Europe: Paris & the Swiss lakes

What you can do

• See Paris on foot and by metro: the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Montmartre and a Seine cruise at dusk
• Take the TGV to Switzerland and use the train as the sightseeing, not just the transfer
• Ride up Mount Pilatus or Rigi from Lucerne for an easy half day above the lake
• Add Interlaken or Grindelwald if you want a full day in the Jungfrau region

Food to try

Paris rewards simple choices: a bakery breakfast, a bistro lunch menu and cheese before dessert. Switzerland is about cheese fondue, raclette, rosti and chocolate, with halal and vegetarian options easiest in the cities.

Culture & customs

A polite bonjour before any request changes how you are treated in France. Switzerland runs on punctuality and quiet, so trains leave on the minute and phone calls stay low in carriages.