London to Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich or Basel from £78 Thames to the Matterhorn without flying

Lunch in London, bedtime in Switzerland, by train!

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.

  London to Basel, Zurich & Lucerne

  London to Geneva

  London to Bern

  London to Lausanne, Montreux, Gstaad

  London to Interlaken

  London to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen

  London to Brig, Zermatt & the Matterhorn

  London to Chur, Klosters, Davos, St Moritz

  London to Vaduz & Liechtenstein

  London to Switzerland via Brussels - avoids Paris

  London to Switzerland by ferry from Harwich

  London to Switzerland by ferry from Portsmouth

  UK to Switzerland by ferry from Hull or Newcastle

  How to buy train tickets to Switzerland

  Starting from other UK towns & cities

Train travel within Switzerland

  Train travel in Switzerland - a beginner's guide

  Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card

  Map of the Swiss rail network - download map

  The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St Moritz

  The Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano & Milan

  The Jungfraubahn to the Top of Europe

  The Golden Pass - Montreux-Interlaken-Lucerne

  Station guides: Geneva  Lausanne  Basel SBB  Zurich HB

International travel to/from Switzerland

  Trains from other European cities to Switzerland

  Trains from Switzerland to other European cities

Other useful information

  Useful country information: currency, dial code...

  Quick guide to Zurich main station

  Holidays & escorted tours to Switzerland by train

  Hotels in Switzerland

  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi

  Luggage on trains &  Left luggage at stations

  Taking your bike  

  Taking your dog

  Passengers with disabilities  

  General European train travel information

  Travel insurance, mobile data, VPN & other tips

Interactive map:  Click a destination or route

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Useful country information

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London to Basel, Zurich, Lucerne

• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV-Lyria via Paris.  This is the fastest & cheapest option, with some great scenery.

• Option 2, by Eurostar & ICE via Brussels & Germany.  This is a longer way round, but avoids crossing Paris if that's important to you, with simple same-station changes in Brussels and either Cologne or Frankfurt.

• Option 3, by Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry.  The ferry alternative, a great option if you live in East Anglia or if Eurostar is expensive.  Leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 or Cambridge at 19:47, sleep in a cosy cabin on the Stena Line superferry with shower, toilet & satellite TV.  Next day, take onward trains to Basel or Zurich.

• Option 4, by Portsmouth-Caen ferry, another ferry alternative, ideal if you live on the south coast.  Sail overnight from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries sleeping in a cosy private cabin.  Take a morning train to Paris then an afternoon train to Basel & Zurich.

• Option 5, by overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to Amsterdam and onward trains to Basel & Zurich.  Travel direct from the North of England and by-pass London.

Option 1, London to Basel or Zurich via Paris

Take Eurostar from London to Paris with two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & 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 2025

Timetable inward 2025

Notes for timetable

For Lucerne (Luzern), 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.

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight stop in Paris. Going out, by all means choose an earlier Eurostar to Paris or a later morning TGV to Geneva.  Coming back, by all means choose an earlier TGV to Paris or later Eurostar to London.  Your call!  See suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £97 one-way or £168 return in Plus (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 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions below

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.  Plus & 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 (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 at all seats & free WiFi 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?

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 320 km/h (199mph).  Calling at Mulhouse, the train continues on classic lines to enter Switzerland at Basel.

How to buy tickets

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

Option 1, buy at Raileurope.com

	For hotels... www.booking.com allows you to book your accommodation before train bookings open, at no risk with free cancellation. See my personal hotel recommendations in Zurich & in the St Moritz area.

• Go to www.raileurope.com

  Raileurope connects to the British, French & Swiss ticketing systems, so you can buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  About Raileurope.

• When does booking open?

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

  However, it can be 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 availability before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  For TGV-Lyria, dates after the mid-December timetable change (including Christmas & New Year) usually open in early October.

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

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

• How to book

  You can travel from London to most Swiss destinations in a day and 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.

• Method 1

  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.

  5.  Check out and pay for all tickets as one transaction.

• Method 2

  First, find a train service that suits you, out & back, using the times on this page.  By all means go out one way and back another, 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 a bit more.  So engage brain!  Advice on crossing Paris.

