Paris to Munich via The Alps

This four-day itinerary is a favourite with readers of hidden europe, a print publication exploring cultures and communities across Europe. Most travellers heading to Munich from Paris just take the fast train. But take a look at this wonderful alternative rail route which loops south through Switzerland.

We’ve chosen three smaller communities for the overnight stays, one in France’s Burgundy wine region, the second on the shores of Lake Geneva and the last in a remote valley in the Swiss Alps. Your journey includes a good part of the Glacier Express route through Switzerland and the famous Arlberg Railway through the Austrian Tyrol.

Take time to taste Burgundy wines in Beaune, and enjoy a late afternoon boat trip on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Few rail journeys pack in so much fine scenery. The journey on the final day even follows the only railway across the Principality of Liechtenstein.