The benefits of rail travel are no secret. Although it might take slightly longer to reach a destination by train than by plane, there’s only one winner when it comes to comfort, convenience, and experience. And that’s before we consider the environmental impact: travelling by rail creates approximately 40 times less carbon than the equivalent air journey.
For anyone looking to cross from the UK to Europe by rail, the obvious starting point is Eurostar: the high-speed service that zips across southern England before whisking you through the Channel Tunnel and across northern France to destinations including Paris, Lille, and Brussels.
But when it’s time to link up with other European rail networks, there’s a lot of choice and things can get complicated. At Inntravel, we’re often asked for advice on the best rail routes across the continent, and increasingly our answer is TGV Lyria…
Introducing TGV Lyria
Linking Paris and Basel in just three hours, TGV Lyria is often nicknamed the ‘gateway to Europe’. From Basel, it’s an hour by train to Zürich, which acts as a scenic springboard for a whole host of fantastic destinations, including the Italian Lakes and Austrian Alps.
Inntravel rail expert, Kylie Anderson, didn’t have to reflect for long when we asked why she recommends the service to as many customers as possible. “Simple routes on fast trains, with timetables that run like Swiss clockwork. Easy boarding, plenty of luggage space, and comfortable, ‘double-decker’ carriages promising beautiful views at 320 kilometres per hour!”
TGV Lyria guarantees an unrivalled punctuality rate of 88%*, and offers 17 daily round trips, giving you the flexibility to break your journey for a quick tour of Paris, perhaps, or a leisurely lunch in an inviting bistro. Although with all dishes on the trains themselves featuring organic, locally sourced ingredients – the menus are designed by award-winning French chef, Michel Roth – many travellers prefer to press on and enjoy the delights of the on-board café-bar.
For added comfort, why not upgrade to first class? You’ll have the option to order a delicious meal direct to your spacious seat (payable on board) and will enjoy access to the Salon Grand Voyageur (first class lounge) at Paris’s Gare de Lyon. Here, you can take advantage of complimentary hot drinks and Wi-Fi, as well as free charging points and printing facilities.
*Average punctuality rate in 2022.
Overnight in Zürich
Plenty of destinations can be reached in a day from London with TGV Lyria, but we highly recommend adding an overnight city stay en route to stagger your journey. Why not pause for the night in the railway’s eastern terminus, Zürich? Here, you can stay in the heart of the charming Old Town at
our hand-picked hotel, complete with flower-filled balcony and a traditional restaurant specialising in fondue and raclette. From Zürich, many of Europe’s top beauty spots are within your grasp – both in Switzerland itself and beyond its borders.
Onwards across Switzerland
One of our favourites Swiss routes culminates in the
Engadine Valley, an idyllic world of picturesque paths and ancient, intricately painted villages. From Zürich, your scenic train ride traces the shores of lakes Zürich and Walen, before you change at Chur to hop on board one of the iconic red trains of the Rhaetian Bahn. The very best part of this journey is saved until last: along the UNESCO-protected Albula Line, which passes through 39 tunnels and over 55 bridges, including the remarkable Landwasser Viaduct.
Beyond to Austria
Or take in three countries in as many hours as you travel east via Liechtenstein to Austria. Panoramic views are again a given – along lake shores, to the peaks of the Zürcher Oberland, and across the Rhine. The most breathtaking part of the journey comes as you climb towards the Arlberg Pass through a spectacular, steep-sided valley; once on the other side, follow the Inn Valley to Innsbruck, passing between pine-cloaked mountains and criss-crossing the river as you near the city.
From Innsbruck, a number of Inntravel walking holidays are just a short rail or taxi transfer away, including our gentle yet stunning explorations of the
Stubai Valley and
Lake Achensee – holidays on which you spend the week at a high-quality, family-run hotel.
The Dolomites await
Once you’ve reached Innsbruck, another option is to continue south to Italy via the Brenner Pass. Expect a steep climb into high, forested mountains followed by a beautiful descent towards rolling, open valleys and vineyards. Alight in Bolzano for a taxi transfer to the
Senales Valley – where we have a fabulous hotel lined up for you – or travel along the Puster Valley Railway to reach the striking scenery of the
Three Peaks Nature Park. Following the Pusteria river, this railway is notable for its medieval fortresses, including the 13th-century Mülbacher Klause and 9th-century Schloss Sonnenburg.
Picking up speed to Milan
For a completely different Italian experience, choose the Gotthard Line from Zürich to Milan. There’s the usual helping of incredible vistas to look forward to – of Swiss and Italian lakes, as well as mighty mountain peaks – before you pick up speed to cross the plain to Milan. Pause here to admire the attractive station, before a final stretch on one of Italy’s swift Freccia trains delivers you to your idyllic destination:
Lake Garda, the hill-top towns of
Tuscany, or even the incomparable
Amalfi Coast.