  Check out, paying for all tickets as one transaction.

• Travelling from other UK towns & cities

  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

  TGV-Lyria trains are 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 booking, you can use Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat from a seat map.  Tips on choosing the best seats.

  You can also download the Eurostar app and load your Eurostar booking into it using the 6-character booking reference.  You can then manage your booking in the app.

• Train seat maps

  TGV-Lyria seat map.   For other trains, see the train seat maps 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.  About Thetrainline.

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

  Prices should be exactly the same on both sites, it really comes down to personal preference and a few differences explained below:

• Advantages of Thetrainline over Raileurope:

  Thetrainline.com lets you choose your seats from a seat map on TGV-Lyria if you book 1st class. A big plus!

  Thetrainline.com can sell tickets with a Carte Avantage discount if you have such a card.

• Advantage of Raileurope over Thetrainline:

  However, Raileurope.com has a key advantage, you can specify a via station with a stopover duration.  This is 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.

  Apart from these differences you should find prices are the same on both sites, it really comes down to personal preference.

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

• You can of course book each train separately at the operator's website, more work and same prices, but no booking fee.  If you want to book this way, do a dry run on each site to confirm 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 can 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 Wengen, Grindelwald, Zermatt or St Moritz.  If you have any difficulty, book the TGV from Paris to Lausanne, Bern, Basel or Zurich at www.sncf-connect.com, then onward trains at Swiss Raiwlays www.sbb.ch.

• 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 by al means book an earlier Eurostar out or a later Eurostar back if it's cheaper or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.  You print out your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  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 the flexibility 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, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  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, see prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, you need a passholder reservation on the Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria, 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 let Byway arrange it

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

  To see pre-configured packages from the UK to Switzerland by train, www.byway.travel/.../switzerland-by-train.

  Or they can build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Or let Railbookers arrange it

• 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 customised to your requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens 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.

    UK 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US 1-888-829-4775, see website

    Canada 1-855-882-2910, see website

    Australia 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand 0800 000 554 or see website

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.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest.  Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7.  But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.

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• Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV-Lyria via Paris.  This is the fastest & cheapest option with some great scenery on the way.

• Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Lille & Lyon.  This takes a bit longer and usually costs a little more, but it avoids having to cross Paris if that's important to you, ideal if you've heavy luggage or mobility problems. There are just two easy same-station changes, in Lille & Lyon.

• Option 3, by Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry. The ferry alternative!  A great option if you live in East Anglia, or want affordable fares even at short notice when Eurostar is expensive.  Leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 or Cambridge 19:47, sleep in a cosy private cabin on the Stena Line superferry from 21:00 to 08:00 with shower, toilet & satellite TV.  Next day, take the metro to Rotterdam and onward trains to Switzerland.

• Option 4, by Portsmouth-Caen ferry.  Another ferry alternative, ideal if you live on the south coast.  Sail overnight from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries, sleeping in a cosy private cabin.  Take a morning train to Paris then an afternoon train to Geneva.

• Option 5, by overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to Amsterdam and onward trains to Basel then Geneva.  Travel direct from the North of England and by-pass London.

Option 1, London to Geneva via Paris

Take Eurostar from London to Paris with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & 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.

The Paris-Geneva TGVs first 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?

Timetable outward 2025

Timetable inward 2025

Notes for timetable

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.

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight hotel stop in Paris. Going out, by all means choose an earlier Eurostar to Paris or a later morning TGV to Geneva.  Coming back, by all means choose an earlier TGV to Paris or later Eurostar to London.  Your call!  See suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

How much does it cost?

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

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

• Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above.

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 and free WiFi.  Plus and 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 Geneva by TGV-Lyria duplex

All TGV-Lyria trains are 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard (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 at all seats & free WiFi 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.

What's the scenery like?

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.

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Option 2, London to Geneva via Lille & Lyon

This takes 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 great option.

Timetable outward 2025

Notes for timetable

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

Times 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.

How much does it cost?

• London to Lille by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way, £78 return in Standard or £97 one-way, £168 return in Plus (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 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.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets online at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com.

