CHF 49? Right then, so when are we leaving?
You can get single tickets in Standard class on TGV Lyria from CHF 49*.
And how do you get these? Travel at quieter times and you’ll get the best fare up to two weeks before your departure date.
Hurry! Book now to travel at prices you’ll love between Geneva, Vallorbe, Lausanne, Basel, Zurich and Paris.
6 am – The adventure starts. Exceptional journey approaching!
4 cities, 4 journeys. Pure simplicity.
8 am – An amazing breakfast. Yum!
Time to hop on a TGV Lyria service. Feeling peckish? The feast begins on board. With our Le Deli menu, you can enjoy original, gourmet snacks in the buffet coach. You deserve to enjoy your meal in comfort, rather than just gulping down a measly croissant on the platform in three mouthfuls.
Our faves? 💛 A classic croissant if you have a sweet tooth. If you prefer savoury, enjoy a smoked salmon club sandwich with devilled eggs, cabbage and cucumber, by chef Michel Roth.
10 am – Welcome to Paris.
You will shortly be arriving in Paris. Do you fancy a wander without having to carry all your stuff? You can leave your luggage at Gare de Lyon. Did you know? Luggage storage is available!
10:30 am – Take a two-hour break
Because the journey is just as much a part of the trip, take the time to explore your environment. Even when travelling between stations, Paris has much to offer. Here are our secret spots around Gare de Lyon station:
• Stretch your legs by heading off on a stroll along the Coulée Verte René Dumont – an elevated park on the old railway line.
• Do some shopping at the Marché d’Aligre (or Marché Beauvau), a lively and authentic Parisian market.
• Stop off for a snack in one of the Ground Control restaurants.
• Finish off with an Instagrammable wander along rue Crémieux.
12:30 - Simply return to your departure station.
14:30 pm – You have arrived at your destination.
14:31 pm – Your journey starts now!
🌊 Head to Bordeaux
Bordeaux seem like a long way away? Think again. You can be in this famous city in just two hours. Plan a long weekend to make the most of what this city and Arcachon Bay have to offer, while remaining true to your values. And yes, the train will absolutely get you to Bordeaux, too! Here’s our ideal itinerary for a visit featuring wine, waves and wonderful cannelé cakes:
• Start off with something to eat. At the Halles de Bacalan food market, a hit with hungry young locals, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
• Pop in to the Cité du Vin. Opt for the immersive “Via Sensoria” tour and awaken your senses through the changing seasons.
• Head out onto the Garonne river on a Thursday evening with Au Fil de l'O for a two-hour cruise complete with on-board drinks.
• In Bordeaux’s former submarine base, known as the Bassin des Lumières, you’ll find some of the most astonishing digital art exhibits of the year.
• Hop off on the other side of the river for the Darwin eco-district. This intriguing community space is a real hit with locals. Skaters, artists, entrepreneurs, activists and foodies come together in this unique spot – an old barracks transformed into a third space.
• Take a wander round the city centre and the Saint-Pierre quarter.
• If you’re looking for some fresh air, make your way to Arcachon Bay for a day by the sea. The Dune of Pilat, long jetties, fresh oysters, lighthouses and beach huts are waiting to greet the ocean dreamers.
🐘 A wander in Nantes
Nantes isn’t far away either, we promise! From Switzerland, you can make it in two big train journeys and one little one. Take a TGV Lyria from Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich or Basel to Paris, then another two-hour TGV journey from Paris to Nantes. The third bit is a twenty-minute metro ride from Paris Gare de Lyon to Gare Montparnasse, where you’ll catch the train to Nantes. The journey’s definitely worth it once you get there! Nantes is a committed, dynamic city that loves spoiling its visitors. You don’t need to do loads of detailed research, because here’s our pick of the best things to do in Nantes:
• Start off with a stroll around the city, taking in the Château des Ducs, Passage Pommeraye arcade, Galerie des Machines exhibition hall and Cours Cambronne square.
• At the Galerie des Machines, don’t miss the iconic elephant.
• Why not nibble a classic French LU biscuit? Did you know these come from Nantes?
• You won’t want to miss the Passage Pommeraye arcade, where you’ll find the Maison Larnicol patisserie and chocolate shop. Here there are specialities from Nantes and the wider region, such as kouignettes, kouign-ammans and the traditional gâteau nantais.
• How about a trip to Trentemoult? This colourful little fishing village can be accessed on foot or, even better, by ferry.
• Throughout the summer, there are “guinguette” open-air cafés all along the Erdre riverside. Make a pit stop at the Bateau-Lavoir guinguette, close to the Île de Versailles (also worth a visit).
• Nantes vineyards are just outside the city. Head off for a half-day among the vines along the rivers Sèvre and Maine and taste some wines from the Loire region and Nantes.
⏲ Rouen
If you’re heading west, your next stop should be Rouen. Just an hour and a half from Paris, this beautiful city is bursting with culture, good food, sports and some truly breathtaking scenery. And it’s also really easy to get there from Switzerland. Once you arrive, you can choose how you get around as you explore the region. Here are some of our recommendations:
• Get your dose of culture with the impressionists at the Rouen Museum of Fine Arts.
• Just around the corner, you can marvel at the immensity of Rouen’s famous Gothic-style Notre-Dame Cathedral.
• Take a stroll through the city’s cobbled streets in the sunshine, weaving your way alongside ancient medieval timbered houses. Wander until you get to Rouen’s iconic monument – the Gros-Horloge astronomical clock.
• Amble around the Jardin des Plantes park. Yep, nature is always making an appearance, even in the city.
• Plan a trip along the historic Route des Abbayes, from Rouen to Mont-Saint-Michel, which you definitely won’t want to miss.
• The more adventurous could make a day of it to cycle from the heart of Rouen to La Bouille, a tiny village of 750 inhabitants to the north west of the city.