boat cruises lake geneva

See Lake Geneva Your Way

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US Mailboat Tour

Jazz Dinner Cruise

Supper Club Dinner Cruise

Cocktail Cruise

Sunday Brunch Buffet Cruise

Luncheon Cruise

Black Point Tour

Full Lake Cruise

Best of the Lake Cruise

Ice Cream Social Cruise

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Falling in love with Lake Geneva is easy to do..from boating to shopping, and grand architecture; Lake Geneva has it all!  Take a private boat charter and experience LG like never before? Whether you are looking for a ladies outing, bachelorette party, family day, or a corporate event, you won't be disappointed!

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The Best Summer Lake Geneva CGN Boat Excursions and Day Pleasure Cruises

During the summer season, CGN offers the largest number and variety of Lake Geneva boat cruises ranging from day excursions to gourmet meal, dinner, and sunset cruises — Belle Époque paddle steamers, and regular ferry crossings of Lac Léman.

In summer, CGN pleasure cruise boats sail on Lake Geneva throughout the day. Cruise excursions depart from various ports but Geneva, Nyon, Yvoire, Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux are popular starting points. In addition to regular pleasure cruises, food is available on most Lake Geneva cruise boats with special dinner and lunch cruises sailing daily from especially Geneva and Lausanne. The romantic early twentieth-century Belle Epoque paddle steamers are the best for cruising on Lake Geneva but more modern boats also operate on many sightseeing cruises — ticket prices are the same, so opt for the steamboats if possible. Regular passenger ferry services connect Nyon in Switzerland with Yvoire and Chens in France and Lausanne with Thonon and Evian.

In 2024 , the high season for boat cruises on Lake Geneva is from 29 June to 1 September 2024 but many cruises are also available in the shoulder season up to mid-September.

Summer Cruises on Lake Geneva, Switzerland

CGN’s summer schedule is in operation from mid-June to mid-September (with additional cruises in most of July and August). Boat cruises are available daily with additional excursions on weekends and national holidays. Passenger ferries operate year-round on Lac Léman to connect Swiss and French cities.

Special savings tickets and deals are available to reduce the cost of cruising on Lake Geneva. Most Swiss railway and transportation discount passes and travel cards are accepted on CGN Lac Léman boats.

Cruising on Belle Epoque Paddle Steamers on Lake Geneva, Switzerland

CGN has eight Belle Epoque paddle boats of which six are sailing on Lake Geneva on regular excursion cruises during summer. These boats, constructed in the early twentieth century, offer nostalgia and comfort to Lac Léman cruises. These historic boats require no surcharge (nor time penalty!) making it worth adjusting programs to enjoy these grand boats rather than more modern diesel-powered vessels, which sometimes replace the steamers on some sailings on certain days or at short notice.

The Belle Epoque steamboats usually cruise as follows on Lake Geneva (only main stops are listed):

• La Suisse (1910) – three times per day from Lausanne to St Gingolph and on to Chateau de Chillon before returning to Lausanne via the Lavaux . Three hours for the full circular cruise. Pick this boat (and the cruise past the Lavaux) if scheduling allows.
• Savoie (1914) – daily from Geneva to Yvoire (via Nyon) and back. Almost two hours each way. Also lunch and dinner cruises from Geneva.
• Montreux (1904) – daily from Lausanne to Chateau de Chillon Castle and back. Around 100 minutes one way. Also dinner cruises from Lausanne. It also frequently cruises to Nyon and Yvoire.
• SS Rhône (1927) – the Rhône returned to service in 2022 following a three-year restoration project. It mostly cruises the long Geneva to Lausanne route.

Two further Belle Epoque paddle boats are fitted with modern diesel engines and they sail on Lake Geneva year-round:

• MS Vevey (1907) – returned to service in 2013 after a full restoration. In summer, the Vevey cruises from Lausanne to Geneva and back with dinner cruises from Geneva.
• MS Italie (1908)– resumed passenger cruises on Lake Geneva in 2016, after a decade out of service, and cruises mostly in the Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, and St Gingolph area.