• Booking for the Lille-Lyon TGV opens up to 4 months ahead, less than this if the mid-December timetable change intervenes.

• I recommend booking London to Lyon first (and back, if returning), adding that you your basket, then book a Lyon to Geneva ticket separately, add to your basket and check out.  It can help to add Lille Europe as a via station (if using www.raileurope.com, click More options).

  Tip:  If it still insists on routing you via Paris, break the journey down:  Book from Lille to Lyon looking for the direct TGV, add to basket.  Then book from London to Lille and add to basket.  Then book Lyon to Geneva, add to basket and check out.

What are the trains like?

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.  Plus and 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 & 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.

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London to Bern

Taking the train is the enjoyable 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 map & 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.

Timetable outward 2025

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight hotel stop in Paris. Going out, by all means choose an earlier Eurostar to Paris or a later morning TGV to Geneva.  Coming back, by all means choose an earlier TGV to Paris or later Eurostar to London.  Your call!  See suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

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.

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

Timetable inward 2025

How much does it cost?

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

• 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.

• 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.

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It's the enjoyable and environmentally-friendly way from London to Lausanne & western Switzerland.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in 2h20 from £78 return, then a high-speed TGV-Lyria from Paris to Lausanne in 3h40 from €29 each way.  Centre to centre, no baggage fees, no airports, infants under 4 go free.

The TGV-Lyria reaches 300 km/h (186 mph) on the TGV Sud-Est line, branching off at Dijon through pretty hills across rural France and into Switzerland.  Take a bottle of wine, put your feet up & enjoy the ride.  TGV-Lyria's business première fares include a meal & wine served at your seat.  More about TGV-Lyria.  Ferry alternative.

Easy connections to Vevey, Montreux, Sion, Martigny, Gstaad:  Lausanne is the ideal entry point for western Switzerland.  Frequent Swiss trains link Lausanne with Vevey, Montreux, Sion, & Martigny.  Change at Montreux for the scenic narrow-gauge Golden Pass route to Gstaad & Zweisimmen.  The Golden Pass route climbs spectacularly out of Montreux, over the mountaintop to the valley beyond.  Check train times & fares from Lausanne to anywhere in Switzerland at www.sbb.ch.

Timetable outward 2025

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight hotel stop in Paris. Going out, by all means choose an earlier Eurostar to Paris or a later morning TGV to Geneva.  Coming back, by all means choose an earlier TGV to Paris or later Eurostar to London.  Your call!  See suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

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

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

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.

Timetable inward 2025

How much does it cost?

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

• 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.

• Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above.

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

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It's easy to travel by train from the UK to Interlaken and the Jungfrau region.  Take Eurostar to Paris in 2h20 from £78 return, then a 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV-Lyria from Paris to Basel in 3h05 from €29 each way.  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 food & wine served at your seat included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  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.

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight hotel stop in Paris. Going out, by all means choose an earlier Eurostar to Paris or a later morning TGV to Geneva.  Coming back, by all means choose an earlier TGV to Paris or later Eurostar to London.  Your call!  See suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

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.

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

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

Timetable inward 2025

How much does it cost?

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

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

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

• Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above.

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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.

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

Shaded = time-effective journey with overnight hotel stop in Paris. By all means choose an earlier evening Eurostar outward or a later morning one inwards.  Or a later morning TGV going south, or an earlier evening TGV going north.  Your call!  See suggested hotels in Paris near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon

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

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

Timetable inward 2025

How much does it cost?

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

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

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

• Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above.

Let Railbookers arrange it 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 customised to your requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.

    UK 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US 1-888-829-4775, see website

    Canada 1-855-882-2910, see website

    Australia 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand 0800 000 554 or see website

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.

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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

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 07:01 Mondays-Fridays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 10:19.

  On Saturdays, leave London St Pancras at 06:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 09:48.

  On Sundays, leave London St Pancras at 08:01, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 11:20.

  There's also an 08:01 Eurostar on Mondays-Saturdays, but I'd play safe and book an earlier Eurostar when one is available.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare de Lyon, it's just 2 stops on RER line D.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 12:22, arriving Zurich HB 15:26.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV-Lyria has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3 take an onward Swiss train:

  For St Moritz, leave Zurich HB at 16:07 by InterCity train, change at Landquart onto the narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, arriving St Moritz 19:07.

