Rajalakshmi

Hello all,

I am posting here for the 1st time, also my 1st trip to Europe Am planning a trip with my husband in October this year to France and Switzerland for 15 days (including the day we are landing and travelling back). We are landing in France from India and while going back taking a flight from Zurich. We want to get a feel of Paris, want to see the French Countryside and want to see the best possible places in Switzerland.Like scenery, countryside a bit more than museums and architectural sites (although would not want to miss the Louvre, Eiffel and the Versailles). Need your help in framing an itinerary with these points in mind. Would like to add we are big time foodies ! Also, is the Paris Disneyland worth visiting?

neckervd

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en

PalenQ

ParisDisney is worth visiting if you have never visited any disneyland or Disney World elsewhere - otherwise with some European nuances pretty much the same (though more booze and alcohol around than in the States parks IME)

Paris
1 - Land see Eiffel Tower and stroll around - get oriented - recover from jet lag, etc. Take a Seine boat cruise

2- Louvre and some other sights, shopping? Walking thru the Tuileries Gardens to the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe - Champs Elysees - this short few mile walk can take all day and passes so so many famous sights.

3- Versailles and rest of day in Paris.

4, 5, 6- Train to Provence - Avignon - Arles area - one of the most popular tourist areas in Europe - signature lovely French countryside - use local buses or better yet rent a car to see the Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St-Remy, etc.

7- Train to Switzerland - via Geneva to Vevey or Montreux - sweet smaller towns many find very romantic - on shores of lovely Lake Geneva -

8- Lausanne, Vevey or Montreux - famous Chillon castle or Gruyeres for cheese factories and to see one of Europe's finest old walled towns

9, 10 , 11 Stay in fabulous Berner Oberland - the Jungfrau Region - the high point both literally and figurative for many of Switzerland so so many things to see and do here from boat trips on the lakes bookending Interlaken to ascending Jungfraujoch - highest trains station in Europe as a sea of glaciers and ice - lots of other excursions as well for all tastes - a bit of easy to moderate walking on the area's fabled foot paths, etc.

11, 12, 13 Lucerne - lovely Lucerne on the idyllic lake of the same name - again a boat trip on the lake, etc. Ascend Mt Pilatus via one of the worold's most thrilling mountain trains and come down another way in a thrilling aerial gondola ride back to Lucerne - or take a boat to Vitzau and mountain train up to Mt Rigi - one of the most famous lookout points in Switzerland.

14, 15 Zurich

If doing anything remotely like this then investigate a Swiss Pass - covers trains, lake boats, postal buses and gives free entry to 400+ Swiss museums - even though you do not want to do museums - a few in Lucerne may be fine or in Zurich.

For lots of great info on Trains in France and Switzerland I always ballyhoo these fine IMO sights - www.ricksteves.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.seat61.com - for Swiss trains www.swisstravelsystem.com.

Well there is just one of many many options incorporating what many would say is the best of France outside of Paris (Provence around Avignon) and in Switzerland to boot.

There is also a France-Switzerland train pass good on trains in both countries but the Swiss Pass covers more in Switzerland so I'd advise a Swiss Pass and individual tickets in France at www.voyages-sncf.com.

swandav2000

Hi Rajalakshmi,

PalenQ's itinerary is a good one and one that I often recommend to first-time visitors to Switzerland. It covers a wide range of diversity (lakes, mountains, German, French) as well as hitting many of the most-talked about sites.

However, I wouldn't spend so much time in Luzern and Zürich. Luzern is only an hour from the Zürich airport, so you could easily spend your last night in Luzern. Instead of spending four nights in Luzern/Zürich, I would keep it to two nights. I would add one night to the Montreux area and one night to the Jungfrau area.

Have fun as you plan!

s

PalenQ

an 8-consectuive-day Swiss Pass is the most cost-effect for these wide-ranging travels perhaps - so if doing that yes drop one day from Zurich but end up there you ninth day - day before you fly out if my dreamt up scenario above and yes put in in either of two places swandav200 suggested - if you need any ideas about the Montreux/Vevey area ask swandav2000 because she/he is an absolute expert in that area.

Rajalakshmi

Thanks so much for all the wonderful inputs , definitely helps a great deal in our planning. But, I have a lot more Qs!

Is it possible to add Zermatt to our itinerary; if yes which is the best way to connect if we are travelling from France? Also, if we are visiting the Jungfrau region, is Zermatt not worth a visit, considering the time and logistics?

We are also considering Burgundy as an option for a countryside (being closer to Paris). is this a good idea? and in that case what is the best way to connect to switzerland from there?

AlessandraZoe

I liked PalenQ's and swandav2000's follow-up suggestions.

Regarding Zermatt--I feel you would be adding more travel time rather than value time into your itinerary by adding Zermatt.

