Geneva is a cosmopolitan French-speaking city at the southwestern tip of Lake Geneva, framed by the Alps and the Jura. Known for the Jet d'Eau, a compact medieval Old Town, Calvin's Reformation, the Red Cross and the United Nations, it is also a world capital of watchmaking, banking and science with CERN on its doorstep. Despite its high prices, Geneva rewards visitors with lake swimming, museums, fondue and easy day trips to France and the Alps.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Annecy, France
The old-town canals and the clear alpine lake make Annecy the most popular French day trip from Geneva. Wander the Vieille Ville, the Palais de l'Île and the lakeshore promenade.
Highlights: Palais de l'Île · Pont des Amours · Lake Annecy shore · Château d'Annecy
Chamonix and the Mont-Blanc Massif
Chamonix lies at the foot of Mont Blanc, with the Aiguille du Midi cable car rising to 3,842 m and the Mer de Glace glacier by rack railway.
Highlights: Aiguille du Midi cable car · Mer de Glace · Chamonix village · Montenvers train
Lausanne
Lausanne is the Olympic capital, with a hilltop cathedral, the Olympic Museum, the Ouchy lakefront and the Lavaux wine terraces nearby.
Highlights: Cathédrale de Lausanne · Olympic Museum · Ouchy waterfront · Flon district
Montreux and Château de Chillon
Montreux has a flowered lakeside promenade, the Freddie Mercury statue and the Château de Chillon, a medieval castle on the lake.
Highlights: Château de Chillon · Montreux promenade · Freddie Mercury statue
Gruyères
The medieval hilltop town of Gruyères has a château, the HR Giger Museum and cheese demonstrations at La Maison du Gruyère.
Highlights: Château de Gruyères · La Maison du Gruyère · HR Giger Museum
Yvoire, France
Yvoire is a flowered medieval village on Lake Geneva, with the Jardin des Cinq Sens and ramparts, a lovely lake-crossing day.
Highlights: Jardin des Cinq Sens · Medieval streets · Lakeside harbour
Nyon
A pretty lakeside town with a castle, a Roman museum and a weekly market.
Highlights: Château de Nyon · Roman Museum · Lakeside promenade
Mont Salève Cable Car
A short cable car rises from Étrembières to the Salève ridge for sweeping views over Geneva, the lake and Mont Blanc.
Highlights: Panoramic terrace · Walking trails · Paragliders
La Dôle and the Jura
La Dôle is the highest Swiss Jura summit near Geneva (1,677 m), with sweeping views of the lake and the Alps.
Highlights: Summit panorama · Alpine meadows · Mountain walking
Lavaux Vineyards
The UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards of Lavaux slope steeply to the lake, with walking trails between wine villages.
Highlights: Vineyard terraces · Wine tasting · Lake views
Évian-les-Bains, France
A spa town on the south shore of the lake with a belle-époque promenade and famed mineral water.
Highlights: Lakefront promenade · Évian spring · Palais Lumière
Bern
The Swiss capital's medieval Old Town is a UNESCO site, with the Zytglogge clock tower, the bear park and arcaded streets.
Highlights: Zytglogge · Old Town arcades · Rose Garden
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
A long but unforgettable day trip to the car-free resort beneath the Matterhorn. Consider overnighting.
Highlights: Matterhorn views · Gornergrat railway · Zermatt village
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Public
- Swiss Federal Railways (sbb.ch) and the SBB Mobile app cover the Swiss destinations; FlixBus and local buses serve the French destinations
- Boat
- CGN lake steamers (cgn.ch) link Geneva with Nyon, Yvoire, Évian, Lausanne and Montreux in summer
- Car
- Car hire is available at the airport; a motorway vignette (CHF 40, ~$50) is needed for Swiss motorways
- Pass
- The Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card (sbb.ch) offer savings on multiple day trips
Multi-day tours from Geneva
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from GenevaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Carry a passport for French trips (Annecy, Chamonix, Yvoire, Évian, Salève)
The Geneva Transport Card covers Geneva city transport, not intercity trains
Book CGN steamers and Aiguille du Midi tickets ahead in summer
Buy a Swiss Half Fare Card for CHF 120 (~$150) if you plan three or more trips
Check sbb.ch for first and last trains before choosing an evening return