The two Belle Epoque currently not in service are:

• SS Simplon (1920) – similar in size to the La Suisse and almost as elegant but with a much larger dining area. The Simplon can accommodate 850 passengers. The Simplon was badly damaged in a fire in spring 2024 and will be out of commission for some time.
• MS Helvetie (1926) — out of service since 2002 but it is being restored to return to service in 2026.

Lunch, Dinner, Sunset, and Gourmet Meal Cruises on Lake Geneva Boats

Food and drinks are served on almost all CGN boats cruising on Lake Geneva. Full meals and restaurant service are available on most boats cruising during meal times. However, special lunch, dinner, sunset, and gourmet cruises also sail most days during summer. Meals are almost always optional (and charged for separately) although special combination deals may be purchased too. Food is generally of a very good standard and priced similarly to regular Swiss restaurants (i.e. rather expensive!)

• Cheese fondue is only served on Friday cruises during the winter and shoulder seasons and never in summer.

Lake Geneva boat cruises are mostly booked for the departure and arrival cities even if a variety of cruise names are used in advertising. It is usually possible to interrupt journeys en route but specify the stops when buying tickets, or ask on the boat if such stops would require a surcharge.

Lake Geneva Cruise Boat Map and Routings

Boat excursions on Lac Léman are on four basic routings — only main stops are listed, in summer, boats also call at many smaller ports:

• Geneva circular roundtrip cruises — usually around an hour .
• Geneva to Lausanne — almost four hours — often with stops possible at amongst others Morges, Nyon, and Yvoire (in France). Shorter cruises from Geneva to Nyon or Yvoire are also popular.
• Upper Lake area from Lausanne to St Gingolph with stops amongst others at Montreux, Vevey, and Chateau de Chillon. This is the most beautiful part of the lake and the best area to cruise in.
• Ferry services — short crossings between Switzerland and France — from Lausanne to Evian and Nyon to Yvoire.

The  historic paddle steamers  are the best choice and cost the same as more modern boats — paddle steamboat cruises are usually clearly marked as such in the published timetables.

Short Pleasure Cruise Boat Excursions on Lake Geneva

In addition to the longer boat cruises along long stretches of Lake Geneva, several shorter cruises are also available. Popular cruises include:

Beautiful shores of Lake Geneva (Belles Rives Genevoises) – hour-long circular cruises sailing six times per day from Geneva.

Currently, no cruises link French ports to each other. Yvoire is the only French port that is served by regular pleasure cruises. From Evian and Thonon frequent ferries connect directly to Lausanne but not to each other or other lake towns.

The frequent passenger ferry boat services also offer great opportunities year-round for short cruises on Lac Léman.

More on Lake Geneva Pleasure Boats and Cruises:

• Pleasure Boats and Ferries on Lake Geneva
• Lake Geneva Boat Cruises in Spring
• Passenger Ferries on Lake Geneva
• Book Cruises at GYG or at CGN
• Passenger Ferries and Cruises from Lausanne to Evian and Thonon
• Savings Tickets for CGN Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
• Summer Lake Geneva Boat Excursions and Day Cruises
• Spring & Autumn Cruises on Lake Geneva
• Winter and Christmas Cruises on Lake Geneva
• Pleasure Boat Excursions to Yvoire
• Boat Cruises from Genéve to Lausanne
• See the Historic Paddle Steamers at the Parade Navale
• New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruises on Lake Geneva

Home » All Lake Geneva Boats & Ferries » The Best Summer Lake Geneva CGN Boat Excursions and Day Pleasure Cruises

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Lake Geneva Cruises

CGN SA Avenue de Rhodanie 17 1007 Lausanne Phone  +41 (0)84 881 18 48 cgn.ch

Boat cruising on Central Europe’s largest inland lake every which way. Passengers can embark and disembark on the Swiss as well as the French side of the lake.

