We will be traveling from Paris to Venice by train. Would like to break up the trip by spending one night somewhere in between. Any recommendations? My requirements are: beautiful scenery while on train and no more than one layover (preferably none).
Thanks!

Switzerland - though the main rail route would go via Milano and France, a few hours longer route and far more scenic one goes via Switzerland. And any place in Switzerland will be marvelous.

PalQ,
If we travel to Milan from Paris and spend the night in Milan, will the train travel through Switzerland?

You have to pass thru Milan either on the more direct Artesia day trains route via Modane and France or if you want to take the Switzerland route as well - there are Cisalpino trains from Venice that go direct to Switzerland via Milan - a few a day or else you have hourly connections via a change of trains in Milano. The most scenic route via Switzerland is to go from Brig via the Lotschberg Tunnel route to Berne and Lausanne and hop the TGV from there to Paris (a few direct Bern-Paris TGVs but lots more from either Lausanne or Geneva) - the Brig-Bern route is dramatically scenic as the train climbs out of the Rhone Valley on a ledge overlooking that valley for miles, like being in an airplane - then the tunnel and emerging in the Kandersteg area, a gorgeous Alpine area with the quintessential Swiss Alpine vistas. Would be a good place to break a journey, Kandersteg - mainline trains may not stop there so you'd take a local from Brig and then from Kandersteg to Spiez to hop back on mainline trains.

PalQ,
Sorry, I think my plan was misinterpreted. We will be traveling *from* Paris *to* Venice. I would like to spend only one night in between. Thanks!

Hi dherron,

I think staying in the town of Montreux on Lake Geneva would be perfect for you.

Montreux is about 4-5 hours from Paris on the TGV, and about 6-7 hours from Venice. You can check the train schedules at www.rail.ch.

On Lake Geneva, Montreux offers the Chillon castle (www.chillon.ch), an 11-km flowered lakeside promenade, and a ferry ride on the lake. You could spend your evening walking to Chillon along the lake (about 40 minutes), then take the ferry back to town and have dinner. Ferry schedules are at www.cgn.ch.

Have fun!

s

Kandersteg, definitely! We did this (but from Venice to Paris), and spent one night, and had time to walk around the little village, swim at our hotel, sit outside and eat fondue while looking at the beautiful Alps, and walk a few blocks down to see a musical street performance. Then, the next morning, we rode the tram up the mountain, tobagganed, and hiked around the gorgeous alpine lake. Then bought pocket knives all around, oh, and bread and cheese to eat on the train, before getting on an afternoon train. You can go there and really feel like you've had a little dose of Switzerland! We arrived Paris at night.

We are doing this same trip in September! Trying to decide between going (train) on Artesia or regular intercity trains--going Paris to Turin and then Genoa, or going PAris to Milan. These comments make me think going vis Switzerland would entail more beautiful scenery.

Montreux is lovely. You can take the TGV from Gare de Lyon at 7:44 and arrive in Lausanne at 11:37.

You can reach Montreux shortly thereafter.
You can continue on to Venice at 9:06 the next morning with a change to a Cisalpino in Sion. The Cisalpino involves an extra charge and some sections of the journey require a seat reservation, but it goes to both stations in Venice.