It's completely possible to travel without a plane, and avoid blowing your carbon footprint (or your budget): by night bus. Here are our 10 favorite destinations to discover from Paris.
After having explored our selection of capitals bordering France (or a little further afield in Europe) accessible by direct train - without the need to make any connections - it's now the turn of long-distance buses to be highlighted. A particularly accessible, low-budget means of transport, it's reminiscent of long (almost) sleepless nights on school trips or vacation camps.
Then head for the Bercy bus station to board one of these Paris night buses and wake up in another country! The Czech Republic with Prague,Austria with Vienna, Slovenia with Ljubljana... OrItaly with Milan or Turin,Spain with Barcelona or Madrid,Germany with Berlin or Munich... Discover Europe by bus!
Please note: unlike night trains , which offer berths for sleeping in a reclining position (as in a bed), only reclining seats are available on night buses. We advise you not to forget your earplugs (in case of snoring), a sleep mask and a head cushion (even better if it's inflatable, so it doesn't take up any space).
Our 10 favourite European destinations, accessible from Paris by night bus:
In Spain
- Barcelona
- A 13-15 hour drive to the capital of Catalonia.
- Madrid
- Around 17 hours' drive for a weekend in the sun, in the Spanish capital.
In Italy
- Milan
- Reach the fashion capital in just 12 hours (so plenty of sleep) and continue your journey to Lake Como (accessible in just 1 hour by train from Milan).
- Turin
- It takes less than ten hours - on average - to reach Turin from Paris.
- Bologna
- Another Italian city to discover from Paris: Bologna, reachable in 15 hours by night bus from France.
In Switzerland
- Geneva
- A must-see destination in Switzerland, this is the place to go for a stroll along the lake or a hike in the famous Swiss mountains. The city can be reached by night bus between 7 and 8 hours.
- Zurich
- Switzerland's most populous city, Zurich can also be reached directly from Paris by night bus. Less than ten hours is all it takes to reach the city and treat yourself to a Swiss getaway worthy of the name!
- Lausanne
- Just like Geneva, this time you'll need between 7 and 8 hours to get to Lausanne from Paris: a great idea for a weekend or vacation, without taking the car or plane.
England
- London
- In just ten hours, from Paris, you can take the bus, board the ferry and then the bus again, reaching London in the early hours of the morning.
- Cambridge
- Just over ten hours on the road, and this time it's Cambridge, England!
Netherlands
- Amsterdam
- Amsterdam can be reached from Paris in just one night (approx. 5-6 hours): a much more economical way of getting to the Netherlands than by Eurostar.
- Rotterdam
- Barely 7 hours on the road, and this time you'll arrive in Rotterdam: the perfect opportunity for a little Dutch escapade, especially in spring, when the tulip fields are in bloom!
- Utrecht
- This time, you'll need between 7 and 8 hours to reach Utrech, another Dutch destination, accessible by night bus.
Germany
- Berlin
- If the German capital is now accessible by night train, it is also accessible by night bus: it will take around 13 hours to reach it.
- Munich
- Further south, Munich is another of Germany's pretty destinations, particularly popular at Christmas time every year: a 14-hour bus journey will take you there.
- Frankfurt
- Less than 9 hours from Paris, and this time you'll arrive in Frankfurt-le-Main.
- Cologne
- The city with the famous cathedral is also accessible by bus: it'll take you just over 8 hours to get there!
Czech Republic
- Prague
- This time, we're heading for the Czech Republic, landing in Prague, the country's capital, with a 12 or 14 hour overnight bus journey.
Portugal
- Porto
- Heading for the sun, in the very south of Europe: this time, we're off to Porto, on a 20-hour journey.
Slovenia
- Ljubljana
- Even further afield - and this will be the last of our selection! Yes, there are direct connections to Ljubjana, but hang on to your hats: to get there, you'll need a 20-hour bus journey!