The Belle Époque boats have been navigating Central Europe’s largest inland lake for 140 years and offer fantastic cruises between France and Switzerland. The views from the boat extend from harbours and castles (Chillon, Morges, Rolle, Yvoire among others) over vineyards (Lavaux UNESCO and La Côte) to the snow-covered summits of the Swiss and Savoyan Alps. The boat landings are starting points for many exploration activities like city tours (Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Vevey).

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CGN SA Avenue de Rhodanie 17 1007  Lausanne Switzerland

Phone  +41 (0)84 881 18 48 [email protected] cgn.ch Show Route

CGN SA Avenue de Rhodanie 17 1007 Lausanne Phone  +41 (0)84 881 18 48 cgn.ch Show Route

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Lausanne Tourisme Avenue de Rhodanie 2 Case postale 975 1000  Lausanne +41 (0)21 613 73 73 +41 (0)21 616 86 47 [email protected] Website

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Buy Lake Geneva Tickets

50-Minute Lake Geneva Sightseeing Cruise

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• When you're through with sightseeing on land in Geneva, take to the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva for a soothing & idyllic sightseeing experience.
• The lake provides a unique perspective on Geneva's beauty and is enveloped by the towering Mont-Blanc mountain and the surrounding Alps.
• Turn on your audio guides and listen to the informative commentary about the marvelous sights of Geneva.
• You'll pass along several iconic landmarks in Geneva, like the Pierres du Niton, Pointe à la Bise, Jet d’Eau, and more.
• All the while, be lulled by the beauty of perfectly manicured gardens along the lake shores and striking flora and fauna.
• 50-minute sightseeing cruise on Lake Geneva
• Audio guide
• Hotel transfers
• Wheelchair access is usually possible but it depends on how busy the boat is and its size. Toilets for disabled people are available on all our boats except the "Col-Vert" and the "Général-Guisan".
• Dogs will not be permitted onboard. Dogs generally need a second-class half-fare ticket. They may also travel first class. However, small dogs (no more than 30 cm shoulder height), in a basket or similar, travel free of charge.

2-Hour Riviera Cruise from Montreux

• Board a comfortable paddle steamer boat for a 2-hour cruise upon the gleaming waters of Lake Geneva, a must-try experience for locals and visitors alike.
• You will set sail off the Montreux pier and drift towards one of Switzerland's most renowned historical landmarks, Chillon Castle.
• Your route will be dotted with iconic towns, like Villeneuve, Le Bouveret, and St Gingolph. You'll also be enveloped by the scenic beauty of the Swiss & French Alps.
• Make sure to catch sight of the town of Vevey and the remarkable Lavaux vineyards.
• The boat stops at the Castle, where you're free to explore on your own (entry into the castle is not included in the price of your ticket).
• Whenever you're done, hop back onto the boat and head back to the starting point: the Montreux pier.
• There are multiple departure timings for the boat throughout the day, so you can spend as much time as you'd like at the castle (make sure to check timings beforehand).
• 2-hr cruise (1st/2nd class)
• Access to upper deck (1st class only)
• Food & drinks onboard

This ticket has the following variants that you can choose from:

• First-Class Ticket
• Second-Class Ticket
• Infants aged 5yrs and below go free. Children aged 6-15yrs and adults with Halbtax (Half-fare card of the Swiss Railway SBB) enjoy reduced ticket pricing (carry a valid photo ID).
• Your boarding point is at Montreux Pier.
• Address: Quai Edouard Jaccoud, 1820 Montreux.

Get Directions to the Boarding Point

Getting There

• The closest bus stop is Montreux, Débarcadère, a 2-min walk to the pier.
• Buses 209, 209 & 291 will bring you here.