  For Klosters, leave Zurich HB at 16:07 by InterCity train, change at Landquart onto the Rhätische Bahn, arriving Klosters Platz 17:58.

  For Davos, leave Zurich HB at 16:07 by InterCity train, change at Landquart onto the Rhätische Bahn, arriving Davos Platz 18:27.

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

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 11:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 14:48.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Basel by TGV-Lyria, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:22, arriving Zurich HB 20:26.

  The double-deck TGV-Lyria travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) and has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3 for Klosters or Davos, leave Zurich HB at 20:38 by InterCity train and change at Landquart onto the narrow-gauge Rhätische Bahn to Klosters Platz arriving 22:30 and Davos Platz arriving 23:01.  There is a later connection from Zurich at 21:38 if the TGV from Paris is delayed.

• Step 3 take an onward Swiss train:

  For St Moritz, leave Zurich HB at 20:38, change Landquart, Klosters Platz & Sagliains (at Chur & Samedan on Fridays & Saturdays) arriving St Moritz at 23:58.  This is the last connection of the day, check times at www.sbb.ch.

  For Klosters, leave Zurich HB at 20:38 by InterCity train, change at Landquart onto the Rhätische Bahn arriving Klosters Platz 22:30.

  For Davos, leave Zurich HB at 20:38 by InterCity train, change at Landquart onto the Rhätische Bahn arriving Davos Platz 22:59.

  There is a later 21:38 from Zurich to Klosters & Davos if the TGV from Paris is delayed.

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

• Step 1, take a Swiss train to Zurich.

  Leave St Moritz at 07:07 by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change at Chur onto an InterCity train, arriving Zurich HB 10:22.

  Leave Davos Platz at 07:56 by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change to an Intercity train at Landquart, arriving Zurich HB 10:22.

  Leave Klosters Platz at 08:30, by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change to an Intercity train at Landquart, arriving Zurich HB 10:22.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 11:34, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 15:38.

  The double-deck TGV-Lyria travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) and has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:12 daily except Saturdays arriving London St Pancras 19:30.

  On Saturdays, leave Paris Gare du Nord at 19:12 arriving London St Pancras 20:30.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

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

• Step 1, take a Swiss train to Zurich.

  Leave St Moritz at 09:07 by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change at Chur onto an InterCity train, arriving Zurich HB 12:22.

  Leave Davos Platz at 09:56 by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change at Landquart onto an Intercity train, arriving Zurich HB 12:22.

  Leave Klosters Platz at 10:30, by narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn, change at Landquart onto an Intercity train, arriving Zurich HB 12:22.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 13:34 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 17:38.

  The double-deck TGV-Lyria travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) and has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 20:12, arriving London St Pancras 21:30.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

How much does it cost?

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

• Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way 2nd class, €79 each way 1st class.

• Zurich to St Moritz costs CHF 75 (£57) one-way, CHF 150 (£114) return in 2nd class.

• Eurostar & TGV-Lyria fares 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

• To buy tickets, see the instructions above.

Let Railbookers arrange it for you

• 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 customised to your requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.

    UK 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US 1-888-829-4775, see website

    Canada 1-855-882-2910, see website

    Australia 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand 0800 000 554 or see website

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.

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London to Liechtenstein

• Vaduz (Liechtenstein's capital) has no railway 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 buses is 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 $, international 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 in the principality.  Schaan-Vaduz is the most important of these, 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 train from Zurich to Sargans, these run twice an hour taking 55-67 minutes, check times 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 7.60, children under 16 half price.

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London to Switzerland via Brussels

Going via Brussels takes significantly longer than going via Paris as shown above, but it avoids having to change stations in Paris.  The changes of train at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf are easy same-station changes taking only minutes.  This might be useful 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 ICE arriving 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 change (usually a simple cross-platform change on this departure) onto the 14:25 ICE from Brussels to Cologne.  Change at Cologne Hbf onto another ICE arriving Basel SBB 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 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 arriving London St Pancras 16:57.

