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Question

Trouble understanding interail pass policy

  • November 2, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 60 views

I’m planning a month-long trip around France and want to use the rail system. My current route looks like this:

Paris → Strasbourg → Chamonix → Annecy → Lyon → Arles → Nice → Marseille → Paris

The part I’m confused about is the Strasbourg → Chamonix leg. When I use a trip planner, it shows that the train goes through Switzerland. I’d like to save some money and just get the France-only Eurail Pass, but since that route technically crosses into Switzerland, would I need to buy the Global Pass instead?

2 replies

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  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • November 2, 2025

There are routes from Strasbourg to Chamonix that avoid Crossing into Switzerland.

 


ralderton
Railmaster
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  • Railmaster
  • November 2, 2025

A good map will help you find a route that avoids Switzerland. 

https://www.seat61.com/reference/interrail-and-eurail-map.pdf
 

https://www.openrailwaymap.org

You’ll probably need to go via Lyon and St Gervais-les-Bains. You can add the legs separately if necessary.

Alternatively, you might find a cheap (ish) ticket to cover a journey through Switzerland