European Extravaganza: Zurich, the Alps, Strasbourg & Paris (Self-Launched)
7 days · Switzerland & France (Zurich to Paris)
Europamundo charges £1,290
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 7-day coach tour from Zurich to Paris, rebuilt for independent travellers using hostels, Swiss and French trains, and self-bookable activities. You'll cover the same ground — Zurich's old town and lake, a Jungfrau day trip, Lucerne, Strasbourg's Christmas-market-perfect old town, and three days in Paris with the Seine and Eiffel Tower — at roughly a third of the guided price. Switzerland is genuinely expensive even on a budget; the big savings come from swapping the coach for saver train fares, taking the cheaper Jungfrau options, and eating supermarket picnics plus one hot meal a day. All figures are per person and approximate, based on shoulder-season budget rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zurich — old town and lakefront
Zurich, Switzerland
Land at Zurich Airport and take the S-Bahn (S2/S16, ~15 mins, CHF 6.80/£6) into the city — skip airport hotels altogether and stay in the Niederdorf/old town area or Langstrasse, where hostels and budget guesthouses cluster. Spend the afternoon on a free self-guided walk: Bahnhofstrasse, Lindenhof viewpoint, Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches, and the Niederdorf lanes. Finish with a stroll along the lakefront at Bürkliplatz and a supermarket dinner (Coop/Migros) or a cheap fondue-free meal in Langstrasse. Note Switzerland uses Swiss francs (cards accepted almost everywhere); the tour's Indian-dinner inclusions aren't replicated, but Zurich has decent budget Indian and Thai spots around Limmatquai.
🚌S-Bahn from Zurich Airport to Hauptbahnhof ~£6; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Niederdorf/Langstrasse (e.g. Zurich Youth Hostel or a private room in a small pension) — ~£40-55
- →Self-guided old town walk (Lindenhof, Grossmünster, Fraumünster)
- →Lake Zurich waterfront at Bürkliplatz
Zurich city tour, lake cruise to Rapperswil and the castle
Zurich — Rapperswil, Switzerland
Do the same day the coach group does, independently. Morning: join a free/pay-what-you-want walking tour of the old town (tip ~CHF 10-15) or follow the city's own audio guide. Midday: take the ZSG public boat from Bürkliplatz down Lake Zurich to Rapperswil (roughly 1h45 one way, covered by a ZurichCARD day pass or a standard ZVV/ZSG ticket ~CHF 12-20/£11-18); a shorter hop to Küsnacht or Thalwil is cheaper if time is tight. In Rapperswil climb to the medieval castle and wander the rose-lined old town and wooden bridge. Return by S-Bahn S7 (faster, ~40 mins) — this mirrors the tour's train return to Zurich. Evening back in Zurich for a cheap kebab or pasta spot.
🚌ZSG lake boat to Rapperswil (~£15); S7 train back to Zurich HB (~£8); consider a ZurichCARD 24h pass (~£14)
🛏Same Zurich hostel/guesthouse — ~£40-55
- →Pay-what-you-want old town walking tour
- →Lake Zurich boat to Rapperswil
- →Rapperswil Castle and wooden bridge
Jungfrau region day trip via Interlaken and Lucerne
Interlaken / Jungfrau / Lucerne, Switzerland
A long but classic day: take an early direct IC train Zurich–Interlaken Ost (~2 hrs) then the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. The tour's 'tricable car up Jungfrau' is the pricey Jungfraujoch railway (CHF 200+); a far better value equivalent is the Wengen–Männlichen cable car or the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher for close-up glacier views at a fraction of the cost — book in advance online for saver fares. Alternatively hike the easy Lauterbrunnen valley floor path to Staubbach Falls (free). Late afternoon: train to Lucerne (Interlaken Ost–Luzern ~1h50, or via Bern), walk the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument, then the direct Lucerne–Zurich IR train (~45 mins). Buy a Supersaver ticket online the day before for the long legs.
