Easy day trips from Geneva
The following are suggestions for easy day trips from Geneva. You can purchase a ticket for the journey using your discount cards if you travel by train, bus or boat in Switzerland. Some of these destinations may be offered as free excursions by the program*. For suggested hikes and walks see our hiking web-page.
Transportation options:
Swiss trains & the Leman Express: www.sbb.ch
Cruises on lake Geneva: CGN
Buses to France: Flixbus
Nyon and the Musée Prangins: Historic lakeside town with a Roman museum. A short bus ride after there is the Prangins museum of Swiss history housed in a beautiful chateau with gardens. One hour by train or with the CGN boat.
Lausanne: The second city in French-speaking Switzerland on the Lac Léman. There is the Olympic museum, it has largest fresh water aquarium and vivarium in Europe, and it is excellent for shopping and nightlife. Get a great view from the Sauvabelin Tower! One hour direct train from Geneva.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/lausanne
Photo by Megan Smith BU – Chateau du Chillon
*Montreux and Le Chateau de Chillon: Situated at the other end of the lake it is known as the Swiss Riviera. Take the train to Montreux (1.5 hours) and then you can walk along the lake to the famous castle.
Vevey & Chaplin’s World: Just before Montreux, this lakeside resort is worth a visit. Charlie Chaplin, actor, screenwriter and film producer, lived in the Manoir de Ban in Vevey. A statue by the lake commemorates the 25 years he spent there. You can discover more about this cinematic legend at Chaplin’s World.
https://www.chaplinsworld.com/en
Yverdon-Les-Bains Spa: Enjoy the swimming pools, hammams, saunas, jacuzzi and more. One and half hours by train.
By oiram – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16714109
Fribourg. With its cobbled streets, Gothic houses and lovely fountains, Fribourg is one of Switzerlands most beautiful towns. Explore the old town and then do one of the many hikes in the surrounding countryside such as the Gorges du Gottéron trek . Direct train from Geneva 1.20hrs.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/fribourg
Hermance: Picturesque medieval village by the lake just before the French border. Beach with facilities and some nice walks in the surrounding countryside. 30 mins from Geneva with the TPG E bus or take the CGN boat.
https://schweizmobil.ch/de/wanderland/route-105
In France
Annecy France – Photo by Vanessa Bahnam BU
*Annecy in neighboring France: Nicknamed the “Pearl of the French Alps”, it has the 2nd largest lake in the region, and a beautiful old town and canal. Travel by bus from Gare Routier Geneve Flixbus or train with the Leman Express from Gare Eaux Vives www.sbb.ch.
Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Saint Gervais les Bains. Neighbouring Chamonix this famous French resort is excellent for hiking, skiing, and other mountain sports. You can take a direct train from Eaux Vives train station to Saint Gervais – Le Fayet train station. It takes 1.5 hours and cost approx. 40chf return. In the summer you can take the Mont Blanc tramway from Le Fayet to the Nid d’Aigle (“Eagle’s Nest”, 2380m), with an exceptional viewpoint of the Bionnassay glacier.
Thonon les Bains: Famous spa resort on the lake. Historic old town with lots of shops. Port and lake esplanade with great scenery and eateries. Get there with the Leman Express train from Gare Eaux Vives: www.sbb.ch
https://www.thononlesbains.com/en/
Yvoire: On the French side of the lake, a beautiful medieval village with a castle and the Garden of the Five Senses. Travel by CGN boat from Geneva with your half price card (don’t miss the last boat back!).