2-Hour Riviera Cruise from Vevey

• Take to the gleaming waters of Lake Geneva for a truly remarkable sightseeing experience for a good 2 hours!
• You'll be sailing on an iconic paddle steamer boat that lends all the right feels during your experience.
• Gaze out into the horizon and catch stunning views of the Swiss and French Alps, city landmarks, attractions, vineyards, and charming towns.
• You'll be heading towards one of Switzerland's most cherished historic landmarks, the Chillon Castle, where you may deboard if you please.
• Feel free to visit the attraction at your own expense (entry is not included in the price of this ticket).
• Whenever you're done exploring, just re-board the boat back to Vevey. The boats have departure timings throughout the day, so you won't be waiting for long.
• Your boarding point is at Vevey Marché Pier.
• Address: Quai Marie Belgia 2.
• The closest bus stop is Vevey, Hôtel de Ville, a 6-min walk to the pier.
• Buses 201, 202 & 290 will bring you here.

3-Hour Cruise of Riviera Region: Lausanne – Lavaux – Chillon Castle

• The best way to enjoy the beauty of Lake Geneva is to go on a restful 3-hour circular cruise.
• Start your journey from Lausanne Ouchy and sail away on a paddle steamer.
• To your left, treat your eyes to the most beautiful part of Lake Geneva, the spectacular Lavaux Vineyards.
• As Switzerland's largest contiguous vineyard area, this UNESCO region is a sight to behold.
• Move on to see both the Swiss and French Alps. As you cruise towards Chillon Castle, soak in the unique views of the region.
• You will also make quick stops in Vevey and Montreux, better known as the “Pearls of the Swiss Riviera.”
• For lunch, you are welcome to dine onboard (make sure to book your table in advance) before you head back to Lausanne.
• 3-hour cruise from Lausanne in the selected travel class (1st or 2nd class).
• Food and drinks are not included. You can buy snacks and drinks onboard. At lunch it is possible to eat onboard. It is mandatory to book your table in advance
• Infants aged 0-5yrs go for free. Children aged 6-15yrs, as well as anyone with Halbtax (Half-fare card of the Swiss Railway SBB) aged 16yrs and above, enjoy reduced ticket pricing (carry a valid photo ID).
• Your boarding point is at Lausanne Ouchy Pier - 1.
• Address: Quai Jean-Pascal Delamuraz 1006 Lausanne.
• The closest metro station is Ouchy Olympique, a 5-min walk to the pier.

Ferry Ticket From Lausanne To Evian

• In search of a quick getaway? Escape Lausanne and enjoy a short ferry ride across Lake Geneva to the beautiful French town of Évian-les-Bains.
• It will take you 35 minutes to get there and along the way, you can admire the crystal clear waters of the lake, picturesque lakeside towns, and snow-capped mountains.
• Upon reaching Évian, take your time to walk along the lovely lake promenade or explore the winding streets of the old town.
• One of the must-see sites when in Evian is the Cachat Spring, the first source of Evian water.
• It is named after Gabriel Cachat, the owner of the garden in which it flowed at the end of the 18th century.
• Today, the spring belongs to the Evian mineral water company, and you can even fill your bottle with "free" Evian mineral water here.
• Other interesting things to do here include exploring the Palais Lumière Museum and going on a ride on the historic funicular (cable railway).
• Choose between first-class and second-class seats; the former gives you access to the upper deck of the boat for more seating space and a better view.
• Note: To enter French territory, Swiss citizens must have a valid identity document (ID card or passport). All others will need an ID card or passport with a valid visa if required.
• Boat trip from Lausanne to Evian and back to Lausanne in the selected travel class (1st or 2nd class).
• Food and drinks are not included. You can buy snacks and drinks onboard.
• The boarding point is a 5-minute walk from the metro station 'Ouchy Olympique.'

