By train on holiday or exchange
No luggage restrictions, more comfort, arrival in the city centre, saver tickets with early booking and other promotions: Travelling by train not only saves large amounts of CO2 but also brings so many other advantages over air travel.
Source: EEA Report Term 2014: eea.europa.eu/transport
Spring Travel Destinations in Europe
Book early and benefit from discounts and saver tickets. For international connections, it is often worthwhile to buy supersaver tickets to the Swiss border via SBB and then take advantage of the offers of railway providers abroad. Alternatively, booking platforms such as simpletrain.ch, omio.com oder thetrainline.com offer amazing comprehensive deals.
Ticket purchase
Tip: "SBB supersaver ticket" to Basel SBB and then a train ticket with TGV Lyria from Basel SBB to Paris. Alternatively use a comprehensive booking platform. |
Ticket purchase
Tip: SBB supersaver ticket" to Chiasso and then a ticket from Trenitalia until Rome or use a comprehensive booking platform. |
Overview of travel time and CO2 emissions by flight and train for cities in Europe.
Scholarship for the exchange
Environmentally friendly travel is worth it, especially for an exchange semester. From 2021 onwards, all exchange students who travel by train or bus to their host university (and back again) can be supported by a so-called Green Travel Top Up of CHF 100.- as part of the Swiss European Mobility Programme (SEMP).
In addition to the scollarship, you also benefit from unrestricted luggage on the train. Packing half a year in a suitcase can otherwise be quite difficult! More information can be found on StudentWeb under Exchange > "SEMP Travel TopUp Greener Mobility at European Partner Universities". |
Testimonials
BERLIN with Céline
In November 2019, I travelled to Berlin to take part in a panel discussion at the Swiss Embassy. I boarded the night train in Basel at 9.13 p.m. and arrived in Berlin at 7.38 a.m. Shortly before arrival there was a breakfast with coffee, croissant and juice. On the first day we did some sightseeing activities. We visited the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and a famous exhibition about the human body. Afterwards we stayed at the Art Hotel near the Bundestag. The next day the panel discussion took place. That same evening we took the night train back to Switzerland at 20:54. At 07:20 we were back in Basel. All in all it was a very nice experience - the trains were on time, the beds comfortable and the breakfast delicious. Would you also like to take the night train to Berlin? Book your ticket through platforms such as simpletrain.ch, omio.com or thetrainline.com |
MAILAND with Breton This semester I travelled from St. Gallen to Milan for a weekend trip. I booked through the national train providers. It started at 07:05 in St.Gallen. The four-hour journey took me through the mountains and the beautiful cities of Lugano and Como until I arrived in Milan at 11:17. In Milan, I strolled through the busy streets of the Brera district and enjoyed a classic Italian lunch. Afterwards I visited the sights 'Il Duomo' and 'La Galleria' before spending the night in the Navigli district right on the canal. The next day I visited Bocconi University and the business district of Milan before returning in the afternoon. At 8:30 pm I was back in St.Gallen and had even made a stopover in Lugano. The trip was really flexible and the views of the Alps and lakes were amazing. I would definitely recommend taking the train to Milan You also want to enjoy the Italian flair of Milano? Book your ticket through platforms such as simpletrain.ch, omio.com or thetrainline.com. |
Inspiration
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