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Bern to Paris by train
How to take a train journey from the Swiss capital to the capital of France
The daily direct train from Bern to Paris was discontinued a few years ago, so now the easiest and generally quickest option for making the journey is to take an express IC train from Bern to the main station in Basel, and then connect there into a high speed Lyria train on to Paris.
Though when looking up this journey, other options which have more than one connection and longer end-to-end travel times, are typically cheaper.
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Routes
From Bern to Paris
Journey Summary
4hr 35min
Daily
Travel Information
This optimum routing involves making one connection between trains at Basel SBB station, where the Lyria trains on to Paris will depart from the same part of the station that the IC trains from Bern will arrive at.
For the journeys with an end-to-end time of slightly over 4hr 30min, the connecting time between trains will typically be around 33mins, and the trains from Bern are usually highly punctual.
5 x optimum connections per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
When looking up this journey you will see other options which involve making more than one connection between trains and they can be cheaper.
The convenience that the direct Lyria services from Switzerland to Paris offer, typically justifies a higher price.
Though look carefully at the connecting time between trains on those other options, particularly as the compulsory reservations required on any high speed train to Paris, results in the journey being a lot less awkward if the connections are made and not missed.
Rail Pass Users:
The TGV-Lyria trains are the only direct trains from Switzerland to Paris.
However, if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, which is valid in both France and Switzerland, the rail pass reservation fees for the Lyia trains are comparatively expensive.
For info on how you can avoid paying these fees, click on the train guide.
Though it's usually possible to save more than €10 by taking this combination of trains:
- an express train from Bern to Basel
- a French regional TER train from Basel to Mulhouse or Strasbourg
- a TGV InOui service from Mulhouse or Strasbourg to Paris; the mandatory rail pass reservation fees for these trains, will be much cheaper than taking a direct Lyria train from Basel to Paris.
Though be careful with planning connections, it can be a good idea to allow more than 30 minutes to make the connections in Mulhouse or Strasbourg; allow for some contingency in the event of a train from Basel being delayed.
Also don't book the reservation for the TGV at a SBB Travel Desk in a Swiss station, the booking fee will be more than 10 CHF.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SNCF Connect | * | |
| SBB | * | |
| Trainline | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Good to Know
Depart Bern at 07:04 and 11:04 and you will travelling on a German ICE train for the part of the journey between Bern and Basel.
Switzerland doesn't have any high speed lines on which trains travel at more than 250 km/h, but between Bern and Olten the train will race at 200 km/h for around 25mins on a fast railway.
Though as is typical of purpose built higher speed lines, this isn't a scenically interesting part of the journey.
Shortly after departure from Olten the train will travel through the Hauenstein Summit Tunnel, so the most scenic part of the route comes between the exit of the tunnel and Liestal.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Paris Lyon
All trains also call at: Mulhouse-Ville
Most trains also call at: Dijon-Ville
This is a journey of four distinct parts.
1: The first part of the journey from Mulhouse to Basel is on conventional tracks.
2: Between Mulhouse and Dijon there is a high speed line.
3:The train switches to conventional tracks north of Dijon, this is the most scenic part of the journey
4: Finally the train will travel on the high speed line north to Paris.
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