Full-Day Guided Tour of Lake Geneva with Chaplin’s World & Chillon Castle

• Immerse yourself in the enchanting Lake Geneva region on a full-day guided tour with round-trip transfers to landmarks like Chillon's Castle and Lavaux.
• An expert guide will accompany you to these lakeside alpine towns, starting with Corsier-sur-Vevey and Chaplin’s World, a museum on the legendary actor.
• Stop by the UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards of Lavaux and delight in a cheese and wine tasting session with gorgeous views.
• Bask in the musical legacy of the resort town Montreux, a spot frequented by celebs like Ella Fitzgerald, housing a bronze statue of Freddy Mercury.
• Gain entry to the awe-inspiring medieval Chillon Castle, the inspiration for Lord Byron's poem The Prisoner of Chillon , sitting on the lake nearby.
• Full-day tour of Lake Geneva region
• Round-trip bus transfers from Geneva
• Expert driver and guide
• Entry to Chillon Castle
• Entry to Chaplin’s World
• Visit to Lavaux and Montreux
• Apéritif and local food products
• Chaplin's World
• Chillon Castle
• Tip: Rock-n-roll fans, this tour includes a chance to visit the old recording studio of the band Queen in Montreux. Ask your guide for more information!

Reserve Your Spot Today

Cancel up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund

Private Tours & Charters Available

Lake geneva is best experienced on the lake, will we see the full lake.

On this one-hour tour, you will see half of the lake, including many of the major landmarks. If you’re interested in seeing the full lake, we recommend the two-hour Full Lake Cruise.

Is this a good tour for kids?

Yes, the Best of the Lake Cruise and the Ice Cream Social Cruise are good for children because of the shorter length of the tour.

Does the boat go out in bad weather?

It’s difficult to give a definitive answer since every weather situation is different. In general, we do not cancel our tours for rain or cool weather because most of our boats have at least one deck that is enclosed. In the event of strong storms, strong winds, or other severe weather, we will make a decision at that time as to whether or not tours can go out. If we have to cancel a tour altogether due to weather, we will provide a full refund or change your reservation to a different date. If we adjust the departure time or end a tour early due to severe weather we typically will not provide a refund, but rather a “rain check” may be provided depending on the situation.

Are there any discounts on this tour?

We offer AAA, Preferred Guest with local hotels, and military discounts. (One discount per transaction.) We also offer an additional discount for senior guests on Tuesdays. View our specials and promos here.

Can we bring snacks on board the boat?

We offer a full snack bar and cash bar with items such as chips, candy and soft drinks. We also offer a full cash bar. If you bring a small snack to hold you over during the tour that is fine, but we do not allow full meals and we do not allow coolers. No alcohol is permitted to be brought on board because we have liquor licenses on all of our boats.

Can I bring a stroller?

In most cases we can accommodate a stroller, however on very busy days our crew may ask you to fold it up and/or store it on the dock due to limited space. The boat crew makes that decision based on the number of tickets sold.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

The Walworth, the boat we use for the Full Lake Cruise, can accommodate a wheelchair. There is a gangplank that goes across from the pier to the boat and one step down onto the main deck that our crew can help you navigate. Please let us know ahead of time if you need extra assistance.

Are there restrooms on the boat?

Yes, there is a restroom available on every boat. Boat restrooms are not wheelchair accessible. There are also large, public restrooms available in the Riviera Building directly in front of our ticket windows and boats for use before and after your tour.

LAKE OF BAYS CRUISES

The historic ss bigwin.

GET TICKETS

Explore breathtaking views of scenic islands, captivating forests and rugged cliffs on Lake of Bays. Listen for whispers of Lake of Bays legends.

BOOK A WEDDING

Take breathtaking wedding photos and enjoy cocktail hour as you sail across the smooth waters of beautiful Lake of Bays on the SS Bigwin.

PRIVATE CRUISES

Private cruises can be booked for anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, resort or tour groups, corporate functions, and so much more.

ON LAKE OF BAYS

After an epic tale that dates back to 1925, the S. S. Bigwin relaunched officially in July 2013 and continues to serve and delight, as the only historic commercial ship on Lake of Bays.

DISCOVER THE HISTORY

At the Marine Museum next to the SS Bigwin dock in Dorset, Ontario, you will find several historical collections from the marine history on Lake of Bays.

EXPERIENCE MUSKOKA

From a different angle.

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THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

Lake Geneva is one of the most stunning and enjoyable road trips you could ever take

Driving anywhere in Europe is pretty stunning if your eyes are open. (And we hope they are!)