If you do Burgundy instead of Provence, the rest of PalenQ's and swandav2000's itinerary still works because the Paris to Switzerland TGV line runs through Dijon. From Dijon you can get a short local train to Beaune and use that as a wonderful base from which to explore Burgundy. Then simply hook up again with that TGV line to Switzerland.

neckervd

2 Paris to Switzerland TGV lines run through Dijon and a third one, (the most frequented) doesn't.

PalenQ

Burgundy is certainly a more convenient countryside place if going to Switzerland and especially if you are into wine - lots of Burgundy wine houses in Beaune, a town much smaller and romantic IME than Dijon - the typical large French city more modern than quaint (but still a lovely city) - I would stay in Beaune for Burgundy and take trains or buses along the Burgundy Wine Road and stop in some small wine villages - cute places even if you don't drink wine.

Then yes via Dijon it is a short ride to Switzerland.

AlessandraZoe

And I might add that I might be in a minority, but I actually like Burgandy better than I do Provence. Everything is VERY accessible.

PalenQ

another interesting route from Burgundy to Switzerland goes via Chamonix, France - stop in that primo Alpine resort for a day or two and move onto the Berner Oberland, etc.

PalenQ

The most frequent route to Switzerland from France yes goes via Basel and that brings up Alsace as a possible nice part of the French countryside to consider a few days in - the Colmar ( a Beaune-like town on the Alsace Wine Road) and Strasbourg, to me one of the most underrated towns in France - and just a short few-hour rain ride from Basel via Freibourg, Germany - another possible nice town to stop off in - the Black Forest area.

AlessandraZoe

And once again, I have misspelled "Burgundy". You would think after downing enough of the stuff, one would be inclined to spell it correctly.

PalenQ

And I might add that I might be in a minority, but I actually like Burgandy better than I do Provence. Everything is VERY accessible>

Provence may be a better place to spend several days since there are so so many diverse things to see and do in a rather compact area whereas Burgundy has more bucolic and lush countryside and for a few days easily managed and more importantly for the OP Burgundy is much more on the way to Switzerland than Provence.

nytraveler

Well it seems like I'm in the minority but I really think you are giving Paris short shrift. I would spend 4 full days (5 nights there) - and not go anywhere near Disney unless you are under the age of 10.

There is SO much to see and do that you will not find anywhere else - I would cut a day from Swith and definitely do either Burgundy or Alsace versus Provence (which I think you can really see only by car).

AlessandraZoe

I understand, nytraveler, how you feel about Paris. But the OP is really into countryside. Rajalakshmi stated the parameters; we just provided.

I agree that Provence is a car area. I considered Burgundy stepping right from the branch train in Beaune to be a no-brainer.

PalenQ

Burgundy is far more than just one city that looks pretty much like any other French city - you have to get out of town and into the little wine villages and wineries to appreciate any countryside - just going to Beaune to me is not seeing Burgundy at all.

Same as just going to Avignon would not be seeing Provence at all.

Getting to these place you obviously go thru the countryside but if you don't have a car at nearly 200 mph it can be a blue

PalenQ

<not go anywhere near Disney unless you are under the age of 10.>

If you have never been to any Disney park then yes it may be worth it to you - maybe more worthwhile than many things in Paris and you need not be 10 or under to enjoy it. If you've been to one Disney Park then with some European nuances they are like peas in pods.

shanmugamprakash

PalenQ has given you the right itinerary. You decide on your likes and dislikes and plan accordingly. I am also from India and in June 13 we a group of 6 family members visited Europe -
London 4n/Paris 3n/ Swiss countryside 10 N ( Agree that Swiss plan was given a very wide focus due to personal liking) and Rome 3 N. Of course France countryside should be equally good and i have not visite and no suggestions. Others are right that if any kid is involved then it is worth going to Disney. Otherwise what palenQ has suggested are adequate. Paris METRO is easy to navigate and the passes will be of great use. For Swiss you can buy a 8 day SWISS PASS - (group) which will be the best buy. You can buy the same in Basel or Geneva at the entry point of Swiss as per your itinerary. In BO you can stay in Lauterbrunnen or Murren for atleast 3 nights and do not try Interlaken as many do.
You can visit FIRST, WENGEN, GIMMELWARD, WENGEN, JUNGFRAU if weather permitting, SCHILTHORN SUMMIT and a few moderate hiking in Mannlechen areas.
You can stay in Luzern for 2 days and attempt two out of MT. PILATUS, MT. TITLIS & MT. RIGI. Spend one evening in Kappel bridge and if possible one dinner at the river front.
One or two lake tours will be very rewardingbut time constraints will not allow you. You may avoid the Zurich city stay. If you are visiting Zermatt then Matterhorn glazier trip will be the best one besides the last day GE Glazier Express journey (Included in the Swiss Pass) with CHF33 reservation fee payable. Refer www.sbb.ch
Go up to Chur and then fly out via Zurich. Note that Versailles is closed on mondays and Eiffel tower is 7 days open. Try to view tower from the Arc de triumph in the night. Eiffel tower visit better be booked well in advance so that you can avoid the queue and also reduce the waiting time. Visiting the third tier is a personal choice. Better to be very careful in Paris since it is a very big metro and the safety may get a beating in many crowded places. Swiss is absolutely safe and a proof is that my sister got her purse with money and cards back after couple of hours of losing it in a cable car area.

PalenQ

Great advice from shanmugamprakash!