• Option 2, departing Basel SBB at 09:13 on Sundays, arriving London 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 arriving London St Pancras 18:57.

• Option 3, departing Basel SBB at 11:13 Mondays-Fridays, arriving London 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 arriving London St Pancras 19:57.

• Option 4, departing Basel SBB at 13:13 daily except Saturdays, arriving London 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 arriving London St Pancras 21:57.

How much does it cost?

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

• Brussels to Basel or Zurich starts at €39.99 each way in 2nd class, €69.99 each way in 1st class.

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sundays.

• 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!

How to buy tickets

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

  Using these sites lets you buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem.  Small booking fee.

• When does booking open?

  Booking opens up to 11 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 6 months for onward trains, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  I'd wait until all trains open for booking before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  More about when booking opens.

• Booking tips

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

  After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to choose a better seat on Eurostar.

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

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, there are no through tickets from London.  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 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.

  An 'open jaw' journey out from London to Zurich, back from Luzern to London, would be cheapest booked as London to Brussels & back, add to basket, Brussels to Zurich one-way, add to basket, Luzern to Brussels one-way, add to basket, and check out.  Easy when you know!

• Seat reservations

  A seat reservation on Eurostar is included with every ticket.  Seat reservations on ICE trains are optional, you can add a reserved seat when booking for €5.20 2nd class or €6.50 1st class.  A reserved seat is a good idea, I'd add one when prompted.

• 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.

  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 knows which connections are recognised 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), run a London-Cologne enquiry to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE on that specific date.

  Tip:  Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

• If you're starting from a UK town or city north or west of London, see advice on buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.

Another way to buy tickets

• This is a little more work, but no booking fee.  Do a dry run on both sites first to check availability.

• Before booking for real, check that your outward Eurostar & ICE are 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 above about the 20-minute connections in Brussels.

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com.

  You print your own ticket, or can load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

  Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways, so if you're returning, book Eurostar as a round trip.  After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to choose a better 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 phone.  A round trip is two one-ways, so book one way at a time if you find that easier (I do!).  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 with int.bahn.de is that you can choose your seat from a seat map on ICE trains.

  Tip:  With int.bahn.de you can add a stopover and still get the end-to-end cheap fare, it allows up to 2 stopovers within the 2-day ticket validity using the Stopovers feature.  You can specify the length of stay in hours.  Why not stop off in Cologne or Heidelberg?

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest.  Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7.  But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.

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.  More about the classic Rhine Valley route.

• To book tickets via the scenic 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.  Plus and 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.

2. Brussels to Cologne & Cologne to Switzerland by ICE3

Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, food & drink 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.

An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.  Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.

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London to Switzerland by ferry from Harwich

You might prefer sailing overnight in a comfy cabin on the Stena Line superferry (watch the video!), then taking a superb German ICE train to Switzerland next day.  This route is useful If you live in East Anglia, want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, if the French are on strike, or if Eurostar fares are expensive, for example at short notice.  It's one of the routes shown in dark blue on the route map above.

Incidentally, I don't recommend Dover-Calais.  Although more direct, long walks or taxis are required between station & port in both Dover & Calais.  The Harwich-Hoek route has seamless train/ferry connections & an integrated Rail & Sail ticket covers both train and ferry.

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Switzerland

• Day 1, travel from London to Hoek van Holland overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 Mondays-Fridays, 19:04 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  Or leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  The Rail & Sail fare is valid from any Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Cambridge, Romford, Ilford, Ipswich.

  At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal and you walk off the train into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk straight onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Hollandica.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 Dutch time next morning.

  On arrival at Hoek van Holland, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Walk down the gangway into the ferry terminal, through passport control, out of the terminal and across the road to the metro station.

• Day 2, take the frequent metro train from Hoek van Holland Haven to Rotterdam Alexander followed by a mainline train to Utrecht, arriving at or before 10:28.  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

• Day 2, travel from Utrecht to Switzerland by train.

  Take the 11:04 high-speed ICE train from Utrecht to Frankfurt, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 14:31.  Change onto the 14:50 high-speed ICE train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Basel SBB (arrive 17:48), Bern (arrive 18:56) or Interlaken (arrive 19:59).

