both signed up to Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) policy for when a traveller holds separate transport 'contracts' for an end-to-end journey involving more than one train. So this agreement applies both when 'a bundle' of tickets / contracts is issued as the result of a single transaction - and if travellers have bought several different tickets for their journey, even from different sales channels/ticket providers. As long as the passenger had planned enough connecting time to change trains (called “reasonable connecting time”), the AJC will apply.

So in usual* circumstances, if a delay to a Eurostar has caused a booked connection on to Zurich to be missed, replacement tickets/reservations should be issued at the Gare De Lyon. *= But that new E.U legislation specifically states that in exceptional circumstances, the train operators do not need to issue replacement tickets - and the terms and conditions on the SNCF Connect website reiterate this. These exceptional circumstances specifically stated in Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament include:

• extraordinary circumstances not connected with the operation of the railway, such as extreme weather conditions, major natural disasters or major public health crises...
• ...the behaviour of a third party... such as persons on the track, cable theft, on-board emergencies, law enforcement activities or sabotage,

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Rail travel to Switzerland is growing in popularity as more people come to appreciate the comfort and relaxed style. Although there are station and train changes it can be less hassle than air travel.

The railways have also continued to develop the routes through to Switzerland, offering faster trains with more choice and good connections into the Swiss rail network - and onwards to your chosen resort. The main route is London - Paris - Basel but there are alternatives if you wish. 

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• Shorter check in time
• Countryside views across the continent
• Comfortable seats with plenty of legroom
• Opportunity to walk around and stretch your legs
• No weight limit for your suitcases

Travel on Eurostar is in spacious, air conditioned carriages. In standard class the buffet cars serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus sandwiches, crisps and hot snacks. Please note that there is no seating in the bar area. First class is called Standard Premier and in addition to the improved seating and space, a meal appropriate to the time of day is included and served to you in your seat: continental breakfast up to 11am and after 11am a light cold meal with 3 cold savoury dishes and a choice of wine, beer or a non-alcoholic drink, plus tea and coffee. Special meals can be requested at the time of booking.

Luggage The allowance is two medium sized bags per person with a maximum length of 85cm plus one item of hand luggage. Suitcases can be placed in the storage areas by the doors and hand luggage can be placed in the overhead racks.

Transfers between stations in Paris

Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon - These stations are within 2 stops on the RER line and have escalators and lifts at both stations to help with transferring your baggage. However, we would recommend travelling by taxi as a more convenient option.

Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est - these stations are very close together and should be no more than an easy 10 minute walk. We will provide directions with your travel documents.

The journey through to Switzerland on the modern TGV trains is in comfortable and spacious carriages in both standard and first class. I n the first class carriages there are larger, reclining seats and complimentary French magazines and newspapers. There is a buffet car where you can purchase hot or cold meals and there are also vending machines for drinks and snacks.

Luggage The allowance is two bags per person plus hand luggage. Storage racks are at the end and sometimes in the middle of each carriage. 

Paris is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. You can make the most of your journey through Paris by staying overnight at the start or end of holiday. We will be happy to supply further details and prices on request.  

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Your onward rail travel to resort  will depart from the same station into which you arrive on the international train. This makes the final part of your journey seamless so you can sit back and relax.

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London to Switzerland in under a day by train: doable? - Train Travel Forum

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Was wondering if it is possible to travel from London to Switzerland by train in under a day connecting in Paris?

Yes. See http://www.seat61.com

(I have done this myself).

You should be able to get to Basel for a late lunch if you take the first train out of St Pancras

7,01 arrives Paris Nord 10.17

Depart Paris Est 10.55

Arrive Strasbourg 12.41

Depart Strasbourg 12.51

Arrive Basel 14.08

From Basel it should be easy to get to any other Swiss destination. I believe there are also direct trains to Geneva from Paris.

Yes I’ve done it many times. However they are running less Eurostar services now and they don’t always tie in well with the TGVs. It’s still possible but with more waiting time.The first train in January is at 7:55, except on Sunday when it’s at 9:27.. unfortunately at the moment the Eurostar times don’t tie in that well with TGV times to Basel. I’m trying to work out getting to Lenzerheide in January for my postponed holiday from the summer. I’ll get the tickets sorted soon!

Did London -Basel last month : departure 12:31 arrival 20:08.

The station change from Paris Nord to Paris Est is a 10-15 minutes walk. Much easier than the always crowded metro or RER.

Unfortunately for travelling to Geneva, the RER D train is the only quick way to transfer to Paris Gare de Lyon.

I don't mind the RER transfer. Once you know your way it is rather quick, and usually you will be changing mid day, so avoiding the rush hour crush.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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