Taking TGV to Paris and have limited time – Basel or Bern?
A traveler named Rod is planning a 4.5-day trip to Switzerland and wants advice on how to split his time between Basel and Bern, ending in Bern for a TGV train to Paris. He is trying to figure out which city has more attractions to make the most of his limited time.
- Consider spending more time in Bern since it has a UNESCO World Heritage site and impressive government buildings.
- For effective planning, take the short train ride from Bern to Fribourg, a smaller city with similar charm.
- Use Basel as a base for TGV trains to Paris, as it has more connections than Bern.
- Check out travel guides for both cities to find specific activities that interest you.
AI-generated summary-
Have limited amount of time (roughly 4 1/2 days) and want to visit both Basel and Bern but trying to determine how to distribute our time between the two. Want to end in Bern so that we can take the TGV Lyrica to Paris to finish off our trip. Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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Hello Rod
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/) is a more central location than Basel (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/basel/), so it is a better base for exploring Switzerland. However, note firstly that Basel and Bern are only about one hour apart by Intercity trains, and the trains run twice an hour.
Perhaps more importantly, there are NO TGV trains from Bern to Paris. There are six TGVs a day from Basel (and Zurich); three a day from Lausanne (about 75 minutes from Bern); seven or eight a day from Geneva (about two hours from Bern). (Though Bern is Switzerland’s ‘Federal City’, it is only the fifth largest city in the country.)
KInd regards
Roger
Hi Rod,
I agree with Roger. Basel might be a better location to take the TGV to Paris.
You can find useful info on travel and ticket options to France from Switzerland here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/france-switzerland/
Regards,
Anna
Roger and Anna I appreciate your feedback. Thanks. However, maybe I wasn’t clear as to what my actual question is. I want to visit both Basel and Bern and was planning to visit Bern first followed by Basel for the very reason you both expressed, the TGV connection from there. My real question was if we have limited time to split between the two cities should we spend more of our time in Bern or Basel. I guess basically, which city has more to see and do than the other? Thanks!
Looking back at my original post, I see where I messed up in saying I wanted to end up in Bern, not Basel. Sorry for the confusion. Still interested in opinion as to whether to spend more time in one city or the other. Thx
Hello again Rod
which city has more to see and do than the other?
This is very much a personal viewpoint, but I would answer Bern. The centre of the city is a Unesco world heritage site. And the nearby Federal Government buildings are very impressive. Yet you can stand on the terrace in front of Bundeshaus and see green fields the other side of the Aare valley. Then, to the left, you can on a clear day see the great Berner Oberland mountains.
The centre of Bern is built on a hill above the Aare river, which is down in a semi-gorge. Basel by contrast is built on the same level as the Rhine.
Other historical cities. It seems that your main interest is cities. While in Bern take the 23 minute train ride to Fribourg. Built above the Sarine river, Fribourg could be described as a ‘mini-Bern’.
While in Basel, visit the German city of Freiburg i Breisgau, just over 30 minutes by train from Basel. Built by the same medieval family (the Zaehringens) as Bern and Fribourg, there is ‘a family likeness’ between Bern, (French-speaking) Fribourg, and Freiburg. Freiburg is the largest of the three cities, but not built on a hill.
Kind regards
Roger
Roger,
Thanks for the follow up. Sounds like a good plan to stay a little longer in Bern and also will give thought to your suggestions for side trips to the nearby cities. Appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Rod
Hi Rod,
When you have a moment, perhaps take a read of the travel guides for Basel and Bern below. There are activity suggestions listed within, perhaps that can help with your decision.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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