Hello. This summer I am taking a trip to Prague where I will be most of the time. After my time is done there though, I am travelling to Paris. I planned to fly but now I think I would like to take a train that goes through the scenic parts of Switzerland and see the Alps.
How would I go about doing this? Do I book a train to Paris and try to find a route through Switzerland? Or do I have to buy tickets to the towns in Switzerland and then one to Paris?
Any help is appreciated!

I don't know how many days you have, what's your budget but you could fly Prague to Zurich (too long by train) then train into mountain areas of Switzerland (Berner Oberland e.g.) and end you Swiss travel in Lausanne or in Geneva, from where you can take TGV train to Paris.

From Prague you can take a train to Vienna, see that fine city and then go via Salzburg, also one of Europe's prettiest and most historic cities IMO and head from there to Switzerland - like to Interlaken and the fabulous Jungfrau Region which to me is the essence of the Alpine wonderland Switzerland etched in our minds' eyes - figuratively and literally the high point of Switzerland IMO.

And then it is an easy 3-4 hour ride to Paris via French TGV trains going up to nearly 290 mph!

You could look at the Eurail Select Railpass valid in Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and France - a 4-country Select Pass that would cover all the inter-city trains here in first class - and except for the French TGV the pass would let you hop on any train anytime and there are usually hourly or more trains on those routes.

For lots of great info to plan such a rail trip check out these fab IMO sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.swisstravelsystem.com.

There is a direct 'night' train that leaves Prague at 18.31 and gets to Zurich at 09.17. That means you would (probably) be awake for the interesting part up to Dresden and could then sleep and wake up in Zurich. If you book early (on the www.bahn.de website) you can get some pretty good deals.

Thanks for the replies! These are all really helpful so far, especially the links!

How long do you have to go between Prague and Paris? 2 days, a week, more? That would make a big difference in answering your question.

If you book early (on the www.bahn.de website) you can get some pretty good deals.>

But when I looked for Prague to Zurich CNL train it, bahn.de, said that "Fares were not available" - ??? And this was for a dummy date within two months when fares should be displayed if they ever were - perhaps because starting in Czech Republic and ending in Zurich bahn.de won't sell that? Me I don't know! And am asking.

why would Germany sell tickets between CR and Switzerland.

How long do you have to go between Prague and Paris? 2 days, a week, more? That would make a big difference in answering your question. >>

I don't really have a time frame in travelling between Prague and Paris but I think I would like to keep to around 3 days max (if possible?!). I have never ridden the rails in Europe, any idea of the length it might take to do what I am talking about?