🚌Zurich–Interlaken IC (~£30 with Supersaver), Bernese Oberland Railway (~£15), Interlaken–Lucerne (~£25), Lucerne–Zurich (~£18)
🛏Same Zurich hostel/guesthouse — ~£40-55
- →Lauterbrunnen valley walk to Staubbach Falls
- →Männlichen cable car or Eiger Express (booked online in advance)
- →Lucerne Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument
Zurich to Strasbourg to Paris
Strasbourg, France — Paris, France
Swap the coach for the train and gain hours. Take an early IC/EC train Zurich–Basel (~1 hr) then a TGV or TER onward to Strasbourg (~1h15-2 hrs), dropping bags in a station locker. Spend 3-4 hours in Strasbourg: the pink-sandstone cathedral, Petite France canals, and a tarte flambée lunch in a winstub (cheaper than the tour's included Indian lunch and much more local). Afternoon: direct TGV Strasbourg–Paris Gare de l'Est (~1h50, book 2-3 months ahead for £30-45 saver fares). Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the 11th/12th/13th arrondissement near a Métro line; Montmartre and Canal Saint-Martin hostels are good for solo travellers.
🚌Zurich–Basel ~£20, Basel/off-peak TER to Strasbourg ~£15, Strasbourg–Paris TGV ~£40 (book early)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, eastern Paris — ~£35-50
- →Strasbourg Cathedral and Petite France walk
- →Tarte flambée lunch in a winstub
Paris highlights: city tour, Seine cruise, Versailles option
Paris, France
Morning: a free/pay-what-you-want walking tour from Place Saint-Michel or Hôtel de Ville covers Notre-Dame, the Latin Quarter and the Seine banks (tip £5-10). Afternoon: book a 1-hour Seine river cruise direct with Bateaux Parisiens, Vedettes du Pont Neuf or Batobus (from ~£13-16 on GetYourGuide/Klook — the Batobus day pass also works as transport). If you want the Versailles add-on the tour sells as optional, take RER C from Champ de Mars (40 mins, ~£4 each way) and pre-book a timed palace ticket ~£19 — the gardens are free on non-fountain days. Evening: picnic from a boulangerie/cheese shop in a park, or a £10-15 formule dinner in the Latin Quarter.
🚌Métro single tickets ~£2 each (buy a Navigo Easy carnet of 10 for ~£15)
🛏Same Paris hostel/hotel — ~£35-50
- →Pay-what-you-want Latin Quarter walking tour
- →Seine river cruise (~£14)
- →Optional Palace of Versailles day trip (RER C ~£8 return + ~£19 entry)
Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and free Paris
Paris, France
Book your Eiffel Tower second-floor ticket online the moment the 60-day window opens (€18.80/£16 direct — third-party resellers charge double and often don't include summit access). Allow 2 hours. Then walk the Champ de Mars, cross to Trocadéro for photos, and head north by Métro to Montmartre: Sacré-Cœur (free entry, dome ~£7), the Place du Tertre artists' square, and the vineyard lane. Lunch on crêpes or a falafel in the Marais. Late afternoon: free entries at the Petit Palais or the Musée Carnavalet (Paris history, always free), or a wander along Canal Saint-Martin. If you want the Disneyland add-on the tour offers, it costs ~£60-80 return by RER A plus park ticket and eats an entire day — best skipped on a 7-day trip.
🚌Métro/RER ~£6 total
🛏Same Paris hostel/hotel — ~£35-50
- →Eiffel Tower second floor (pre-booked direct, ~£16)
- →Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre walk
- →Free museum visit (Petit Palais or Musée Carnavalet)
Paris — final morning and departure
Paris, France
Breakfast at the hostel or a café (£5-8). Use the morning for anything you missed: the Louvre's free first-Friday/Saturday evening slot if timing works, the Sainte-Chapelle stained glass (~£12), or a last walk along the Seine bookstalls. Head to Charles de Gaulle or Orly by RER B/Métro (~£10) or book a coach transfer for less. Book your onward/return flight separately — the operator's price excludes flights, insurance and optional extras too.
🚌Métro + RER B to CDG ~£10
🛏None (departure day)
- →Sainte-Chapelle or last Seine walk
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £1,290 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £500 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does European Extravaganza: Zurich, the Alps, Strasbourg & Paris (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 7 days in Switzerland & France (Zurich to Paris). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £500 (39%) per person.
How long is the Switzerland & France (Zurich to Paris) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Switzerland & France (Zurich to Paris).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through Switzerland & France (Zurich to Paris), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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