Trains depart Paris at 5pm, and arrive at the Alpine towns at 11am, 12pm, or 1pm the next day, depending on the destination. (On the northbound legs to Paris, it’s roughly the same schedule, reversed.) That’s plenty of time to enjoy all the splendors the VSOE has to offer, including a four-course dinner in one of its historic Art Deco restaurant cars.
Be sure to pack your black-tie best for revelry in the iconic bar car, 3674, where the live music and specialty cocktails flow all night. (There’s even a midnight brunch featuring sumptuous fare like lobster rolls and truffle club sandwich.) When you’re ready for rest, go back to your elegant suite, which has been turned down by your personal attendant, and snuggle into bed as the train’s rocking lulls you to sleep.
When you awake, the dazzling scenery of the Rhône-Alpes will surround your windows: Fresh blankets of powdery white, icy mountain peaks, and glittering glacial lakes all on display like a moving snow globe. You’ll be served a decadent French breakfast in bed before rising to start your day in a winter wonderland.
There are still plenty of tickets available for all three Alpine towns for departures this December. If that’s too last-minute to ink in plans, the same itineraries for December 2024 are also available to book now.
In recent years, the VSOE has been running longer seasons, offering more winter journeys. This year, in addition to the Alpine itineraries, the train will also operate winter routes between Paris and Vienna on December 18 and 19—a great way to see these two European capitals decked out in their famous festive grandeur. Tickets for the French Alp itineraries start at $3,332 per person, and the Paris-Vienna routes start at $4,152 per person, both based on double occupancy.
