Can you take a train from Switzerland to France?
The TGV Lyria is an international high-speed train that connects France and Switzerland. In the north, you can travel from Paris to many Swiss cities, like Geneva, Bern and Zürich. In the south, the French Mediterranean coast is also linked to the Swiss city of Geneva.
For everyone's comfort, we recommend wearing a mask on board our trains. You're not required to present a vaccination, recovery or negative test certificate to travel to France. There are no forms to complete or quarantine requirements either.
Travellers no longer need to present a sworn declaration that they are not infected with COVID-19 and pledge to take an antigen test or biological exam upon arrival in France. This also applies to travel between mainland France and each of the overseas territories.
The capital city of Switzerland, travelling by train from Paris to Bern will take just 4h 1m on TGV Lyria trains. This incredibly quick service will take you through some truly beautiful sites as you cross over from France into Switzerland on the train and arrive into Bern station.
The price of train tickets from Zurich Hb to Paris starts at $25.95 one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance.
Border checks
Since Switzerland's accession to the Schengen Area in 2008, there have been no permanent passport controls along the border, although there can be customs controls. There are two airports near the border which have both Swiss and French passport and customs controls; passengers are free to choose one.
Justification of travel (the “compelling reason”) is no longer required; Travellers are no longer required to present a sworn statement of non-contamination and an undertaking to undergo an antigen test or screening upon arrival in the country.
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area, which France is part of, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
In the trains the TTEs shall check the negative RT-PCR test report. tollgates /point of entry shall be made for those coming by personal transport. is not older than 72 hours. owners of the above-mentioned places should ensure that the occupants produce negative RT-pCR certificate.
2022), in order to enter France from Switzerland, all passengers over 12 years of age must, upon boarding, provide either proof of a complete vaccination course or the negative result of a PCR test less than 72 hours old or of an antigenic test carried out less than 48 hours before departure.
How much does a PCR test cost in Switzerland?
Test | Price |
---|---|
PCR normal | 171.85 CHF* |
PCR fast (2 hours) | 444.85 CHF* |
Antibody detection (IgG, IgA, IgM) for certificate | 99.00 CHF |
Country-Specific Information. There are currently no entry restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required for entry into Switzerland.

A visit to France's capital Paris and the Swiss lakeside city of Geneva is a trip you'll never forget. Traveling by train between these two cities is both quick and easy.
The best way to get from Switzerland to France is to train which takes 5h 15m and costs SFr 100 - SFr 150.
The distance between Paris and Switzerland is 495 km. The road distance is 659.5 km. How do I travel from Paris to Switzerland without a car? The best way to get from Paris to Switzerland without a car is to train which takes 4h 8m and costs €100 - €140.
Switzerland and France (which is part of the European Union), share about 600 km of border (prompting strong cross-border cooperation) and a language (French is one of Switzerland's four official languages).
- ICE connects Switzerland to Germany and the Netherlands.
- RailJet connects Zurich with Vienna (Austria).
- EuroCity connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to Milan (Italy).
- TGV connects Zurich, Basel and Geneva to Paris (France).
The train journey time between Switzerland and Paris is around 5h 7m and covers a distance of around 611 km.
When crossing a border to enter or leave the Schengen area*, as well as when travelling from one country to another within the Schengen area (including between Switzerland and neighbouring France), you must carry a recognised and valid travel document (e.g. passport).
In addition to the EU countries already mentioned, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also Schengen states.
Do you need a passport to go from Switzerland to Germany?
As for traveling within Europe, some countries require a passport to cross borders, but 26 countries are a party to the Schengen Agreement, which means you do not need a passport to travel between these countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, ...
You may enter the Schengen area, including France, for up to 90 days for tourist and business purposes without a visa. Immigration officers may also request you show sufficient funds for your intended stay and a return airline ticket.
Vaccination, on condition that people have completed a full course of vaccination and left the necessary period of time after the final injection, i.e.: 28 days after the injection for single-dose vaccines (Johnson & Johnson); 7 days after the second injection for double-dose vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca);
If you receive your COVID-19 vaccination in France, you can obtain a French 'pass sanitaire (which is a version of the EU Digital Covid Certificate) in order to travel internationally. To do so, you should scan the QR code on your paper vaccine certification via the French app TousAntiCovid.
U.S. citizens planning to enter and visit France as tourists do not require a visa. Citizens are permitted to remain in the country a maximum of 90 days. CAVEAT: There is no provision in our own law for intercession by foreign embassies on behalf of their citizens who wish to circumvent our established procedures.