  Change in Basel or Bern for destinations all over Switzerland.  Check times & prices from Utrecht to almost anywhere in Switzerland at int.bahn.de.

  Alternatively, you could spend the day in Amsterdam and take the Nightjet sleeper from Amsterdam Centraal to Basel SBB & Zurich HB in an economical couchette or private sleeper, see here for details.

Switzerland ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Day 1, travel from Switzerland to Utrecht by train.

  Leave Basel SBB 10:13 by ICE arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 13:08.  Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 13:27 by ICE, arriving Utrecht Centraal 16:59.

  Times vary, but it's normally possible to do this journey with 1 change.  Check times & prices from almost anywhere in Switzerland to Utrecht at int.bahn.de.

  Alternatively, you could leave Switzerland the previous evening on the 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, travel from Utrecht to London overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

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

  If you take the 10:13 from Basel you'll have plenty of time to connect with the ferry, you could stop off in Utrecht or Rotterdam for dinner.  Just make sure you reach Hoek before 21:00.

  At Hoek, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.  Check in at the Stena Line desk at least 45 minutes before sailing time, then walk up the gangway onto the Stena Line superferry.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 8pm, have dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

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

  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).

How much does it cost?

• London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland starts at £62 per person each way, plus cabin.

  Cabins start at £34 for a single berth cabin or £45 per cabin for a 2-berth, and are compulsory on the night sailing.  For full details of fares and cabin types and costs, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

  Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam Alexander by metro costs around €4.

• Rotterdam Alexander to stations in Switzerland starts at €37.99 each way 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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 2, book trains from Rotterdam Alexander to Switzerland using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  You can book to any destination station you like in Switzerland.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

What's the journey like?

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 is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.  See the video.

The Stena Hollandica 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.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.  Click on the interior images for larger photos.

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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.

  For details, see the London to Paris by train & ferry page.  Transfer from Paris St Lazare to Paris Gare de Lyon by taxi or metro.

• 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.

The luxurious Normandie at Portsmouth.

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Scotland & North to Switzerland

If you live in the North of England or Scotland, you can take a train to London and travel to Switzerland via Eurostar as shown above.  This may be the quickest & easiest option, see advice on buying train tickets to London.  If you live in Scotland, the Caledonian Sleepers will get you to London in time for a morning Eurostar.

But consider by-passing London on a comfortable overnight 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 train to Switzerland.

Scotland & the North ► Amsterdam ► Switzerland

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

  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, 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, see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Day 2, travel by comfortable train from Rotterdam Centraal or Amsterdam Centraal to anywhere in Switzerland.

  You can check train times & prices using the German Railways website int.bahn.de, just allow plenty of time 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.

  Alternatively, spend the day in Amsterdam and take the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam Centraal to Basel SBB & Zurich HB overnight in an couchette or sleeper, see details here.

Switzerland ► Amsterdam ► Scotland & the North

• Day 1, take a Swiss train from anywhere in Switzerland to Rotterdam Centraal (for P&O to Hull) or 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 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 Nightjet sleeper train from Zurich HB & Basel SBB to Amsterdam Centraal in a couchette or sleeper, and spend the day exploring Amsterdam, see details here.

• 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 ferry from Rotterdam Europoort to Hull with P&O Ferries or from IJmuiden to Newcastle with DFDS, whichever is most convenient for where you live, arriving next morning (day 2).  Transfer to the station and take a train home. 

  For details, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry at www.dfds.com or the Hull-Rotterdam ferry at www.poferries.com.

• Step 2, buy train tickets from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Switzerland at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  To book the Amsterdam-Austria Nightjet sleeper, use www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, buy a train ticket from your local station to Newcastle or Hull at any train operator website such as tfw.wales.  Make sure you allow plenty of time for the transfer from station to ferry terminal and for the ferry check-in.

What's the journey like?

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 restaurant serving drinks, snacks and meals.  More about ICE trains.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.  Click on the interior images for larger photos.

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Definitely take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background. You won't regret buying one!

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.

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European Rail Timetable & maps

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

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).

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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!

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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.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

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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