In this post, I want to showcase how to travel from Paris to Zurich. There are many options to travel from Paris to Zurich, but it depends on your situation and what you feel would be the best option for you. This post will clarify all the routes, and I will pick the best way overall.

To start, Paris and Zurich are about 303 miles apart. Because they are somewhat close, there are a ton of options to consider, but for most, it’s going to come down to speed and cost. You’ll see in this post that there will be two options that stand out, one that is an option and one other that I would not recommend at all.

Like most European routes, there are plenty of trains servicing Paris to Zurich and why I think this is the best option. With a ton of options at a high price, this makes your travels easier to plan, and you can leave whenever it suits your needs. There is a direct service from Paris operated on the French TGVs service called Lyria. The Lyria is the highspeed option that will get you into Zurich in about 4 hours.

All trains leaving from Paris to Zurich leave from Gare de Lyon on the eastern part of the city. All arriving trains arrive in Zurich Hauptbahnhof in the center of Zurich. There are about six direct trains daily using the TGV Lyria, which can be booked directly on the TGV website. I recommend booking your trip through this website and tickets should be bought in advance.

The price can range depending on the time and season, with the summer generally more expensive than the winter months. Starting prices are around $35 and can go up to about $100 for first-class depending on time and the season. It’s better to book in advance as reasonable prices and seats are bought in advance. There are currently three classes to book in, including standard, standard 1st, and business.

TGV Lyria

There are three different classes when booking, and use the TGV website for booking. Other rail sites offer tickets; however, I don’t recommend booking through these as they usually charge you more.

Price: Range from $35 to $100 on average (can be higher if short notice)

Trains in Europe are exceptional and that includes the TGV. The TGV is stylish and comfortable and will get you to Zurich in about 4 hours. With no need to go to the airport, check in bags, and waste time and money the train is just such a great option. While your traveling in Europe you should get the experience of at least traveling once by train and the TGV is a great option.

1st Recommended

A list of things that will make your train travels better if you decide to go!

The other good option is to take a flight from Paris to Zurich, which is only about 1 hour and 15 minutes of total flight time. Taking a flight is a good option, especially if you’re staying near the airports and want quick service; however, it’s also more pricey. In terms of convenience, I would still opt for the train since although flying is technically faster, it’s not by much once you travel to and from the airports.

All the main flights between Paris to Zurich leave from Orly or Charles de Gaulle and fly into Zurich International. Only two airlines fly direct, and they are Air France and Swiss. Now both are pretty comparable in price, and there are about 5 to 9 flights per day. I would search using search engines like Google Flights and Momondo and then book with Air France or Swiss airlines directly.

A roundtrip ticket is going to cost, on average $130 plus, and a one way will cost a fraction of that at around $80. This option is not that much pricer compared to the train; however, the train leaves and arrives in both city centers. But if you need a quicker alternative or perhaps you’re staying near both airports, than flying maybe the best option for you.

Air France

Swiss

There are two significant airlines service from Paris to Zurich. All are about the same price, so choosing will come down to your preferences and schedule.

Use websites like Google Flights, Momondo, or Skyscanner to look at costs and schedules. Usually, I book with the airline directly on their website.

Price: Around $80 to $120 on average

Flying is probably the best option if you are looking for speed and comfort. However, the train is just as comfortable, if not more, and you get to travel highspeed across the French and Swiss countryside. Both are about equal in terms of travel times, but remember, you’ll end up paying more traveling through an airport. Both airports are connected to their respective downtowns, making it easy to travel from the airport.

2nd Recommended

A list of things that will make your flight travels better!

The total time to Switzerland if you drive direct is only about 6 hours. There is no need for border checks as this route goes through countries with open borders with each other. The upside of having a car to Switzerland is to explore the beautiful countryside on your specific timetable. Most of the travelers, however, should opt for the train even if you plan to explore other cities on your journey since train service also connects the smallest towns.

From Paris, the journey starts on the A5 and the A31 towards Switzerland. Around the Swiss border in Basel you merge onto the A3 towards Zurich. The drive is pretty straightforward, and no, you will not be crossing any major mountain ranges as the Alps start just south of this route. It’s pretty easy to rent a car in Paris, and of course, you’ll need a driver’s license and a credit card.

Cost-wise, renting a car is not that pricey, and you could get quite a deal for renting multiple days. The daily average for a rental car is somewhere between $20 – $50 per day. You’ll need to figure in for gas prices, though, which can be high as well as parking. Most European highways have tolls on them, and they can be pricey. Today France does accept credit cards on their tollways as well as Switzerland. To drive in Switzerland, you also need to make sure you have a vignette, which is around 4o euros and must be attached to your car. If you rent in Paris, this will not have it already on there, so you’ll need to stop at the Swiss border and buy one.

Avis

Enterprise

Europcar

Hertz

Sixt

All the big rental names have rental cars in Paris. I’m choosing the most prominent names for this list. Prices will vary a lot depending on car size and length of your car rental.

Price: About $20 – $50 per day on average (can be much higher if short notice)

Driving is not as common as it is in the United States, and from a logistical perspective, driving maybe more of a hassle than being worth it. European cars are not big, so there is the problem of carrying large luggage pieces. Gas is very pricey, so that will add up quickly. There are plenty of tolls on the route running up the cost of your drive. And then when you arrive at your destination, you need to make sure there is parking. For me, this would easily be a 3rd option and not one I would consider unless I needed a car.

3rd Recommended

A list of things that will make your car travels better!

Taking the bus is the cheapest way and by far the worst way to get from Paris to Zurich. First off, I’m going to say that I don’t recommend this route at all. The fact that the bus takes over 12 to 15 hours is just not an efficient way to travel and something I can’t recommend. And although it’s the cheapest option, especially if you book in advance, you’ll miss out on a full day in a destination. On top of that, it’s not all too comfortable to travel on a bus for that long.

There are not too many options by bus, but the Flixbus is the company that leaves more often. Flixbus departs from many stations around Paris, including Bercy-Seine, Charles de Gaulle, and Créteil. All buses arriving in Zurich arrive at the Sihlquai bus station. You can buy your ticket off of the Flixbus or Blablabus website or use other sites like Busbud.

Taking the bus you’d think would be much cheaper than the train but it isn’t. In the scheme of things you only save around 10 to 15 dollars and sometimes it’s equal to taking the train. The train gets you to Zurich in 4 hours while the bus averages about 12 to 15 hours. Saving money on the bus would not be worth it in this instance, so go ahead and take the train. It’s all about booking in way advance to save the most money.

Blablabus

Flixbus

Two bus companies offer service from Paris to Zurich, but Flixbus is the dominant company.

Price: Range from $35 on average

The only reason I would recommend taking a bus is if you need to, but as a whole, I don’t recommend it. First off, the journey is much longer than taking a train or plane. And on top of that, there is no food on board, meaning you have to buy food beforehand. And although these buses are somewhat comfortable after nearly 12 to 15 hours on a bus, can you probably bet you will be begging to stand up. I can not recommend this option.

Not Recommended

A list of things that will make your bus travels better!

Paris to Zurich is a well-established trek, and as you’ve seen, there are many options to consider. Overall the train wins again with a plane ride in a close second. If you need to rent a car for whatever reason, that also would be a good option. I don’t recommend taking the bus as it’s too much work for about the same price as taking the train.

Feel free to check out my other ‘How to Travel’ posts below. I also write about ‘What to Wear in for Men‘ who need travel style advice and have guides on ‘What to Wear in Paris‘! Check back for more posts and feel free to check out my Twitter and Facebook.

Perhaps you’re interested in more about Paris. Or more about Switzerland.