One of the most memorable drives is from Geneva to Montreux along the north (Swiss) side of Lake Geneva, known as Lac Léman by the French, which completely confuses some tourists. Mostly owned by the Swiss, and one of the largest lakes in Western Europe, it is shaped like a large French croissant. You can see the mountains of the thermal spa town Évian-les-Bains, where the ​bottled​ water comes from on the French side, opposite Lausanne, in Switzerland. You’re at the edge of the Alps and the Jura mountains, around 1200 feet above sea level, and the views are stunning.

Some of the main towns along the north lakeside are Morges, Lausanne, Vevey (home of mega-company Nestle) and Montreux, where the iconic Jazz Festival happens annually for two weeks starting the end of June.

The Comedy Festival and Montreux Christmas Market are also worth checking out in December.

Taking the coastal road Route 1, (as opposed to Highway 9, alright?), the entire drive from Geneva to Montreux takes just over two hours if you drive fast, although that’s not recommended as: 1) speeding tickets are expensive in Switzerland, and 2) you’ll miss the scenery. Remember: That’s the whole point of the drive. So here are a few cool things you can do on the way and places to stop and stay.

First, go to Geneva , the city where conventions are made, unmentionable deals signed and vast fortunes hidden. Rent a car with Elite Cars — OK, we’re being snobby here but on the other hand this is not a trip to be economical on, although you certainly can rent cheaper, good cars elsewhere. But Elite has Aston Martins at around $850 per day, and Ferraris, Audis, Porsches, SUVs and Minis to choose from, plus a Tesla Roadster (like the one Elon sent into space… I wonder how Spaceman is doing?) for around $280 per day, which is not bad! They can deliver or send a chauffeur-driven limousine to Geneva International Airport to get you and your bags and have several locations across Europe, so you can rent the Lamborghini in Geneva and drop it in Rome. If so disposed.

Head to Rte 1 (Route de Lausanne) to drive around the edge of the lake and through the lakeside villages with histories of Roman settlements. Your maps app may want to take you on Highway 9/E62. Unless you’re in a hurry and need to get to Montreux in just over an hour, ignore it. Take the scenic lake route. Slowly.

Drive north out of Geneva, away from the international terminals, and back in time.

No matter how many times you see the lake, it is, everyday, a gasping surprise. Around every corner, each view of the clear pristine blue sky and water and green reflecting mountains abound, and the sun warms brightly.

If you need to rest to recover from the airport, about five miles north of Geneva on the coast, pass through Chambesy and visit the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It’s free of charge, has a herbarium of medicinal and botanical plants, all sorts of spectacular flower gardens and green spaces to relax, and it’s on the lake. Take a picnic!

All along your drive there are opportunities to stop and walk lakeside. Morges is the next interesting town to enjoy. You can pull over and take a little red train (only on Thursday afternoons from mid July until the end of August, plan accordingly) on a wine tasting tour. It’s maybe a better idea than driving. We think. And the train’s not really a train, it just looks like a train….. It won’t matter after the second wine cellar!

In Morges town there’s a castle to explore, an artisan market at the weekends and plenty of cafes and patisseries (exquisite pastry shops) on cobbled streets where you can sit and watch the world go by, and it goes slowly there.

Lausanne is 38 miles from Geneva and was once inhabited by the Romans. It’s the fourth largest city in Switzerland. A university town, yet slow paced and chic with cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, boutiques, galleries and bars set in 13th century buildings and old monasteries. Through the years Lausanne has attracted great artists and poets such as Rousseau, Voltaire, Hemingway, TS Eliot, Shelley and Byron, it now headquarters the International Olympic Committee and is a haven for water enthusiasts. It has the most beautiful Gothic cathedral in Switzerland, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, The Museum of Photography and The Museum of Raw Art (L’Art Brut).

Go to The Olympic Museum  for the history of and all things Olympic.

