texaseuro

We are flying into Zurich on Sept1 and then going to Paris and leaving out of Paris on Sept. 12. How do I get from Zurich to Paris? How much time should I spend where? What should I see? Want to see a few musuems, some shopping etc.. What's the weather like? What do people where?

Nicol

Getting from Zurich to Paris is tricky and expensive, mainly due to the very expensive airport taxes at Zurich. None of the discount airlines go to Zurich and the regular airlines like Air France and Swiss are eye wateringly expensive. You may be able to get a relatively inexpensive return Zurich-Paris flight on one of these and throw away the return ticket. Even so, I have never been able to get a flight for a reasonable price.

Another option is the train. This takes all day, and involves a change usually at Geneva or Lausanne. You then usually get on a TGV for Paris. I think there is one intercity per day that leaves early in the morning and is relatively painless. Look on the Swiss rail website for details. Again, this option is not cheap.

A combined option works well. ie take the train to Geneva then hop on Easyjet to Paris Orly. If you book far ahead, Easyjet is really cheap. Good Luck.

sandi_travelnut

try getting a guide book to help you answer some of those basic questions.

suze

Using the above information, plus knowing the rest of your itinerary from another post you made...

Maybe it would be better to fly in to Geneva? While in different directions completely, it is easy enough to get to Venice, Paris, and Zurich all from Geneva.

GeoffHamer

There is also an overnight sleeper train which leaves Zürich late at night and arrives in Paris early the next morning, so you waste no time at all. I used it after Christmas.

suze

Great idea for the overnight train! I didn't realize there was one on this route. I suggest booking a private sleeper cabin for two. Expect it to be the cost similar to a nice hotel + a train ticket. As mentioned, that would take care of your longest ride without wasting a day.

suze

In Paris, you could take a narrated tour with one of the tourist bus services to get an overview on your first day.

bob_brown

Other than an expensive flight, the best way from Zürich to Paris is to take the train. The best bet for the train is to leave Zürich at 7:18 and arrive at Gare de Lyon at 13:21. Once the train gets to Frasne in France, it turns into a full fledged TGV. Before that, the TV lacks the G.

If you want a later departure, there is a T(G)V at 16:18. I suggest that one and the 7:18 one because neither requires a change of train and the travel time is the quickest you will find via train.

I never paid much attention to what people wear in Paris. I wear what I own. Usually dark trousers and a blue shirt.

The weather? Expect showers.

What to see? If you don't know already, why do you want to go there?

Museums? Plenty.

Like guns? Go to the military museum at Invalides.

You can also look at the outermost box of the set of boxes that contains the little emperor.

Like churches? Paris has a few big ones.

Like pictures? Try the Louvre. It is full of them. It has statues, too.
One of them has no arms, but people admire her in droves.

Like big houses? Visit Versailles.
Like big, pretty houses? Book a day tour to Vaux-le-Vicomte. (Sorry Versailles fans, but despite being ultra historic, that place to me is huge, ostentacious, pretentious, and lavish; but not pretty.

Like pastries? You have come to the right place. La Brioche Doree is all over and has a passable collection of goodies. Or, just go in a bakery and survey the showcase and point to a few.

I usually run my triglycerides up 200 points while I am in Paris.

How much time? Well let's put it this way. I think it will take more than 2 days. More than 4 if you go to Versailles, and more than 5 if you go also to Vaux-le-Vicomte.

If you go to Vaux, go up in the cupola and try to figure out how the engineers built that thing without the aid of tall cranes. I marvel at it. It took some real engineering skill and construction know-how to get that thing up there without it caving in.

SuzieC

Good answer Bob... <still chuckling here>

suze

I think you need to stay at least 5 days in Paris to make it worth the cost, time, and effort of getting there.

People in Paris wear normal city clothes.

For museums, shopping, what to see... pick up a guidebook like people keep recommending to you!

bob_brown

I left out one place I recommend to many people who plan to visit Paris.
I think des Egouts de Paris might be most instructional. The concierge at your hotel can direct you.

If you like big statues outside, go to the Rodin Museum. There is one there some woman in front of me kept calling Prozac.

Sort of a fat guy in a big bathrobe like outfit.