8889 posts
Hello Meenu and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
You can use the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to plan your travel and work out the times from Paris to Lucerne or Interlaken. They are both equally accessible from Basel. If you haven’t used it before it will pay to read the instructions on that page before delving into the timetable.
If you go to Lucerne then Titlis should be operating in December.
You could also consider going from Paris to Zermatt where you would see the Matterhorn and lots of snow I would think.
From Zermatt it is easy to reach Milan via Domodossola. Or you could train across to Chur on the Glacier Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress) and then take Bernina Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress) to Tirano and on to Milan.
You have plenty of time to plan.
72625 posts
Thanks Rockoyster for your response.
In that case we will stick to Lucerne and skip Interlaken unless you think Interlaken is a better option (as can only cover one).Do we usually have sunny days in December or is it usually grey and cloudy?
From Swizerland, we will be travelling to Rome (or Venice) – will the links you posted above have details on those routes too?
And when can we start booking the trains (both Paris to Lucerne and then Lucerne to Rome/Venice) as I heard somewhere the bookings open only 2-3 months in advance?
Regards
Meenu
72625 posts
Hi Meenu,
Yes, train booking usually open 90 days in advance. If you are choosing between the towns then I’d pick Lucerne over Interlaken for sure. However if you think the Jungfrau region (around Interlaken) looks more interesting than Lucerne I’d look at a town like Lauterbrunnen.
Hard to say about the weather in December…I’d lean to clouds over sun but you can always be surprised. It’s much sunnier in the winter here then where I’m from (Vancouver) so it is all relative!
72625 posts
Thanks Lucas
We australians are a bit spoilt when it comes to sunshine hence the question…I am sure Lucerne will be stunning whatever the weather might be.
Thanks for all the info
Regards
M
15484 posts
Hi Menu,
For train transfers to Italy, please see here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy.
72625 posts
Thanks Arno – will have a look.
Can I also check if it will be more economical to buy point to point train tickets or should we opt for Eurail passes?
We are a family of 4 and will be travelling:
France to Swizerland, Lucerne to Rome and Rome to Venice – in a span of around 10 days or so.
Though we want to enjoy the scenic trains, time is also of essence so would like to go for the high speed trains too on some routes.
Thanks
Meenu
72625 posts
It will depend on prices of point to point tickets into/ out of Switzerland vs the Eurail Select Pass – and how much train travel you are doing in France & Italy. If you are only taking one train out of and into those 2 countries I doubt the Eurail Pass is your best option.
Booking far out you may be able to get good prices on France to Switzerland and Switzerland to Italy. If that is the case I’d buy a Swiss Travel Pass for 3 days to cover Switzerland