Beau Rivage Palace in Ouchy, Lausanne

Stay in luxury with a balcony overlooking the lake and The Alps for around $650/night, or lounge by the pool overlooking the lake. Either way it’s peaceful for the soul. It has the time-stood-still feel of Hollywood in the 1950’s, a touch of elegance. The food and the Swiss hospitality is impeccable. There are a few restaurants to choose from at the hotel including the brasserie style relaxed Cafe Beau-Rivage on the terrace overlooking Lake Geneva. You will not want to leave.

Leaving Lausanne driving east on Rte.1, the steep terraced vineyards of Lavaux climb on your left for miles of green. They were created by monks 800 years ago. There are small wine caverns to visit in chocolate box villages with stunning views of the lake and the French Alps on the other side. This is where the fun begins. You can sit at a re-versioned wine barrel table on a barrel stool where you’ll be served the local Tomme cheese, a mild round white cheese, on a wooden board with a knife and a baguette, a delicious salami (even if you don’t like salami) and your demi-bouteille of wine of choice. But then who doesn’t eat salami after a bouteille or two…?

If you make it to Vevey , stop in the town for fondue made the traditional way with kirsch, white wine and gruyere, or, in winter, a mid-afternoon hot chocolate. You’re in the land of cheese, wine and chocolate, so you have to. Vevey is casual and relaxed.

Memorable in any restaurant along Lake Geneva are the Fillets de Perche. The small fish that come directly from the lake are a speciality from June to October. Try them simply Meunière (with brown butter, chopped parsley and lemon) with a good Cotes du Jura local Chardonnay.

Fifteen miles from Lausanne in the village of Corsier-sur-Vevey overlooking the lake, the Charlie Chaplin Museum is set on the large estate where Chaplin spent the last twenty five years of his life, with his fourth wife Oona and a few of his eleven children. Opened in 2016 it’s an immersive experience paying tribute to the silent era comedian who became one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars. You can see some of his early screen work from 1914 onwards. Chaplin moved to Switzerland in the 1950s after Senator McCarthy barred him from the U.S. over suspicion of his Soviet ties. He was later knighted by the Queen, in 1975, and received a 12-minute standing ovation at the Oscars in 1977. He died on Christmas Day that year.

Alimentarium – the food museum –   on the lake shores of Vevey marked by the extremely large silver fork protruding from the lake (it’s big). It’s the first museum to focus on nutrition.

The first commercial milk chocolate bar was created in Vevey in 1876 by Daniel Peter, and three years later was produced for the first time by Lindt in the city of Bern, an hour away.

There are folk markets every Saturday in Vevey from the second week of July through August.

The Hotel Victoria in Glion, in the municipality of Montreux.

The old magnificent — and a member of the discerning Relais & Chateaux family — Victoria Hotel in Glion is the perfect place to stay if you need to be around Montreux for a few days, and who doesn’t? It sits in a peaceful setting above the town with gorgeous views of the lake and the Alps and is connected by a funicular (a hillside steep cable train) leaving four times an hour and taking six minutes. There’s free parking and Wi-Fi at the hotel to upload all your great photos and the food is hand-picked by the chef, and divine.

The hotel is convenient for Montreux Casino, the festivals, Chillon Castle and has an outdoor pool. Pretty hip people stay here. And if you’re reading this you’re already hip.

TREAT YOURSELF

Luxury retreat and spa Clinique La Prairie, Montreux. You may know the $500 La Prairie caviar face creams sold in high-end department stores? They work by the way but this is where it all started. The clinic used to be famed for injecting a lamb cell fetus recipe into celebrity clients for the sake of virility and rejuvenation. It apparently worked so well that clients came back for more. Michael Jackson and Liz Taylor were reported fans as was good ol’ J.R., Larry Hagman. It consisted of around sixteen buttock injections spaced over a number of days in the luxurious old chateau. Ouch, I guess.

The clinic is now an expanded state of the art medi-spa, where just about anything beautification-wise can happen, inside and out. However they no longer inject you with lamb’s fetus (now you want it, right?) and they have another aesthetic line, as La Prairie cream was sold off in 1990. It’s good to know there are some alternatives.

