Quick rail route! Require suggestions from anybody who has travelled from Spain to Switzerland by rail...will leave Madrid on a Saturday and need to be in Luzern by the following Monday...HELP!!! Thanks everyone!

hi canada,

I had a look at www.bahn.de/english and there are a number of trains that will get you there in about 24 hours, give or take. so 48 hours should pose no problems at all.

but is there some reason you don't want to fly?

regards, ann

the reason i don't want to fly is because i would like to see as much country as possible, and the rail is likely the best, at least in my opinion, even though it may take longer, the problem i am having is which destinations to take. Raileurope suggested from Madrid to Paris to Basel, but that seemed really the long way around with an overnight on the train. On tripadvisor, a person said that Barcelona to Geneva only takes 8 hrs, so I am thinking that would be kind of more direct. Problem is I would maybe prefer to stay in Lyon France a night or somewhere in France on the way to Switzerland, I really could use some help with my weekend itineray from spain to switzerland. I will be in Spain the week before staying with friends, and after I reach Switzerland I will be staying in Lucerne for 2 weeks, hardly can wait to return, just there in October and it was a great base place to tour around on day trips, seen the west side of Switzerland then, going to tour more central and eastern portions this time I think. My problem is how to see as much country as possible, without being exhausted on the weekend trip from spain to switzerland. Maybe i am being unrealistic thinking i could catch train and spend a couple of nights in a couple of towns along the way before reaching Luzern on the Monday, I already have the booked the hotel there, so don't want to be late for check in time. Have you travelled by rail across spain, france to switzerland before? Thanks for your help.

hi, canada,

sad to say I haven't done anything like that.

I suggest that you go to the bahn.de website, and start with the basic madrid - luzern trip, and see where the connectinos are for the various trains.

then start to put in your other ideas.

you can alter the routes you take, the times of arrival and departure, etc.

it is generally agreed on this board that that is teh best web-site for plannnig cross-border travel, so see what you can find.

regards, ann

There are two routes, one via Paris and the other via Poitiers and Strasbourg. Both connections take at least 21 hours, some connections even 28 hours. It will be a torture.

Take a flight and use your time for a daytrip to enjoy beautiful landscape around Madrid or Luzern.

Hi canada17,

In contrast with the folks on this board (I guess), I like the Swiss rail site for looking at routes and schedules -- for one thing, I don't have to enter ages, etc. And the easily-typed site goes right to the English pages. You can find it at

www.rail.ch

Anyway, getting from Madrid to Lyon takes almost as long as getting to Luzern, 17-20 hours versus 22 hours.

But Montpellier is right on the route. It's 8h39 with one change from Madrid, and 8/9 hours with 2/5 changes from Montpellier to Luzern.

Might be good enough reason to change your plans and stay there, on the water!

Have fun deciding!

s

Love your idea, swandav2000, I am defintely going to check this route a little further, if I remember correctly you helped me alot on my first trip to Switzerland. I appreciate your suggestions. Thanks!

Happy to be of help! Appreciate your comments too!

s