Paris to Venice Train - good train through Switz?
Jul 21st, 2006, 05:45 AM
#1
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Paris to Venice Train - good train through Switz?
Hello everyone...I am planning a trip to Europe for August 12 - 31. We will be going from Paris down to Venice in one straight shot. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about taking the train directly....how many stop overs, how long, price?
I have looked online - but was also interested if anyone knew anything about taking a scenic route through Switz.?
If so:
how to book?
cost?
length of trip?
THANKS SO MUCH
I am 24 and my husband is 26. From what I have seen we cost different amounts on the train...
I have looked online - but was also interested if anyone knew anything about taking a scenic route through Switz.?
If so:
how to book?
cost?
length of trip?
THANKS SO MUCH
I am 24 and my husband is 26. From what I have seen we cost different amounts on the train...
Jul 21st, 2006, 05:56 AM
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Hi beph03,
The trip from Paris to Venice has a few options --
Paris-Lausanne TGV, then Lausanne-Venice; total trip time is 13.32
Paris-Geneva TGV, then Geneva-Milan-Venice; total trip time is 12h38
These are all very scenic routes, going first around the vineyards and lake of Geneva and then the mountainous region of Brig.
Alternately, you can take a direct night train that takes 12h47; it leaves Paris at 20.28 and arrives at 09.15.
I got these schedules at the Swiss rail website, www.rail.ch. I used "Venezia S. Lucia" as the destination.
I would just book from Paris on the day I arrived.
s
The trip from Paris to Venice has a few options --
Paris-Lausanne TGV, then Lausanne-Venice; total trip time is 13.32
Paris-Geneva TGV, then Geneva-Milan-Venice; total trip time is 12h38
These are all very scenic routes, going first around the vineyards and lake of Geneva and then the mountainous region of Brig.
Alternately, you can take a direct night train that takes 12h47; it leaves Paris at 20.28 and arrives at 09.15.
I got these schedules at the Swiss rail website, www.rail.ch. I used "Venezia S. Lucia" as the destination.
I would just book from Paris on the day I arrived.
s
Jul 21st, 2006, 06:22 AM
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Yes I am using the swiss rail website...when I type Paris to Venice it highlights them both in red and says:
"Station/stop not found. Please check spelling
For more information regarding this error message, click here."
Not sure why? I will continue to play around with it
"Station/stop not found. Please check spelling
For more information regarding this error message, click here."
Not sure why? I will continue to play around with it
Jul 21st, 2006, 06:35 AM
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It recognises "Paris". If you enter "Venice" or "Venezia", it will offer a choice of stations - a big choice for "Venice" or a more limited choice for "Venezia" because there are stations called Venezia Mestre and Venezia Santa Lucia.
Jul 21st, 2006, 07:17 AM
#7
I've done Geneva/Venice a few times on the train, and Venice to Paris once. Because of the length of the trip I've taken an overnight train in a private compartment most times.
Only one time I did a day train from Venice back to Geneva (transfers Sion). It was a fairly long ride and only some parts of it were what I'd call "scenic" as the train passes thru the backsides of many towns. Point being, if you're just looking to get from Paris to Venice I don't think I'd bother going thru Switzerland unless you are planning to spend time there.
I have always just booked my train tickets after I arrived, at the train station, a few days before I want to travel.
Only one time I did a day train from Venice back to Geneva (transfers Sion). It was a fairly long ride and only some parts of it were what I'd call "scenic" as the train passes thru the backsides of many towns. Point being, if you're just looking to get from Paris to Venice I don't think I'd bother going thru Switzerland unless you are planning to spend time there.
I have always just booked my train tickets after I arrived, at the train station, a few days before I want to travel.
Jul 21st, 2006, 07:53 AM
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The overnight train is the quickest way of getting from Paris to Venezia: you can spend a day in Paris, then the next day in Venezia. Any air journey will waste half a day when you add in times getting to and from airports.
Jul 21st, 2006, 08:40 AM
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If you decide to take the night train, book your ticket at sncf.com ASAP. Click on the British flag in the lower left-hand corner to view the site in English. PREM'S (cheapest discount tickets) probably are long gone, but you should be able to get a DEPART ticket which is a lot cheaper than the standard fare. Leave France as the default country in which you will pick up your ticket and choose the option of picking it up at a ticket machine, ticket window, or ticket boutique. You will be given a confirmation number. You will need it and the credit card used when booking in order to pick up yor ticket. Note: US credit cards lack the chip & pin needed for the ticket machines so just go to the window, but allow extra time for standing in line.
Jul 21st, 2006, 08:54 AM
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One more thing. The SNCF site is particular about how it identifies stations. Enter Paris Bercy as your departure station and Venezia Santa Lucia as your arrival station. You will get a note telling you there are several stations in each city even though you've entered the ones you want. Click on "or choose here" in each case and select the one you need from each list.
Jul 21st, 2006, 09:19 AM
#18
You have a couple choices on overnight trains, generally speaking. There are shared cabins (couchette) with 4-6 people in flip down type bunks. There are private rooms for 2 people with more like normal beds, usually with a window and sink. The bottom bed flips up into a couch for pre-bedtime. Of course the private cabin (wagon-lit) is more money, about the cost of a hotel room.
To answer your question, yes that is how I would choose to get from Paris to Venice. I know flying is quicker but to me more of a hassle because of what it takes to get to the airport in Paris, and from the airport in Venice into where you want to be. The train stations are centrally located in each city.
Hope that helps. -Suze
To answer your question, yes that is how I would choose to get from Paris to Venice. I know flying is quicker but to me more of a hassle because of what it takes to get to the airport in Paris, and from the airport in Venice into where you want to be. The train stations are centrally located in each city.
Hope that helps. -Suze
Jul 21st, 2006, 09:44 AM
#19
beph03- I believe couchettes are 'safe' enough, but I would not be comfortable sleeping with strangers in such close proximity, and being a very light sleeper anyway would not be able to get comfortable on that kind of bed (or so I assume as I've never actually tried it, probably never will, to be honest).
Depending on the time your overnight train leaves, you can bring a picnic dinner to have in your cabin, something I've really enjoyed doing!
Depending on the time your overnight train leaves, you can bring a picnic dinner to have in your cabin, something I've really enjoyed doing!
Jul 21st, 2006, 10:05 AM
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Couchettes lock from the inside so the only people who could steal from you are those sharing the couchette. My wife and I and our daughter took the night train from Paris to Nice in a six-person couchette. We wore our moneybelts and tucked any valuables (like a camera) under the covers with us. We slept fine, but the compartment was small and space for luggage was limited so what didn't fit in the racks had to be piled on the floor in the aisle. Next time I'll spend a little more for the added space and comfort of a four-person couchette. On the Paris Venice night train you can choose from six-person couchettes, four-person couchettes, T3 cabins, doubles, and singles. A T3 cabin wouldn't work for you because unless you book all three beds, the cabin must be occupied by people of the same sex. Couchettes are either mixed or women only.