Bookings are taken for up to six days of treatment and are tailor made. They do medical checkups, master detox, blood analysis, rebalancing and a plethora of skin, beauty treatments and cell therapies. You will not be the same person when you leave as when you arrived. You may not even look the same. You will certainly be lighter in the pocket.

Do this as a whole separate trip and they’ll pick you up in Geneva in their luxury limo and whisk you away to extreme relaxation. (At Geneva airport it seems like one can be in serious danger of being run over by rampaging luxury limos.)

Pont de Brent

For lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Mondays.

You just must. It’s another Relais & Châteaux so you know they’ll take extra care of you.

Montreux is famed for its flower pathways – stroll thirty minutes along the lakeside to Chillon Castle – an old Roman outpost to guard the Alpine passes. The first record of the castle comes from 1005 when it belonged to the Bishops of Sion.

The huge castle also has boat access from Lausanne and is incredible to approach from the lake against the backdrop of the mountains. It really is stunning. It will take your breath away.

For hiking and views – take the train from Montreux station to Les Rochers-de-Naye . It’s the highest point near Montreux. You’ll reach almost 7000 ft in an hour. It’s an incredible place to view the lake and the train takes you through a number of small Swiss villages with wooden chalet and old stone houses. There is often snow on the peaks here so it’s not advised to arrive in your flip flops. If you still have them.

You like cheese and you like chocolate? This is the trip for you: Take the vintage chocolate train from Montreux to the Cailler chocolate factory in Broc. You’ll stop in Gruyere, where you can see how the cheese is made. Golden cows, bells around their necks, soft gentle sounds of tink-a-tink through the crisp clean mountain air. It’s another place and time, full of really good cheese and chocolate!

After Montreux keep driving east through Switzerland. It’s a great route to take into northern Italy, through the Alpine Pass and up through the Grand St Bernard tunnel at 8000 ft is a magical experience through the mountains. Crossing the border into Italy, wind down James Bond hairpin turns to the hip town of Aosta, and on to Milan, and Rome. Where you’re dropping off that car, right?!

Just to note, Geneva to Rome, if you pack sandwiches and don’t stop and there’s no traffic, you can make it in a day. But we don’t advise you do it that way.

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Lake Geneva Cruise Line

The perfect group outing! Spend the day out on Lake Geneva!

Founded in 1873, Lake Geneva Cruise Line is deeply rooted in the history of Lake Geneva. Our fleet of eight classic boats from a variety of historical eras, gets locals and visitors out on the water! We offer a wide variety of boat tours including narrated scenic tours; brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises; and private parties.

May through October you will find us at the Riviera Docks in Lake Geneva. Popular tours include our Geneva Bay tour featuring breathtaking historical estates, our US Mailboat tour including mail jumpers delivering the mail to lake homes, and our Fall Color Cruise flaunting beautiful fall colors.

• Group rates for 10-19 and 20+
• Tour bus friendly
• Dining packages available 

Late November and December you will find us at our winter harbor in Williams Bay. We celebrate the holiday season with families as we cruise over to Santa’s Hideaway aboard our Santa Cruise.

Lake Geneva Cruise Line is a Gage Marine Corporation business along with Gage Marine boat sales, PIER 290 restaurant, Lake Life Catering, and Lake Life Store. Lake Life Begins with Gage.

• Largest Group Capacity: 200
• WebsiteAlternate: www.cruiselakegeneva.com
• TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60022-d1813072-Reviews-Lake_Geneva_Cruise_Line-Lake_Geneva_Wisconsin.html

Facility Info

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• Theatre Capacity 1
• Alternative Meeting Space true
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• Banquet Capacity 1

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Lake Geneva Cruise

Sailing in Geneva for a cruise on the lake is possible, in an exceptional bed & breakfast boat with five luxury cabins and catering on board. The largest catamaran on the lake with a capacity of 11 passengers for an unforgettable trip

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Interview with Gary Crates, CEO Europ APC Group

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