London to the Swiss Alps by train with children
London to Geneva takes about six and a half hours by train, with one change in Paris. From there Swiss trains climb to Villars in about two hours or Zermatt in under four. With children it is a long day, but nobody has to sit through a security queue or a coach transfer at the end.
The route
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1
Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord
Eurostar sells the whole trip to Geneva on one booking, with a connecting TGV Lyria from Paris. Children under 4 travel free without a ticket, on a parent's lap.
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2
Cross Paris to Gare de Lyon
Every TGV Lyria to Switzerland leaves from Gare de Lyon. Allow 45 to 60 minutes for the change; with children and ski bags, take the longer connection when you book.
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3
TGV Lyria into Switzerland
Paris to Basel takes about 3 hours and Paris to Zurich about 4. Geneva is about 3 hours from Paris, and the whole trip from London is about 6 h 30.
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4
Swiss trains up to the resort
Pick the Swiss city by where you ski: Geneva or Lausanne for Villars, Zermatt and Saas-Fee; Basel or Zurich for Grindelwald, Wengen, Arosa Lenzerheide and Laax. The table below gives typical times from each airport station.
From Geneva and Zurich to the resorts
Typical journeys by train (and the last bus for Saas-Fee), from each resort's published information. Geneva and Zurich airports both have their own stations on the main line.
| Resort | From Geneva | From Zurich | Car-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arosa Lenzerheide | 5 h 45 | 2 h 55 | No |
| Grindelwald | 3 h 45 | 2 h 55 | No |
| Laax | 5 h 15 | 2 h 25 | No |
| Saas-Fee | 3 h 55 | 3 h 25 | Yes |
| Villars-sur-Ollon | 2 h 15 | 4 h 05 | No |
| Wengen | 3 h 46 | 2 h 56 | Yes |
| Zermatt | 3 h 55 | 3 h 35 | Yes |
Sources
- https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/london-to-geneva
- https://everyrail.com/trains/london-to-geneva/
- https://www.european-traveler.com/france/fast-tgv-lyria-trains-from-paris-to-basel-and-zurich/
- https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/travel-planning/travel-with-children
- https://snowcarbon.co.uk/guides/journey-advice/luggage-on-trains
- https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/planning/transport-accommodation/tickets-public-transport/swiss-family-card/
Family hotels in these resorts
Graubünden
Bernese Oberland
Graubünden
Valais
Vaud
Bernese Oberland
Valais
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