Paris to Switzerland via train

[sylvanianflower]

Hello,

I am taking my mum for a big birthday to Switzerland from Paris on train ( we are going Eurostar)

I was wondering where the best place to go in Switzerland would be, she loves nature, waterfalls and all that jazz and I've seen some very good trains, think they're called the golden pass? But I am getting very overwhelmed!

Has anyone got experience with the 'Swiss travel pass' ?

Thank you

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-switzerland.htm

I don't know if you've already looked at this but if not, it's a good place to start.

Paris to Geneva is a gorgeous journey, 3 and a half hours direct. Onward travel within Switzerland is very smooth as you might expect. The really spectacular mountain trains are on the other side of the country though.

I've been to Geneva by train as well, lovely city. The walks along the lake are really beautiful.

Never been anywhere that felt so monied though!

I think you're thinking of the Bernina train - have a look at the Man in Seat 61 website for details of how to travel on this.

I've been on the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Golden Pass trains. The Glacier was the best IMO but it's further to travel into Switzerland to reach it.

The Golden Pass Train departs from Montreux which I think could be easy from Paris to Geneva and then on to Montreux?

The transport in Switzerland is superb, really easy to navigate and I believe the Swiss travel pass covers just about everything including some mountain excursions. It's pricey but then everything in Switzerland is.

Are you planning to be based in one place and do trips out and back daily, or are you adventurous enough to keep moving, which will open up more options to you?

I've gone down a rabbit hole now OP.

I would maybe look at Paris to Montreux via Geneva. A few days in Montreux.

Then Montreux to Interlaken by Golden Pass Train. A few days in that area, or down to Lauterbrunnen / Wengen and go up the Jungfraujoch, Trummelbach Falls, Schilthorn if you're into James Bond, Murren is lovely for a stroll through..

Then Glacier Express from Brig to Chur. A day or two there. You could take the Bernina Express to Tirano and back if you wanted more panoramic train. You can do the round trip in a day with about an hour for lunch in Italy, as I recall.

From Chur you can train to Zurich, then back to Paris.