Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:21     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have you considered Paris and Strausbourg? It's a larger city in France very close to Switzerland and really lovely.


I meant Switzerland and Strausbourg!!!!


That looks like a lovely place. Never heard of it before. Family wants to go to Paris though.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:18     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:Switzerland. Do not skip Montreux!


Op. Yes, that's definitely on my list. We want to do the Golden pass Panoramic Express
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:17     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:If you'd like to hike, I'd pick Switzerland (you could find places in the UK to hike too, but I assume if you did London you would want to see the city). I like pairing cities with non-city time when traveling.


I was leaning towards Paris first and then Switzerland since it would give us down time with the scenic train rides.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:15     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.



Those are all places that will generally have nice weather in August, although there is chance of heat waves, of course. You can also visit those places and stay in less busy areas, avoid major touristy sites at certain times of day, etc. I'd make the decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

Zurich is a bigger airport than Geneva with more flight options, so if you are going to both, I'd make that the final place you fly out of, other things being equal.

It's also less than 5 hours by train from Paris to Geneva, a very pleasant ride, so no need to fly unless it's much cheaper or something.


Thank you! Didn't know that it was only 5 hours to Geneva from Paris by train. Will look into that. Might be better since we would have to pay extra for the checked bags on the flight.



When I start planning out logistics to get an idea of basic options, I go to Google Maps and just put in something like "Paris to Zurich" at 10 AM on a weekday, and choose the public transit/train option. That will give you a good idea of times/options. Then you can dive in further on the specific train websites, etc. It's around 4:30 from Paris to Zurich, with a very quick 10 minute change at Basel. It's just over 3 hours from Paris to Geneva, no changes.


Thanks. I just did that and it gives me a good idea.

Looks like it will be a good option to go to Geneva and from there to Montreaux, then Golden pass express to Interlaken and on to Grindelwald.

Interested in going to Zermatt too so may have to have a base in Montreaux.

Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:09     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Switzerland. Do not skip Montreux!
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:08     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:Have you considered Paris and Strausbourg? It's a larger city in France very close to Switzerland and really lovely.


I meant Switzerland and Strausbourg!!!!
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:05     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Have you considered Paris and Strausbourg? It's a larger city in France very close to Switzerland and really lovely.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 14:03     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:Paris is insanely packed in August so be prepared.


Wait I thought the conventional wisdom was that "everyone leaves Paris in August"

Yes it's busy with tourists overall, but that's the case basically from May through September. As always, there are plenty of parts of the city that aren't especially crowded. Go to the big museums at evening hours, explore the parks on the outer edges, go to less busy options for places like Versailles, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:56     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
If you'd like to hike, I'd pick Switzerland (you could find places in the UK to hike too, but I assume if you did London you would want to see the city). I like pairing cities with non-city time when traveling.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:55     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Paris is insanely packed in August so be prepared.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:54     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.



Those are all places that will generally have nice weather in August, although there is chance of heat waves, of course. You can also visit those places and stay in less busy areas, avoid major touristy sites at certain times of day, etc. I'd make the decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

Zurich is a bigger airport than Geneva with more flight options, so if you are going to both, I'd make that the final place you fly out of, other things being equal.

It's also less than 5 hours by train from Paris to Geneva, a very pleasant ride, so no need to fly unless it's much cheaper or something.


Thank you! Didn't know that it was only 5 hours to Geneva from Paris by train. Will look into that. Might be better since we would have to pay extra for the checked bags on the flight.



When I start planning out logistics to get an idea of basic options, I go to Google Maps and just put in something like "Paris to Zurich" at 10 AM on a weekday, and choose the public transit/train option. That will give you a good idea of times/options. Then you can dive in further on the specific train websites, etc. It's around 4:30 from Paris to Zurich, with a very quick 10 minute change at Basel. It's just over 3 hours from Paris to Geneva, no changes.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:43     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.



Those are all places that will generally have nice weather in August, although there is chance of heat waves, of course. You can also visit those places and stay in less busy areas, avoid major touristy sites at certain times of day, etc. I'd make the decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

Zurich is a bigger airport than Geneva with more flight options, so if you are going to both, I'd make that the final place you fly out of, other things being equal.

It's also less than 5 hours by train from Paris to Geneva, a very pleasant ride, so no need to fly unless it's much cheaper or something.


Thank you! Didn't know that it was only 5 hours to Geneva from Paris by train. Will look into that. Might be better since we would have to pay extra for the checked bags on the flight.

Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:39     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.



Those are all places that will generally have nice weather in August, although there is chance of heat waves, of course. You can also visit those places and stay in less busy areas, avoid major touristy sites at certain times of day, etc. I'd make the decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

Zurich is a bigger airport than Geneva with more flight options, so if you are going to both, I'd make that the final place you fly out of, other things being equal.

It's also less than 5 hours by train from Paris to Geneva, a very pleasant ride, so no need to fly unless it's much cheaper or something.


Sorry, meant less than 5 hours train from Paris to Zurich! Under 4 hours from Paris to Geneva.

I wouldn't do all cities for 2 weeks personally- plenty of great outdoors oriented places near all these cities.

Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:38     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
Anonymous wrote:August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.



Those are all places that will generally have nice weather in August, although there is chance of heat waves, of course. You can also visit those places and stay in less busy areas, avoid major touristy sites at certain times of day, etc. I'd make the decision based on where you want to go and what you want to do.

Zurich is a bigger airport than Geneva with more flight options, so if you are going to both, I'd make that the final place you fly out of, other things being equal.

It's also less than 5 hours by train from Paris to Geneva, a very pleasant ride, so no need to fly unless it's much cheaper or something.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2025 13:31     Subject: London and Paris, or Paris and Switzerland in August??
August, 2 weeks: Which would be better with regards to crowds and weather?

Fly to London, then Eurostar to Paris, fly out of Paris or Paris, then London?

Or Fly to Paris, fly to Zurich, fly out of Geneva?

Trying to combine something with Paris.