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Where can you travel by international train from Switzerland this Christmas?

If you feel like getting away over the holidays, Swiss Federal Railways and its European partners offer many international travel options. Here's a run through of what's available.

Published: 18 December 2020 10:56 CET
Updated: 20 December 2020 09:06 CET
Where can you travel by international train from Switzerland this Christmas?
You can travel by train to multiple destinations. Photo by AFP

After being mostly suspended due to border closures during the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak in the spring, the trains between Switzerland and neighbouring countries have gradually resumed their operations.

The timetable for various destinations indicated in this article shows just some links between Swiss and foreign cities.

You can see the complete schedule here.

READ MORE: Covid-19: What you need to know if you are travelling abroad from Switzerland

France

TGV Lyria, which is jointly operated by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF), will have several trains circulating both ways between Switzerland and France: Geneva and Paris, Lausanne and Paris, Basel-Zurich and Paris, and Geneva and Marseille.

These are some of the connections:

  • TGV 9764 depart Geneva 08:29 am, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 11:42 am
  • TGV 9768 depart Lausanne 09 :44, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 13:42
  • TGV 9770 depart Geneva 12 :30 pm, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 15 :42
  • TGV 9230 depart Zurich 17 :34, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 21:38
  • TGV 9230 depart Basel 18 :34, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 22 :38

 


Italy:

Trains between Switzerland and Italy will also run, with two pairs of EuroCity trains operating on the Gotthard axis and two pairs on the Simplon axis.

  • • EC 313 depart Zurich 07:10, arrive Milan 10:50 am
  • • EC 316 depart Milan 11:10, arrive Zurich 2:50 pm
  • • EC 34 depart Milan 13:05, arrive Geneva 5:21 pm
  • • EC 37 depart Geneva 07:39, arrive Milan 11:40 am
  • • EC 50 depart Milan 07:20, arrive Basel 11:32 am
  • • EC 57 depart Basel 12:28, arrive Milan 4:40 pm

READ MORE: Travel in Switzerland: Geneva airport launches more Christmas flights

Germany:

More than 35 trains are running daily between Switzerland and Germany.

High-speed trains connect Zurich, Basel and Bern to Berlin, Munich, Köln, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart.

  • EC97 depart Zurich 07:03 am, arrive Munich 11:04
  • IR2366 depart Zurich 10:53, arriverFrankfurt 15:08
  • IC764 depart Basel 9:53 am, arrive Berlin 17:27
  • IC984 depart Bern 20:04, arrive Stuttgart 00:21 am

Austria

There are also 18 daily trains running between Zurich and the Austrian cities of Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Graz.

  • EC163 depart Zurich 08 :40 am, arrive Innsbruck 12:11, and Vienna 16:30
  • RJX367 depart Zurich 16:40, arrive Salzburg 22:06

International rules

Whether travelling abroad by air, rail, or car, be aware of most recent regulations and restrictions that are in effect at your destination.

First, familiarise yourself with the health measures in each country, such as mask and social distance requirements. 

Also, learn about entry rules at the time of your trip.

Some countries require you to be tested for Covid-19 prior to arrival and present a negative result. Others have a compulsory quarantine.

Switzerland also requires arrivals from certain countries to self-quarantine for 10 days. 
 

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TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Published: 12 November 2021 17:03 CET
Updated: 24 September 2023 08:20 CEST
Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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